State parks are perfect playgrounds
Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022 // 3
Anderson is adventurist at heart BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
ST. CLOUD – Katie Anderson made it her goal for 2021 to visit as many of Minnesota’s state parks as she could. Venturing out in the early morning and getting back late at night, the St. Cloud adventurist planned a number of day trips, hitting multiple parks before the sun went down. Other times, she planned three- or fourday excursions. Though Anderson had destinations in mind, she took every opportunity to stop along the way, or make a side trip if she saw something interesting. “Being locked up the year before, just to get out and explore Minnesota
and enjoy what we’ve got right here (was important),” she said. Anderson grew up taking camping trips with her mom, aunts, sisters and cousins. Her father and uncles always stayed home. Now, she extends her invitations to her whole family, whoever can come, sisters, cousins, nephews, in-laws. “It’s just about having fun with the family,” she said. Anderson Dons her black tennis shoes and grabs a backpack filled with lunch fixings and water when she knows she’s heading out for a whole day. She takes things as they come. If they adventure too late into the
Katie Anderson comes across a secret hideaway in the woods at Banning State Park.
evening, she’s not opposed too sleeping in her car, althoughh she hasn’t had to resort to it. She made her first tripp out last May, heading to Banning State Park for a 13-mile hike. She also day-tripped to Charles A. Lindbergh State Park and Crow Wing State Park in early spring. She planned a big day trip for July, leaving the house around 5 a.m. and returning home around midnight. She and her crew followed the waterfalls and stopped at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park where they did the cave tour, Caron Park, Sakatah Lake State Park and Minneopa State Park. PHOTOS SUBMITTED
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Katie Anderson (from front), Tina Anderson, Betsy Lenzen and Kim Seitz hike the trail at Temperance River State Park.
Dappled in shade, this staircase is part of a trail system in Banning State Park.
This waterfall at Minneopa State Park was on Katie Anderson’s visit last summer as she toured various parks throughout the state.
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