Last Saturday the kids and I went to QH in Rochester for a bit of fun. Each September they have what is called the Fall Festival. Sarah stayed home to work on her masters school work. Even though the Hawkeyes and Iowa State was on the television, I thought that a good time in Minnesota was a much better idea. We had a full days worth of activities. We started out at the cave.
The cave was great because the kids never been in one before. We took flashlights and searched the man made creation for bats. We found one big brown bat hanging out for the day. Jonah and Emily loved it. The Apple Room had a vent shaft that allowed light to peer in. The light was neat because it was as a beam. Almost like a transporter beam in Star Trek.
From the cave we went up on top of QH. We saw where the rocks got removed and we even looked a bit for fossils. From there we hiked the savana. It was man created as well and it looks very nice. A mixture of native prairie grasses and flowers dotted with bur oak gives us a taste of what Iowa must have been like hundreds of years ago.
Next came the rock climbing. This was Jonah's first time rock climbing. Emily does a little bit at the UNI wall. We spent a good hour there climbing and taking photos. Jonah was so focused he didn't even care that his shoes came off. I thought that he might be scared of the idea, but he was brave and tried it with zero hesitation.
We wrapped up the day with games at the nature center. I got home and found out that the Cyclones beat the Hawks. Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
12 comments:
Great stuff.
Man, just bring one or both of your kids and join us at Forestville/Mystery Cave Park for Saturday night! Good company, campfire stories, no mosquitos. What more can you ask? And you think your kids enjoyed the cave at Quarry Hill???
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/forestville_mystery_cave/index.html
I think Grandma and Grandpa will be watching the kids. We can plan another weekend of camping maybe later this fall. Mid October might be a good time to go somewhere? Maybe a spot not far from the cities?
What was that spot with the cabins we went to once before?
No mosquitoes? Who are you kidding?
Let's see...that place with the cabins we went to once before...
Ingawanis.
Nice Gibbons-esque response, by the way.
"I think Grandma and Grandpa will be watching the kids" is just telling me what is happening instead of camping, not an answer as to WHY you decided not to camp.
Thanks! Near the Cities is not Ingawanis you goof. I believe that you cut you hand there because you where jacking with some ice near the river.
Yes, yes, you jackalope. I know what you're talking about. Mixdorf & I kicked yours & Gibbs' asses in a pinecone war.
Lake Mariah State Park.
It's a good park. But there's not a chance in the world that we could get a cabin at this late date. They're usually reserved about half a year out.
What a good time! Nice pics!
It was a great time! We all took a nap on the way back to Iowa.
Coolio.
Who was driving?
I was driving. :O
Just kidding. I didn't snooze, but Jonah did for most of the way back home. The little guy had two big days in a row. Friday they went to Cattle Congress all day with G-ma and G-pa.
Yo yo yo!
Any of you ever realize how ridiculous the term "Cattle Congress" sounds to anyone outside of Iowa or really, even, Black Hawk Country?
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