Isn’t Life Strange?

I like the idea of taking a vacation in the Spring.  Temperatures aren’t too unbearably hot, and most kids are in school, making popular places less crowded.  I managed to see some interesting places while I was away. 

Mount Rushmore is an amazing place.  When the project was conceived, organizers wanted to create a monument that would stand long after the men who built it so that future generations could know those who lived here before them.  We have all seen images of the monument before, and surprisingly enough it looks just like it does in the photos.  But being there gives one an appreciation for the gift that these men gave us.  Like the leaders who are forever immortalized in the monument, those who worked on Mount Rushmore left a legacy for all to enjoy. 

Like Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial just a few miles away is a legacy that will stand for hundreds, if not thousands of years - if they ever manage to finish it, that is.  The scale of the finished monument will be unlike anything we’ve ever seen.  But knowing how long this has been in progress, one can’t help but wonder if it will ever be finished.  If it is completed, it will achieve "wonder of the world" status.  Even though the monument is nowhere near completion, the site is well worth a visit

Devil’s Tower was a good getaway.  It is a little over an hour’s drive from where I was staying in Rapid City but well worth the drive out there.  There’s not much there other than the tower and a basic visitor’s center… and quite a few prairie dogs, but it is such an imposing landmark that you can’t help but be amazed at the thing.  There is quite a bit of Native American lore surrounding the tower and some interesting stories that go back many years. 

Alexandria Minnesota is a beautiful town in the west central part of the state. It has grown considerably in the past decade or so, increasing in population from around seven thousand to over eleven thousand people.  But other than the people and the addition of a few retail businesses, not much has changed since the late 1970’s when I began going there on family vacations in my youth.  Primarily a resort town, lakes dominate the landscape.  Dozens of resorts attract anglers and vacationers from around the country.  While it is still very much a small town, there are plenty of restaurants and retail establishments to meet the needs of residents and visitors alike.

Alexandria is perhaps most famous for the home of the Kensington Runestone, a controversial archaeological find that tells the story about a Viking expedition to that area long before the time of Columbus.  Much has been said about the authenticity or lack thereof, of the Kensington Runestone, and occasionally there will be an article about ongoing scientific studies.

The thing I like best about Alexandria is the peace and quiet, the relaxed atmosphere, the restful feeling that comes to me each time I visit there.  In many respects, I feel at home there.  It is difficult to describe exactly what it is like but every time I go there I cannot help but think how quickly I would want to drop everything and move there if I had an opportunity.  But then there are the winters.  Some lakes there only recently lost their winter ice.  It’s cold there for a good part of the year.  Then again, it’s hot here in Houston.

I discovered a wonderful cup of coffee at Caribou Coffee, Minnesota’s answer to "big Seattle" coffee.  Unlike the big brand, Caribou Coffee is not at all bitter.  Each blend seems to have its own unique flavor or quality.  They offer a variety of blends and brews, and the coffee shop I visited was clean and tidy.  I enjoyed it so much that I brought a pound of beans home with me, as well as the knowledge that I can always have their products shipped to me if I would like. 

I also brought a few bottles of wine home with me.  Carlos Creek Winery has been a favorite of my family since it was established there.  I was able to do a little wine tasting so I could choose what I liked.  It is nice to have a little treat from Minnesota that I can enjoy here in Texas. 

I’m glad I took the trip and would have no problems doing it all over again.  In fact, I’ll be visiting Minnesota again just as soon as I can.