St. Louis offers flying trapeze at Union Station

Circus Harmony's new flying trapeze at St. Louis. Photos provided by Explore St. Louis.

Circus Harmony offers fresh way
to have fun and face your fears

Sometime in my late 30s, the inner equilibrium that fueled a childhood full of cartwheels, flips off swim rafts and summer pool somersaults disappeared, leading to severe vertigo with any upside-down dips. Roller coasters and thrill rides? No, thanks.

But a sense of daring? That was intact. Every year’s goals include “Do something that scares me.” Yep, a flying trapeze qualified. And then some.

Read my full feature on facing fear on the flying trapeze--which requires physically hanging on while mentally letting go--on Midwest Living.

Meeting Muhammed Ali & the serendipity of travel

Picking up a scrawny 7-year-old (that would be me) was no effort for legendary boxer Muhammed Ali in 1976.

"Muhammed Ali's on the plane!"

News like that spreads fast--especially in 1976 near the prime of his career. Muhammed Ali, one of America's greatest sports legends, turns 70 today.

I was only 7 when our paths crossed. He picked me up while greeting passengers on the way to Hawaii. We were moving to Oahu for a year, a rather magical one that meant being the only white kid in the entire third grade and included posing with Jack Lord, star of the original "Hawaii 5-0," on the way to school one morning.

Never knowing who you will meet ranks among the greatest joys of travel. It can be a sports legend such as Muhammed Ali or serendipitous small-world reunions of old friends in unexpected places. I also love the joy getting to know strangers, who open your eyes to lives you'd never imagine, whether it's a bonsai salesperson from Japan or archaeology professor from Africa.

It was pure luck that Muhammed Ali was one of the first people I ever met while traveling. I hope to someday soon make it to Ali's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, to learn more about his remarkable career as well as his extensive humanitarian work at the Muhammed Ali Center. 

Here's wishing you the joy of good connections as you travel--not just making your plane on time--but celebrating the human experience along the way.

 --Lisa Meyers McClintick

Minnesota's Cuyuna Lakes mountain bike trails open

You'd never know this ultra-clear lake near Crosby was formerly a mine pit.

Former mines transform into a premiere playground

Jenny Smith heading through Boot Camp.

One of Minnesota's best-kept secrets, the Cuyuna Lakes State Recreation Area, won't be under the radar much longer. The buzz has been building for years among mountain biking fans. License plates from across the country already have showed up in the parking lot since some of the rugged new trails opened just before Memorial Day weekend.

They're spectacular--and that's just the Boot Camp section for beginners. My son and I did about eight miles on May 27 with guidance from Jenny Smith, owner of Crosby's Cycle Path and Paddle. It's a blast.

We love the exhilaration of swooping around corners, riding into dips and rattling down hills. Terrain goes from pines to birch and hardwoods, from sand and soil to the red dirt and jagged rocks from iron mining days.

For hard-core mountain bikers, who can rumble and launch across 250-foot slag piles, it's an adventurous 22-mile, tire-shredding nirvana.

From diving and kayaking to IMBA destination
The International Mountain Biking Association has been working with the Minnesota Department of Nature Resources for years to carve trails through the former iron mine property. It sounds gritty and industrial, but it's surprisingly gorgeous. The hills created by excavating ore rise up steep and wooded, while the 500-foot pits below them form 17 emerald-green lakes. It feels like a mini Boundary Waters Canoe Area, but much closer to the Twin Cities.

How clear is it? This is one of the most popular spots for Scuba diving in the state. Really. Check out the excursions and beginner classes through the Minnesota Dive School in Brainerd, which also does dive trips to Lake Superior.

It's also amazing for kayaking. On my first paddle here about three years ago, I have to admit the thought of a 500-foot drop below me was a little creepy. But then the surrounding beauty takes over, and it's pure fun.

You'll find a few anglers here, too, as the deep, extra-cold water supports trout. And if you need an ideal way to cool off after a sweaty good ride, there's nothing like a mine lake.


Celebrate the trails' grand opening

Keep an eye out for iron ore and interesting rocks.

The trails' official grand opening and the first Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival is June 10-12. Hans "No Way" Rey, a California-based German mountain biker who travels the world, will be part of the fun. He's doing an extreme skill demonstration in the Yawkey Expert Skills Area and an outdoor big screen movie of his global mountain biking adventures that have taken him to pyramids, jungles and the ancient Petra ruins.

There will be a Night Ride, Grand Tour, Kids Bike Parade, Kids Bike Race, Trek Time Trial, and the Kryptonight Crusher cross-country race.  Not surprisingly, Red Bull will be there, too, along with assorted bonfires, live music and beer and wine to make it an official party.

A few Cuyuna Trail tips:
Bike with a buddy. 
The terrain is rugged and remote. Local EMT crews have gone through special training to deal with trail emergencies, but that doesn't mean it's an easy task--especially if no one knows you're there.

Wear long pants or leggings. You'll protect your legs better and shield yourself from the poison ivy. One crash off the trail, and you may be swimming in it.

Take extra tire tubes. Some of the most extreme areas have the highest potential for tire-shredding terrain.

Start with an expert.
If you've never tried mountain biking, go with someone who can coach you through it. Jenny at Cycle Path & Paddle also may be adding some family mountain bike sessions or do some women-only sessions as the summer progresses.

My first time on a mountain was on North Dakota's Maah Daah Hey Trail. It took about half an hour for me to loosen the death grip I had on the brakes. Cuyuna's boot camp session isn't quite as challenging, but if you're brand-new, you need to feel comfortable enough to trust momentum, let it carry you down the hills and back up the next one.

Trust me. You don't have to be a Red-Bull-slammin' extremist to enjoy this exhilarating sport. It's a joy ride no matter what level you're at.

If you need pavement beneath your wheels, Cuyuna has a fine paved trail system, as well, and you'll get some of the same picturesque views of the mine lakes and forest--just not the whoops of triumph when zooming up and down mountain bike trails. Consider it a mostly silent sport.

For maps, details on the celebration, and info on rustic campsites, check for updates through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Long weekend: Devil's Lake & Wisconsin Dells

Devil's Lake State Park

Wisconsin Dells' fall fun beyond waterparks
Need a fun family getaway for Minnesota's four-day teachers' workshop weekend? One of our favorites is a trek to Wisconsin Dells. Sure, the indoor waterparks are a gimme (and weatherproof), but there are several other outstanding attractions that get lost in the crush of things to do. Here are my best picks for a fall weekend:

Ride the train
About half an hour south of the Dells, the tiny town of North Freedom keeps vintage trains chugging throughout the summer. The last Mid-Continent Train Ride of the season--the Pumpkin Special--is a scenic and fairly soothing way to see what is left of fall colors Oct. 23-24. It's a short tour--only about an hour round-trip--which makes it ideal for preschoolers and elementary-aged kids.

Mid-way through the ride, you can hop off and pick out a pumpkin to take home. Adults should be able to appreciate the antique bench seats that can face front or each other, along with classy wood trim in the renovated cars. Fares: $15, adults; $13, kids 13-18; $9, 3-12.

Hike Devil's Lake State Park
OK, I got cocky. That's what happens when you're from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. You think you've seen bodies of water in all shapes and sizes. Wrong. Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo (about 15 minutes from the Dells) can drop jaded jaws with its density of color across 10,000 acres, toe-tingling cliff views and wonderfully rugged hikes.

Start with the wooded drive into the park where the very air seems infused with golden fall color. Then hike up to the top of cliffs for sweeping views of the 360-acre spring-fed lake. If you have kids who aspire to be billy goats, hang on tightly and know this is their kind of turf with shaded, intricate rock formations to climb across.

Beyond golden yellow maples that arc over the roads, you'll be able to hike past vivid red maples that look like they've been acid-washed with yellow. It's a funky and memorable pattern that makes the trip a bountiful bonanza for leaf-collectors.

Best for kids ages 5 and up. Park admission is $5 for Wisconsin residents, and $10 for anyone out of state. Colors are nudging past peak, but you can get updates through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Take a Wilderness zip line

If you haven't had a chance to try ziplining yet, The Wilderness Canyon Zip Line Tour opened one last year that offers plenty of thrills without being terrifying (assuming you're OK with stepping off a platform high above the trees). The price also is decent at about $45/person for Wilderness Resort guests or $65 for the general public. The route includes five lines across the property's canyon.

Our son, who was 10 last year, was a bit nervous taking that first step, but harnesses feel snug and safe. You get used to the whirring hum of cable as you buzz across it letting gravity do its thing. It's a fun, fresh way to enjoy being outside and stretching those comfort zones. The zip line also is less scary than the indoor ropes course at Kalahari Resort. Kids (and parents) wanting to try the zip line need to be at least 70 pounds.

Devil's Lake leaves

For more information:
Additional reviews on Dells-area attractions can be found on the new iPhone app by Melanie Radzicki McManus. Watch for my own app on Minnesota's best lake getaways by Christmas 2010.

Take a Minnesota dogsled ride: click video below