LITMIR.BIZ

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anything more delicious than a rich, sweet tomato right off the vine, still holding the sun’s heat, juice running down my chin, followed by a bite of soft cheese on white bread. The smells and tastes flowed together, and I can see us there now, joined forever by the simple act of harvesting food.

      I have waited a very long time to become a grandmother and not just because our daughters chose to wait until their thirties to have children. I can’t explain why, but even when my two children were preteens, I was contemplating grandparenthood. I packed away all of their Fisher Price toys in the original boxes to share with the next generation, and I saved as many of their books as possible. I so greatly enjoyed raising those two children that I knew I wanted to have similar experiences again—but without the many worries and day-to-day concerns that accompany parenthood. I understood even then that, as a grandparent, I would be able to have fun, play, act silly and share what I’ve learned in life but still have the luxury of going home at the end of the day to a quiet, clean house.

      Now we have three grandsons and two granddaughters and we are looking forward to years of adventures together. This is why we have written Grandparents Minnesota Style: to help other grandparents find those unique and unforgettable places that will combine fun and facts, history and humor, excitement and enduring memories for you and for the special grandchildren in your life.

      How to Use This Book

      The suggestions in this book are just that: suggestions. Some experiences—such as a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters or a visit to Hawk Ridge—are unmatchable anywhere else in the state. Others can be replicated. If you are not near the museum, park or site that we highlight, find a similar place near you. Read our suggestions, and be sure to pay special attention to each “Bonding and bridging.” This is how we believe you can tie your visit to an important life lesson. Take advantage of our advice or come up with your own, but use each opportunity to its fullest!

      We do not advocate that you become the “wallet” or the “chauffeur.” What we want you to consider is an active participation in friendship and sharing that is enriched by love. We want you to receive the respect of an elder, to exhibit the wisdom of your age and experience, and to enjoy the wonderful love that can flow between generations.

      One of the themes of this book is that things change. This is true for everything, including our state’s attractions. They sometimes close, renovate or move. When in doubt, CALL BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

      Canal Park

      There’s no single place that says, “Duluth,” like Canal Park. The lift bridge, the restaurants, the harbor view and the canal encompass the essence of what makes Duluth so unique in the Midwest. This is the place where the great sea voyages of international vessels come to an end, where people line the walkways to wave their greetings at incoming sailors. Canal Park is also the starting point for ships laden with iron ore. It is a place to celebrate sport and industry, inland and coastal.

      With a lighthouse on each side, the canal is a picturesque place to begin exploring Lake Superior. Take your grandchild to the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, which keeps track of incoming vessels and lifts the bridge when needed. The center also provides wonderful displays of Lake Superior’s history, so you can combine the past with the present and learn about Great Lakes navigation, including stories of sunken ships.

      Next, spend some time outdoors. This is one of the most interesting places in the state, filled with history and chances to share a wealth of information. Skip rocks on the lake, walk along the boardwalk, and hike part of the 4.2-mile lakewalk. You don’t get many chances like this one—to hang out under the sun in such a beautiful setting.

      The lift bridge is likely to be your grandchild’s favorite. It was built in 1905 and has adorned postcards and brochures ever since. It connects Duluth’s commercial-business section with the long, narrow sand spit known as Minnesota Point. At the end of the point you’ll find a small-plane airport, a boat launch, a picnic area, natural dunes, a forest and a swimming beach.

      Duluth’s canal originally came about as shipping on Lake Superior began to increase. Businessmen on the Duluth side of the harbor were dismayed to see that Superior, Wisconsin’s, port was receiving more activity. They decided to dredge a canal through the narrowest part of Minnesota Point. The town of Superior filed a court injunction to halt the dredging and got their ruling. But while the papers were being delivered, the Duluth citizens worked around the clock and had the canal completed by the time the papers arrived. The rest is history!

      Bonding and bridging:

      Lake Superior is as close as we can get to a coastal experience. From Canal Park, the view to the east is an open horizon. The water curves over the edge of the round earth twelve to twenty miles away, depending upon where you are standing. On warm days, upside-down mirages appear before the vessels and sometimes seem to ride atop the ships.

      Imagine the lives led by the sailors on these boats. How and why did they choose their careers? Ask your grandchild what he thinks. Share with him the rewards and dangers of life as a sailor. Then ask what he wants to be when he grows up and what he will do to accomplish that goal. College? Studying? Special training? This is a great way to get your grandchild thinking about how his actions today may affect his success in the future.

      A word to the wise:

      Standing along the canal when the horns blare and the bridge rises is a wonderfully exciting moment. The incoming ship seems so large that you almost feel as if you can touch it.

      Age of grandchild: All

      Best season: Summer

      Contact: Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center (Army Corps of Engineers), 600 Lake Avenue South, Duluth, MN 55802 • (218) 727-2497, Extension 1 • [email protected] • www.lsmma.com

      Also check out:

      Lake Harriet, Minneapolis; (612) 230-6475; www.minneapolisparks.org

      Grandparents somehow sprinkle a sense of stardust over grandchildren. ALEX HALEY

      Lake Superior Railroad Museum

      Do you remember when we were young, when trains were among the most interesting things in the world—the anticipation and excitement of hearing that horn blast in the distance? A train rolling through our neighborhood was a childhood event. We all gathered and waved, hoping that the man in the caboose would wave back. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum has captured some of that magic, allowing us to share it with our grandchildren.

      The museum is located on the lower (track) level of the old Duluth Depot, an architectural marvel that serves as home to the children’s museum, as well as a repository for one of the great railroad collections. It is significant that the museum is so close to the docks and lift bridge because this is where railroads and water shipping came together mid-continent.

      Walking into the high-roofed museum is an amazing experience for you and your grandchild. It does not seem possible to get so many railroad cars in one place, but here they are! A Soo Line caboose from

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