Minnesota Tree Facts

Every year in Minnesota, three times as much wood is grown as is harvested.

In fact, the last 30 years alone have seen a 60 percent increase in the amount of wood across the state. According to the U.S. Forest Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 7.4 million new cords of wood are grown each year in the state, doubling the 3.7 million cords that are harvested. This is another example of how scientific forest management works to ensure there will be a healthy balance between wood products and the forest lands and wildlife we all enjoy. In Minnesota, less than 1% of forest land is harvested each year. Fully one-third of Minnesota – 17 million acres! – is covered by beautiful forestlands, providing recreation, wildlife habitat and a renewable supply of timber resources. Yet only 1 percent of these forests (approximately 185,000 acres) are harvested each year to provide material for paper products, home construction, furniture and hundreds of other products we use every day. What things come from Minnesota trees? 28,000 people in Minnesota's forest products industry make paper for books, magazines, brochures, computer printers and more. They make lumber, siding panels and engineered wood products for building homes, including oriented strand board. They also make industrial packaging for many commercial applications. To learn which Minnesota companies produce these products that are used all over the world, click on the various products in this photo.

11 Orr Minnesota Hiking Trails

Arrowhead State Trail Arrowhead State Trail runs between the Taconite State Trail at Pike River Flowage near Peyla and to 3

miles south of International Falls (east of I-71 near Chapple). The trail is popular among snowmobilers, and nearly 70 miles of the 135-mile route are suitable for equestrians, mountain bikers and hikers. During summer, many areas of the trail may have standing water, especially in the northern segment, where it passes through wetlands.... Read More/View Map https://www.traillink.com/trail/arrowhead-state-trail/ Bear Island Trail Much of Bear Island Lake Trail passes through Bear Island Lake State Forest in Minnesota's northern reaches, near Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The lake itself is huge, with Bear Island in the middle. The surrounding hills of Vermilion and Mesabi give depth to the landscape. The trail, part of which is an old logging rail corridor, winds among smaller lakes and.... Read More/View Map https://www.traillink.com/trail/bear-island-lake-trail/ Blue Ox–Voyageur Trail The Blue Ox–Voyageur Trail is a multi-use trail that permits ATVs and snowmobiles. It also accommodates mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians along the former railroad right-of-way between International Falls and Lake Bemidji State Park. The nearly 100-mile trail travels through.... Read More/View Map https://www.traillink.com/trail/blue-ox-trail-(voyageur-trail)/ Circle L Trail The Circle L Trail follows an abandoned logging railroad grade, which was used during the logging of the Bigfork River valley during the early 1900s. The trail passes through George Washington State Forest and also past the sites of old logging camps, some of which were used into the late 1960s. The Circle L Trail meets up with the Circle T Trail east of Bass Lake. Despite its name.... Read More/View Map https://www.traillink.com/trail/circle-l-trail/ Find information and maps on all 11 Orr Hiking Trails: https://www.traillink.com/city/orr-mn-trails/

Ideas To Help You Take Better Vacation Photo's

Your vacation photo's help you remember your vacation experiences for many years. Coming home to blurry or uninteresting

photos can be a letdown. Here are a few ways you can capture your vacation memories, which will help you tell your vacation stories later. 1)Try taking some of your pictures during transitional weather - these changes in the weather often add intrigue and texture to your photo's 2)Demonstrate scale - as opposed to having your friends and family just stand in front of a landmark like they’re lining up for something, have them pose in more interesting formations. For instance, have them stand right in the middle of a curious scene or put them beside a huge object to show its sense of scale. 3)Think small - taking pictures of a mountain from a distance is fine, but try to also take shots of animals, rocks and plants close up to give context to your photo's. 4)Adapt to shooting at night - research the best way to use your camera in dark situations, you can capture amazing candid shots in the evening 5)Include shots of signs - this gives you a change to tell a story and add character to your photo's 6)Try telling your story by using a series of frames - take a wide shot and then hone in on the details Read More:http://photodoto.com/vacation-photography/

Nostalgia Vacations Help Adults Feel More Optimistic

An estimated 60% of parents have taken their families on vacations that reminded them of their childhood, according to a

2015 survey from travel website Priceline.com Many adults are now taking their children to the resorts where they spent their own summer vacations as children. As we grow older most of us get more nostalgic. There’s something special about being able to relive your youth with your own child at the same time. Most guests are sort of taken aback by how much nostalgia hits them. It's the smells, the views, and sometimes it's even the relationship that were made. There is something magical about watching your children playing on the same beach that you played on when you were a child. This is one of the reasons many guests choose to rebook their vacations year after year. They are giving their children a gift, some not even realizing it. Taking a nostalgia vacation can help adults feel more optimistic about the present and the future, according to a 2013 study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, because they help us put things into perspective. What brings back your positive memories?

Is It Time For A Girlfriend Getaway?

Research shows that spending time with friends and family makes a big difference when it comes to happiness.

Social time is especially important for happiness –even for introverts. Studies have proven that the amount of time spent with friends and family –goes a long way towards boosting happiness –even more so than an increased income! As we get older, and life gets faster – the time we once had for our friends, seems to diminish. You might not notice it at first, but soon your coffee dates are being replaced by school meetings. Your carefree mornings are busy and rushed, and the phone calls you used to make daily to chat with your best friend are slowly turning into every other week (or month!) catch up calls. Fitting in time for friends is sadly one of the first things to go when life gets busy, and before you know it – you hardly know the person you used to call your best friend. This fact is though, that while this is tragic, it’s also preventable! Spending time with friends is one of the few pleasures in life that can cost you very little, but reward you substantially. It is also proven to be one of the best ways to combat stress. Spending time with your friends can help melt away the cares of the world, and leave you a better person all around. Carve out time for your friends, by scheduling it in..... Read More:http://www.yourefirednh.com/why-its-important-to-spend-more-time-with-friends-and-family/