Travel: New Ulm, Minnesota

At noon we all went to watch the Glockenspiel, a 45-foot clock tower with 37 bells and 12 moving figurines (yes, I read the plaques) in downtown New Ulm that plays three times a day since 1980. The figurines include a lacrosse-playing Indian and a bricklayer to satisfy the Native American and Bricklayers Union lobbies (I'm kidding), while the rest of them include several dance figures in elegant German (Bohemian) dress. By the way, New Ulm remains "the most German town in America."

Next, we found we couldn't climb to the top of the Herman the German monument (110 feet) because it had closed on Labor Day.

Next, the boys and I enjoyed a historic home turned art gallery and explored a German gift shop before visiting The Sausage Shop for a snack, then heading to the August Schell brewery. Schell's is the second-oldest family-owned brewery in the nation, and we got to see and learn more than my first tour about 12 years ago. They observe old-world brewing methods (following the German Purity Code of 1508) and sell t-shirts that read "If your brewery is surrounded by 14,000 thirsty Germans, you had better have really good beer." (My favorite is their 1919 brand root beer though.) Schell's beer is only available in the five-state upper midwest region, sad to say.

The home of Wanda Gag (illustrator of Millions of Cats) will be a worthwhile stop for another time.