Arguably the most famous aviator in history was raised in Minnesota. So, it is only fitting that a state park be named in his honor. Charles A. Lindbergh State Park is on the southern edge of Little Falls, less than two hours from the Twin Cities. The focal point of the park is his boyhood home, which is owned and operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. The family lived there while his father Charles Sr. served as a U.S. congressman from Minnesota’s Sixth District from 1907 to 1917. Charles Sr. died in 1924 and thus did not live to see his son make the world-famous solo flight three …

During a Minnesota summer, nothing is as comfortable, relaxing and just plain fun as being out on the water—and what better place than the St. Croix River in Stillwater? The St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. has been in business for 30 years providing cruises out of Stillwater on one of five 1800s-era paddleboats or on its one luxury yacht, the Majestic Star. The paddleboats hark back to the history of Stillwater and the St. Croix when river traffic moved people and goods both in the region and around the country. The paddleboat was for many decades a major form of transportation for early …

If you like old war planes and military aviation history, then you’ll want to spend part of this weekend at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. AirExpo Minnesota will feature famous planes and some famous pilots. Among the aircraft on display and in the air will be a P-51 Mustang, a B-17 Flying Fortress and a TBM Avenger from World War II, and an A-10 Warthog from today. The show will run on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. For further information and tickets, go to www.airexpo-mn.org.

Lanesboro, MN, in the southeast corner of the state, bills itself as both the Bed & Breakfast Capital of Minnesota, thanks to 15 such lodging destinations and the Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota. However, because it is nestled in the bluff country of the Mississippi River, it also has many nearby locations for hiking, biking, canoeing,fishing and camping. It has a weekend Art in the Park program featuring regional artists, a birding tour and the Eagle Bluffs Rope Course where you can ride in a harness at treetop level near the area bluffs. The community has been recognized as a Minnesota Legacy …

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War—the bloodiest conflict in the nation’s history that resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 Union and Confederate combatants and civilians. To get a feel for this epic period, visit the Meeker County Historical Society in Litchfield, which is 65 miles west of the Twin Cities on Highway 12. The Historical Society is housed in a G.A.R. Hall, the only one still standing in Minnesota. The G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) was a fraternal organization founded after the Civil War and its membership was made up of Union …