Forest History Center: Christmas in a Logging Camp

Today Noelle, Sierra and I made the long, winding drive down to Grand Rapids, Minnesota to check out the Christmas in a Logging Camp program. Noelle and I had been to it before, back in 2009. However, we both thought it would be fun to take Sierra. So after lunch at Culver's, we headed to the center.

We purchased our ticket and then visited with Santa

before heading over to the Fire Warden's Cabin

to wait for the horse-drawn carriage ride to the logging camp.

We arrived in camp and headed over to the bunkhouse first. There was a "logger" inside playing the banjo and Sierra got a feel for a straw mattress.

Then Noelle used the restroom,

before we headed over to the mess hall.

From there it was on to the camp store,

then the blacksmith shop (adorned with moose antlers)

and the stables.

Finally we caught the carriage back to the visitor center. Sierra even got to ride up front!
We checked out the exhibits in the visitor center for a bit and then found a short hiking trail outside

which led down to a partially frozen Mississippi River.

We made our way back to the car, past a weird trail shelter

and then drove out to Klockow Brewing Company where Noelle and I sampled beer and all 3 of us played some Uno.