A few months back, I had posted Explore Minnesota’s Minnesota Bucket List. I had nearly every box checked with the exception of the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota. During the #MNGFO2019, I was finally able to check it off my list! SPAM, if you aren’t familiar, is a brand of canned cooked pork made by […]
The B & B Cafe in Albert Lea is the kind of place you mention to friends when they ask where your go-to breakfast spot in the area is. I know this because when I asked for recommendations, B & B was on the top of everyone’s list. Tucked off Sibley Street, the 50’s style […]
Have you ever tried kayaking or canoeing? How about stand up paddle boarding or hamboarding? What about rock climbing? If not, why? What if I told you, you could try all those things without the added expense of buying equipment, having the means to store it, or paying for an expert to show you. Well, […]
If you are in the Albert Lea area and looking for a great burger, keep an eye out for a tiny yellow building on the corner of East 8th Street and James Ave, just off SE Broadway Ave with a red neon sign that reads, “The ELBOW ROOM.” Don’t let the small exterior fool you. From […]
The next stop during the #MNGFO2019 was Myre-Big Island State Park in Albert Lea. Just a stone’s throw from the Downtown area, the park has 8 miles of shoreline on Albert Lea Lake making it a great place to rent a canoe and head out on the water. I myself am more into hiking so […]
For the past few years, I have been lucky enough to be part of the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener. It is always a blast to check out the lesser explored parts of Minnesota and, this year, follow Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan as they competed with one another to hook the biggest […]
Today marks the 45th MayDay Parade and Festival and it certainly didn’t disappoint! The free event took place in the Powderhorn neighborhood in South Minneapolis and ran noon to dusk. In the Heart of the Beast Theater (HOTB)’s annual MayDay Parade, Ceremony, and Festival has been a staple in the Twin Cities area and is […]
You may be hard-pressed to find someone in the Twin Cities who hasn’t heard of Keg and Case Market in St. Paul’s West 7th neighborhood. Housed in the Schmidt Brewery, the gourmet food and vendor hall has already accumulated a laundry list of accolades. The food hall boasts over 33,000 square feet with more than 20 […]
If you are looking for a day trip away from the city, I suggest planning a trip to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha. Beginning in 1989, the now-center started as EagleWatch, Inc. as a group of volunteers sharing with visitors to Wabasha views of wintering bald eagles from an outdoor observation deck along the […]
Happy Easter and chag Pesach sameach, from the Minnesota Bucket List family to yours.
When my friend Cindy from high school asked me to come check out her exciting passion project, Short or Tall Eatery & Drink Hall, I jumped at the chance. Brandon (Another friend from high school) and I headed to Rogers to check SOT out. Opened in the Spring of 2018, the destination eatery features exposed steel beams […]
As the story goes, shepherds discovered coffee in Ethiopia circa 800 AD. Legend has it that herders noticed the effect caffeine had on their goats. They appeared to “dance” after eating coffee berries. A local monk then made a drink with berries and found that it kept him awake at night, thus the original cup […]
To say that Yarusso Bros Italian Restaurant is an old school would be a significant understatement. Offering signature Italian classics including melt-in-your-mouth fettucini alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs (they are the size of baseballs, not kidding) and a Hot Dago sandwiches, Yarusso’s is a favorite East St. Paul haunt that will have you reminiscing through flashbacks […]
If your ideal weekend includes racking up a game of pool, trying your hand a darts, grabbing a drink at the bar, and settling in to watch a game, you will be in heaven at the Olde Brick Inn in North Branch. No matter the season, the Inn is a boozy haven for billiards, pull […]
If you love Italian food, you are going to be head over heels for Terza Ristorante in Downtown Rochester. The upscale eatery plays host to warm wood tones, soft lighting, and industrial decor adding to the gorgeous atmosphere. On any given night, you will find every corner of the restaurant filled with celebration and conversation. […]
Even if you travel back and forth between the Twin Cities and Duluth, you may have still overlooked the Rock Creek Cafe and Motor Stop. Located right off Highway 35 at the Rock Creek exit between Pine City & Hinckley, it is attached to the Rock Creek gas station. The moment you walk in, you’ll […]
I like to go off the beaten path and in this case, it means venturing off I-35 to meander through the smaller, less trafficked towns. Askov, off Highway 23 in Pine County is one of such towns. Home to the annual Askov Fair and Rutabaga Festival, the town was originally the Village of Partridge, initially […]
This winter had created a need for something stronger than beer but lighter than Glögg. Enter my favorite Boreal Cedar Gin from Vikre Distillery in Duluth. The award-winning micro-distillery also makes Boreal Juniper Gin, Boreal Spruce Gin, and Øvrevann Aquavit. Located in Canal Park, adjacent to the aerial lift bridge, it is housed in a […]
Del’s Cafe is a quintessential Minnesota small town diner. With a remarkably familiar diner marquee, Del’s is a staple in St Charles and the perfect place to escape the cold and sink into a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Once you find your way in, you’ll find the specials written on the board and […]
Can I just tell you how much I love the Quarry Hill Park and Nature Center in Rochester? The park was originally purchased by the Rochester State Hospital in the 1870s. In 1882, a cave was hand-carved to serve as a cellar for the storage of many vegetables grown on the State Hospital farm. Quarry […]
