Lake Superior Marine Museum: Gales of November – Duluth, MN

Lake Superior Marine Museum: Gales of November – Duluth, MN

by | Nov 7, 2021 | events/locations

The Gales of November – November 11th -13th

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Virtual Event for 2021

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Gales of November is the LSMMA’s premier fundraising event for the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center. What began almost 30 years ago as a small gathering of divers sharing shipwreck pictures, has grown into a festive two-day educational, networking event.

Due to the increasing numbers of COVID infections and hospitalizations in our region, the board of the Lake Superior Marine Museum Association has opted to cancel its in-person Gales of November.

We will be hosting virtual presentations 3 evenings in mid November and planning a silent auction and raffle.

Tickets are available now at: lsmma.com

In the interim, enjoy these video presentations from 2020:

A Modern Keeper’s Tale-Split Rock

Great Lakes Shipwreck Hunters

Finding the Fitz & Commanding a Lightship

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About

The month of November breathes force into Lake Superior each and every year.  For those of us lucky enough to experience the strength of Lake Superior, it marks the time when fall is coming to end, and winter wishes to take over — but the lake fights the change of seasons with all its might. The “Gales of November” occurs when cold, dry air from Northern Canada converges with warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico over the Great Lakes. On top of the mixture of air, all of this is stirred up with the warm summer water of the Great Lakes.  The result from this is one of nature’s most unpredictable times. Wind speeds can reach over 50 miles per hour, and waves look like something from an angry ocean. Yet, from the shoreline, these storms are treated with respect and awe — witnessing them is an experience that no one should pass up.

The “Gales” of November” got its name from a song by Gordon Lightfoot about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was an American Great Lakes freighter full of taconite pellets that sank in a Lake Superior storm on November 10, 1975, with the loss of the entire 29 crewmen. Radio transmissions looking for the Fitzgerald or any survivors lasted until 9:30 pm on November 13th, 72 hours after the last communication from the Fitzgerald: “We are holding our own.”

edmund

 

Each year, on the anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Split Rock Lighthouse hosts a remembrance event where the lighthouse and fog signal remains on throughout the day, then goes silent for a bit while the names of the lost crew members are read and a ship’s bell is rung in their remembrance.

 

split rock edmund

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In-Person Event: Gales Special

Gales Special

Blue Fin Bay

When nature puts on a show, you want a front row seat and there is no better place to watch the Gales roll in than from the Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts. When you stay three nights or more during Quiet Time at any of our resorts — Bluefin Bay, Surfside or Temperance Landing — we offer a Gales Special with one night FREE — our treat!

Offer Details:

  • Stay three nights and receive one night FREE (your midweek night is free)
  • Offer not valid over Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 24-28)
  • Offer is valid Oct. 24 – Nov. 30, 2021
  • This offer is not valid with any other offer; only one special can be used per reservation
  • Must be three consecutive nights in the same unit

Book Now

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Tundra Swan Watching: Join a Naturalist Caravan through the Whitewater Wildlife Management

Tundra Swan Watching: Join a Naturalist Caravan through the Whitewater Wildlife Management

by | Oct 31, 2021 | events/locations

Image Creator: Bell Museum

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Minnesota DNR: Each fall, the Mississippi River valley becomes a migration corridor for many species of waterfowl, raptors and shorebirds moving from their northern summer homes to warmer southern wintering grounds. One of the more spectacular birding opportunities in the southeastern Minnesota region is witnessing the impressive concentration of thousands of tundra swans in November at the Weaver Bottoms marshes of Winona County. Such great numbers of tundra swans only appear in this area on their route south.

The best time to view the tundra swans is from mid-October through mid-November, Two viewing areas are at the Watchable Wildlife Observation Platform at Rieck’s Lake Park near Alma, Wisconsin, and along Highway 61 near Weaver Minnesota. For further information about the swans at Rieck’s Lake Park visit the Wings Over Alma  website.

 

Directions to Riecks Lake Park, Alma Wisconsin: Alma, Wisconsin is 85 miles south of St. Paul. Take highway U.S. 61 to either Red Wing or Wabasha and cross the Mississippi River. Follow Wisconsin Highway 35 south to Nelson. From Nelson, continue south on 35 for about 6 miles. Rieck’s Lake Park will be on the east side of the highway, just before crossing a bridge.

Directions to Weaver Bottoms, just south of Weaver, Minnesota: The Weaver Bottoms marshes lie approximately 120 miles south of the Twin Cities on Hwy. 61.

** For a good view of the Weaver Bottoms area, drive southeast on Hwy 61, 1-3/4 miles past the Hwy. 74 junction. Take the spur road a short distance to the top of the hill.

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Event Details

Join a naturalist caravan through the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area to Weaver Bottoms on the Mississippi River to observe tundra swans. Binoculars, spotting scopes and handouts will be available. Free. Register by emailing Sara Holger or calling 507-312-2301.

event location map

Location
Whitewater State Park

Date
Nov. 6, 2021

Time
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discover Anoka: Halloween Capital of the World – Anoka, MN

Discover Anoka: Halloween Capital of the World – Anoka, MN

by | Oct 24, 2021 | events/locations

Discover Anoka

Did you know that Anoka is believed to be the first city in the United States to put on a Halloween celebration? We are the Halloween Capital of the World and have an annual celebration that attracts people from across the Midwest.

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 Sooo what are you doing? Visit the Anoka Halloween website for more information!

Some of our faves that are coming up in the next week:
*Gift Shop is open every Friday & Saturday during October
*The Scavenger Hunt is this Sunday
*Bingo Night is on Monday
*Light Up the Night Parade is next Saturday 7pm

May be an image of flower

DISCOVER ANOKA, MINNESOTA

Anoka, Minnesota is a unique shopping destination located just 20 minutes northwest of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Anoka features a genuine, historic downtown shopping district with many unique merchants, dining areas, and attractions. Whether you are here for the day or for an extended stay, we are glad to have you as our guest!

SHOP. EAT. PLAY. STAY.

Discover what Anoka, Minnesota has to offer! Visit our Visitor Guide to explore our merchants.

Shop: Anoka Merchants

Eat: Restaurants & Dining

Play: Arts & History

Stay: Hotels & Lodging

Professional Services

Fall Finale: Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours – Taylors Falls, MN

Fall Finale: Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours – Taylors Falls, MN

by | Oct 17, 2021 | events/locations

Daily now thru Oct. 24th!

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Since 1906 tourists by the thousands have enjoyed the scenic beauty of the world-famous Dalles of the St. Croix River by excursion boat. Our fleet of excursion boats includes the Taylors Falls Queen and the Taylors Falls Princess. The “Princess” can carry up to 250 passengers with The “Queen” holding up to 149. Both boats are enclosed on the lower level with the upper deck being open.

 

boats side by side

 

Daily Excursions are either 45 or 80 minutes.  Your licensed boat pilot and tour guide will point out the unique rock formations that were left behind as the glaciers retreated thousands of years ago. Among the most outstanding formations is the huge stone cross for which the St. Croix River was named. “St. Croix” means Holy Cross.

Other sites that can be seen from the boats include the world’s largest glacial kettles or “potholes”, Lion’s Head, Turk’s Head, and the highlight of the boat tour, The Old Man of the Dalles – the most outstanding natural rock face you’ll ever see.

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FallColor

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About

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 Reservations

Click Here To Book

$9.99 – $22.99 Family friendly activity available 7 days a week!

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Location

TAYLORS FALLS SCENIC BOAT TOURS
220 South St. Taylors Falls, MN 55084
The Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours
ticket stand is located at the intersection of
US HWY 8 and Hwy 95 in Taylors Falls, MN

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Please click here to see our full Covid-19 statement.

Belwin Conservancy Marks 50 Years of Connecting People with Nature! – Afton, MN

Belwin Conservancy Marks 50 Years of Connecting People with Nature! – Afton, MN

by | Oct 10, 2021 | events/locations

Protecting & Connecting

At Belwin, we spark passion for wild places. Through immersive community programs and environmental education, we inspire and engage people in the care of natural areas. Through land protection and habitat restoration, we revive threatened ecosystems so wildlife can thrive for generations to come.

In 1971, Belwin Conservancy began hosting outdoor education on 225 acres. In the decades since, Belwin has grown to more than 1,500 acres, and thousands of people have visited Belwin to learn from and explore our natural habitats. Are you one of them?

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The Land We Are On

The land on which Belwin Conservancy exists is the ancestral home of the Wahpekute Dakota people, original stewards of this region. We recognize that despite government efforts to exterminate and diminish the Dakota, their connection to this land, water, history and lifeways perseveres today. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.

Learn more

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We Want To Hear Your Story!

No photo description available.

Whether Belwin has been your place to hike the trails, star gaze, bird watch, listen to music, watch bison, cheer for young athletes, or all of the above, we want to hear from you. Your stories will be shared throughout the year in celebration of this landmark anniversary.

 

Share Your Story

The year kicked off with our retrospective exhibit at The Phipps Center for the Arts, curated by Susan Haugh, Belwin’s Program Director, with assistance by Anastasia Shartin, Visual Arts Director at The Phipps Center for the Arts. Take a virtual walk through below!

 

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The Great Pumpkin Train: Duluth Depot – North Shore Scenic Railroad

The Great Pumpkin Train: Duluth Depot – North Shore Scenic Railroad

by | Oct 3, 2021 | events/locations

Journey aboard the annual Pumpkin Train Express to the grassy pumpkin patch that only appears once a year, on this very special weekend! 

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When you arrive at the patch, each passenger gets to pick out their own pumpkin to take with them. The train ride is about 90 minutes total, and you’ll return to the Duluth Depot where you can stay all day to tour the railroad museum (included and open until 5pm). Normally we have lots of other activities in the museum, however this year some of those crafts/activities won’t be available. But all the great exhibits will be in the museum, along with live music in the outdoor boarding area. Helpful tip: Bring a bag to carry pumpkins in – Cloth grocery bags work great.

The Pumpkin Trains Weekend is October 21st thru October 24th!  It’s an annual fall tradition you won’t want to miss, and is sure to create new memories you’ll want to experience each year. This year with limited capacities to help with social distancing.

About

Pricing starts at $20 per ticket Thursday & Sunday (ages 3 and up), $5 additional on Friday & Saturday (peak days)
Reservations Strongly Suggested – Limited Seating

Duration: 1.5 Hours
Distance 10 Miles roundtrip

October 21 – 24, 2021
10:00 am, 11:20, 12:50 pm, 2:20 or 3:50pm

New This Year!

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Dome Car Seats on the Pumpkin Trains! Pay a little extra for a fancy seat in one of the two domecars. Some passengers will choose this option as a way to ride the kid-themed train, but enjoy a train excursion on a weekend when this trip is the only option.

On the train enjoy narration, Halloween music, and the beautiful scenery of the North Shore. Back at the depot, stay for magic shows, coloring, balloon twisting, Halloween movies, bounce houses, and more. ONE WEEKEND ONLY. Museum is open until 5pm and is included with your ticket.

The Lake Superior Railroad Museum, included with your ticket, is only open until 5pm. If you are on a later train, be sure to come early to enjoy the museum activities.

Buy Tickets Now

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All ticketed passengers get 1 pumpkin included at the patch. Ages 2 and under are free however do not get a pumpkin included (parents usually share).

We’re sorry but the pumpkin patch train is NOT a fully wheelchair accessible event due to the historic nature of the train equipment and the accessibility of the patch itself. However, the 10am, 12:50 and 3:50 train is available for the ride only (cannot debaord wheelchairs at the patch and there are no accessible restrooms onboard).

 

 

 

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