Cory Hepola 2021-12-16 06:09:34
“Daddy, look at all of the old trees!” My six-year-old son enthusiastically shouts those eight words as we weave our family van through the towering aspen, birch and pine trees along Wilderness Drive at Itasca State Park, instantly drenching me in perspective. Growing up in northern Minnesota, I long ago got used to seeing the soaring “old” trees, the thousands of blue lakes and the stunning sunsets; to me, this is “home,” and this is what “home” looks like. But since our family lives in the Twin Cities, that is “home” and what “home” looks like to my son. He’s never experienced this incredibly special “home,” which–somewhere along the line–I have taken for granted. With my newfound perspective, it’s like I’m joining him, and the rest of my family, with eyes wide open at Itasca State Park. At the park’s fire tower, we carefully climb the steps to the very top, gleefully admiring the 32,000 acres and more than 100 lakes below. From there, we make our way to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, where it begins its 2,552-mile journey south to the Gulf of Mexico. The river is narrow enough here that we can walk across it, stepping carefully from rock to rock and then returning by way of a narrow wooden bridge. Even though our kids are young (three under the age of seven), they’re so enthralled by their surroundings that they bypass any sort of nap, choosing instead to explore the trails around Preacher’s Grove. Faced with the truth that we aren’t a “camp outside in a tent” family, we spend the night in the park’s Four-Season Suites, after sharing a fading sunset over Lake Itasca that we’ll remember forever. To think I may have missed the wonder of it all, if not for my son’s illuminating eight-word exclamation that morning. It was like I experienced the beauty of northern Minnesota for the first time all over again. SNEAKING IN SMALL TOWN, MINNESOTA Looking up and down its bustling Main Street, you might think Dorset, Minnesota has hundreds of residents but, surprisingly, only 22 people actually live here. The rest are just visiting this tiny town, known as the “Restaurant Capital of the World.” We opt for Mexican food at Compañeros, choosing to sit outside on the sprawling, screened-in patio with our chips and spicy salsa, tacos and enchiladas. After lunch we work our way out of town to Evergreen Fun Park for mini-golf (each kid scores a hole-in-one!) and go-carts. From there, we proceed to downtown Park Rapids, with its charming main street, its quaint shops and cafes and its distinctive parking situation, where you can safely park in the center of the road. Since “Happy Hour” is upon us, we hit the local craft brewery, Revel Brewing, for a well-deserved IPA to cap off the afternoon. While not wanting the day to end, we check into the Park Rapids C’Mon Inn, where an indoor pool beckons the kids. After a good night’s sleep and a complimentary breakfast, we return to the Twin Cities, grateful for our unforgettable getaway. MEET CORY Cory Hepola is an Emmy Award-winning TV and Radio Host at iconic WCCO Radio in Minneapolis, where he’s been called a game changer and named “100 People to Know” by Twin Cities Business, landing on the magazine’s cover in 2017. FOLLOW You can follow Cory and his family’s passion for Minnesota on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @coryhepola. EXPLORE NORTHWEST MN Learn about other fun things to do in Northwest Minnesota. ExploreMinnesota.com/Northwest MORE #ONLYINMN Come experience some of Minnesota’s snow sports and see what the fun of winter is all about.
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