Quilting the Caledonia Countryside: The southeast corner of the state, known as Historic Bluff Country, features a beautiful landscape of green valleys, winding streams, wooded hillsides, farm fields, and classic barns.  Now, more than two dozen of the barns along the country roads surrounding the town of Caledonia are sporting paintings of quilt squares.  The colorful 8 X 8 foot paintings placed on the sides of barns represent traditional as well as new quilt patterns.  This art project, inspired by a similar program in neighboring Iowa, was designed to promote the area’s agricultural heritage and focus attention on barns, which have been disappearing from the rural landscape.

The Caledonia Chamber of commerce, which is sponsoring the project, also hoped to draw visitors to discover this area.  Since the barn quilts went up last August, many travelers have driven the area’s rural routes to see them.  The city’s website has a list of the quilt barns with driving directions and a map.  While you’re in the area, don’t miss scenic Beaver Creek Valley State Park, close to Caledonia.  For information, call the chamber at 507-725-5477 or go to www.caledoniamn.gov.

The observation deck of the Foshay Tower offers terrific daytime and evening views of the Minneapolis cityscape.

Foshay Tower Observation Deck: The open-air observation deck on the 31st floor of this architectural landmark in Minneapolis is the only one of its kind in the Twin Cities, and offers a panoramic view of this metro area’s parks, lakes and cityscape.  The Art-Deco style Foshay Tower, built in 1929, has a distinctive obelisk shape, designed as an homage to the Washington Monument.  It was the first skyscraper built west of the Mississippi River and was the tallest building in Minneapolis until 1971.

The Foshay was recently re-fashioned as a luxury hotel, the W Minneapolis.  Many of the building’s original features can still be seen in the lobby areas, including the decorative ceiling, marble floor and ornate elevator doors.

In addition to the observation deck, there is a small museum that tells the fascinating story of this landmark and the man behind it, Wilbur Foshay.  He commissioned John Philip Sousa to write a march for the tower’s three-day opening festivities.  Shortly after, Foshay lost his fortune in the stock market crash (and Sousa never got paid for his march).

The observation deck and museum are open daily, year-round from noon to 9 p.m., and combined admission for the day to both is $8, $5 for seniors, free for those ages 12 and under.  The Foshay is at 821 Marquette Avenue in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

The Real New Ulm: The romantic comedy “New in Town” that hit movie screens this past winter was set in the Minnesota town of New Ulm.  But the film was shot in Canada, and Hollywood missed the chance to portray the real New Ulm, a charming, German-flavored town on the Minnesota River.  New Ulmers hope film fans’ interest will be piqued to explore the real New Ulm.  Although the film characters spoke with a stereotype Scandinavian accent, the heritage here is all German: German gift shops, restaurants, festivals and sausages; Bavarian music; a Glockenspiel, a clock tower with animated figurines; and the 102-foot state of “Hermann the German.”  Find out more at www.newulm.com.

Red Wing was named one of 2008's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in part because of the carefully preserved architecture of its vibrant Main Street.

Distinctive Red Wing: The beautiful city of Red Wing, along the Mississippi River, got some well-deserved national recognition in 2008.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation named the rivertown as one of the year’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in the country, which are selected for their “vibrant downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, and strong commitment to historic preservation and revitalization.”  In addition, National Geographic Traveler magazine named Red Wing among the Top Historic Destinations in the World; it ranked 23rd on the list.

Just an hour south of the Twin Cities, Red Wing has a thriving, beautifully preserved downtown; its flower-trimmed Main Street is lined by brick buildings dating to the 1860s-1890s.  The architecture of the lovely residential neighborhoods ranges from Queen Anne to Prairie style.  Visitors enjoy performances at the 1912 Sheldon Theatre, now restored to its former glory, as well as antique shops, a pottery, the Cannon River Bike Trail, Mississippi National Golf Links, a historic inn and several B&Bs.  Visit www.redwing.org.

Great Lakes Cruising: A new Great Lakes cruise ship will launch service between Duluth, Minnesota and Toronto, Canada this July.  The Clelia II, an elegant, 290-foot yacht with 50 suites, will offer a dozen week-long voyages as one-way trips between these two ports, traveling on lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario.  These luxury excursions are offered by Travel Dynamics International of New York, with cruises aboard the yacht starting at about $5,600. Visit www.greatlakescruising.com.

Get Behind the Wheel at Brainerd Raceway: Have you ever longed for the thrill of driving a race car?  The Brainerd International Raceway Performance Driving School lets you bring your own performance or sports car or climb into one of their race cars to speed around the track.  All driving school packages include instruction, lunch and gear, including a driving suit, helmet and gloves.  The program begins with an 8 a.m. classroom session to prepare drivers with high performance driving techniques such as accelerating, cornering and braking.  Once on the track, an instructor rides along until you’re comfortable.  And then you’re ready for the solo ride of your life!

The driving school is available on 17 dates from May to October.  There are a variety of packages, starting with a $265 full day at the track using your own car. For $795, you can add two sessions in a race car to the full day with your own car.  Or, 25-minute sessions in a racetrack car are available for $295. Check the website for dates, packages and prices and reserve your chance to buzz around the track where Paul Newman raced.  Call 866-511-7606 or visit www.birperformance.com.