A Year in Minnesota
I love to travel and plan trips! It is my biggest hobby and favorite stress reliever. Most of my plans are for travel outside of the country. My list of places to see and experiences to try is longer than I will likely be able to pull off in my lifetime. Spending a year or more just in MN was not a part of my plans…ever! I love my state, but I have always been a wanderer.
As the realities of travel in the age of COVID-19 became more apparent, I turned my lens toward the state in which I live. If I didn’t pivot, both my hobby and lack of plans would become more than a little depressing. The idea of planning a trip just to have it cancelled does not appeal to me. I decided to approach travel in MN the way I do in other countries. When I am planning a trip, I try to learn about the culture, food, history, arts, and land. If a book by a local author is available in English, I try to find it. If not, I look for books written about a place.
My travel research falls into roughly three categories. The first category is experiences that draw me to the place and create the bulk of an itinerary. In Costa Rica it was seeing sloths and monkeys at Manuel Antonio National Park, and in Bonaire it was snorkeling. The second category is things that look fun and I will do if the opportunity arises. In Guadeloupe it was visiting the spice market, and in Ireland it was holding a lamb. We made it to the market, but never crossed paths with a lamb I could hold. Third are things I learn about but don’t draw me. I rely on the enthusiasm of locals and other tourists to determine whether or not to give it a whirl. In Panama, it was swimming in a waterfall. I was convinced that either a rock would fall on my head or a snake would slither into my swimsuit. As soon as I arrived at the falls, I knew I was all in. Everyone was having a blast and the temperature was perfect for swimming. I forgot about my snake concerns, but can’t say they won’t creep back the next time I have that opportunity. Eating termites remained a definite no, despite my husband’s enthusiasm and declaration that they taste like lime. A combination of research and a go with the flow attitude make the best travel experiences.
In researching my MN bucket list, I was surprised at the things I didn’t know and curious about how I have missed so many all these years. I realized that it took a while for me to settle into my identity as a Minnesotan. Growing up I envisioned moving to another state or country. Boston was high on my list. Having an Irish heritage in a very Scandinavian state had some challenges. It took a while for me to learn that in some situations people will not be at all direct and in others they will ask you three times. For the record, it is pretty rare you have to ask me three times for anything. If you offer to pay the bill, I am only going to question you once and sometimes I will just say thank you.
As I became comfortable with Minnesota’s cultural quirkiness and came to love the land, I grew in my identity as a Minnesotan. Marrying a mostly Norwegian man with those cultural quirks helped as well. Nordic traditions and sensibilities make a lot of sense in a MN winter. Saunas, hygge, and glögg warm you up physically and emotionally. Embracing MN in the spring, summer, and fall is a lot easier for me than in the winter. I get cold easily and planning an annual trip to a warm climate in February helps me make it through January without getting crabby. Since our 2021 winter vacation is to Breezy Point rather than a warm beach, I am determined to enjoy this winter. My winter 2020/2021 bucket list includes a mix of favorites and new experiences.
Cultural:
Explore the writing of Louise Eldrich via Birchbark Books & Native Arts
Read more by Kao Kalia Yang
Visit the American Swedish Institute
Food and Drink:
Try several recipes from The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen
Perfect my Chicken and Wild Rice Soup recipe
Create a turkey based version and try Tater Tot Hotdish (I don’t eat beef so have never had this)
Find my perfect Glögg recipe (it will not include anise as an ingredient)
Nature:
Go ice fishing (it sounds really cold, but people swear if you dress for the weather it isn’t)
Sauna
Go snow shoeing
Learn to cross country ski
Bring home a Christmas tree and Balsam Fir boughs from the Superior National Forest (Note: permit required)
Art and Music:
Visit an Art Shanty
Learn to crochet (not particularly Minnesotan, but my mom is willing to teach me)
Listen to Christmas concerts by St. Olaf College and VocalEssence
Traditions:
Attend the Winter Carnival
Make Christmas cookies
Tour Christmas lights
Souvenirs:
What would you add to my MN bucket list? Feel free to include all the seasons in your suggestions.
In concluding this post, I would like to acknowledge that travel is a privilege I don’t take lightly. Although my experience growing up was Eurocentric by default, what connected me to this land is learning more about Native American history and traditions as well as spending time in the varying landscapes of the state.