Minnesota Children’s Book Festival

We went to Red Wing, MN for the 17th Annual Minnesota Children’s Book Festival. It was from 12:00 to 5:00 and was busy. There were activities for kids and adults and was a fun afternoon. Parking and admission were free, which is always a plus. This was held at the Anderson Center, which is a legacy from Dr. Alexander P. Anderson, who was the inventor of the process for making Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice.

 
        Story telling in the Tower.

       Yes, that's a live tarantula.
  We played marbles with Tom Fletcher, MN marble champion.

There was also a craft show at the National Guard Armory (also free). Not quite sure about the dinosaur walking around it though.
     
     

I’ve got a few more pictures, plus copies of the brochures from the Book Festival, which you can click here to see.

Interstate State Park, MN

Our daughter had tickets for the Taylors Falls Queen boat ride that needed to be used this weekend, so while they had their ride we walked around Taylor Falls and Interstate State Park. We had gone to this park a few years ago when our granddaughter was taking rock-climbing lessons. There were people climbing again this time. There is also a campground and hiking trails, and the town of Taylors Falls is across the highway.

You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.

             

The geology at Interstate State Park is pretty interesting. It has more potholes in a smaller area than any other location in the world, and has the world’s deepest known potholes as well. The deepest one that has been measured accurately, the “Bottomless Pit”, is just under 60 feet deep and 12-15 feet wide.

             

For more pictures, please click here.

St. Paul farmers market and an apple orchard

St. Paul farmers market is held Saturday and Sunday mornings in the summer. There are a lot of vegetables, plants, beautiful flowers, foods and places to eat. There are people singing and playing music. And there are a lot of people.

You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.

        

We also walked around downtown and made lots of steps (and I learned how to play Pokemon Go). We saw CHS Field baseball park, Union Depot, the Landmark Center and walked along the Mississippi River. We stopped to talk with a lady who was walking two dogs, one of which was a greyhound. (Dean and Valerie have a greyhound.)

                   

On our way home we stopped at Whistling Well Farm to get some apples from their orchard. The owner has written books about his farm and his dog, Emmy, who kids love to meet.

   

For more pictures, please click here. You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.