Recent content from Kerri Westenberg
Scary science: The feeling of fear has surprising benefits
Don't let the emotion scare you. Experiencing it yields some benefits.
Pickleball scores more venues in the Twin Cities, plus younger players
Pickleball gains younger players with more courts in places that emphasize fun with fitness.
New Wild Rice Retreat offers more soothing travel experience in Bayfield, Wis.
A recently opened wellness retreat center on the shore of Lake Superior introduces a whole new way to vacation.
North Coast: The 12 best Midwestern beaches to visit this summer
Don't let the coastal elites tell you that the Midwest has no beaches.
Bye, Burch – hello, grill: Chef Isaac Becker shares the secrets to making steak
After the shuttering of a favorite restaurant, chef Isaac Becker shares his secrets to perfecting steak at home.
Pandemic complications have more vacationers turning to travel agents
"Travel advisers" help folks navigate the world of changing rules and newly unfurled welcome mats.
Minnesota mom, daughter tackle BWCA camping trips in every season
Four seasonal Boundary Waters trips bring escape from the pandemic, and so much more.
Celebrate a return to travel with these 7 essential U.S. vacation destinations
While travel to many overseas destinations remains restricted, domestic travel is hot.
Why rental car rates are soaring – and how to beat the trend
Blame the stunning rates on a massive sell-off of cars.
What belongs on our USA bucket list? Share your must-visit spots in America
This summer will be a good one to explore America. Tell us your favorite spot to visit.
From bison to rapids, discover the hidden gems of Minnesota's state park system
Parks, trails and waterways that show off Minnesota's richly diverse landscape.
Two key reasons to book summer flights now: cost and flexibility
Most airlines will roll back freedom to change tickets purchased at basic economy rate.
Spring break flight? Tips for saving cash, navigating MSP in a busy season
If you're flying for spring break, here are tips for navigating the airport rush.
The nine best Midwest resorts for social-distanced winter fun
Best places to relish the outdoors in a winter like no other, where social distance comes naturally.
Winona's Ice Climbing Park takes winter activity to new heights
An iconic rock pinnacle tops Sugar Loaf Bluff in Winona. The whole eye-catching site, towering above Hwy. 61 and the Mississippi River, is so well…
Thrifty Traveler provides the lowdown on cheap airfare from MSP
The Minnesota-based website unveiled its "ultimate guide" to finding deals from Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Returning to U.S. by air? You'll need a negative COVID test first.
Effective Jan. 26, anyone flying into the United States from another country will need to show proof they have tested negative for the coronavirus, following…
The pandemic will change vacations in 2021. Here's how Minnesotans can embrace the trends.
Travel trends generally reflect the cultural moment. In the 1920s, after Prohibition shut down juiced parties in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Cuba became…
Will 2021 be a better year for travel? Yes, for lots of reasons
Here's how the challenges of 2020 will transform travel for the better in 2021.
Tips for decorating your home with Pantone's Colors of the Year
Pantone Color Institute doubled up on its color choice, naming Ultimate Gray and the lemony yellow Illuminating.
When will cruising restart and what will it be like?
Cruises will set sail from U.S. ports by the second quarter of 2021 — but the experience will be different.
How to track rapidly changing travel restrictions in U.S.
Over the river and through the woods — to quarantine we go. Holiday travel isn't the joyful outing it once was, at least in a…
Here's where and how to ski safely in Minnesota this winter
Now is the time to hit the slopes and trails, and not just because snow is flying.
Amsterdam? Rome? You may be able to travel to Europe sooner than you think
Delta Air Lines will begin trial flights to Amsterdam and Rome in the coming weeks.
MSP airport adds program for travelers with hidden disabilities
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, which is designed to ease travel for people with disabilities, has arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The program got…
Best movies and shows to watch for taking a vacation via your screen
The view highlights the Ionian Sea, with a tiny island off on the horizon. On shore, the turquoise walls of the home-turned-lodge have begun to…
Virtual classes, parties and tours bring on holiday traditions from around the world
This year, one present I know I won’t get is a trip to Europe. Even a place like New York — shorter flight, just as…
In Fergus Falls, Minn., a prairie paradise for snowshoeing, hiking
At the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, you can explore a unique type of grassland: prairie potholes.
'70s house in Edina gets open floor plan for casual living
Edina home's main level goes from dark and disjointed to light and open.
Experts weigh in on the best time to book flights for the holidays
Experts on airfare deals say costs are lower than in previous years and deals can still be found.
A parade of raptors at Duluth's Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve
Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve offers sweeping views of Lake Superior and gorgeous autumn color. But most visitors keep their eyes on the skies. This 235-acre…
Pop-up outhouses and advance research fuels road trips south
My family was among the millions of Americans taking a road trip this summer. We learned a few things along the way.
Where to go in Minnesota to enjoy the fullest of fall colors
Ideas and photographic inspiration to fuel an autumn drive.
Fall color resources for leaf-peeping in Minnesota
Tracking color: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources tracks fall color at dnr.state.mn.us/fall_colors; the site is updated weekly on Thursdays. More routes: Find…
Gardeners in Minneapolis and St. Paul find joy in abundance
Two urban gardeners build on their successes, plan to go bigger next year.
For digital nomads, traveling for work takes on new meaning in pandemic age
A growing number of professionals are working remotely — really remotely.
Near Hibbing, Minn., a geological force of nature
The Iron Range area is the site of a rare three-way continental divide.
Why Europe guru Rick Steves wants travelers to stay home
The author and television personality on tourism's future, the mark of a good traveler and how Italy is the India of Europe.
From kids' camps to pilgrimage hikes, virtual travel hits its stride
Increasing numbers of tour companies are offering online experiences for would-be travelers.
The future of travel: How tourism slowly recovers from the coronavirus pandemic
Brief stays, last-minute excursions and road trips are easing people back into tourism.
Twin Cities urban gardeners share the ups and downs of growing food
Two urban gardeners embrace the setbacks with the successes as they nurture their growing fruits and vegetables.
What you need to know about MSP and flying as people return to the air
It’s a scary time to fly across the country. Still, some people are compelled to get on a plane to bring a child to college,…
Split Rock Lighthouse and Jeffers Petroglyphs to reopen July 15
The iconic Minnesota sites are popular stops on road trips.
How to stay safe, and have fun, on your summer vacation amid a pandemic
Sunny summer getaways take on a fresh twist in the shadow of a pandemic.
Two Twin Cities gardeners break new ground for vegetable plots
Two gardeners — one just starting out and one expanding his plot — plant for food and family.
Summer of the road trip: Why we're hitting the road, and how to do it safely
Pandemic worries are fueling a surge in driving vacations.
Pandemic takes toll on overworked home plumbing systems
Plumbers' workloads are bursting now that more of us are at home more of the time.
Will adventure travel lead the way back to travel? Knowmad Adventures and Wilderness Inquiry weigh in
Minneapolis-based adventure travel specialists Knowmad Adventures see a silver lining to the current pause in travel.
Small St. Louis Park home gets efficient, light-filled new kitchen
New kitchen in St. Louis Park home remakes space for optimal workflow, organization and natural light.
Online home gazing, from Glensheen Mansion in Duluth to Drayton Hall near Charleston
Some of the country's great homes welcome virtual visitors — at no charge.
Is there a seed shortage in Minnesota? Not yet, but don't wait to buy
In a busy year for gardening, buy seeds early, shop locally and consider using starter plants.
MSP airport's Terminal 1 construction takes off
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is bustling, but not with fliers. Construction crews keep the place hopping. At a time when most travelers are staying home…
Take these 4 virtual tours, from Glensheen in Duluth to the Bode Museum in Berlin
While people around the world stay at home, virtual tours are the new answer to wanderlust.
Our beautiful world: Star Tribune photographers share their travel pictures
Travel destinations are quiet, their streets and beaches empty. But these photos from our staff photographers let us slip away for a moment.
Travel section to temporarily move to Variety
Since homo sapiens walked out of Africa about 60,000 years ago, we have been a traveling species. That early exploratory impulse, which likely lives on…
Where to get away from it all (including other people) in Minnesota
EDITOR’S NOTE: Since this story was published, U.S. public health officials have advised Americans to stay at home to help slow the spread of the…
How to explore the world without ever leaving home
I spy the streets of Rome, and they are exquisitely empty. Not because its citizens are stuck inside, but because the year is 1960 and…
Cancel or book a vacation? Consider doing both
A week of fast-moving coronavirus news has puzzled travelers.
Choosing paint colors is tricky – consultants can cut through the confusion
Consultants, from designers in your home to online services, can ease the selection process.
It's getting real: Travelers will need a Real ID by Oct. 1 – here's how to get it
I’ve put off the task long enough: It’s time to get a Real ID. Beginning Oct. 1, Minnesotans 18 and older will need a Real…
As the coronavirus spreads, should you cancel vacation?
Common questions about the coronavirus and travel: what travelers need to know.
Finding a hotel home in Philly, London, Rome
Airbnb has been a boon to travelers — even those who never use its website-based home-sharing services.That's because hotels have taken note of the growing…
What Brexit means for U.S. travelers
After years of threats and, essentially, attempted divorce proceedings, Britain finally departed the European Union on Jan. 31.How has the shift altered travel to the…
Will the coronavirus sink cruising?
“A large, floating Petri dish:” that’s how a reader referred to cruise ships last week, which was a particularly bad week for cruises. The new…
Escape winter without getting on a plane: drivable destinations that will warm your bones
On a February day, the temperature neared 10 degrees. Yet there I was, soaking up the sun in a swimsuit. Nearby, my young companions splashed…
As coronavirus concerns grow, should you board that plane?
As the novel coronavirus spreads, so do precautions. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against nonessential travel to China. The U.S. State…
Tackling a controversial question: Should you paint the woodwork white?
That is the question for home sellers in an era when white woodwork is preferred by many prospective buyers, especially younger ones.
From dark skies to cruises to camping, travel trends for the new decade
Five of the latest travel trends lead to Minnesota — and beyond.
New rule would limit emotional support animals on planes. Here's how to give your input.
Roosters have boarded airplanes. So have turkeys, ducks and monkeys — all in the name of service. These animals allegedly helped their owners stay calm.…
Viking cruises will sail the Great Lakes with a stop in Duluth
The cruise line discovers the Port City, names Minnesota explorer Ann Bancroft a ship godmother.
Tips for thriving when traveling solo
Traveling solo has always been rewarding — and it has also sometimes been uncomfortable. I've encountered wimpy locks on hotel doors, felt unease when lost…
Mourning the remake and price hike at a favorite hotel
My family returns to Santa Monica, Calif., almost annually. But since we moved from there to here 15 years ago, the place has gone posh.…
For 2020 travel, new spots in Minnesota
Happy New Year — and happy new vacation options. Grand View Lodge, a resort on Gull Lake in Nisswa, Minn., that dates to 1916, is…
