Plan the Trip of a Lifetime

The Minnesota Vikings may have pulled up their stakes in Mankato, moving training camp to Eagan, but there are still many reasons to pay a visit to this delightful town 90 miles southwest of the Twin Cities.  Mankato is home to Mankato State University and the Taylor Corporation…owned by Minnesota billionaire businessman Glen Taylor, majority […]

Photos courtesy of the Guadalajara Tourism Board Travel has happily returned in full swing following the pandemic, and I for one am fully on board! Recently I was invited to visit the city of Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco Mexico. With limited expectations of a city I had never visited and was not particularly […]

A Q and A with the east metro’s beloved explorer World explorer and author Ann Bancroft has a new distinction to add to her career: godmother. Not to a child, though; to a ship. Earlier this fall, the St. Paul native and her expedition partner, Liv Arnesen, were in Amsterdam to christen Viking’s two new […]

Regional Travel: Southern Indiana Charm: Exploring the Patoka Lake and French Lick Area Home to NBA star Larry Bird, this area offers history, charm, and luxury I was recently invited to explore and discover the regional offerings of Southern Indiana, and to my delight there was much to see and experience in an area. I […]

When the last weekend of July 2022 snuck up on me, I was taken back with a bit of pause for all of the things I still wanted to make happen before it was time to be planning fall color tours.  A good friend presented me with a 3-day weekend to sail the Apostle Islands.  […]

A native of Minnesota, join travel writer, blogger and presenter Todd Walker for insights into his favorite spots in St. Paul, including notable landmarks such as the birthplace of F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the most acclaimed authors in the history of American literature. Along the way, discover a region where history, music and culture collide and learn more about what to expect when you join us on our America’s Heartland and America’s Great River itineraries.

Viking River Cruise Sails the Mississippi Between New Orleans and St. Paul A cruise ship docks in St. Paul. Keep a watchful eye on the river this month and you might get a glimpse of a shiny new vessel docked in downtown St. Paul. Viking Cruises is set to arrive with one of its newest […]

It is summer in Minnesota! This also means it’s time to start planning your summer road trip before the discussion changes to where to see the best fall colors. I recently visited two destinations that are definitely worth considering when deciding to pack up the car and experience the great American road trip. Both destinations […]

Road Trippin The world is finally beginning to re-open! If you are like me, I have spent the last year awaiting the moment when I can travel once again. Well the time has finally arrived! Recently I jumped in my car and headed Southwest of the Twin Cities for a 4 1/2 hour road trip […]

Being St. Paul born and raised, a sailing adventure on the Atlantic can cause a bit of trepidation, but for this guy from the 651 it turned out to be an epic adventure of a lifetime. When a Boston based travel journalist colleague of mine presented me with the opportunity to fill his spot sailing […]

Escaping Minnesota during the long winter months is something many of us long for once the long dark days of winter have nestled in. When I was invited to visit Mazatlan to check out the revitalization of this sun-drenched destination, I jumped at the chance. One visit was by sea and one by air. The […]

A visit to Sundara Inn and Spa Hitting the trifecta – Traveling three hours from St. Paul, armed with a triple espresso from Cathedral Hill’s Nina’s, my phone loaded with three hours of the Podcast “My Favorite Murder”, and I am on my way to spend three days at Sundara Inn and Spa, located in […]

  JADA YUAN The quaint village of Todos Santos, on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, is full of surprises.   Cruise Mexico When the season of hunched-up shoulders, ice scrapers, rosy red cheeks and dark dinners is upon us, I plan a winter getaway to the West Coast of Mexico for a Mexican Riviera cruise. Most of […]

Cruises have their diehard fans and, it seems, just as many haters. For travelers set on seeing the world on their own for cheap, it’s hard to shake the image of shelling out big bucks just to be stuck on a boat. But after a recent cruise through the Caribbean, that’s what I’m here to […]

The polar vortex swung into Minnesota like a bat out of…well, you know. Thankfully, I did a bit of advanced planning this year and booked a trip on Viking Cruises to explore the islands of the Caribbean. When the good Norske folks at Viking extended the invitation to spend 10 days on the 745-foot Viking Star […]

Destination: Explore the Triplet Cities WinterFest is a seasonal draw, but there’s much more in Spicer, New London, and Willmar When I’ve traveled outside Minnesota and shared that I’m from the Twin Cities, people often assume I “must be from Minneapolis.” Well, actually no, I say with a grimace. As a born-and-raised St. Paul kid, […]

Weekend Guide: Nisswa for Holiday Fun Tips for celebrating the holiday season in the Brainerd Lakes area. If you are planning a little holiday season escape, I highly recommend embracing the bold north with a visit to Nisswa. In a time when we hear about the demise of many small towns in America, my recent […]

Your Guide to Aruba Todd about Town: Warm weather, seafood, and water activities await on this tiny tropical island. It’s just about that time when we hear the Minnesotan anthem of chattering teeth. The skies seem perpetually dark, the windshield scraper has secured its regular spot in your car, and tantalizing travel commercials have replaced […]