Posts by Susan Metoxen
Hats off to the Saint Croix Band of Chippewa for their Food Giveaway
Feeding the Hungry in a Pandemic The dauntless Jennifer Bearheart coordinates efforts for the weekly food giveaway program. As the Aging Unit Director for the Saint Croix Band of Chippewa, she and her colleagues embraced the opportunity to coordinate the food giveaway for the area. Every Thursday morning, trucks roll in with dairy products, meat,…
Read MoreHats off to Photographer Dick Kettlewell!
Photographing the beauty of the South Dakota Black Hills We never miss a chance to drive through the Black Hills. On this trip, it was a little quiet driving through the Black Hills in December 2020, especially during the pandemic. Traffic was light and most of the area businesses were closed. That is why we…
Read MoreMaking the World Less Scary for Kids
Hats off to Kevin Kunkel, author of the children’s book, The World We Choose. How do you explain to children that all of the bad things they see or hear about on the news are not likely to happen to them? How can we make the world less scary? Watching the news can give viewers…
Read MoreAn Encounter with a Rattlesnake While Hiking near Phoenix
And Hats off to Steve from Eden Prairie, Minnesota! On March 9, 2020, we had a close encounter with a rattlesnake hiking at Pinnacle Peak, a city park in Scottsdale, Arizona near Phoenix. We were hiking with our good friends, Lyn and Steve, from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. When we started the hike we had no…
Read MoreBest Hikes in Phoenix for Active Geezers
Winter Hiking One of the best reasons to visit the Phoenix area in the winter months is to take advantage of the winter hiking season. December through February, the weather is perfect for hiking, typically reaching highs in the 60s and low 70s. If you are afraid of hiking in Phoenix because of a fear…
Read MoreSedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and Meteor Crater
Hats off to Northern Arizona! Hats Off America traveled to Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and Meteor Crater, three stunning places in Northern Arizona. While Arizona is famous for is giant saguaros and the Grand Canyon, there is so much more in Arizona. From Ponderosa forests in the North to the Sonoran Desert in the south,…
Read MoreMeteor Crater in Arizona
Hats off to the Barringer Crater near Winslow Arizona! When driving through Arizona on Highway 40 you may be tempted to skip Meteor Crater. Meteor Crater is located on a very remote stretch of highway, with many miles between towns and rest stops. It is 6 miles from the freeway. And based on its remote…
Read MoreSedona Chimney Rock Trail
Hats off to Chimney Rock Trail We were looking for an early evening hike close to our hotel in Sedona. We simply turned left of off Highway 89 and drove towards the mountain. This short excursion brought us to the Thunder Mountain Trailhead and the Chimney Rock Trail. Arriving at 4:45PM, we knew that sunset…
Read MoreInternational Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota
Hat’s off to the International Owl Center! International Owl Center The International Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota is a lovely day trip from the Twin Cities. The Houston area is surrounded by beautiful river bluffs. It is in the scenic Root River Valley, and is a great place for hiking as well as learning about…
Read MoreMinneopa State Park in Minnesota
Hats off to Minneopa State Park! Minneopa State Park is only an hour and a half from the Twin Cities and so makes an easy day trip. The park is beautiful, as you would expect with any state park. But what makes this one special is the herd of bison! Efforts have been made to…
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