Minnesota: Land of 10,000 Pics

{Consider yourself warned -- this post contains approximately a million pictures.  It is, in essence, an absolute photo dump of a recapping.}

Day 3 -- A Day of Rest

Our first full day in Minnesota was a Sunday and, as a day of rest, we did some recuperating in the hotel room along with a little bit of sightseeing.  Since we were staying in the Twin Cities area, we used our day to scope out the Cathedral of St. Paul in the afternoon, then followed that up with a very brief visit to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden that evening.  

• Cathedral of St. Paul

The Cathedral was quite impressive in scale and grandeur.  Unfortunately, there are no guided tours on the weekends, so we missed out on that, but we were still able to wander around the outside of the building and check out the interior, so it wasn't a total bust.

(Photo courtesy of Grace)

The stained glass was really quite lovely.

(The ceiling)

• Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The Sculpture Garden was cooler in theory than actuality, in my opinion.  But that may have been because we were all too tired (or perhaps lazy) to walk around the entire grounds.  We probably stayed a total of 15 minutes, which was enough time to snap a few pictures and let the kids run around for a bit, and then I was good with calling it a day.  Haha.  (I would have liked to have visited the Walker Institute of Art next door, but I didn't think it would hold anyone else's interest for very long, plus we try to keep spending money on things to a minimum on Sundays when we are on road trips.  Both the Cathedral and Sculpture Garden were nice and free and low key enough to fit the bill for a day of rest.)  

I actually thought this installation was really cool, but it was hard to get a good picture of it in its entirety.  The piece was done by a Native American artist (Angela Two Stars) whose work focuses on Indigenous language revitalization, a process she describes as "a healing medicine that strengthens Dakota culture and identity."  The piece is called "Okciyapi" (Help Each Other) and "makes poetic connections between land, water, language, and people."  The ringed seating elements are based on patterns of rippling water and "symbolize relationships between individuals and communities.  Just as a drop of water creates ripples that flow across a lake, one speaker's shared knowledge can spread to future generations."  Engraved on the benches are Dakota words "expressing Native values and offering encouragement," such as Wisdom, Respect, and Bravery. (There is a full description of the sculpture as well as recordings in the Dakota language at this link: OKCIYAPI.)

(Jane was all about the poses this road trip.)

Day 4 -- Mall of America

Nothing says independence like 3 million square feet of retail space, amiright?  Hahahahaha.  I think Jane was the most tickled that we were spending the 4th of July at the Mall of America, but I have to admit that I also appreciated the certain level of poetic irony that such a trip entailed.  Haha.  It was a LOOOOOONG day, squeezing in a Crayola Experience in the morning and Nickelodeon Universe in the afternoon, with a quick visit to the M&M store at the very end, but I think it was worth it seeing as to how it prompted Isaac to rapturously declare on the way back to the hotel that it was "the best day ever!"  :)

• A Crayola Experience

Our east coast road trip in 2017 included a Crayola Experience in Pennsylvania.  I loved it so much, that when I saw there was one in the mall, I decided we HAD to include it on the itinerary.  What can I say?  I love all things color.  Hahaha.  It had been long enough since our last "experience" that I think everyone enjoyed the stop without feeling like it was a total repeat of the one in Pennsylvania.  There were enough differences -- plus Alex and Isaac were really young the last time around -- that we were able to spend a couple of hours discovering everything Crayola.  

(You'll notice the iconic cherry-on-the-spoon sculpture in the background that they posed in front of the day before in the Sculpture Garden.)

(pipsqueak)

(In case you can't read the wrapper, Jane titled her crayon color "Balzac."  Hahahahaha.)

(Meanwhile, Alex named his color "Amaryllith."  I tell you -- The Music Man was the gift that just kept on giving this road trip.  Hahahahahaha.)

(I warned you that this would be a photo dump.)

(I loved this display at the check out counter.)

I'm pretty sure they got almost the exact same souvenir at the Pennsylvania Crayola gift shop.

• Nickelodeon Universe

You know, I really feel like I deserve an award for including not one but TWO theme parks on our road trip agenda.  Especially since I hate them.  Hahaha.  My afternoon at the Mall was spent trailing after Isaac and Alex, who were more interested in the milder rides, while Scott and the girls tackled the bigger ones.  Everyone was dead exhausted by the end of the day, but we had lots of happy campers, so all was well.  

Sophie's first crush -- Pablo the penguin from The Backyardigans.  Hahahahahaha.

Isaac on the "Swiper Sweeper."

A Bubble Guppy ride.

I'm contemplating dubbing these two Double Trouble.  Hahaha.

• M&M Store

Our last stop of the day was the M&M store.  Alex was my sidekick for the first visit, then -- while Scott chilled with Alex and Isaac in the Paw Patrol "Adventure Bay" -- the girls joined me for their turn before we left the mall.  

(LOL)

(This m&m mosaic was super cool.)

Whew!!!  That's a wrap on our Minnesota adventure.  Next stop?  Wisconsin.  Stay tuned for a Little House in the Big Woods tribute.  ;)