| Today Norm Goldman editor of Sketchandtravel and | | | | National Forest, home to the million-acre Boundary |
| Bookpleasures welcomes as a guest, travel author | | | | Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Besides paddling, |
| and writer Tim Bewer, who is an expert on | | | | there is fantastic hiking, biking, dogsledding, and just |
| Minnesota. Tim is also the author of Moon Handbooks | | | | about any other outdoor activity you can imagine. |
| Minnesota, as well as many other travel books and | | | | Spend the night in one of the town's quaint inns or |
| travel articles. | | | | opt for a lakeside cabin nearby. |
| Good day Tim and thank you for agreeing to | | | | - If you want more of the outdoors, consider taking |
| participate in our interview: | | | | a houseboat through Voyageurs National Park, which |
| Norm: | | | | runs along the Canadian border. There are no roads |
| Tim, could you tell our readers something about | | | | here, just a 100,000-acre chain of lakes, endless |
| yourself, how long have you lived in Minnesota, your | | | | forests, hundreds on moose and loons, plus a few |
| writing experience, and your expertise pertaining to | | | | interesting historic sites to mix things up. A |
| Minnesota? | | | | houseboat lets you explore everything with all the |
| Tim: | | | | comforts of home. |
| I moved to Minneapolis in 2000, but I spent most of | | | | - Finally, for something out of the ordinary, the Delta |
| my life living next door in Wisconsin and visited the | | | | Queen Steamboat Company runs timeless |
| Land of 10,000 Lakes often before making it my | | | | paddlewheel riverboats along the Mississippi River |
| home. After two years of exploring every nook and | | | | between St. Paul, Minnesota and St. Louis, Missouri. |
| cranny in the state I published my Moon Handbooks | | | | The weeklong voyages stop in various river towns |
| Minnesota with Avalon Travel Publishing of Emeryville, | | | | and feature luxurious accommodations. |
| California in December of 2004. Other countries I've | | | | Norm: |
| written, edited, or updated books on include | | | | When is the best time to visit Minnesota from the |
| Wisconsin, Ecuador, and El Salvador. | | | | point of view of weather, costs, etc? |
| Norm: | | | | Tim: |
| Could you tell our audience something about | | | | You can't beat Minnesota in the fall. The mild |
| Minnesota, where it is situated, its climate, geography | | | | temperatures and stable atmosphere of autumn |
| etc, and why, as mentioned in your bio that I | | | | results in lots of sunshine and very little rain. This ideal |
| recently read, you consider the upper Midwest to be | | | | weather often lasts well into November and |
| the most beautiful place on earth? | | | | sometimes even December. Late September through |
| Tim: | | | | early October is my pick for the absolute best time |
| Minnesota is in the north central United States. It | | | | to travel across the state; not only is the weather |
| spans the boreal pine forests of Lake Superior's | | | | ideal, but you'll find fall colors, fewer visitors than |
| western shores in the northeast down to the | | | | during the busy summer, off-season discounts, and |
| tallgrass prairie and farm fields of the Great Plains in | | | | no mosquitoes. The one exception to the fewer |
| the southwest. The culture is quintessential | | | | visitors rule is that hotels along the North Shore of |
| Midwest--modest and friendly. The winters are as | | | | Lake Superior are booked solid during the fall color |
| cold as you'd expect, but the weather the rest of | | | | season. |
| the year is usually mild and comfortable. | | | | Norm: |
| As for being the most beautiful place on earth; well, | | | | What should people know about celebrating a |
| no one can argue with the majesty of mountains, | | | | wedding in Minnesota from the point of view of |
| but I personally think the intimacy of a forest-fringed | | | | requirements, experience of the various hotels, etc? |
| lake tops it and we've got some twelve thousand of | | | | Tim: |
| them. Plus, there is an abundance of waterfalls, | | | | The most important thing is to book as far in |
| soaring bluffs lining the Mississippi River and Lake | | | | advance as possible. Lodging in the destinations I |
| Superior, and large patches of tallgrass prairie. | | | | mentioned above will often be full up months in |
| Norm: | | | | advance. The bed-and-breakfasts and smaller inns are |
| Do you consider Minnesota a great place for a | | | | renown for personal service and can certainly assist |
| romantic getaway or wedding destination and if so, | | | | you in making the most of your special day while big |
| why? | | | | resorts have extensive experience with wedding |
| Tim: | | | | parties and can handle just about everything for you. |
| Absolutely. There are many historic small towns with | | | | Marriage licenses must be applied for in person and |
| luxurious bed-and-breakfasts or you can go "Up | | | | then there is a five-day statutory waiting period |
| North" and find a remote lakeside cabin with a | | | | after applying; however, waivers to the waiting |
| fieldstone fireplace and bearskin rug. And, no matter | | | | period are routinely granted with a little extra |
| where you base yourself, you'll have sublime scenery | | | | paperwork. |
| around you. | | | | Norm: |
| Norm: | | | | What resources are available on the Internet |
| If you had to choose the five most unique and | | | | pertaining to Minnesota? |
| romantic venues in Minnesota, what would they be, | | | | Tim: |
| where are they situated and why would you consider | | | | The Minnesota Office of Tourism ( has a pretty |
| these five? | | | | comprehensive Web site covering the state. The |
| Tim: | | | | lodging search is particularly handy. |
| - If someone wants to be pampered, then they'll | | | | Norm: |
| love Stillwater, which lies just outside the Twin Cities. | | | | Is there anything else we have not covered that you |
| This historic lumber town on the St. Croix River has | | | | would like to tell our audience about Minnesota? |
| reinvented itself as a retail and relaxation destination. | | | | Tim: |
| You can indulge yourself at a four-star restaurant, | | | | Whether someone is planning a honeymoon or |
| stroll along the riverfront promenade at sunset, take | | | | wedding, or just a regular vacation, I have the same |
| a moonlit gondola cruise, and finish the night at any | | | | advice for everyone: Take some time to visit |
| of the elegant bed-and-breakfasts. | | | | different parts of the state. The culture of the Twin |
| - Little Lansesboro, nestled in the rugged hills of | | | | Cities and the lakes and forests of the northeast |
| southeast Minnesota's Amish country, is more down | | | | attract most of the visitors, but the historic small |
| home than Stillwater, though the top-notch lodging | | | | towns or the southeast and the vast open spaces of |
| and dining is no less indulgent and the surrounding | | | | the largely agricultural western half of the state have |
| scenery is even more spectacular. | | | | their own charm. |
| - Grand Marais, a flourishing arts community up in the | | | | Thanks Tim for giving us the opportunity to learn |
| far northeast corner of the state, looks out across | | | | more about Minnesota. |
| Lake Superior. Outside town is the vast Superior | | | | Tim: You are most welcome. |