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Smith Falls State Park

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

At 63 feet, Smith Falls is the tallest waterfall in all of Nebraska and it’s also the centerpiece of Smith Falls State Park.  Smith Falls State Park is an incredible Nebraska park, and is a popular destination for campers, as well as canoers, kayakers, tubers and others who visit the area to experience the beautiful Niobrara River, a National Scenic River. Not only is the land home to the beautiful falls, it is also an area of biological significance where several ice age species can still be found. Smith Falls State Park is located at 90165 Smith Falls Road Valentine, Nebraska. For more information, click here.

Fort Robinson State Park

Steve Schlueter Photography

Stunning Fort Robinson State Park comprises more than 22,000 acres of exquisite Pine Ridge scenery, compelling Old West history, exceptional lodging, scenic camping and the park’s own buffalo and longhorn herds. Fort Robinson is a particularly popular destination for family reunions and has been named one of the nation’s top family reunion spots by USA Today, among other publications. Fort Robinson Park is a popular location for hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and horse back riding. Fort Robinson State Park is located at Fort Robinson State Park 3200 Hwy. 20 Crawford, Nebraska. For more information, click here.

Indian Cave State Park

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Named for the large sandstone cave within the park, Indian Cave State Park encompasses 3,052 rugged acres bordering the mighty Missouri River. The park is well known for its beautiful camping and picnicking spots, as well as for its 22 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails. The park boasts sweeping views of wide, winding Missouri river and a majestic hardwood forest that puts on a spectacular show of colors each autumn. Indian Cave is the main geologic feature of the area and bears prehistoric Native American petroglyphs of an unknown date and origin. They can be viewed from a wooden boardwalk extending the length of the cave wall.  Indian Cave State Park is located at Indian Cave State Park 65296 720 Rd Shubert, Nebraska. For more information, click here.

Scott Bluff National Monument

Brian Poffenberger-NPS

Established in 1919 by Presidential Proclamations, Scotts Bluff National Monument preserves and protects over 3,000 acres of mixed-grass prairie, rugged badlands, towering bluffs, historic trail remnants and riparian area along the North Platte River. The bluff served as an important landmark for pioneers on the Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer and Pony Express Trails. Visitors to Scotts Bluff National Monument can walk in the footsteps of pioneers on remnants of the Oregon Trail, drive to the top of the bluff via the Summit Road and stand in awe at the sight of the bluffs raising from the prairie. The park boasts over 100,000 annual visitors.  Park grounds, trails and picnic area are open daily from sunrise to sunset.  Scott Bluff National Monument is located at 190276 Old Oregon Trail Gering, Nebraska. For more information, click here.

Pine Ridge National Recreation Area

Tub’s Pub Photography

Nebraska’s Pine Ridge area is an escarpment on the edge of the high plains. It’s about 100 miles long across Nebraska, running through northern portions of Sioux, Dawes, and Sheridan counties. The Pine Ridge also extends into South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, and to a lesser degree the north side of Wyoming’s Niobrara River watershed. Though the Pine Ridge looks like a narrow arc on the map, it’s distance across varies anywhere from 4 miles to 20 miles. Despite it’s rugged natural beauty and great hiking opportunities, the whole area is often overlooked due to the close proximity of the Rockies to the west in Wyoming, and the Black Hills to the north in South Dakota. The similarities between Nebraska’s Pine Ridge and Nebraska’s Wildcat Hills is striking. However, the Pine Ridge is significantly larger and has much more area open to the public. Enjoy 6,600 acres for semiprimitive recreation. No motorized vehicles. Mountain bikes permitted. Open year-round.  Non-motorized, but many miles of popular mountain biking and horseback riding in an undiscovered part of Nebraska. Pine Ridge National Recreation Area is located at 125 N. Main St. Chadron, Nebraska. For more information, click here.

Daniel Boone National Forest

Robert Aberegg

Daniel Boone National Forest is one of those wonderful places that you stumble upon, spend an entire day exploring and enjoying and leave wondering how you’d never previously heard of it. The national forest is one of those great spots hidden in plain sight. It spans more than two million acres and 21 counties, yet many people don’t know it exists. This is  a popular place for hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, rock climbing and so much more! For more information, click here.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park

Photo by Brian Maslyar

Natural Bridge State Resort Park is a Kentucky state park located in Powell and Wolfe Counties along the Middle Fork of the Red River, adjacent to the Red River Gorge Geologic Area and surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest. Its namesake natural bridge is the centerpiece of the park. Hiking, Kayaking, Fishing, and camping are popular activities enjoyed within the park. There is even a sky lift for a more relaxing climb to the natural bridge. For more information, click here.

Red River Gorge

Photo Credit to Donald Memering

The Red River Gorge is a canyon system on the Red River in east-central Kentucky. It’s also one of the most beautiful locations in the South-East region of the United States! The entire park is around 29,000 acres, and offers an impressive array of natural attractions! For outdoor enthusiasts the intricate canyon system has a little bit of everything, natural bridges, tall sandstone bluffs, magnificent rock shelters, and breathtaking waterfalls!  If that wasn’t enough, there are more than 100 natural sandstone arches! For more information, click here.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Caves is the states only national park and is considered the worlds longest cave system.  Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles explored, and one of the oldest tour attractions in North America. Rolling hills, deep river valleys, and the worlds longest known cave system. A journey into Mammoth Cave on a guided cave tour is an essential part of a visit to the park. Mammoth Cave is located in beautiful Kentucky at  1 Visitor Center Parkway in Mammoth Cave, KY 42259.  For more information, click here.

Cumberland Falls State Park

Cumberland Falls in Corbin Kentucky is a stunning piece of Kentucky’s landscape and a sight everyone should see. Often called the “Niagara of the South,” it’s an unexpected rush of beauty tucked into the breathtaking Kentucky landscape. Another feature that truly makes Cumberland Falls unique is its rare moonbow. This rare phenomenon is not found anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere, and can only be seen on certain nights of the year. Check out the website for Cumberland Falls State Resort Park here.

This last year has been an incredible one for Kai McDonald. It started last January when he won the 8U 61lb division of the Tulsa Nationals. A week later he won his second state title, pinning 4x Iowa state champion Bo Hake in the finals. 3 months later Kai traveled to Reno to compete in the  8U World Championships, where he placed second in the 61lb weight class.  Losing in overtime to 7X Oregon state champion Cruz Evans.

Kai’s list of accomplishments in the sport is incredibly impressive, and rivals those of some of the best high school wrestlers in the country. But the thing is Kai is in the 4th grade, and he’s only been wrestling for 3 years.

Kai’s athletic career started as a football player, and after the urging from a teacher, he decided to give wrestling a try. Kai started wrestling in the first grade, and after just a few months on the mat he placed second at Iowa’s AAU Super Peewee State Tournament. The following season, he won his first national title pinning 2 out of 3  opponents at the tough Iron Elite Nationals.

Wrestling is not the only sport, Kai excells in. He is also a state champion in long jump, and even qualified for the 2020 Junior Olympics!

Pictures provided by Pat McDonald

Kai trains at the world renowned Sebolt Wrestling Academy, under head coach TJ Sebolt in Jefferson Iowa. SWA has a solid reputation for producing championship caliber wrestlers. The team just recently captured their 9th straight USA State Team Title!

Pictures provided by Pat McDonald

Last weekend Kai, participated in the tough 2022 Iowa/USA State Championship in the 12U 67lb weight class. After pinning his first 3 opponents, Kai reached the finals across from one of Iowa’s most elite youth wrestlers 5x state champion Ty Martin. Kai used take downs in all three periods to dominate his older more experienced opponent. Winning his 4th state title in dominating fashion. It’s this level of dominance that makes Kai McDonald the Iowa Matmen’s Wrestler Of The Week.

More about Kai

How many state titles have you won over the length of your career? 4

How long have you wrestled? Since first grade.

Favorite food? Crawfish.

Plan to wrestle in College? Yes at Penn State.

Year in high school? 4th

Favorite Athlete? Bo Nickal

Who inspires you? My Dad and Grandpa always push me to be my best.

Favorite Coach? TJ Sebolt, He is Intense, and  helps make me a better person. He has taught me to be a gentleman off the mat and a terror on the mat.

Most significant wrestling moment? Beating Jack Stonebraker, Jack was the World of Wrestling wrestler of the  year in 2020.

Goals? I have several wrestling related goals, I want to win Iowa AAU state every year and never lose to an Iowa opponent again. After high school I want to wrestle D1 at Penn State and win a national championship.

What inspired you to start wrestling? My teacher said wrestling would be a good way to stay in shape for football.

Record this season?  55-3

Black Beach

This picture is owned by Cindy Carlsson

Although long known to local residents and a few in-the-know tourists, the beaches (there are three) that make up Silver Bay, Minnesota’s new Black Beach Park have long been privately owned and fenced in an attempt to thwart visitors. Times change though, and now the area is open to the public. The beach is a delight, with three dark crescents of dark sand, crystal clear coves, a bit of driftwood, and a tall jumble of lichen encrusted rock – all of it backed by thickly forested hillsides or the lake itself. Basically a photographer’s paradise! The beach is located at E Lakeview Drive Water Plant Rd, Silver Bay, MN 55614. For more information, click here.

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Gooseberry Falls is one of Minnesota’s most popular state parks due to its easy access to several scenic waterfalls! This park provides 70 non-electric camping sites that are available year-round. There are 18 miles of hiking trails, including 8 miles of mountain bike trails. The trails connect to the Superior Hiking Trail. There are popular picnic and swimming spots found throughout the park. Gooseberry Falls is located at 3206 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616. For more information, click here.

Minnehaha Falls Regional Park

One of Minneapolis’ oldest and most popular parks features a majestic 53-foot waterfall, limestone bluffs, and river overlooks, attracting more than 850,000 visitors annually.  Minnehaha Falls and the land surrounding it became one of the first state parks in the United States when it was purchased by the state of Minnesota in 1889. The park has a playground, picnic area, bike path and an outstanding disc golf course. Minnehaha Falls Regional Park is located at 4801 S Minnehaha Drive Minneapolis, MN 55417. For more information, click here.

Palisade Head

The Cut

Just an hour north of Duluth, Palisade Head is a go-to spot for artists, rock climbers and sight-seers in Northern Minnesota. The massive rock formation rises 932 feet above the North Shore of Lake Superior. The view from the top is both spectacular and spine-tingling. The cliff edge, which runs southwest to northeast, is rugged. The park offers one of Minnesota’s best views! Palisade Head is located on Highway 61 just three miles northeast of the town Silver Bay. Look for milepost 57 and the small sign on the highway pointing toward the peak. For more information, click here.

Iona’s Beach

Iona’s Beach is a hidden gem. Instead of silky, golden sand, this stretch of shore is covered in smooth pink rocks that, if you know when to listen, sing. The unusual musical concert isn’t the only thing intriguing about the beach. Even when Lake Superior is calm and the air is silent, the place still feels magical. The pink rocks, which formed from fallen pieces of a nearby rhyolite cliff, are an eye-catching sight on their own. The stones, worn and weathered by years of erosion, are all wonderfully smooth to the touch. This beach is a Scientific & Natural Area, which means it is not allowed to collect rocks, plants, animals, rocks, and fossils. Iona’s Beach is located at 3548 MN-61, Two Harbors, MN 55616. For more information, click here.

At this year’s IWCOA State Championship, Bettendorf’s Ella Schmit not just won, she dominated. On her way, to the title she recorded 5 straight pins to claim the 125lb championship. This is the second straight time she has pinned her way through the state tournament, and this victory makes her a rare 3x Iowa state champion. After finishing in second place her freshman year.

This type of success is not something new for her, a quick look at her Track Wrestling profile, reveals she was won a total of 10 state titles over the the length of her storied career!

That doesn’t mean that it’s come easy for Ella though, she has put in countless hours on the mats, training at some of the areas best clubs. Over the years she has trained with Young Guns wrestling club, and Agoge Wrestling as well as the Bettendorf wrestling club.

One of her key’s to success is her strong desire to compete against the best competition she can find. Ella regularly jumps up and down weight classes searching out the toughest opponents she can find. Over the years she has competed in numerous national tournaments, claiming championships in 6 of them.  This last summer she traveled to Fargo North Dakota and competed in one of the nations toughest high school tournaments. She went 6-2 over the multi day event and finished in fifth place at 117 lbs.

It’s the culmination, of many years of hard work, and road trips to tournaments all over the country, that allow her to dominate the state level competition and make it all look so easy! Countless hours on the mat, and endless sacrifice have made Ella Schmit, Iowa Matmen’s Wrestler Of The Week.

More about Ella

How many state titles have you won over the length of your career? 10 Iowa state titles.

How long have you wrestled? I began wrestling in the 3rd grade.

Favorite food? Peanut M&M’s.

GPA: 3.6

Plan to wrestle in College? yes, but I’m undecided as to where.

Year in high school? Senior at Bettendorf High School

Favorite Athlete? 3x NCAA Champion Spencer Lee

Who inspires you? My parents work ethic has been an inspiration.

Favorite Coach? Coach Sass, came to girls state back when I was the only girl on the team competing. Coach Trizzno, for his help and support while cutting weight.

Most significant wrestling moment? Qualifying for boys state my Junior year and being the first girl to get a pin at boys state.

Goals? I want to wrestle in the Olympics someday.

What inspired you to start wrestling? I was always at practice, with my brother and just decided to give it a try.

Record this season? 14-0