Itasca State Park

We spent 4 days camping at Itasca State Park. It was lots of fun. As a kid we camped there quite a few times but I hadn't been back in probably almost 20 years. It was Curt's first time there and he loved it too. Grandma Marilyn and Grandpa Ken camped with us (in their own camper!) which made the trip even better.

After set up the first night we just hung around the campsites, bike a little on the trails, ate supper and had an early bedtime. We planned it so the boys would all sleep on the way up since it is a little bit of a long drive but of course, they didn't, so everyone was ready for bed early.

The second day Curt, Jake and I biked to the headwaters and Grandpa and Grandma drove with Ben and Sam. It worked out great. The boys played at the headwaters for a long time while Sam napped with Grandpa in the truck. We had lunch, some naps, some more biking and a campfire to finish up the night.

On Tuesday we rented a canoe and the 4 of us canoed to the headwaters. It was pretty fun after Ben got used to the canoe and I could quit worrying that he was going to tip us over. They played some more at the headwaters while Sam napped back at the camper with G & G. After lunch everyone needed a nap again. Then there was more biking, eating, and campfire.

See a pattern here? It was like a person's ideal life. Wake up, bike, eat, swim, eat, nap, bike, eat, campfire, sleep. Who wouldn't love it?

The only real differences from when I was a kid were that the bathrooms and the trails were much improved and the raccoons were less obvious. As kids they would come right into our campsite to visit us. This time we say the evidence that they had been there but never really got to see them. Ok by me, but as kids it really was fun to feed them popcorn out of our hands!

Jake ready to go out on the trails.

Ben catching a ride. He did this a lot while we were there both when walking and when we were biking. We brought along our bike trailer and he made good use of it. His 12 inch tires just don't keep up.

Grandma Marilyn and Jake reading about some turtles.

Family photo op - kind of. We were on our way to the headwaters.

Jake going across the rocks at the headwaters. The water was pretty high this year so many of the rocks were pretty wet and really slippery.

Ben getting a little help across. I remember years while I was growing up that people would go across with their shoes on and never get wet. It wasn't like that this year, we watched a few people biff it too.

Enjoying the water. They played and played.

Jake being Jake? He's always checking stuff out.

The headwaters sign. This looks exactly the same as I remember it.

Finally getting to make a campfire. One night we even did it boyscout style. The boys and Curt went out picking sticks, cut kindling, used a fire starter and just one match!

Heading out. By looking at the pictures you might think that Sam and Grandpa Ken really weren't along but they were. Actually the two of them spent a lot of time together, must be why I don't have pictures of them!