Itasca State Park, June 1999, Lila Shoop
From MemoryArchive
Who: Lila Shoop What: Trip to Itasca State Park When: June, 1999 Where: Minnesota
The idea of visiting this place began in 1984 when I was attending my niece's wedding in Richfield, Minnesota. We were talking about some places in the area. I had heard of a place I wanted to go, but because of time and distance it was ruled out. Living in Florida, I did not travel to Minnesota often, so I put seeing this place as a "one day I might get there."
Then, in the summer of 1999, my sister asked me to come visit her for about a month. She now lived in New Richmond, Wisconsin. She had planned a wonderful trip for my daughters and me. She took us on a grand adventure touring all five Great Lakes, visiting Niagara Falls, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was truly a marvelous, a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. Upon returning from this trip, she asked what other small trip we would like to take. Now, I seized this invitation to get my "one day I might get there" place. She said yes, even though it was even farther away from her house now.
So, we packed up for a one day trip to Itasca State Park in Northern Minnesota. Anybody reading this might wonder what in the world is so important about this park that someone from Florida would care about. Then again, anybody that has been there knows the answer. Lake Itasca is the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Out of this lake flows the mighty river. It is about 20 feet wide and there are stepping stones placed there for people to walk across the river. We had a lot of fun that afternoon and my youngest daughter bought a T shirt with the picture of the lake, stepping stones, and the phrase "I walked across the Mississippi River" on it. When she wore it, I would fondly remember a place I had wanted to see for 15 years and finally did, thanks to my wonderful sister.
