By CHRIS WELSCH, Minneapolis Star Tribune

I have a habit of daydreaming over maps.When I open my Rand McNally to pages 54 and 55, I see not just the enigmatic shape of Minnesota, but all of the places I've been and all of the places I've yet to explore.

Pat Savu, a research chemist at the 3M company, says between family obligations and work, her life in Minnesota's Twin Cities is "frantic." When she travels, she's looking for a different pace.

GETTING AROUNDThe roads in Costa Rica are rough and signs are few, but some turistas brave them in rental cars. Opt for the bus or one of several shuttle services that connect towns and parks with low-priced fares, about $48 from San Jose to Monteverde, for example (www.costaricashuttleservice.com).

A crown of streaming clouds flowed off the cone of Costa Rica's Arenal volcano. A sound like thunder shook the air.Standing in a lava field about 2 miles from the mountainside, I watched boulders the size of Chevy Suburbans fly out of the clouds and tumble down the gray and black slope.