CheckPoint MN Guest Blogger: Mary Nordeen

I was so excited to see that the Walker lighthouse is a CheckPoint MN site this season!   This will be the third year that my family has participated in this statewide winter scavenger hunt, and we always have so much fun exploring new areas around the state.  The Minnesota Office of Tourism has set up signs at ten different sites across Minnesota and invites people to visit the checkpoints.  In the past two years, we have been up to Voyageurs National Park, down to the Zumbrota covered bridge, across the wildlife refuge in Ortonville and at Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center in Moorhead.  We got to see a Viking ship!  Did I mention that for each checkpoint you visit, you earn chances at great Minnesota prizes, from socks to amazing Minnesota vacations.

This winter, if you are looking for some adventure, join in the CheckPointMN fun!   To get started, go to the website and sign up.   You will get a profile and can upload photos from each site you visit.  Once you have your profile, you are ready to explore.  And guess what?  You can start right here in Walker, Minnesota at the City Park.    Get your mukluks on, strap on your skis, hop on one of those winter bikes or just drive to the lighthouse and look for the blue CheckPoint MN sign.   Get your picture taken next to the sign—make sure to keep that beautiful Walker scenic view in the background with the lighthouse— and post your photo to your profile.    That’s it!    Most of the sites are easily accessible—usually a very short distance from the car to the sign. The adventure is in finding the checkpoint but also what you do once you are at the site.

We have found that with each CheckPoint, we like to take in a little of the local community—find a great place for lunch, visit some stores, take a hike on a trail, find a great sledding hill (Shingobee).  So much to see and do in each community!   In Walker, make sure to visit the Leech Lake Chamber and Chippewa National Forest shared office to get more ideas on local sight-seeing.  Get out there and Explore Minnesota—see you at the lighthouse!  Don’t forget to use your hashtags….#CheckpointMN   #OnlyinMN   #LeechLake  and  #chamber    Have a great winter season!