within 350 miles of Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
Here's a map of the area being considered.

As the above map demonstrates, you could literally spend years camping in an area that large and not see it all. All of MN, all of WI, all of Iowa, parts of six other states and even two provinces in Canada. And you only have one week.

Why not narrow your area of consideration to a state or two or at least a direction from the Twin Cities area? Northern Minnesota's camping opportunities can fill a book. The North Shore, the Boundary Waters, Itasca State Park (where the Mississippi River begins), and on and on.

But the same could be said for many areas and many states and places. Heck, you've got Chicago in within your area of consideration.

Fall Lake is a Federal campground on the edge of the boundary waters canoe area near Ely,Mn. Bear Head Lake is in the same area and is a state park. If the timing is right the leaves maybe turning color.

Great Lakes of Iowa, aka Okoboji!

I'd suggest Door County, WI but it is crowded enough and doesn't need more campers; especially when we are there each August. -)

Here's a map of the area being considered.

Last summer we visited family in the Iron Range of northern Minnesota. If you have not seen the Soudan Mine, I'd highly recommend it as a great educational experience. This former iron ore mine was known as the "Cadillac of Mines" for it's hard rock and safety record and is now a Minnesota State Park.

There is a lot to see above ground including the power house that contains the elevator hoist operator and the 3000' cable used to move ore from the mine depths and transport the underground miners to their work areas.

The mine closed in 1962 after 80 years of operation and reaching the 27th level at 2341 feet below the surface. The tour includes a trip on a mine train, and a great guided tour describing the work of the miners. The elevator trip takes 2 1/2 minutes to go the half mile, it's noisy, and the temperature at the bottom is 52 degrees.

Lake Vermilion State Park - Soudan Mine/

Soudan Mine Website