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 […]
If you are in the Ramsey area and looking for something a little off the beaten path, but not so much, check out the Kitchen Table. Just off Sunwood Drive, the breakfast, lunch and dinner eatery is hidden away in an up-and-coming business park. This place is adorable, as is the owner. It is perfect […]
If you are starting to go a bit mad with cabin fever, I have a suggestion. Brave the cold and head over to Jimmy’s Pro Billiards just off Central in Columbia Heights / Northeast. Some call it the best pool hall in the Twin Cities, the place is named for Jimmy Wetch, the very friendly […]
One of the best parts of having a record snowfall is fresh powder for the snowmobile trails. Snowmobiling is a rite of passage in Minnesota – it certainly was for me. Minnesota has snowmobile trails in nearly every county of the state, including 224 miles in Hennepin County, 369 miles in Dakota County and 208 […]
Imagine a place where you can sip a white chocolate latte, page through hard to find books, flip through vintage vinyl, play a game of foosball, browse local art, and visit a resident puppy, all before heading down to brunch in an upscale, industrial-designed open kitchen restaurant. I KNOW, RIGHT?! Well, such a place exists. […]
Whitewater State Park is in Altura and preserves a stretch of the Whitewater River. The Dakota named the river Whitewater because it turned milky white in the spring as high water eroded light-colored clay deposits along its banks. Surrounded by rocky bluffs, this secluded park seems to pop out from nowhere. It is located in […]
If you are willing the brave the cold, I have something to add to your 2020 #mnbucketlist! Have you heard of SocialICE? It’s in Downtown Rochester’s Peace Plaza and is THE Minnesota Ice Bar experience! Free to the public, SocialICE is held annually and takes place in February, in the thick of the Minnesota winter. […]
On blustering Minnesota mornings, a good latte is my go-to. Since I’m in Rochester, I had to head over to Fiddlehead Coffee Co. Founded in 2017, Fiddlehead was located in Forager Brewing and has since moved to 3rd Ave, across Fourth Street from Rochester’s Government Center. The new, more spacious location is modern-meets-retro, complete with […]
An Ode to Minnesota Weather Minnesota 60 above zero: Floridians turn on the heat. People in Minnesota plant gardens. 50 above zero: Californians shiver uncontrollably. People in Duluth sunbathe. 40 above zero: Italian & English cars won’t start. People in Minnesota drive with the windows down. 32 above zero: Distilled water freezes. The water in […]
