Channeling Monet

And a little visitor...

Minnehaha Park

Yesterday, I walked around a city park called Minnehaha Park. Mom has been wanting to visit, but she hadn't found the excuse to go to until this weekend. It is one of Minneapolis' oldest parks, with a waterfall, limestone bluffs, and various tress like oak, elm, and cottonwood. It wasn't the most picturesque day thanks to a gray, drizzling sky, but we managed to have fun and take a few pictures anyway.

Day 7, Part 2: Glacial Potholes

In another section of Interstate State Park, there is a short hike around exposed basalt rock that was carved up by a river (the ancestor to the St. Croix) formed from a melting glacier (a glacier that covered what is now Lake Superior). More about the geology of this park can be read here.

This part of the park is a kid's paradise for climbing and exploring.

You have to watch where you step as you climb around the rocks, though, to be sure you don't accidentally step/fall into one of the potholes. The potholes were formed by swirling water when the river was much larger.

Some potholes are much larger than others.

The colors in the rocks are interesting and very pretty.

Also interesting are the trees and plants growing right out of the rocks. 

Just before leaving the park, we caught people rock climbing along the cliff edges on the Wisconsin side.

Day 7, Part 1: Interstate State Park

I did a couple short hikes with Mom and Dad in a state park called Interstate State Park. Our first hike was along a trail called Sandstone Bluffs Trail.

To get to the trail, we had to cross under a highway through a low-ceilinged tunnel filled with cobwebs.

Once we got to the other side of the road, we had to climb a long, steep set of stairs. I made it most of the way up before asking to be carried.

The sandstone bluffs were really interesting to see.

Before reaching the very top of the bluffs, we had to climb another set of stairs. These ones were carved right into the rock.

We caught site of a very green caterpillar (and maybe a very hungry one?)...

As well as some pretty flowers and ferns.

The trail at the top of the bluffs lead us through a nice green forest.

At one point we were able to get a view of the St. Croix River.

As we headed back down the bluffs, I needed a break from walking.

Eventually, I felt I had rested enough and I was ready to walk again.

Before making it back to the trail head, we had to climb yet another set of stairs to get over a small hill.

Back by our car, we had another nice view of the St. Croix.

That first hike wore me out pretty good.