Category Archives: Travel

North Shore, Minnesota Travel Guide

North Shore is a region just north of Duluth Minnesota that preserves a land of forests and rocky shoreline all along the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior. The town has its history deeply rooted in the timber and iron ore industry. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and port town. A walkout along the concrete breakwater to the lighthouse offers a great vantage point to watch iron ore vessels pull in and out of the historic port and the stretches of rocky shoreline provide a nice place for a walk or picnic.

The town has antique stores, tourist shops, and good eating such as that that can be found at the Vanilla Bean. A quick perusal of the menu will show you a nice selection of omelets in the more regional fare of pasties and lingonberry items but all of their meals are equally fulfilling. Within driving distance of two harbors are two of the more authentic establishments along the North Shore Russ Kendal’s and B.E. Nelson’s.

As you drive down old scenic highway 61, an ornately carved wood cabin will catch your eye. This workshop is the gift store of silversmith Brad Nelson. Before you enter, you want to take the time to appreciate his intricate wood carving inside. You’ll find an art that is reflective of Minnesota’s Scandinavian culture as well as local ethnic art. Much of the authenticity comes from the fact that it is either imported directly from Europe or crafted by local artisans. A stop here gives you a chance to appreciate quality handcraft and purchase a very unique gift. Regardless, it is one of the most unique shops you are likely to see in your travels.

Any Minnesotan will attest to the fact that you haven’t tasted smoked fish until you visited Russ Kendall’s – a family-owned and run business. They carry such smoked fish as trout, herring, salmon, and Goldie’s. The family will help you find the perfect fish for your tastes. Such food connoisseurs as Andrew Zimmerman have sung the praises of this place. Come visit and see what it’s all about for yourself.

Arguably, the most majestic of locations along the North Shore is a cliff known as Palisade Head. Located in the Teddy Coupe State Park, the sheer cliff towers 300 feet above Lake Superior and attracts climbers and sight seekers. From this vantage point, you can feel the immensity of the water making superiors seem more like a giant glacial ocean than it does a lake. While visiting, you will want to be very mindful of your step and be sure to bring your camera. It is one of our planet’s most breathtaking views.

The North Shore is famous for its natural campgrounds, hiking, and water trails such as can be found at Cascade River State Park. This is an area through which the mighty river cuts down to the shore below. You can admire the mighty power of this River face-to-face and take a seat along the ancient Cascades and waterfalls. Even in the more popular seasons, you’ll have no difficulty in finding some time alone to reflect on natural wonders.

One of the main hubs along the North Shore is a town of Grand Marais. As can be seen by any number of its art venues, it’s a town that both promotes and appreciates the work of the artist. The beachfront is such a place where you can experience the land water and North Shore weather. Even draped in fog, the town assumes a cozy feel but in just an hour or two that fog can be gone and you have a beautiful day before you. The place feels as though it conforms to the rules of nature flowing with it in North Shore harmony.

Well, this has been only a sampling of what you can discover on the North Shore. From its natural wonders, unique shops, and historic places, you can see that this region is one that offers an appeal to many. You will want to be sure to put the North Shore of Minnesota on your list of top destinations.

Top 3 Common Travel Myths That Are Completely Wrong

It is no secret that more often than not, traveling involves a whole lot of planning and preparation. In other words, if you want to travel the world the right way, you need to put a whole lot of effort not just into your trip, but everything that is leading into it as well. This includes pretty much anything and everything from choosing where you want to go, to who you want to go with, to what you are going to bring with you. One thing that is very important to note here is that this process doubles up when you are one of those people who enjoy traveling alone. The main reason for this is because when you travel alone, you are in charge of most of the stuff that is involved in the trip. For example, one of the very first things that you need to do before you hit the road is calculate how much money you have available, as well as what you are going to do with all that money once you actually hit the road.

While all of these things may sound pretty simple to some of you out there, a lot of people actually find them to be pretty complicated. But don’t let that distract you from reaching your travel goals, because even though travel is something that requires a whole lot of time and effort, in the end, it is all absolutely worth it. Now, we understand that it is pretty easy to get distracted by all those travel myths that can be found online, but they are nothing more than just that – myths. That being said, here are three common travel myths that you need to know!

Travel Is Too Expensive
Okay, let’s make one thing crystal clear – nothing in this world is completely free. Everything has its price, and travel is no exception here. However, one thing that you need to keep in the back of your mind at all times is that while travel is expensive, it is never too expensive that it is impossible to achieve. There are many different tools and websites out there that can make that seemingly impossible trip of yours possible.

Hitchiking Is Too Dangerous
The idea that hitchiking is always dangerous dates all the way back to the 1950s. But the real truth here is that hitchiking is all about using common sense. If you think that a certain person is too dangerous, you don’t have to get into a car with them. It’s simple as that!

Working Overseas Is Not an Option
Okay, this one is completely wrong. Working overseas is almost always an option – whether you are single or not. If you really want to work, you will always find a way to do it, regardless of where you are.

Top 3 Cities To Visit in Japan

Now, it’s probably safe to say that you have all heard of Japan and its diverse culture more than a few dozen times by now, haven’t you? Chances are that you have! But it’s actually not a surprising thing at all, since Japan is one of the most interesting, as well as one of the most unique countries in the world. We can safely say that Japan is one of those countries that have something for everybody. This is why the ownership group at CDM Waste Management chose to take a recent trip to Japan and the country certainly lived up to the hype.

Japan is filled with all sorts of tourist places and historic buildings, and its culture is very, very unique and interesting. And while it is true that Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, it has its own set of rules that everyone should follow.

But there is no reason for you to be afraid, because we are going to share three of those rules with you right now, just so you don’t end up embarrassing yourself during your visit to this beautiful country. Don’t wear your shoes indoors, don’t play with your chopsticks, and don’t walk and eat at the same time. There you go! Follow these three basic rules and everything should be okay. Now that we got that out of the way, we can finally focus on our main subject here. That being said, here are top three cities that you need to check out during your visit to Japan!

Tokyo
Of course we had to put Tokyo in here! After all, Tokyo is the capital city of Japan, and because of that, it is one of the most obvious destinations of choice when visiting this beautiful city. It is pretty much safe to say that Tokyo is the most populous city in Japan, and there is a good reason for that. You see, Tokyo is so diverse that it has something for everybody.

Yokohama
Yokohama is a very popular city that contains some of the world’s largest Chinatowns. There is approximately 500 different Chinatown restaurants in Yokohama, which is a pretty large number. The city of Yokohama is also known for promoting the international language learning exchange.

Matsumoto
Matsumoto is one of the largest cities in Japan. This beautiful city is mostly known for its historical Matsumotojo Castle, as well as its breathtaking landscape. But these two things are not the only reason why we decided to put Matsumoto on this list. You see, apart from its historic importance, this beautiful city is also known for its gastronomic attractions such as juicy apples and soba noodles.

Why You Should Skip College To Travel the World

It is no secret that the cost of higher education has risen significantly over the past few years. So, should you use that hard-earned money of yours to apply for a local college, or should you use it to travel the world instead? Maybe even you don’t know the answer to this question yet, but something keeps telling you that you should try to figure life out on the road rather than in school! Or maybe school just doesn’t seem to be a good option for you right now? There is no right way to answer this question, because different people deserve a different answer. For starters, it is a very personal decision to make – one that is not really based on knowledge, but on your personal goals and desires. We can’t possibly know what you want, because only you know what your heart’s true goals and desires are, and we also don’t want to accidentally force you to make the wrong decision. Also, we don’t really like to give strangers such life-changing advice when we don’t have enough information about them. Generally speaking, we strongly believe that most young people should delay school – whether it’s because they want to travel the world, or because they want to do something else with their life.

Now, don’t get us wrong, but proper education has always been one of the most important things in the world. When we say that you should delay school, we don’t mean that you should stop education yourself in any way, shape or form. The reason why we said this is because education comes in many different shapes, which means that learning isn’t only done in a classroom. You can increase your knowledge by traveling the world, listening to podcasts, attending travel conferences, and speaking with experts. What this means is that you should never stop educating yourself!

Education Is Very Important
If you are a driven individual, you will find success in life whether you decide to apply for college or not. When we say that you should skip school, we don’t mean that you should stop pursuing an education. Did you know that travel can actually teach you all sorts of lessons that are very important for your self-development?

Independence
It is safe to say that travel is a form of education in its own right. Travel provides you with the opportunity to learn not just about the world, but about yourself as well. Life on the road can teach you how to become more independent, as well as how to deal with uncomfortable situations.

Top 3 Reasons Why Traveling Changes Your Life

It is pretty much safe to say that having your bags packed and knowing that you are ready to hit the road and head to your next destination is one of the best feelings that anyone could ever experience in their life. There are few things in life that will have as big of an impact on you as travel will. There is just something special about boarding a plane in one country and landing in another – something that we can’t quite explain just yet. It is almost as if your eyes open again for the very first time. The excitement that you experience when you travel the world is unlike anything else that you could ever experience in your life.

This is especially the case when you are learning a new language, because being able to understand what someone is saying in a foreign language is one of the best feelings in the world. You see, all of these things can take you out of your comfort zone and remind you of why you are here right now. With this in mind, here are top three reasons why traveling changes your life. Enjoy the trip!

You Learn To Live in the Moment

Whether you are exploring the pyramids of Egypt or seeing the streets of Venice for the very first time, one thing is certain – traveling can teach you how to take in the moment of awe and make the most of it. With this in mind, we can safely say that traveling is a feast for your eyes. It is not really easy to think about the last text message that you sent to your loved ones when you are halfway across the planet visiting places that you didn’t even know existed. That being said, traveling can teach you how to unplug, explore, and discover new parts of yourself.

 

You Learn To Roll With Things

Have you ever been in a situation where your flight was either delayed or canceled? If you have, then you already know how uncomfortable it can feel. But there is actually something good about this whole situation! You see, moments like these actually teach you how to deal with them. Simply put, you learn to roll with things.

You Become More Open-Minded

No country lives the same way. There are so many different cultures out there that experiencing each and every single one of them is pretty much impossible. With that said, traveling can teach you how to become more open-minded.

It is pretty much safe to say that having your bags packed and knowing that you are ready to hit the road and head to your next destination is one of the best feelings that anyone could ever experience in their life. There are few things in life that will have as big of an impact on you as travel will. There is just something special about boarding a plane in one country and landing in another – something that we can’t quite explain just yet. It is almost as if your eyes open again for the very first time. The excitement that you experience when you travel the world is unlike anything else that you could ever experience in your life.

This is especially the case when you are learning a new language, because being able to understand what someone is saying in a foreign language is one of the best feelings in the world. You see, all of these things can take you out of your comfort zone and remind you of why you are here right now. With this in mind, here are top three reasons why traveling changes your life. Enjoy the trip!

You Learn To Live in the Moment

Whether you are exploring the pyramids of Egypt or seeing the streets of Venice for the very first time, one thing is certain – traveling can teach you how to take in the moment of awe and make the most of it. With this in mind, we can safely say that traveling is a feast for your eyes. It is not really easy to think about the last text message that you sent to your loved ones when you are halfway across the planet visiting places that you didn’t even know existed. That being said, traveling can teach you how to unplug, explore, and discover new parts of yourself.

 

You Learn To Roll With Things

Have you ever been in a situation where your flight was either delayed or canceled? If you have, then you already know how uncomfortable it can feel. But there is actually something good about this whole situation! You see, moments like these actually teach you how to deal with them. Simply put, you learn to roll with things.

 

You Become More Open-Minded

No country lives the same way. There are so many different cultures out there that experiencing each and every single one of them is pretty much impossible. With that said, traveling can teach you how to become more open-minded.