“This is unreal.” My husband Derrick is standing at one of the highest points in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, surveying the sweep of the Little Missouri River Valley below. This part of North Dakota is quite arid, but the cottonwoods are lush and green. “It’s like a painting,” he says, shaking his head in wonder. Then he and our son are off, scampering down yet another trail. River Bend Overlook My favorite National Park Most people have a favorite National Park. Theodor

We’re all craving a little novelty these days. But we also need to stay safe. Roseville in Bloom gives us the best of both worlds. The Minnesota city launched this very cool public art project back in July. But there’s still time to see it. Just get to the Twin Cities by the end of October. Lydia Anderson sculpture at Roseville in Bloom The Roseville in Bloom project features 20 rose statutes created by local artists. They’re strategically placed outdoors all over the city so

Yes, North Dakota has trees. The Pembina Gorge and Tetrault Woods State Forest are two of the prettiest places to spot them. And if you love fall colors, there’s no better time to go than right now. If you can arrange an impromptu trip, I promise you won’t regret it. This place is a balm for forest lovers in any season, but it’s spectacular during the last days of September and early October, when the tree canopy bursts with orange, russet and gold. Pembina Gorge Masonic Over

It can be hard to find safe ways to celebrate together during a pandemic. The Make Your Own Mural Fest in Northeast Indiana has a found a fun way to connect us. The Make Your Own Mural Fest combines art, the outdoors and history. From September 8-18, 11 artists will be creating 11 totally new works of art in 11 different counties in the region. You can create your own road trip, or follow one of the 11 different road trip itineraries laid out for you. Breathe mural in Fort Wa

I’ve seen a lot of delightfully random public art combinations in my day. But the public art in Devils Lake, North Dakota boasts one of the oddest combos I’ve seen yet. I was struck by this small city’s ghost murals the last time I visited. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, a ghost sign is the faded image of an advertisement painted directly on a building. Ghost signs are part art, part ad and part time capsule, preserving the look and feel of the moment for post

Discover the coolest road trips in the Midwest.

I can’t leave the country, so I’ve been traveling through food. My family has been doing a weekly international take-out night to keep our favorite restaurants going through the pandemic and ogling foodie-friendly travel shows and videos that highlight destinations that are (for now) tantalizingly out of reach. Adventures are in short supply these days, so food is an easy way to experience new places without leaving the house. Making your own food makes the experience even ri

Street art makes me stop and think. So I’m excited to showcase North Dakota public art this summer. I received a grant from The Arts Partnership here in Fargo to focus on North Dakota public art across the state. This was well before we realized that 2020 was going to be a year of massive change and challenges. But I think it turned out to be perfect timing. Right now it’s impossible to ignore important discussions about physical and mental health, racism and privilege, econo

Did you know there are 30 North Dakota nature parks in North Dakota? It’s okay. I didn’t either. These are mini escapes right in the middle of the city, places where you can cycle through wild grasslands, hike along natural river bottom forests and see wetlands teeming with birds. You can pick cherries (or plums or apples) for free, fish from a shaded spot on the riverbank and generally feel a world away from other humans, even though you’re just a few blocks off a busy city

Artist Nichole Rae is different. Her work is different. Her process is different. Technically speaking, she creates multimedia collages, combining pretty bits of paper, stamps, Washi tape and other bits and bobs with hand lettered messages rendered in pen, ink, colored pencil and marker. But she’d be the first to tell you that the final product isn’t necessarily the point. Instead, artist Nichole Rae focuses on the process, the practice, the act of intentionally and consisten

Cross Ranch State Park is an under-the-radar escape into nature. After a spring of staying inside, interest in outdoor escapes like State Parks is soaring. And as we enter a social distancing summer, one where extended travel is discouraged, many of us are reexamining natural destinations close to home. State Parks are an easy, affordable and safe way to experience a change to scenery. And although public buildings and programs remain closed at press time, the trails and publ

Some of the most evocative travel books aren’t travel books at all. A strong sense of place can transport you, no matter which section of the book store the volume is shelved in. I starting thinking about the books that stoke my own wanderlust when I was working on this armchair travel episode of my podcast, which focused on how books can make us feel like we’ve traveled without leaving home. When I do my own research into a place (or recommend books about my part of the worl

Subscription boxes used to confuse me. I just didn’t understand why anyone would spend money and not know exactly what they’d get. “It’s a surprise,” my friend Liz said, probably resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “That’s the point.” Then the coronavirus pandemic happened. After days of social distancing, I was craving a little novelty and surprise. I spent a few minutes researching subscription boxes for the Social Distancing Staycation episode of Travel Tomorrow and that

When U.S. leaders began to recommend fabric masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19, Midwest makers were ready. It was inspiring to watch talented sewists across the region (and the world) spring into action — in many cases weeks earlier than the official recommendation. This is an evolving list of makers in the Midwest who are crafting fabric masks to meet an unprecedented need. I will be updating it weekly for as long as the pandemic lasts in the region. It’s organi

Indie bookstores in North Dakota are open for business — even in a pandemic. They’re getting creative, offering curbside pickup, front door delivery service, and personal shopping for gifts and care packages so we can all shop responsibility and practice social distancing. (And yes, it’s totally acceptable to give a care package to yourself. You’ve earned it. We’ve all earned it.) You can also order titles you want and they’ll ship them to you. If there’s not an indie booksto

I’ve had a lot of time to think about how to be mindful lately. For the last nine days, I’ve done very little else. Being mindful can sound like a flighty, fanciful, New Age concept, but it’s exactly the opposite. To be mindful is to be firmly grounded in the present moment. It’s about noticing the sensations in your body and the world around you. You feel present and grateful. To be mindful is to live in the moment without longing for the past or the future. This can be a ch

Thanks to the coronavirus outbreak, thousands of us are working from home — whether we’re suited to it or not. I’ve been working from home for the last six years and while it’s not easy, it can certainly be done. Many of you have had a few days to try to figure this working from home thing out on your own. If you still need help, here is is. If you’re new to working from home, welcome. It’s flexible and environmentally friendly, but it can be hard to jump into. Here are a few

I don’t consider myself an expert hiker by any means, but choosing the right basic hiking gear is easy. Hiking is a fairly straight-forward sport to get into and you don’t need any special gear at all when you’re starting out — just a pair of good shoes, sun and bug protection and plenty of water and you’re good to go. Of course, as you get more miles under your belt, you can specialize and choose gear that’s optimal for your body, your abilities, the weather, and the terrain

Spring training has started, so it’s time to schedule your ballpark road trips! If you love baseball, but don’t relish the idea of spending your free time buying tickets, researching hotels and driving between stadiums, you can outsource all that to the experts at Ballpark Road Trips. The company offers three different trips that start in the Midwest (Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis) and take you all over the country. You can literally just sit back and enjoy the ride. Ball

Tesa Klein is the creative mind behind the Wildflowers, Inc. She has a unique take on western, rural, and repurposed style that resonates with so many in the Midwest. Her work was farmhouse chic before it was cool and it’ll remain relevant to her customers long after chalk paint stops being trendy. I’ve re-formatted Katie Ryan-Anderson’s original 2015 post so it better reflects where to find Tesa Klein’s creations and showcases a few of Tesa’s photos of her work and inspirati