Miracle at Big Rock is an epic light show including 17 million lights in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. See the year-end finale!
What a blast!!! Holiday lights, food trucks, artisans (located in a beautiful barn), s’mores, cocktails, and so much more.
⛺️ Private Rental Spaces
🏠 Onsite lodging
🎇 Fireworks
🌝 Visit the Moon (This was a favorite but there a so many unique installations, watch for Bigfoot!)
We knew this would be a fun night but it was even better, we left feeling like little kids full of joy.
Here is a list of the remaining hours and events from their website :
Wednesday, December 27: 4pm-9pm, Youth Night! Kids 4-12 $8 admission using code “Kids” Thursday, December 28: 4pm-9pm Friday, December 29: 4pm-10pm FIREWORKS at 830pm Saturday, December 30: 4pm-10pm Sunday, December 31: 4pm-10pm
A Big Rock’n NYE Barn Dance and Fireworks!
Definitely add @miracleatbigrock to your holiday to do list. Cheers!
Pleasant Valley Orchard is open for apple season starting 9/2/2023! The family owned apple orchard is located near Taylors Falls, Minnesota, in the scenic St. Croix River Valley. Judy and Jim are passionate about the land and growing top-quality apples and pumpkins. The fall season kicks off with a bang including many fun family-friendly events; hay rides, live music, local artisans fair, their second annual authors event, and the orchard’s anniversary event. There is a fully stocked bakery and the Pleasant Valley Food Trailer which serves yummy apple donuts, apple brats and apple cider slushies. Follow my Instagram stories for opening weekend and apple season fun!
*Hayrides and the full menu of weekend activities begin September 16 & 17. The food trailer will have limited hours opening weekend and will be fully open starting September 9 & 10. See —LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR.
Celebrate the Halloween season October 20-31 at Pleasant Valley Orchard. The 12 Days of Halloween is the big end up season event including daily sales, spooky story time for the kids, scavenger hunt for all ages, pie baking and pumpkin carving.
Have you been to Medora, North Dakota? What a kick! This area is rich in history and nature but also offers unique activities for the whole family from the Pitchfork Steak Fondue Dinner to the Medora Musical.
Medora is located at the entrance of Theodore Roosevelt National Park with beautiful views of the North Dakota Badlands. Medora was founded in 1883 which is also the year that the young Theodore Roosevelt visited this region to hunt bison. Can you imagine the feeling of seeing this amazing landscape for the first time?
The Pitchfork Steak Fondue Dinner was delicious and yes, the steaks are truly cooked on pitchforks! Our steaks were cooked perfectly and we appreciated all the sides which included fresh fruit, salad, coleslaw, vegetables, baked beans, garlic toast, baked potatoes, brownies, and cinnamon-sugar donuts plus coffee and lemonade. You can purchase wine or beer at the bar.
It was busy (see picture below) but they are super organized and the line moved quickly. There’s also plenty of tables in either the shade or the sun so you don’t have to feel rushed for a seat. We were impressed with all the staff walking around asking if we needed anything and clearing our plates.
They have a live band (The Coal Diggers from the Medora Musical) playing good ole western music. The music combined with the views and eating outside, it’s a night to remember!
We walked around the bluff after dinner and took in all the views. Both the Pitchfork Steak Fondue Dinner and the Medora Musical are located up on the bluff. The drive up is only 5 minutes from town and they do offer shuttles.
The set of the Medora Musical
We stayed at the historic Rough Riders Hotel in the heart of downtown Medora. The rooms were very nice. The three C’s…convenient, clean and comfortable. 😉 Plus, there is a wonderful private library filled with everything Theodore Roosevelt for you to enjoy.
Breakfast is always my favorite meal and The Farmhouse Cafe perfectly satisfied all my cravings from the coffee to chocolate syrup on the pancakes! Check out the Redneck Breakfast below, that’s a huge piece of ham on top of sausage with an over-easy egg and cheesy hashbrowns. Holy moly so good! The service was top notch and I found the most unique gifts here.
If you live in the Twin Cities, getting to Medora is an easy 8-hour drive. Fargo is approximately at the halfway point, so it’s a convenient stop to take a break for lunch or to spend the night. We stopped at the Würst Bier Hall in downtown Fargo for lunch. The locally-made polish sausage was amazing and Terry loved the local beer. Terry will be sharing more in his Tuesdays with Terry post.
The Story of a Best Friend Animal Society Adoption
This is the life story of a rescue dog, our Best Friends rescue dog. When we met, I had no idea how much you would change our lives for the better. Our time together was short but continues to have a lasting impact.
Thousands of miles and adventures in your years. Thank you for saving us, sweet girl. Run free…
We met at Best Friends Animal Society, a place that was on my bucket list after seeing their National Geographic “Dog Town” series. We scheduled a tour and then randomly checked their website for puppies available for adoption. There you were! Without hardly thinking, we submitted our adoption paperwork. It was late in the evening. The next morning during the tour, we got a call from the Best Friends Adoption Specialist. Our cell service was sketchy, so we could not connect. We were so nervous that we would miss the opportunity. But then…
From that day forward, life was full of lessons, adventures, and love. You taught us patience, how to work together, to take breaks, to enjoy daily walks. You literally made us laugh every single day. Your personality was larger than life. You loved to travel and road trips. Every hotel, every new location, was a place to discover and explore. You climbed on every table and chair even when you were too big to fit. You loved sitting on the lawn chairs in the backyard and taking it all in.
I could post a million pictures of you and tell a million stories. When we found out that you had kidney disease at your one year check-up, it was so heartbreaking. We made up our minds to fill your short life with adventure. Another thing that through you changed us forever. We grew closer, discovered ourselves through traveling, and became happier. I felt a strong connection to you because of struggling with my own pain. We both had challenges but we figured out ways to work around them and live our best lives. We took breaks when we needed them and pushed ourselves when we could. Together.
You were never sure what to do with your long legs. 🙂
You died at the young age of three (almost four). I’m so thankful for the time that you had with your brother, Allen. He brought out so much joy in you the last year of your life.
We miss you so much.
Best Friends Animal Society started over 35 years ago with a no-kill sanctuary in Utah. Today, they are helping homeless pets in every corner of the country. Their goal is to have the country no-kill by 2025. You can learn more HERE.
Learn more about Best Friends and make a gift in honor of your animal best friend at https://bfas.io/bfday23.
Life is short, do the things that stir your soul. ❤️
*Originally posted January 12, 2021. One year after Utah passed away.
Happy first day of fall! Holy moly, summer zoomed by, and I still have so much to share from our Minnesota road trips. As we’ve been exploring our home state, we find ourselves drawn to the Chisago Lakes area and recently visited Lindstrom. We’ve driven through many times but have never stopped to check out the town.
Most people know Lindstrom by the adorable teacup water tower.
Lindstrom, Minnesota
First, we started with breakfast at Gustof’s On Main Eatery. We enjoyed the food and feeling of community in this historic house turned eatery. Next to us, a friendly couple started up a conversation and gave us suggestions for fun things to do in town. It felt like breakfast with a bunch of friends that we have known forever.
After breakfast, we needed a little extra pick me up so we walked to Northwoods Roasterie. This coffee shop is awesome! We really enjoyed the outdoor seating and the coffee is delicious. It was very busy but the service was great and the line moved quickly.
Next, you can’t go to Lindstrom and not stop at the Lindstrom Bakery! Food & Wine Magazine named the Lindstrom Bakery as having the best donuts in Minnesota. The donuts are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, perfect for dunking in your coffee. The owner, Bernie Coulombe, has owned the bakery for 48 years. She recently sold the bakery but the sale fell through and Bernie is back!
Minnesota State Parks
Then we were off to Wild River State Park for a hike. We stopped in the Visitor Center where a lovely woman helped us figure out the best hike for the amount of time that we had. When you stop at the Visitor Center, make sure to walk out the back and take in the views of the St. Croix River. There is also a lot of interactive experiences for the kids to learn about the park.
The park offers over 30 miles of hiking trails. There is a paved 3-mile trail that links the trail center, visitor center, picnic area, and campground. In the winter, they offer cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing.
We wrapped up the day at The Northern Tavern & Grill. Obviously, we were so hungry after our hike at Wild River State Park! The Rueben with house smoked corned beef melts in your mouth and their skin-on fries are amazing. And guess what? We ran into the couple that we sat next to at breakfast! It was such a perfect small town moment and reminded me of when I lived in Nisswa, Minnesota.
Do you remember this spot from the Forrest Gump movie? There have been many movies filmed in Monument Valley which makes for fun trivia when road tripping through!
Best place to stay in Monument Valley, Arizona
Speaking of movies, staying at Goulding’s Lodge in Monument Valley on the Arizona/Utah border, feels like you’re on a set. The lodge is located approximately five miles from the Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center, which allows you to get up close and personal with the monuments. Plus, you can set up exclusive tours right at the lodge or drive the 17-mile Tribal Park Loop on your own. This iconic view!!!
Goulding’s offers a variety of lodging options, including spacious rooms, suites, stand-alone villas, and a campground/RV park. Amenities include the onsite Stagecoach Restaurant, Grocery Store, Laundromat, and Gas Station. We loved the convenience of having everything we needed so close. Some rooms are dog friendly, and we loved that each unit has its own door. It makes it so much easier when traveling with the dogs. The views of the monuments are incredible; both sunrise and sunset were spectacular. There is easy access to hiking right out your door and not to mention all the onsite attractions. There is so much to do and see at the lodge and beyond.
Sunrise views from our room.
Things to do in Monument Valley
The dogs loved the trails and hiking around the Goulding’s property. Other onsite attractions include the Goulding’s Museum, Gift Shop, Earth Spirit Theater, Navajo Culture, and history, including “John Wayne’s Cabin” filled with movie memorabilia.
You have to try the traditional fry-bread at the Stagecoach Restaurant! Mouthwatering.
Monument Valley is magical. This was our second time visiting, the first time we just drove through and this time we stayed a couple of nights. I didn’t want to leave. Here are more incredible views…
The set of the Medora Musical
