Camping at Lake Itasca (June 6-8, 2025)

It had been a while since we'd gone camping. We didn't technically camp locally last year because we did our big grand canyon trip and camped in the RV for over a week. So we dusted off our tent and set out up north to Itasca State Park. We collect the hiking club passwords and try to get a couple passwords each trip hitting another nearby park on the way if possible. 

We went up after the girls got out of school so it was a quick tent set up to try and get settled before dark. First night walking to the bathroom spotted a turtle with Thomas. 

The next day Saturday we had breakfast at camp then started off on the hiking club trail. 

had to get a picture of Mary with Mary Lake :-) 

After our first hike we drove over to where the fire tower entrance was. Itasca State Park is pretty big!

Link to the map here. 

The girls didn't want to join us so they stayed back at the van. We didn't end up climbing the tower because there was quite a line waiting to go up, there was a max allowance. Not worth the wait for us. 

 

Went back to the campsite for lunch then we drove up to where the Mississippi River Headwaters was. Short car ride but Oakley was already snoozing.

  

They had a nice visitor center. 

There was this first area (not the start) Thomas ended up falling in right away so became soaked.

   

A little farther down the stream still working our way to the start of the river. The Mississippi River is SO clean here!

Then we made it!

Kids had fun playing in the water for some time.

 

Then back to camp for night 2. 

Dinner over the campfire, kids playing high and seek or some kind of game I can't remember the name of it and tired pup. It ended up storming just at bedtime. We knew it was coming and cleaned up as much as camp as we could. Kyle and I were in our really old tent and the kids were in a bigger new tent we have. Our tent ended up leaking pretty bad from all the seams, Kyle was able to run to the van and put a tarp over our tent and that helped us stay dry. 

 

The next day we loaded up camp and before making our way home we wanted to hit another nearby state park. It was a little north but not far: La Salle Lake State Recreation Area. 

Oh I should say the ticks were SOO bad this weekend, it was crazy. We found another password and a nice view of the Mississippi River a little down stream from the headwaters, although north, I know confusing. 

Worn out kids and dog on the way home. 

Memorial Day Weekend Adventure (May 25-26)

When we realized we had no games/activities on Memorial Day weekend we decided to book a one night stay at a hotel in Fargo. We hadn't been to North Dakota yet and wanted to mark that state off our list. Well we didn't really piece together that it was two days after Oakley had been neutered, oops. It was good thought because the car ride kept him inactive and having some relax pills helped too. We loaded up for the one night stay. 

Stopped at a HORRIBLE restaurant called Zorbaz in Alexandria... besides having a patio by the lake and allowing dogs on the patio, would NOT recommend. 

Then we stopped at Lake Carlos State Park for a quick hike to capture the hiking club password. Oakley's first hike! (and first patio experience - he's about to experience a LOT of firsts this weekend)

 

 

Kids worn out, trekked onward to Fargo. 

We made it!

 

Found a spot for dinner

Then swimming in the pool. 

Sunday we left the hotel and went back into Minnesota to Buffalo River State Park, round 2 of hiking. 

Turns out Mary left her watch at the hotel so we went the half hour back to the hotel to pick it up, grabbed some Starbucks and a pup cup for Oakley then headed home, it's a 3.5 hour drive. 

We made some stops along the way... like to see this GIANT  pheasant or prairie chicken. 

And a giant otter:

 

 

That's about it for our one night getaway. Prob don't need to ever go back to Fargo, lol. Not too much to see there! Oakley did great on his first road trip and hotel stay.