Empire Builder

My family has been into trains for as long as I can remember. How did we get into this hobby? My wonderful husband. Half of my laundry room is a model railroad and he has plans for when the kids move out. Taking the Empire Builder on Amtrak was something I started thinking about when the two of us recently rode the 4449 when it visited the Twin Cities.







We had such a great time. Many of the cars were restored to their original time period. It just amazed me, this was how people traveled. Not by crowded highways or congested airports, but behind these powerful beasts. So I thought let's do something different. Granted we will be behind a diesel and not a steam, but the ambiance of train travel will still be there. We'll get to spend some time together, see the country, and have a great new experience. That's a perfect trip for me.

http://www.vacationsbyrail.com/usa/amtrak_vacations/empire_builder_experience/index.html

My Top Ten

I'm sure we all have our own list of places we want to visit. Here's mine, in no particular order.

1. Rome
2. Washington DC
3. Paris
4. Yellowstone NP
5. Charleston, SC
6. Germany
7. Maine
8. Nova Scotia
9. Las Vegas
10. Williamsburg

First Snow!!

Living in Minnesota, you come to expect snow in October and typically Mother Nature does not disappoint. We have had some flurries this week, but we may get up to an inch tomorrow! And I'll admit I'm in the holiday mood already. It doesn't hurt that I'm going to be spending the holidays with my extended family for the first time in almost ten years. You have to go to the Holidazzle at least once if you are from the Cities. Yeah, it can be cold and windy, but it's part of the experience. http://www.holidazzle.com/

Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to Ohio I go

Not exactly the most exciting place to travel to, but I get to visit family. And I get to bring my my sister-n-law and my three nieces back with me. They are moving back temporarily to North Dakota, another exotic travel destination of ours in the next few months. It's going to be nice to have family up here in the great white north, even for a short while.

I-phone

I was the last hold out in my family and I finally got one. We went this weekend to pick it up and I've been playing with it all weekend. I made fun of Tracy when he first got his because he spent all weekend on it, but it can be quite addictive!

What I'm Reading

It's almost fall here in Minnesota, which means winter isn't far off. Time to cuddle up with hot chocolate and a good book. If you are looking for a good mystery, I can recommend "T for Trespass" by Sue Grafton. It's her 20th novel about Kinsey Millhone, a PI in Santa Teresa, CA. Enjoy.

Canal Park in Duluth

Looking for a beautiful place to have a picnic? Go to Canal Park in Duluth. Watch the ships come in from all over the world and the aerial lift bridge. Be sure to bring a jacket, the wind off Lake Superior can be a killer.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

If you visit Minneapolis, you must take time to stop at the Arboretum in Chanhassen. Just a few minutes outside of Minneapolis, the arboretum is a true getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/

Bed and Breakfasts

This is a great place to research B&B's all over the country. I'm planning my first stay at a B&B for my 20th anniversary in June.
http://www.iloveinns.com/