| Today Norm Goldman editor of Sketchandtravel | | | | lakeside cabin nearby.If you want more of the |
| and Bookpleasures welcomes as a guest, travel | | | | outdoors, consider taking a houseboat through |
| author and writer Tim Bewer, who is an expert | | | | Voyageurs National Park, which runs along the |
| on Minnesota. Tim is also the author of Moon | | | | Canadian border. There are no roads here, just a |
| Handbooks Minnesota, as well as many other | | | | 100,000-acre chain of lakes, endless forests, |
| travel books and travel articles.Good day Tim and | | | | hundreds on moose and loons, plus a few |
| thank you for agreeing to participate in our | | | | interesting historic sites to mix things up. A |
| interview:Norm:Tim, could you tell our readers | | | | houseboat lets you explore everything with all the |
| something about yourself, how long have you | | | | comforts of home.Finally, for something out of |
| lived in Minnesota, your writing experience, and | | | | the ordinary, the Delta Queen Steamboat |
| your expertise pertaining to Minnesota?Tim:I | | | | Company runs timeless paddlewheel riverboats |
| moved to Minneapolis in 2000, but I spent most | | | | along the Mississippi River between St. Paul, |
| of my life living next door in Wisconsin and visited | | | | Minnesota and St. Louis, Missouri. The weeklong |
| the Land of 10,000 Lakes often before making it | | | | voyages stop in various river towns and feature |
| my home. After two years of exploring every | | | | luxurious accommodations.Norm:When is the best |
| nook and cranny in the state I published my Moon | | | | time to visit Minnesota from the point of view of |
| Handbooks Minnesota with Avalon Travel | | | | weather, costs, etc?Tim:You can't beat Minnesota |
| Publishing of Emeryville, California in December of | | | | in the fall. The mild temperatures and stable |
| 2004. Other countries I've written, edited, or | | | | atmosphere of autumn results in lots of sunshine |
| updated books on include Wisconsin, Ecuador, and | | | | and very little rain. This ideal weather often lasts |
| El Salvador.Norm:Could you tell our audience | | | | well into November and sometimes even |
| something about Minnesota, where it is situated, | | | | December. Late September through early |
| its climate, geography etc, and why, as mentioned | | | | October is my pick for the absolute best time to |
| in your bio that I recently read, you consider the | | | | travel across the state; not only is the weather |
| upper Midwest to be the most beautiful place on | | | | ideal, but you'll find fall colors, fewer visitors than |
| earth?Tim:Minnesota is in the north central United | | | | during the busy summer, off-season discounts, |
| States. It spans the boreal pine forests of Lake | | | | and no mosquitoes. The one exception to the |
| Superior's western shores in the northeast down | | | | fewer visitors rule is that hotels along the North |
| to the tallgrass prairie and farm fields of the | | | | Shore of Lake Superior are booked solid during |
| Great Plains in the southwest. The culture is | | | | the fall color season.Norm:What should people |
| quintessential Midwest--modest and friendly. The | | | | know about celebrating a wedding in Minnesota |
| winters are as cold as you'd expect, but the | | | | from the point of view of requirements, |
| weather the rest of the year is usually mild and | | | | experience of the various hotels, etc?Tim:The |
| comfortable.As for being the most beautiful place | | | | most important thing is to book as far in advance |
| on earth; well, no one can argue with the majesty | | | | as possible. Lodging in the destinations I mentioned |
| of mountains, but I personally think the intimacy | | | | above will often be full up months in advance. The |
| of a forest-fringed lake tops it and we've got | | | | bed-and-breakfasts and smaller inns are renown |
| some twelve thousand of them. Plus, there is an | | | | for personal service and can certainly assist you in |
| abundance of waterfalls, soaring bluffs lining the | | | | making the most of your special day while big |
| Mississippi River and Lake Superior, and large | | | | resorts have extensive experience with wedding |
| patches of tallgrass prairie.Norm:Do you consider | | | | parties and can handle just about everything for |
| Minnesota a great place for a romantic getaway | | | | you.Marriage licenses must be applied for in person |
| or wedding destination and if so, | | | | and then there is a five-day statutory waiting |
| why?Tim:Absolutely. There are many historic small | | | | period after applying; however, waivers to the |
| towns with luxurious bed-and-breakfasts or you | | | | waiting period are routinely granted with a little |
| can go "Up North" and find a remote lakeside | | | | extra paperwork.Norm:What resources are |
| cabin with a fieldstone fireplace and bearskin rug. | | | | available on the Internet pertaining to |
| And, no matter where you base yourself, you'll | | | | Minnesota?Tim:The Minnesota Office of Tourism ( |
| have sublime scenery around you.Norm:If you had | | | | has a pretty comprehensive Web site covering |
| to choose the five most unique and romantic | | | | the state. The lodging search is particularly |
| venues in Minnesota, what would they be, where | | | | handy.Norm:Is there anything else we have not |
| are they situated and why would you consider | | | | covered that you would like to tell our audience |
| these five?Tim:If someone wants to be | | | | about Minnesota?Tim:Whether someone is planning |
| pampered, then they'll love Stillwater, which lies | | | | a honeymoon or wedding, or just a regular |
| just outside the Twin Cities. This historic lumber | | | | vacation, I have the same advice for everyone: |
| town on the St. Croix River has reinvented itself | | | | Take some time to visit different parts of the |
| as a retail and relaxation destination. You can | | | | state. The culture of the Twin Cities and the lakes |
| indulge yourself at a four-star restaurant, stroll | | | | and forests of the northeast attract most of the |
| along the riverfront promenade at sunset, take a | | | | visitors, but the historic small towns or the |
| moonlit gondola cruise, and finish the night at any | | | | southeast and the vast open spaces of the |
| of the elegant bed-and-breakfasts.Little | | | | largely agricultural western half of the state have |
| Lansesboro, nestled in the rugged hills of | | | | their own charm.Thanks Tim for giving us the |
| southeast Minnesota's Amish country, is more | | | | opportunity to learn more about Minnesota.Tim: |
| down home than Stillwater, though the top-notch | | | | You are most welcome.Norm Goldman is the |
| lodging and dining is no less indulgent and the | | | | editor of sketchandtravel.com, a travel site, and |
| surrounding scenery is even more | | | | bookpleasures.com, a book reviewing and author |
| spectacular.Grand Marais, a flourishing arts | | | | interviewing site.Norm and his artist wife Lily are a |
| community up in the far northeast corner of the | | | | unique husband and wife team in that they meld |
| state, looks out across Lake Superior. Outside | | | | Norm's words with Lily's water colors focusing on |
| town is the vast Superior National Forest, home | | | | articles about romantic getaways and wedding |
| to the million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area | | | | destinations. |
| Wilderness. Besides paddling, there is fantastic | | | | You can learn more about them by going to their |
| hiking, biking, dogsledding, and just about any | | | | site at: and Lily are always open for invitations to |
| other outdoor activity you can imagine. Spend the | | | | romantic destinations particularly in the New |
| night in one of the town's quaint inns or opt for a | | | | England States and Florida. |