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]
Remote Minnesota: Five out-of-the-way trails and state parks to escape to this summer
June 13, 2019 by
Now Open (Or Damn Close): 22 Northmen Brewing Co. in Alexandria
June 12, 2019 by
June 15, 2019, will mark the grand opening of 22 Northmen Brewing Co., and the realization of a longstanding vision for the owners of the adjacent Carlos Creek Winery. Tami and Kim Bredeson have contemplated building a brewery to complement their winery as far back as 2009. With a successful Kickstarter campaign, the hiring of … [ Read more]
Five State Parks across the Heartland for your road-tripping pleasure
August 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Looking for some summer or fall road trip inspirations? The Growler has you covered with these Heartland destinations. ■ ■ ■ West on I-94: Lake Sakakawea State Park near Pick City, North Dakota Stretching 178 miles in length from Williston, North Dakota, to the Garrison Dam near Pick City, North Dakota, Lake Sakakawea is a … [ Read more]
Seeing the Forest for the Trees: The sustainability of Minnesota’s logging industry
March 26, 2018 by
For many Minnesotans, the exclamation “Timber!” evokes images of a bygone era when solemn bearded men clad in plaid hefted saws and axes and felled towering pines in the depths of a northern forest at the end of the 19th century. Fewer Minnesotans may understand that the harvesting of timber and forest products is still … [ Read more]
Driving Discord: Examining fear and loathing on our roadways
July 25, 2017 by
The Twin Cities area has seen a surge in self-propelled transportation. Minnesota’s Department of Transportation found that 13.4 percent of the Twin Cities population currently cycle or have cycled to work. The League of American Bicyclists reports that growth in commuting by bike in Minnesota has increased by 103% since 2000. With more people out … [ Read more]
Hidden Minnesota: 5 underappreciated state parks and recreation areas to visit this year
April 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Minnesota has long been recognized as the land of 10,000 sky blue-tinted lakes. But did you know the North Star State also is home to 66 state parks, not to mention an additional nine recreational areas, 25 state trails, and 43 state forest campgrounds? Many Minnesotans and visitors are familiar with such celebrated parks as … [ Read more]
When the NFL came to Duluth: The story of the Eskimos
November 22, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Minnesota has a long and rich history of professional football. For most of the state’s fans, the mention of pro football immediately conjures images of the icy breaths of the Purple People Eaters suspended in the chilly Metropolitan Stadium air, of Randall Cunningham firing off 60-yard touchdown passes, of missed kicks and four Superbowls. But … [ Read more]
Minnesota’s fire towers: Steel sentinels standing guard over the state’s forests
October 20, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Autumn travel in the Northland offers an abundance of adventures and breathtaking fall scenery, but few can top the thrill and view of climbing one of the remaining fire towers that once guarded Minnesota’s forests. Standing at an average of over 100 feet in height, these steel sentinels once numbered around 150 in Minnesota (by … [ Read more]
Golden Rivalries: Gopher football’s most storied trophy games
October 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Autumn in Minnesota. Gold in the changing leaves, gold in the fields and prairies, and of course gold on the gridiron. It’s the time of the year that for autumnal traditions provided by college football at the University of Minnesota: reveling in the camaraderie of tailgating, raking leaves to the rhythm of radio play-by-play, the … [ Read more]
Play ball: Returning to the roots of America’s pastime
July 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Across the northlands each summer people flock to ballparks big and small to revel in the American tradition and pastime of the game we call baseball. They set up their folding chairs along grassy third-base lines, settle into cushioned seats under flashy jumbotrons, or relax on rickety bleachers behind home plate. This tradition dates as … [ Read more]
On boards: How a Minnesotan taught the world to water ski
June 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The date is Saturday, July 22, 1922. The place is Lake City, Minnesota, on the waters of Lake Pepin, the largest naturally occurring lake on the Mississippi River. The time is 4pm. The scene is set for Lake City native Ralph Samuelson to carve his name into sporting history. Samuelson, who is just one day … [ Read more]
Minnesota’s state species: Their past, present, and uncertain future
March 2, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Minnesota’s official state symbols represent the natural treasures found within the state and remind us of our cultural heritage. But will Minnesota’s most iconic species still be here in 50 years? We check in to see how five of the most beloved state symbols are faring in the face of a changing climate and loss … [ Read more]
For the Birds: Battling declines in Minnesota’s pheasant population
October 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
This Saturday across central and southern Minnesota, hunters will step out into the early autumnal dawn in search of Minnesota’s premier upland game bird: the ring-necked pheasant. The pheasant season, which begins October 10 and runs until January 3, 2016, has historically been one of the more important hunting seasons for many Minnesotans. In recent … [ Read more]
On Point: Willow Creek Kennels trains German Shorthair Pointers to be Master Hunters
September 29, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Fall is a busy time in the North. There are Oktoberfests to be enjoyed, autumn hikes to traverse, changing leaves to be admired, and—as hunting seasons open—blaze orange to be donned. Many of us are not alone when we answer the call of the great outdoors, stepping out into the woods and prairies. There by … [ Read more]
New Faces in Historic Spaces
June 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The Old and New of Minnesota’s Iconic Breweries By David Sandager After years of standing vacant, Minnesota breweries of yesteryear are enjoying a renaissance. For close to a century the names Hamm’s, Schmidt, and Grain Belt were synonymous with beer in Minnesota, and their histories are inextricably linked to the rise and fall of a … [ Read more]
