Day 92 The Ultimate USA road trip Walker Alexandria
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RouteXpert René Plücken (MRA Master)
Last edit: 27-11-2023
Route Summary I have further supplemented the Road Trip with even more special points that you can visit in the USA. Today we drive from Walker to Alexandria through forested and water-rich Minnesota. It is a ride of more than 330 kilometers.
We drive on beautiful roads in Minnesota, such as the beautiful “Lake Country Scenic Byway”. Through Itasca State Park and Fergus Falls State Wildlife Management Area. There are beautiful forests, lakes and rivers along the route, with options to stop to enjoy the beautiful nature. There are no stops at sights planned along the route. I rate this route 4 stars.
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Animation
Verdict
Duration
10h 24m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
332.30 km
Countries
RouteXpert Review Minnesota's Lake Country Scenic Byway is located in a unique national transition area from prairie grasslands in the west to hardwood and conifer forests in the east. The 87-mile Byway follows State Highway 34 from Walker through Park Rapids to Detroit Lakes and State Highway 71 north of Park Rapids to Itasca State Park. Lake Country Scenic Byway was designated a State Byway on May 26, 1999.
We will not drive the entire Byway, but will also leave it at a number of points to drive beautiful routes on smaller roads. This area is also called “Playground of the North” because of the lakes and rivers, public forests and parks, recreational trails, golf courses and more that attract tourists and recreationists.
Natural and cultural history has left its legacy in Lake Country. Visitors traveling the State Byway can visit local landmarks and learn the area's unique stories. It is an option to plan an extra day or two to get to know Minnesota's Lake Country better.
The first stop is planned in Akeley where we will visit the Paul Bunyan Historical Museum. Opened in 1984, this museum contains an interesting collection of photographs and artifacts depicting Akeley's early history, when it was home to the state's largest sawmill and its population was between 3,000 and 4,000. A huge statue of Paul Bunyan in front of the museum is a real eye-catcher. Paul Bunyan is a character from American folklore. He is a giant lumberjack who is always accompanied by his blue ox, Babe.
After a short coffee break in Grand Rapids we drive north to Itasca State Park. This beautiful park is home to Lake Itasca, said to be the origin of the Mississippi. This lake-filled area has plenty of other attractions, from lodges and resorts with inviting restaurants to excellent bird watching, golfing, miles of hiking and biking trails, art galleries, music festivals and roadside dining.
The park covers 32,690 acres (132.3 km2) and is part of Minnesota's Pine Moraines and Outwash Plains Ecological Subsection and is located in Clearwater, Hubbard, and Becker counties.
Itasca State Park was established by the Minnesota Legislature on April 20, 1891, making it the first of Minnesota's state parks and the second oldest in the United States, behind Niagara Falls State Park. Henry Schoolcraft determined Lake Itasca as the source of the river in 1832. It was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1965 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. About 500,000 people visit Itasca State Park every year. Itasca State Park East Entrance, the park permits cost: $35 per year, $26 for a second vehicle, $12 for the handicapped or $7 per day, these can be purchased online. More information about this at the link in this review.
We drive via the winding MN-113 and CR-37 towards Detroit Lakes, for off-road riders there is the option to drive over CR-26 and CR-29 through the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, a very beautiful area with many places to spot birds.
At Detroit's Lake the Lake Country Scenic Byway ends and we drive south to Fergus Falls, where we cross the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District, an area also known as the “Duck Factory”. The area, which covers approximately 118 million hectares, produces more than 50% of the continent's waterfowl thanks to its historically highest density matrix of wetlands and associated plateau. These wetlands of varying size and depth, surrounded by short, mixed and tall grass prairies, are places unlike any other. They provide nesting habitat for a rich variety of ducks.
Fergus Falls Wetland Management District manages 217 waterfowl production areas totaling more than 44,588 acres in Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Wadena and Wilkin counties. These areas are managed for waterfowl production, as well as habitat for migratory birds, native wildlife and endangered species. These areas are open to the public for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography. Public interpretive and educational programs are available at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center.
Enjoy the ride through this beautiful green area with many lakes and prairies. The end of the day is in Alexandria, where we will spend the night. Alexandria has a lot to offer, enjoy a day at one of the beaches or a meal at the Farmers Market, have a beer at Copper Trail Brewing Co., which opened its doors just after the Surly Act was passed in 2011. This meant that it was legal to make and consume beer on the same premises.
Visit the Runestone Museum, it has many exhibits about Vikings and Native Americans. You'll find things like a replica of a Viking trading ship and a Civil War fort.
Another interesting museum is the Legacy of the Lakes Museum, which is essentially an open-air museum as there is much to explore outside. There is a beautiful garden where you can view beautiful plants and flowers, as well as water features. You can also walk around and see a variety of fishing displays, such as legendary catches, carefully crafted wooden boats and birch bark canoes. The museum tells the story of lake life in Minnesota, as well as all the traditions that have continued for years.
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Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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Minnesota
About this region
Minnesota is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.7 million residents. More than half of Minnesotans live in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, known as the "Twin Cities", which is the main political, economic, and cultural hub. The Twin Cities are among the 20 largest metropolises in the U.S. Other Minnesota metropolitan areas include Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, Rochester, and St. Cloud. Minnesota's geography is highly diverse, consisting of western prairies, now given over to intensive agriculture; deciduous forests in the southeast, now partially cleared, farmed, and settled; and the less populated North Woods, used for mining, forestry, and recreation. Roughly a third of the state is forested, and it is known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" for having over 14,000 bodies of fresh water that are at least ten acres.
Minnesota, which gets its name from the Dakota language, has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples since the Woodland period of the 11th century BCE. Between roughly 200 and 500 CE, two areas of the indigenous Hopewell tradition emerged: the Laural Complex in the north, and Tremplau Hopewell in the Mississippi River Valley. The subsequent Upper Mississippian culture, consisting of the Oneota people and other Siouan speakers, lasted through the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century. French explorers and missionaries were the earliest Europeans to enter the region, encountering the Dakota, Ojibwe, and various Anishinaabe tribes. Much of what is now Minnesota formed part of the vast French holding of Louisiana, which the United States purchased in 1803. After several territorial reorganizations, the Minnesota Territory was admitted to the Union as the 32nd state in 1858. Minnesota's official motto, L'Étoile du Nord, is the only state motto in French; meaning "The Star of the North", it was adopted shortly after statehood and reflects the state's early French settlers and its position as the northernmost state in the contiguous U.S.
As part of the American frontier, Minnesota attracted settlers and homesteaders from across the country, with its growth initially centered on timber, agriculture, and railroads. Into the early 20th century, European immigrants arrived in significant numbers, particularly from Scandinavia, Germany, and Central Europe; many were linked to the failed revolutions of 1848, and partly influenced the state's emergence as a major center of labor and social activism. Minnesota's rapid industrialization and urbanization precipitated major social, economic, and political changes during the American Progressive Era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the state was at the forefront of labor rights, women's suffrage, and political reform. Minnesotan politics, culture, and identity are reflective of this history and remain highly progressive by national standards.
Since the late 20th century, Minnesota's economy has diversified significantly, shifting from traditional industries, such as agriculture and resource extraction, to services, finance, and health care. The state is home to 11 federally recognized Native American reservations (seven Ojibwe, four Dakota), and remains a center of Scandinavian and German cultures. In recent decades, it has become increasingly multi-cultural, amid greater domestic migration and immigration from Latin America, Asia, the Horn of Africa, and the Middle East. It has the nation's largest population of Somali Americans and second-largest Hmong population. Minnesota's standard of living index is among the highest in the nation, and the state is among the best-educated in the nation. It is ranked among the best states in metrics such as employment, median income, safety, and governance.
Read more on Wikipedia
Minnesota, which gets its name from the Dakota language, has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples since the Woodland period of the 11th century BCE. Between roughly 200 and 500 CE, two areas of the indigenous Hopewell tradition emerged: the Laural Complex in the north, and Tremplau Hopewell in the Mississippi River Valley. The subsequent Upper Mississippian culture, consisting of the Oneota people and other Siouan speakers, lasted through the arrival of Europeans in the 17th century. French explorers and missionaries were the earliest Europeans to enter the region, encountering the Dakota, Ojibwe, and various Anishinaabe tribes. Much of what is now Minnesota formed part of the vast French holding of Louisiana, which the United States purchased in 1803. After several territorial reorganizations, the Minnesota Territory was admitted to the Union as the 32nd state in 1858. Minnesota's official motto, L'Étoile du Nord, is the only state motto in French; meaning "The Star of the North", it was adopted shortly after statehood and reflects the state's early French settlers and its position as the northernmost state in the contiguous U.S.
As part of the American frontier, Minnesota attracted settlers and homesteaders from across the country, with its growth initially centered on timber, agriculture, and railroads. Into the early 20th century, European immigrants arrived in significant numbers, particularly from Scandinavia, Germany, and Central Europe; many were linked to the failed revolutions of 1848, and partly influenced the state's emergence as a major center of labor and social activism. Minnesota's rapid industrialization and urbanization precipitated major social, economic, and political changes during the American Progressive Era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries; the state was at the forefront of labor rights, women's suffrage, and political reform. Minnesotan politics, culture, and identity are reflective of this history and remain highly progressive by national standards.
Since the late 20th century, Minnesota's economy has diversified significantly, shifting from traditional industries, such as agriculture and resource extraction, to services, finance, and health care. The state is home to 11 federally recognized Native American reservations (seven Ojibwe, four Dakota), and remains a center of Scandinavian and German cultures. In recent decades, it has become increasingly multi-cultural, amid greater domestic migration and immigration from Latin America, Asia, the Horn of Africa, and the Middle East. It has the nation's largest population of Somali Americans and second-largest Hmong population. Minnesota's standard of living index is among the highest in the nation, and the state is among the best-educated in the nation. It is ranked among the best states in metrics such as employment, median income, safety, and governance.
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Route Collections in this region Ultimate USA road trip part 09
Michel van Hagen challenged me to follow the Roadtrip of Dr. Randy Olsen as a basis to create the Ultimate USA Road Trip for the MyRoute app RouteXpert Library. I took up that challenge and started in February 2022.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the ninth collection that takes you from Springfield in ten days through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin to Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the ninth collection that takes you from Springfield in ten days through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin to Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
View Route Collection
Ultimate USA road trip 10
Michel van Hagen challenged me to follow the Roadtrip of Dr. Randy Olsen as a basis to create the Ultimate USA Road Trip for the MyRoute app RouteXpert Library. I took up that challenge and started in February 2022.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the tenth collection that takes you from Grand Rapids in ten days through Minnesota, South Dakota to Sheridan, Wyoming.
The scientist Dr. Randy Olsen, who became known for using his knowledge of algorithms to find 'Waldo' in the well-known American 'Where's Waldo' book series, has been challenged by Tracy Staedter, from Discovery News, to use the same algorithm to create the perfect Road Trip by creating the US, which will visit almost every state in the US. Alaska and Hawaii are not included in this Road Trip due to their geographical location.
The following three requirements formed the basis of the route: In all 48 countries there must be at least one stop at famous points, monuments, historical sites, national parks, etc. I have added additional interesting points, beautiful tours and routes.
After more than 26 months, the job is finished and, with a lot of support from Nick Carthew, I have created 129 routes that run through the 48 states of the USA and part of Canada. This is the tenth collection that takes you from Grand Rapids in ten days through Minnesota, South Dakota to Sheridan, Wyoming.
View Route Collection