My day started with a better night’s sleep! 

After my usual breakfast, Addie and I set out to explore Minneapolis and its surrounding neighborhoods. First up, Fort Snelling State Park. Oops! We should have checked – closed for renovations. Next, Minnehaha Park, home of Minnehaha Falls. Although he never visited the park, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow helped to spread the waterfall’s fame when he wrote his celebrated poem, The Song of Hiawatha. 

While at Minnehaha, I learned about the Falls of St. Anthony, around seven miles away and near downtown Minnesota. So, off into town for Addie and me! With concrete locks, dam, and apron, the Falls of St. Anthony provide power and navigation rather than natural charm. 

Leaving Addie so she could relax a bit, I walked around downtown to the Basilica of Saint Mary…also closed. 

I returned to the now ready-to-roll Addie and found our way out of Minneapolis and into St. Paul. Not only did we see exquisite large homes, we saw the open-for-visitors Cathedral of Saint Paul. Addie expressed disappointment that she could not enter the cathedral but exhibited pleasure at my photos. 

Our final stops before returning home: homemade ice cream and Trader Joe’s!