Ely, Minnesota

The boys and I took a trip to Ely, Minn. for Memorial Day weekend this year for three nights at Camp du Nord (a wedding present from my boss). We stayed in the Pilot House (the single most photographed feature on the grounds!) and it was great!

We were able to kayak, canoe, hike and grab firewood for the fireplace - all included in the fee. Had we paid extra, we could have eaten at the cafeteria with the other families (I much prefer cooking our own food while camping), and a different weekend would have meant more programming for the little one. We did, however, take full advantage of the boats and hiking as much as possible for having a 20-month old bouncing along with us, and managed to sleep outside for two of three nights on our screened in porch above Burntside Lake.

I must also recommend a trip to the town of Ely if you are headed this way. There are tons of outfitters, shops and friendly people. In particular, we ate (twice) at the Chocolate Moose. It was kitschy food and pie for a decent price. They have all kinds of odd beers to try (Ryan had quite a few, including some kind of Dead Guy ale).

Also, we had to check out Soudan, Minn. where there was an underground mine. There are tours that take you down the original mine shaft 27 stories beneath the ground, just the way the miners did before it closed in 1962. Even Keegan could appreciate this as it was very kid-friendly (he kept picking up rocks and saying "rock!" real loud while the guide was talking).

Other than traffic getting there and back, (a 4.5 hour car ride made into five hours!) and a toddler who didn't want to nap, it was a GREAT and much needed vacation! It was great to get Keegan outdoors (he loved picking up rocks, checking out the ferns, and picking up all of the pine cones and putting them back on the pine trees) and he learned lots of new words dealing with nature.

Check out more photos here.

The Greatest Reception Ever

After a getaway to Florida to get hitched, plus a seven day cruise and two more days of exploring southern Florida, we had a reception back home for our family and friends to celebrate our hitched-ness. The planning was probably my favorite part - I wanted something people didn't dread going to, that was very Ryan-and-Katie-esque, and something that no one else does. So, I'll tell you all about it.

For starters, it was at Camp St. Croix in Hudson, Wisc. On a Y-camp training, I discovered their lodge had been beautifully re-done and the grounds were excellent. Granted this was a Valentine's Day reception and there was snow on the ground, so it was a different picture than I had seen last summer. I dubbed the theme to be "choose your own adventure."

Activities included sledding, broomball, and indoor board games by the fire. The camp cooked both vegetable and meat lasagna, plus salad and green beans at a very reasonable price. It was picnic table style dining, so everything was decorated with Valentine's Day decor.

The dessert was my own spectacular idea - see, I'm known at work for blurting out cooking and make-your-own dish days at my choice of a day to plan. So, to fit the theme of choose your own adventure, I made two different kinds of cupcakes, two kinds of frosting, then a huge assortment of toppings (gummi bears, sprinkles, oreos, butterscotch chips, m & ms, etc.). Wah-lah, make your own cupcake.

It was excellent. It was pretty cheap. We had a photographer last minute so I didn't have to worry about capturing the moments. Lots of family and friends, and lots of fun!

Katie does Tucson, Arizona

Today I was pleasantly suprised by Frontier Airlines. If you want to leave on time, on a plane that is not overbooked, and return on time, I recommend the airline.

Priorities: A) two fish tacos from Rubio's, B) a grilled chicken pita from Jack in the box, and C) get outside and get hiking (photos to follow).

I was also relieved that the cheap hotel I found doesn't suck. It's right by the road, but the other side of the room has a door and window that lead out to a balcony near the pool. For $40 a night, I think that's good. Plus I have cable, and after a day of driving around 100 miles around town, walking for two hours downtown and getting up at 4AM, I'm down for laying low.

I'm in Tucson for the USA Triathlon Race Director Certification. Learning a lot!

While here, I checked out University of Arizona campus eateries and shops, a rest stop that provided great hiking and views, and the Arizona-Senora Desert Museum. The shops were okay, not sure where I found that rest stop though! I did meet some New Yorkers admiring mountain as well, and we chatted for awhile before I hit up the museum.

I do recommend the certification for my race director buddies. It was a decent source of networking, but I learned a great deal from others about races around the country, and can't wait to get my own going.