Epsilon Adventures

Our second week on our journey to Alaska found us at Voyageur National Park in Minnesota. We stayed at the Pines of Kabetogama RV Resort (https://thepineskab.com) and I highly recommend this venue. They have cabins you can rent as well as RV spots. We stayed for four glorious days. We booked a tour from the rangers and purchased a private tour of the NP from Jason, one of the Pines of Kabetogama owners. 

Voyageur NP is approximately 33% water, so you’ll need to access a boat to get to the sites in the park because they are on isolated islands . So, if you are planning a visit get on https://recreation.gov as soon as they open the tours and reserve your spot for a ranger led tour. You can also rent a boat, a private boat tour, or a houseboat. If you reserve a houseboat, you can reserve an island in the park via rec.gov and stay in the park that way. It is beautiful and peaceful. Let me know in the comments if you have questions. Below is a short video that if you look closely you will see an eaglet looking out at us as we passed by: 

My favorite stop was the Ellsworth Rock Garden. We had a delightful lunch at the Kettle Falls Hotel and the three visitors’ centers were worth the stop to explore them. 

We have now been to 33 NPs and I have not been to one I have not liked. They are a treasure belonging to all Americans, and I highly encourage all to visit them. Do not let the fact you are older, not physically fit or in a season where money is tight hold you back from adventuring to the parks. I wish we had started younger and stayed longer in the parks we have visited. You learn so much about the diversity of the land, flora and animals in each NP. Ranger led programs are so informative and fun. Be curious and lean into the unknown and uncomfortable. 

 Steve and I went to Olympic National Park on our honeymoon. We went to Rocky Mountain NP as a weekend away right before Steve went to Afghanistan. We dragged the girls on hikes and to places they didn’t want to go to, and memories were made. State parks are also wonderful, if the NPs are too far away. We didn’t camp when the girls were young, (and really we glamp, we don’t really camp now), but I was always looking to do things that were small positive adventures as we moved from place to place and these experiences became some of our best family memories I highly encourage you to start exploring now wherever you are in your life season. 

The balance of our second week has been driving across Canada on our way to Dawson Creek, the start of the Canadian/Alaskan Highway and where we meet up with the 24 other Airstreams that we are caravanning with. Manitoba and Saskatchewan are beautiful vast areas of farmlands with small towns along the way. 

Dips along the way:

1. Missing our first ranger tour in Voyager NP because the park app led us to the wrong visitor center. We had a lovely restful day, but I was pretty upset, so Steve booked a private tour, and it was wonderful.
2. Canadian border crossing with the RV. This stressed me out way more than it should have. I spent hours researching what we could and couldn’t bring into Canada. I think it changes from time to time, so information on the internet was somewhat confusing. Long story short: NO produce, or firearms, and limited alcohol. No meat that is not labeled and sealed with a USDA on the packaging. 
3. Road fatigue. When the landscape does not change, and there is nothing but vastness before you, you do get tired of being on the road. Audiobooks, podcasts and great conversations help.  (Steve’s note: No, it’s not as bad as driving across Kansas. Really there is nothing that boring!)