It’s not hard to find Minnesota on a map. Drag your finger as far north as the continental United States goes. We are the one that looks like a bizarre “K.” So how is it that we live in a country with states that are tidy rectangles and squares, and then states that look like … [ Read more]
Life in the Woods: Three families go ‘Off the Grid’ in Northern Minnesota
June 28, 2019 by
Driving north toward the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, you’ll see towering evergreens, pristine lakes, and bountiful wildlife. What you might miss at first glance are the remote cabins and yurts where a few Minnesotans spend not just weeks or summers, but entire lives amongst the trees. Living off the grid means different things to … [ Read more]
From Zero to 629.4: Tackling the North Star Bicycle Race — Part 2
June 19, 2019 by
When we last checked in, I was still training in the storage room staring at drywall, and we still had snow on the ground. Our weather has come a long way, and with the first days of summer under our belts, it’s time for another check up on training for the North Star Bicycle Race, … [ Read more]
Remote Minnesota: Five out-of-the-way trails and state parks to escape to this summer
June 13, 2019 by
Minnesota is blessed with an abundance of scenic attractions and wonders that are renowned across and beyond the Land of Sky Blue Waters. But for those amongst us seeking less-trodden trails, a host of options can be found across the North Star State. Some are hidden deep within Minnesota’s wilderness while others can be found … [ Read more]
The Growler’s Outdoor Guide
May 29, 2019 by
During the four glorious months that compose summer in the Midwest, the call of the wild echoes over the plains and through the river valleys, through the forests and along the lake shores, and into our hearts and minds. For some, the call stokes the fires of adventure and self-reliance. It’s a chance to test … [ Read more]
Camp Fire: Over a century of bringing kids of all backgrounds into the great outdoors to discover their true natures
May 29, 2019 by
Catching a frog is something of a rite of passage at Camp Fire Minnesota. The wetlands at Tanadoona—the primary camp and nature-based learning property for the national youth development organization’s Minnesota branch—are teeming with the amphibians, and marketing director Kelly Abraham says that regardless of the kid’s age, background, and familiarity with nature, sooner or … [ Read more]
How To Boundary Waters: Minnesota’s favorite outdoor playground is open to all—with a bit of planning
May 28, 2019 by
There are few outdoor pleasures more classically Minnesotan than mounting an expedition to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and spending a few days on the lakes and under the stars. For all of its charms—outdoor beauty, campfire camaraderie, and the sweet, sweet “general lack of other people” key among them—it can be tough to … [ Read more]
5 Most Extreme Outdoor Activities to do in the Midwest
May 28, 2019 by
This article is a part of The Growler’s Outdoor Guide. Find more tips for outdoor adventure and dining here. Thrill-seeking has become a traveling sport, with adrenaline junkies posting online from states out west and far-flung destinations across the world. While those places look incredible, why go through the hassle and expense of travel when … [ Read more]
How to Social Media Outside Without Ruining Everything: A step-by-step guide
May 28, 2019 by
This article is a part of The Growler’s Outdoor Guide. Find more tips for outdoor adventure and dining here. You’ve got to hand it to her: Mother Nature is photogenic as hell. She knows her angles, doesn’t have a bad side, and looks flawless in every light. We should all be so lucky to have … [ Read more]
Game On: Virtual reality parlors transform the once-insular activity into a social experience
April 17, 2019 by
When most people think about virtual reality, they likely picture someone with a cardboard apparatus over their face and a phone hanging from the end. Or maybe a dark room where someone sits, alone, completely immersed in their video game experience. This is indeed VR, but only a very small sliver of it. But because … [ Read more]
No Labels, No Limits: Individuals of all ages, shapes, and identities are proving that fitness is for every body
March 26, 2019 by
When she was 9 years old, Molly Lethert was in a snowmobile accident that severed her foot. Doctors were able to reattach it, but the resulting arthritis got worse every year. “Once I had my accident, year after year something got taken away,” Lethert says. “I couldn’t jump, so I couldn’t do basketball. I lost … [ Read more]
From Zero to 629.4: Tackling the North Star Bicycle Race — Part 1
March 22, 2019 by
When I announced to my family in February that I intended to participate in an unsupported, 629.4-mile bike race this September, they started planning my funeral. When I get up in the morning and look in the mirror, I see an oft-unemployed 25-year-old man, roughly 40 pounds overweight, balding and out of breath from climbing up … [ Read more]
Ice Ride: From mobile ice fishing to saving lives, the Wilcraft navigates niche markets and tough terrain
February 25, 2019 by
The first iteration of Tom Roering’s amphibious all-terrain vehicle, the Wilcraft, was far from amphibious: it took on so much water that it wouldn’t float. The year was 1998, and Roering was determined to build a mobile ice-fishing house. He and his family had been building permanent ice-fishing houses for years but had experienced setbacks: … [ Read more]
Frontside 180: JXTA Arts turning vacant lot into a youth-designed art plaza and skatepark
December 7, 2018 by
At the corner of Emerson and Broadway in North Minneapolis lies a small vacant lot in an otherwise bustling neighborhood. Though it may look empty and idle, the site is actually in the midst of a radical metamorphosis from a gravel lot into a youth-designed art plaza and skatepark. Previously the home of youth arts organization Juxtaposition … [ Read more]
WWE legend Jake ‘The Snake’ returns…with stories
November 21, 2018 by
When people think about the glory days of professional wrestling, they think about guys like Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, and Andre the Giant. While those three (and others like them) may have had larger-than-life personas, there was one superstar who was better than anyone when it came to telling a story with his words … [ Read more]
