From The Editor: The Road Beckons

Our Minnesota life begins with winter. The dreaded cold with piles of snow and sheets of ice…

Wait a minute! Didn’t we experience a Super El Niño? Only a few days of below freezing temperatures and a few other days of snow…and that’s it!

I’m sure we’ll get the statistics from WCCO-TV’s Mike Augustyniak or KSTP-TV’s Matt Serwe, but I’m certain that’s what our winter felt like.

It was good enough for a drive down to Chicago to do some work down there this past February. It was mostly sunny all the way down from Minnesota into the South Loop. Although, the temperatures certainly dropped on the way home.

Granted, it was a clear drive. No precipitation nor major road incidents. No drama.

Let’s think about the last time you traveled anywhere. How was it?

Was it the time of your life? Did you accomplish anything while you were away? Was the destination everything you dreamed of?

Or, did you encounter any problems? Lost luggage? A disturbance by a fellow traveler? Drama?

We certainly went through a lot these past few years. I know I have. If you read this column over these past two years, then you know that I dealt with some health issues that have categorized me as a disabled person. I even talked about how being disabled has changed the way I travel.

Has it prevented me from going anywhere? Not really. Nor should it prevent you from traveling if you are a fellow disabled LGBTQ+ person.

I just want to get that out of the way. From here, it’s all uplifting.

We, as a culture, love to travel. Your social media posts show it. That sunny disposition at some desirable spot somewhere on this globe – and the reactions you got from those posts.

Reactions ranging from support to jealousy. We know you ignore the latter variety. Good for you! Live your best life – and don’t forget to pay your bills from your latest adventures!

On another tangent, yes, the cost of travel is up since the COVID-19 Pandemic. You can still get deals, but they are now few and far between.

What you’re about to read is our annual Midwest Travel issue. To concentrate on localized travel across the region we call home. To provide options on not just getting there – but, being there.

If you’re going to be there, get ready to get going. No matter how you do so, the road beckons.

Oh, and before you click to another page, you will be reading our story on Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Well, I actually saw it – and rarely do I go see any live performances at all. Spoiler alert! If you want to relive her catalog – from her writing collaborations with Gerry Goffin through to “Tapestry” – just go!