“It’s a building,” my kids said.

“Yeah, I’ll pass,” my husband added.

None of my family members could understand why I was so excited to spend an afternoon touring a house in western Pennsylvania that no one had been vacant for forty years. Even I, a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, wasn’t sure what to expect beyond an initial moment of awe upon seeing a home teetering on the edge of a waterfall.

The waterfall, as it turns out, was only a smart part of what made the former home of Pittsburgh department-store tycoons, the Kaufmann family, such a marvelous spectacle to explore.

Fallingwater was built for the Kaufmanns in the 1930s as an escape from the dirt and noise of the Steel City. When they originally commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright for the project, the Kaufmanns assumed they were having a home built with a view of beautiful waterfalls. It wasn’t until they saw the first sketches that they learned their home was to be built on top of the falls and into the surrounding mountainside.

A home teetering above rushing water is a sight to behold and an auditory wonder, no doubt. But the architectural genius is most evident inside the home where Wright’s firm hand controlled precisely how his building would be enjoyed. He used tight corridors and narrow doorways to force relief and an outward facing perspective upon entering his rooms and built-in storage spaces to dictate a clutter-free living space. Wright envisioned a family living among nature, not just looking out at it through windows, and he created sweeping decks, wide angel windows, and a waterfall-level patio to accommodate this vision.

Self-guided ground tours of Fallingwater start at $8, although a $20 guided tour of the house and guest quarters offer much more information than what can be gathered with the naked eye. An in-depth tour is $65 per person and is the only tour option that permits photographs of the inside of the house. Reservations should be made several weeks in advance for any of the guided tours, especially during the fall months when the autumn leaves allow for breathtaking photographs of the area.

Photo Britt Reints

Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but did you know that it also has a number of waterfalls?  Ranging in size and location, many of the state’s waterfalls are easily accessible.  Consider visiting some of these:

Gooseberry Falls on the North Shore.  Located in Gooseberry Falls State Park, there are both upper and lower falls that can be seen by walking a short way from the park’s visitor center.

Gooseberry Falls

Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis.  These falls are part of the extensive Minneapolis park system.  Parking is nearby, or ride the light-rail train or take a bike tour of the area on one of the many trails.  Concessions and equipment rentals are available seasonally.

Minnehaha Falls

St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis.  The Stone Arch Bridge or Mill City Museum are great places to view these falls in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.

St. Anthony Falls

Minneopa Falls near Mankato.  As part of Minneopa State Park, these falls can range from a mere trickle in a dry summer to a loud rush during spring thaw.  Easily viewed from the top, or follow the paths and stairs to see from the bottom.

Minneopa Falls

Minnemishinona Falls near Mankato.  These falls were on private land for many years, but have recently become publicly viewable by short walk from the parking area.  They’re beautiful in the summer greenery or when frozen in winter.

Minnemishinona Falls

These are some of my favorites, but they are by no means all of Minnesota’s waterfalls.  Find more by visiting Explore Minnesota or this map of waterfalls in Minnesota.

Photo credits: minnemom on flickr Creative Commons

Linda (minnemom) writes about family travel at Travels with Children.

Tourists Enjoying the Mist of Niagara Falls

Summer at Niagara Falls is steamy hot. And very crowded with tourists. But just being near the falls is like walking through a big water mister – very refreshing. For the ultimate cool down though, you need to take a ride on the Maid of the Mist. Read More »

While the Gaylord Opryland Hotel is a hotel there is enough going on inside its walls for it to be a destination in its own right.  And because it is always 72° inside the Opryland is a great place to spend the day when the weather gets cold.

Walking in the doors of the reception area you are greeted by an enormous stained glass dome directly over the concierge desk.  Adorned with butterflies, ladybugs, flowers, guitars and banjos it only hints at the beauty that waits beyond the lobby.

Stained Glass Dome

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