The Decorah Nordic Dancers performing at Spring Grove’s Syttende May celebration. Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee By Charlene Corson Selbee You do not have to be Norwegian or a kid to enjoy Spring Grove’s Syttende Mai celebration Wednesday. May 17 through Sunday, May 21. On May 17, Norwegians celebrate the 1814 signing of the country’s constitution. In Norway Constitution Day is a party for everyone especially children. Spring Grove has planned a weekend of events for…

By Charlene Corson Selbee Do memories of fishing as a child swirl in your head? Have you wanted to learn to fish and did not know where to begin?You may not be familiar with Bluff Country. The scenic Bluff Country region of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa offers hundreds of miles of streams of quality trout fishing. In addition, the natural cold streams make for a healthy habitat where trout can thrive. People come to this region to fish for…

The Art of Visiting Bluff CountryBy Charlene Corson Selbee One-of-a-kind art studios and galleries call the pictur­esque landscape of Bluff Country home. Visitors will expe­rience not only first-class art galleries, but they will have the opportunity to meet talented artists and purchase their cre­ations. The range of artwork found in Bluff County ranges from jew­elry, clothing, oil and watercolor paintings, black and white draw­ings, wood fur­niture, fiber arts, sculptures, and glass to name a few. Residents and visitors alike look…

Photo by Charlene Corson SelbeeBy Charlene Corson Selbee Traditionally, pilgrimages are thought of as a journey to a sacred place in a foreign county searching for a higher good that leads to a life-altering experience. Family genealogists go on pilgrimages to learn or expand their knowledge about their roots which leads to personal transformations. Visitors come to the Bluff Country of SE Minnesota, NE Iowa, and SW Wisconsin to learn more about their ancestors and walk…

By Charlene Corson Selbee Effigy Mounds.Photo by Prairie du Chien Chamber of Commerce It is not difficult to find a hiking trail in picturesque Bluff Country, as many communities proudly claim at least one hiking trail. Bluff Country terrain offers trails for all ages and skill levels. The landscape includes miles of rolling hills, scenic overlooks, woods, rivers, rocky bluffs, farms, charming towns, wildlife, and birds. In Preston, Minn., check out Isinours Junction, which connects with…

By Charlene Corson Selbee Effigy Mounds.Photo by Brooklyn HolmstromThis is the year to explore the karst topography both above and below ground in the driftless region. Years 2021 and 2022 are celebrated as the International Year of Caves and Karst. “The 24,000 square miles of the driftless area is almost the size of Iowa and Wisconsin and encompasses four states and 46 counties,” explained George Howe with Sustainable Driftless, Inc. and film producer of Mysteries of…

By Charlene Corson Selbee Splash and dash in the Yellow River State Forest.Photo by Lana DahlstromThe bluff country of NE Iowa, SE Minnesota, and SW Wisconsin offers miles of unspoiled scenic beauty to make your horseback riding trip memorable, fun, and challenging. Riders will find trails that offer water obstacles, woods, flatlands, hills, bluffs, rocks/gravel, scenic overlooks, challenges, and unknowns. Some trails are suitable for beginners to advance riders. Need some gear? Deb Thompson, the owner…

By Wanda Hanson Kristi Danielson-Vreeman notices more and sees more than she used to — not because of glasses or surgery — but because she’s a photographer! Small details that might have previously gone unnoticed now become subjects of her photographs; close-ups of spiderwebs become crystal creations. Kristi’s dad bought her a 110 flash camera when she was 12 years old, thus nurturing a lifelong interest in photography. In college, Kristi took a class on developing her own film which…

By Jason Sethre There are quite a few famous songs about road trips that speak to American’s love affair with automobiles. They are not just a mode of transportations. They represent freedom. Willie Nelson sang, “On the road again… Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway… We’re the best of friends… Insisting that the world keep turning our way,” in 1980. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers created a timeless tune in 1989 with “Runnin’ Down a Dream.”…

By Jason Sethre When the pandemic brought everything to a screeching halt in March of 2020, the world was full of uncertainty in every direction. After the lockdown restrictions loosened up in Minnesota, our family had to figure out what we were going to do about the trip we had planned to fly to Florida to spend some quality time at Universal Studios with our two teenage children. In early June, the airline notified us that our flights had been…

When travelers residing in Southeast Minnesota or Northeast Iowa want to go on an adventure, they don’t have to travel far. Within Historic Bluff Country (a.k.a. The Driftless Region), one element of nature brings so many communities together. The Root River. Throughout the summer months, locals and tourists will navigate the waterways with canoes, kayaks, and tubes. The river brings people together, near and far. On occasion, a few courageous individuals will plan for an overnight trip on the Root…