Good Grief, What a Great Vacation Idea for KY/IN Travelers and Peanuts Fans

I have been known to learn things about places where I've vacationed that I didn't know while I was there. That's the time I kick myself for not digging deeper into my surroundings.

However, I did make plans five years ago when part of my vacation included a trip to Minneapolis. I visited Paisley Park studios in which no cameras are allowed, and the outside looks like a Honda dealership.

I also took a tour of the gigantic Mall of America which is like four full-sized malls stacked on top of one another.

What I did not remember was that I was in Charles Schulz's hometown. And what I didn't KNOW was that across the Mississippi River in St. Paul--where Schulz grew up--was and is a wonderful memorial to the legendary cartoonist. A crushing missed opportunity on my part.

Thankfully, what I missed out on isn't going anywhere, leaving a future jaunt to the land of Charlie Brown and company on the table. And the gang's all there immortalized in bronze.

It's not surprising that memorials to Schulz's iconic creations attract tourists by the thousands each year; folks in their 70s on down grew up with these kids. Here's a closer look from a popular YouTubing nomad:

The Story Behind the Peanuts Statues

Charles Schulz passed away in 2000, and for five summers thereafter, St. Paul artists designed sculptures of the various Peanuts characters. Snoopy was first up followed by Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, and then Snoopy with Woodstock. Peppermint Patty, Marcy, Schroeder, and Sally were added in subsequent years.

The Minneapolis-St.Paul area is a lot of fun--lots to do. And if you're a big Peanuts fan, this could be the centerpiece of your fun, themed vacation.