I appreciate the advice!

The trail-a-bike works with my rack with side panniers, but prevents using the top of the back rack completely.

I hadn't considered a rack on the trail-a-bike, I suppose with some trickery one could be made to fit there. Do you think adding that kind of weight to the far back would affect handling terribly?

I do know there are a lot of things along the trail that are interesting (*to me), the area has a pretty good history. Too bad there's no dinosaurs or cheetahs or sharks on the way! Getting him involved with the planning would certainly help. I'm kind of new to being Daddy (I adopted my two oldest when I married my wife 2 years ago).

I'll consider hotels too, but there's a big section of northern minnesota with parks but not much for cities/hotels.