Happy Holidays
Whatever you celebrate. From my family to yours. xo J
Union Depot’s 7th Annual Holiday Bake Sale
If you are a long-time follower, you know that the Union Depot’s annual bake sale is my favorite event of the year and that is not an exaggeration. It is one that I make sure to highlight, no matter what. Located in St Paul’s historic railroad station, the bake sale has been the go-to spot […]
The Coffee Hag
If you are in the Mankato area and in search of a place to escape the cold, look no further than The Coffee Hag in the heart of Old Town on Riverfront Drive. The artistic coffeehouse-meets-hangout has been around for over 20 years. With high tin ceilings, fun, eclectic wall art, open seating that lines […]
Pagliai’s Pizza
If you are looking for a no-frills, open late, neighborhood pizza joint, look no further than Pagliai’s in Mankato. Located in the heart of downtown off Front Street, the place opened in 1969 making it Mankato’s oldest pizzeria. It is a great place to escape the cold, settle into a bucket booth, sink into the […]
Wagon Wheel Cafe
Wagon Wheel Café has been around since the 40s and has become the go-to place for breakfast in Mankato. Just off Front Street, inside the walk-in double doors, you’ll find a quintessential small-town diner with an open seating concept complete with bucket booths, Formica counters, vinyl bar stools, a bustling kitchen you can see clear […]
Pompeii Pizzeria
If you are a fan of Neapolitan-style pizza, I have a recommendation. Go out of your way to check out Pompeii Pizzeria in Elk River. A downtown walk-up storefront just above Diamond City Bread, Pompeii is THE neighborhood-style pizza parlor in the area. Celebrating their 9th anniversary, Pompeii offers a whole host of reasons why you […]
2019 Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener
The Minnesota Governors Pheasant Hunting Opener is one of my favorite annual events. Held in Austin this year, the #MNGPHO was established in 2011 by Gov. Mark Dayton. The event focuses on Minnesota’s hunting heritage, cultural traditions and the economic impact of the sport. Hunting is a longstanding tradition in Minnesota and these kinds of […]
Pine Tree Apple Orchard
Fall is the perfect time to go check out the local apple orchards. Fresh Honeycrisp, apple pie, caramel apples, apple cider, hayrides, corn mazes… you name it, I’m for it. To that end, I give you, Pine Tree Apple Orchard in White Bear Lake. Known just as well for their strawberries, Pine Tree Apple Orchard […]
Steve’s Pizza
Steve’s Pizza is an airy, straightforward, open-late pizza joint in downtown Austin. A menu filled with a plethora of Italian options like lasagna, alfredo, linguine, and their magnum opus, pizza. Of course, there are the fan favorites like a Mama Mia with pepperoni and sausage; a Mighty Meat pizza with pepperoni, sausage, beef, salami, and […]
Coffee House on Main
I am in Austin, Minnesota for the Minnesota Governors Pheasant Hunting Opener. Whenever I go somewhere new, I instinctively look for things that start with “C”. “Candy,” “cupcakes,” “cookies,” you get the idea. Today is no different, “coffee” is on the docket. Coffee House on Main fits the bill. Cozy, check. Homey with a touch […]
Paul Bunyan State Forest
I have to be honest, The Paul Bunyan State Forest is one of my all-time favorite places in Minnesota. Let me tell you why. This area, outside Park Rapids, is near and dear to me for several reasons but most notably because it is where I, a self-professed Paul Bunyan expert, believe the idea for […]
The Lost 40
Have you heard of The Lost 40? Located in the Chippewa National Forest in the town of Northome, the Lost 40 Scientific and Natural Area (SNA), or simply “The Lost 40″ is a nature preserve that is unlike anywhere you have seen in the Midwest. Let me give a bit of history; In the late […]
Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Lake Superior Railroad Museum is located in downtown Duluth, in the platforms yard of the original Historic Union Depot, built in 1892, now the Saint Louis County Heritage and Arts Center’s Historic Union Depot. The Depot also houses the Duluth Art Institute, Duluth Playhouse, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and the Saint Louis County Historical Society. […]
Lake Ave Restaurant and Bar
For me, fall means landscape changes and comfortable spaces. On days like today, all I want is homey, lived-in, cozy places that I can hide from the summers-end crowds. Don’t get me wrong – I love basking in the beauty of any touristy place, I just like to bask from afar, with food. In short, […]
Muskie Water’s Co.
Muskie Waters Co. is one of those favorite stops you can’t wait to make when you are in the Northwoods. Located just off the Heartland bike trail in Nevis, on Highway 34, between Walker and Park Rapids, it is well worth the stop and I’ll tell you why. Coffee and espresso cafe, check. Candy store, check. Apparel boutique and ice cream shop, check and […]
Finland Campground
If you plan on heading up to the North Shore and are looking for a place to stay, check out the Finland Campground. The secluded oasis is seven miles from the very popular (and beautiful) Tettegouche State Park and Lake Superior Hiking Trail. The location alone is worth a drive through. Tucked into the woods […]
The PortLand Malt Shoppe
In the heat of the summer, there is nothing better than going in on a massive, sugar-rich dairy treat. Enter, the PortLand Malt Shoppe. Located in Duluth, off Superior Street on the edge of Lake Superior, the freestanding location was originally built in 1921 as a gas station for Northwestern Oil Company. The neighborhood it […]
World’s Best Donuts
If you are a purveyor of things that land in the “world’s best” category, I have a suggestion. World’s Best Donuts near the waterfront in Grand Marais is a longtime family-operated bakery specializing in a wide variety of classic donuts and pastries. World Famous, did you say? Why, yes, yes I did! The walls of […]
Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse
Brewed Awakenings is a busy, quirky, colorful coffee shop and eatery, specializing in organic, farm-to-plate foods, and Fair Trade coffee. Initially launched as a small coffee cart located in a cooperative grocery store in 1996, they are now in a brick-and-mortar location off 4th street in Grand Rapids. Think comfortable, relaxed atmosphere with an artsy […]
Treaty Site History Center
Just north of St. Peter on U.S. Hwy. 169 is the Treaty Site History Center, the headquarters of the Nicollet County Historical Society. The site’s exhibits explore the history of Nicollet County and Minnesota’s territorial expansion. It also tells the story of the Dakota people, the first explorers, cartographers, traders, and Euro-American settlers. Formerly a […]