In-state mini-vacations have become the solution this summer for travel anxiety, lack of time or not enough funds for a long-distance trip

Taking vacation days from work can be difficult, but taking a mini-vacation can be as fun as a two-week getaway.

Just ask the Troms.

Doug and Lawayne Trom of rural Blooming Prairie usually take bike trips for their mini-vacations. The Troms have six children, three still living at home: Marianne, 13, Ben, 11, and Marie, 7. The Troms have a bike rack attached to the roof of their mini van that they can fit all their bikes on.

"We still have a baby bike seat attached to my bike and I can hook on two lawn chairs, a tarp, a cooler and a sleeping bag to this," Doug said. "We bring our own drinks and chips along with us. If we stop for a hamburger, we have the other snacks to go along with the meal."

Lawayne said, "My idea of eating is to have a bag of carrots, fruit and day-old bread to snack on. That doesn't go along with the rest of the family, so I compromise."

The family also likes to take longer trips to Christian music festivals. They attend one in Bemidji that is held in August and they also go to Lake Okoboji, Iowa for a three-day family Christian gathering the first weekend in August. They travel to these festivals in the 1971 Lifetime motor home they own.

"It is cheaper to stay in hotels on a long trip, than in a motor home. I only use the motor home for trips that aren't too far to drive to. The motor home we have, only gets seven to eight miles per gallon," Doug said. "I like the motor home to travel in because the kids don't get bored and we have our own bathroom facilities."

With the warm nights in the summer, Doug said he prefers the air-conditioned motor home over a stuffy tent. Doug keeps the motor home running and taking care of repairs and this helps cut down on the up keep of the vehicle.

"The motor home is nothing fancy, but it runs and it is safe to drive. It does take a toll on our money taking trips, but the time we spend with our kids is the most valuable asset," Doug said. "You can't put a price on the time you spend with the kids."

One area in the state the Troms like to travel to is Lanesboro, an hour drive from Austin. Lanesboro has one of the most popular bike trails in the nation. The Root River Bike Trail has more then 60 miles of paved surface bounded on the west by the city of Fountain, one south of Harmony and the newest trail by Houston. Other towns on the trail are Preston, Whalan, Peterson, and of course Lanesboro, which is the hub of the Root River Trail.

There is no fee to ride on the bike trail. Campers can stay at five campgrounds in the Lanesboro area and all the camper sites have water and electric hook-ups. The highest cost to rent a site is between $20 and $23.50 a night.

Bike riding not the only option for weekend

Horseback riding and bike and canoe rentals are available in the Lanesboro area. For the more adventurous there is The Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, where families and friends can rock climb with ropes. The cost for this is $15 per adult and $10 per student. Lessons are offered every Wednesday through Sunday. Time slot availability may vary so advanced registration is required. To contact the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center call (507) 467-2437. For more information check out its Web site at http://lanesboro.com/recreation.html

If you want to take a break in the middle of the week and don't want to travel too far, visit one of the four campgrounds in the Mower County area. They are Lake Louise, in LeRoy; Beaver Trails Campground, located on Interstate 90 east of Austin; Riverbend Campground located on Minnesota Highway 105 south of Austin and Brookside Campground located off U.S. 218 near Blooming Prairie.

A mini-vacation without the camping gear

Maybe the outdoors and roughing it is not you idea of a relaxing time; then head on over to Albert Lea to the Fountain View Inn, 310 N. Washington Ave. This bed and breakfast, a turn-of-the-century house, is on a dead end street right off Broadway in Albert Lea. It is a block from the Minnesota Festival Theatre and the downtown area. The proprietor, Bonita Moeller loves people and she lives right next door to the Fountain View Inn in another turn-of-the-century house.

"I am affordable. My prices vary from $85 to $175 a night. It depends on what you want," Moeller said. " I am a block from the hospital and antique shops. I am open year-round and I do groom suppers, weddings and receptions. We are right on the lake and guests can fish and we will take them out on the lake in our pontoon."

Moeller serves her guests meals on elegant china with a good story for dessert. She even welcomes dogs. Her property has wildlife with rabbits, squirrels and ducks. If you want to be pampered, call the Fountain View Inn at (507) 373-2899.

Whatever your preferences are be sure and take it easy for a few days and enjoy the great, but short, Minnesota summer. Don't let the it slip by without watching a sunset, seeing the northern lights and dipping your feet in a cool lake or river. These don't cost a thing.

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at :mailto:newsroom@austindailyherald.com