Johan B.

Of all the airports I fly to and through, MSP is always the cleanest.

It is meticulously kept spotless and sparkling, even during high-traffic periods. The level of cleanliness is most noticeable when I fly back to the Twin Cities for Christmas each year, from LAX.

Now, with the Hiawatha Line Light Rail connection, traveling between terminals and to and from the airport itself is a breeze. Its also so much quieter and less congested than LAX, but I suppose that goes without saying.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is a treasure trove of art from ages past and places near and far.

When you visit this museum, give yourself a LOT of time. The collection is vast, and you may well find yourself spending your whole day inside.

Back when I lived in Minneapolis, I would only plan to see one collection or gallery each day. My favorite visit was the Asian galleries, and specifically the massive jade boulder that was sculpted into a village scene. I could quite honestly stare at it for hours.

The last time I visited Split Rock was back in July of 2005. It was a cool and foggy morning, and the park had just opened, though the lighthouse and visitor center weren’t open yet. As the fog began to clear, we saw a rainstorm over the lake, heading towards us.

Having grown up in Minnesota, I’m used to stunning views and the beauty of nature, but even this sight caught me. The soft, and ominously dark clouds were painted gently with tones of green and purple. As they rolled in so improbably from the southeast (most of Minnesota’s weather comes from the west), the eastern edges of the storm’s underbelly were tinged red with the fire of the rising sun.

Though we made a quick getaway to avoid the coming downpour, this will remain one of the most memorable of my several visits to Split Rock Lighthouse.