In case you missed the update, we decided to postpone Maine again because of the weather forecast, and since El Chico hadn't been to Minnesota and the North Shore on Lake Superior is somewhat Maine-like, we went there.
Highlights: Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin on the way (so many cool birds and scenery), Tettegouche, Split Rock and Gooseberry State Parks (and the North Shore in general), Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Quarry Hill in Rochester, Caribou Coffee (oh, and I only bought 5 books at Half Price Books. I was restrained :))
Disappointing: I got my hopes up pretty high for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge after Necedah. Both were random additions after I was looking at the road atlas. Plus Sherburne wanted to be like "This is what Minnesotans refer to about the mosquitos in the summer."
For being such a spur of the moment trip after deciding to cancel the original one last minute, it was a great trip.