History celebrations at the parks Two Harbors, Pine City and Comfrey, Minn.
Minnesota State Parks and historic sites (www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks; www.mnhs.org) will hold open-house celebrations with free admission next Sunday, including these sites:
Split Rock Lighthouse in Two Harbors, which will offer light station tours along with exhibits and information about the early shipping history on Lake Superior at the visitor center. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (1-218-226-6372).
In Pine City, guided tours, exhibits and activities highlight the fur trade era at the North West Company Fur Post. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. (1-320-629-6356).
Starting at 2 p.m. at the Jeffers Petroglyphs historic site near Comfrey, Minn., visitors can study American Indian culture, prairies and archaeology and search for carvings of buffalo, turtles and other animals (1-507-628-5591).
Follow the birds north Crane Lake, Minn.
In northeastern Minnesota, near Voyageurs National Park and the surrounding area, visitors can explore lakes, rivers and remote wetlands to look for birds and wildlife. The Crane Lake Visitor and Tourism Bureau is offering a free guide, "Bird and Wildlife Viewing in Voyageur Country of Northeastern Minnesota," that includes a brief summary of popular viewing locations, a map, and a bird checklist. For a copy call 1-800-362-7405; 1-218-993-2901 or check www.visitcranelake.com.
Lake Superior birding Grand Marais, Minn.
Midwest birders will gather at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais for the Spring Boreal Birding and Northern Landscapes Festival June 5-8. Workshops, guided birding field trips and speakers focusing on the northern region and its geology and wildlife will be offered. Workshops will be offered for half-days up to three full days for $70 to $225. A free field trip at Oberg Mountain will be offered at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday (1-888-387-9762; 1-218-387-9762; www.northhouse.org).
