Sign up now for 2011 Fall Cultural Trip!

WHEN: October 7-9, 2011

WHERE: Bayfield, WI

WHY: 50^th Annual Bayfield Apple Festival—"A festival of family, food, and fun featuring orchards selling their bounties, apple cider, caramel apples, apple pie, apple tortes, Bayfield’s own famous apple "brats" along with over 60 festival food booths, ongoing stage entertainment, fish boils, dance, rides and games, pie contests, an evening Venetian Boat Parade, a Grand Parade featuring the Wisconsin Mass Band of over 500 band members, orchard visits, vendors, arts and crafts, pie and apple peeling contests, Apple Dumpling Contest and street musicians."

WHO: The first people to contact me with a commitment by September 1st. All of the hotels in the area require a 2-night minimum. I have been told that there are no rooms available in Bayfield, so I have reserved 4 rooms at an Americinn in Ashland, which is about 20 miles away. (At this time, they have 3 additional rooms if I get overwhelming interest.) Originally, I had hoped to stay in Duluth on Friday night, and in the Bayfield area Saturday night, but with the 2-night minimum, that doesn’t work. And since Duluth is 1 ½ hours from Bayfield, I didn’t think we would want to drive back there Saturday night.

One thought is to leave Fergus Falls on Friday in time for an early dinner in Duluth, before driving to Ashland. Or for those of you working, who don’t want to, or can’t get away Friday afternoon, you could consider driving to Duluth Friday night, and meeting us in Bayfield or Ashland Saturday morning, and doubling up in the reserved rooms Saturday night. Each room has 2 queen beds at the AARP rate of $143.99. The hotel has an "activity pool" with water slide, sauna, etc. and extensive continental breakfast.

Bayfield and Ashland are situated in bays on Lake Superior, and the drive to Wisconsin should be beautiful in October.

PLEASE EMAIL JEANNE JENSEN DIRECTLY WITH YOUR INTEREST OR QUESTIONS: japjens@hotmail.com

Lanesboro cultural trip highlights!

Eight adventurous AAUW travelers enjoyed exploring Lanesboro and nearby towns for charm, eating, shopping and theatre-going. Schmidt, McGinn, Lundstrom, Kershner, Sweder, Jacobson, Jacklitch and Jensen recommend: Aroma Pie shoppe in Whalan, Jailhouse Inn in Preston, Commonweal Theatre and Vintage Restaurant and great shops in Lanesboro, as well as historical revelations at the Orphanage in Owatonna.

Sign up for cultural trip to Lanesboro by Sept. 1

Jeanne Jensen has only heard from a few people about this fall's cultural trip. It looks like it's going to be fun. Not only do you get to see the sites, the trip is a great way to get to know other AAUW members, too. If you are interested, please contact Jeanne Jensen at 739-2407 or japjens@hotmail.com, by Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Savor the journey as well as the destination: How about a ROAD TRIP???

Jeanne Jensen sent this info about the annual cultural trip:

When: Saturday/Sunday, October 10/11

Where: Ultimate destination: LANESBORO, including stops along the way. Lanesboro is located southeast of Rochester, the heart of the Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway, and is always on lists of places to visit. It is about a 5-hour drive, so on the way, we could make a stop in Cannon Falls and/or Rochester, possibly visit Preston, and other towns such as Whalen, Rushford, etc. as time and interest allows. Our return home could include Mantorville, Owatonna, and other places of interest.
*****I have not visited this area, so if any of you are familiar with some of these places and can offer some suggestions, please call me at 739-2407, or email me. Otherwise we will all explore an adventure together.

What: The area is known for their Bed and Breakfasts, but I would need to check availability based on our numbers and prices. It is also possible that this time of year would require a 2-night minimum for a B&B, such as we encountered in Stillwater. There would be other options to explore.

Lanesboro has a professional theater, Commonweal, and the production scheduled is "The Odd Couple", for which I would plan to get tickets. (They have brought productions to our Center for the Arts in the past.) They also have the Cornucopia Arts Center, featuring 75+ artists., as well as numerous shops to explore.

And of course, eating is always in the plan—perhaps lunch in Cannon Falls, dinner in Lanesboro; there are a couple of interesting-sounding dinner places listed as options.

How: To make room reservations and order play tickets, please let me know, via phone or email, to include you BY SEPTEMBER 1. We will work out the carpooling and other plans closer to the time. I need a firm commitment, not a tentative one; I do not plan to follow-up to confirm plans with anyone, after you tell me to reserve a spot for you. Contact info: 739-2407 or japjens@hotmail.com