Like ususal, the best gems are close to home and often overlooked.  I live about 30 miles from here and we often only comeup about every other year.  Wife talked me into a bicycle trip around the 16 mile wilderness drive with the kids this last Sunday.  We had a blast and vowed to come back in two weeks to spend a weekend in the colors (praying no rain!).  The place is absolutly spectacular.  Weather was warm and the girls even swam.  Kids played in the "headwaters" to their hearts content.

Any favorite trails you all have there?  We're gonna spend the weekend at Bert's Cabins up on the North end near Ozawindib.  I'll post some pics of Itasca fall colors after that, if any interested.

Itasca was great!  I found the colors a little drab, and not as "popping" as predicted.  weather was cold at night....29-34 degrees.  We bagged the tent and stayed at Bert's cabin's at the North end of park about a mile past the Mississippi headwaters.  Park was full of tourists.  Was the last weekend for most park services to be open.

Pic out window of Bert's of their Pines and some cabins
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We biked everywhere.  Did the 16.5 mile loop again.  Was great inthe cool weather...notice the clothing
Pic of the crumbcruncher on her new bike...
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We stoped at the largest White and Redpines in Itasca...They weren't all that big...but big enough..
Pic of the tykes and I near the big white....
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We were initially going to paddle and fish. Wife said that plan ended with the 29 degree forcast for Sat and Sun mornings....alas, I guess another time....here is a stunning pic of Mary Lake at the bottom of "suicide hill" (any of you biking the loop there know what I'm talking about!)....
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So what did I learn?   Itasca come from the combination of two words:
verITAS....(river?)
CAput.......(head)
ver..ITASCA..put.  Hows them apples?

Would recommend any of you to take a day or weekend jaunt there if able!