Saturday, July 16, 2011

Lake Calhoun


Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  When visiting the state, it would be a shame to not spend at least some time at them.  There are numerous ones to choose from, but right outside the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis is Lake Calhoun, which has a very relaxing feel to it.

This lake has a path around the whole lake for walking or cycling.  In addition, with its marina, you can take a boat out onto the lake to just sail around or to go fishing.  For our short stay, we decided to rent a Paddleboat from Wheel Fun Rentals.  They are located right off the main road next to the marina.  They don't have their own parking lot, but finding a spot on the street shouldn't prove too challenging.


With our paddleboat in hand, we were able to enjoy a relaxing hour paddling around the lake taking in the various views and were able to witness various baby ducks on the pond.  It is a great way to spend a beautiful afternoon in the Twin Cities.  In addition to the paddleboats, they also rent out kayaks, canoes and bicycles.


Friday, July 15, 2011

"Damn Good Food" at Hell's Kitchen




Hell's Kitchen in downtown Minneapolis grabbed my attention because, well, first of the name and then the sausage toast on the menu. That's right, sausage bread. As per their website, "a deliciously dense bread made with our own homemade bison sausage, toasted walnuts, black currants, black coffee and spices. Try it...those who do usually love it enough to order an entire loaf to take home." It's served with whipped butter as well as house made peanut butter, apricot jelly and blackberry jelly. This is delicious. Seriously. Yummy.

As Hell's Kitchen was bringing breakfast back to the Twin Cities, we clearly had to try their breakfast offerings. So we ordered the Classic All-American Breakfast, two eggs, hash browns and your choice of maple-glazed bison sausage, thick-sliced bacon, or a slab of slow-roasted pit ham. I ordered the pit ham, and was very happy I did! Yum!

We also ordered the baked penne in creamy garlic sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese and chicken. Very yummy. (You can add sausage or shrimp if you prefer.)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Aster Cafe



Walking down Main Street along the waterfront in Minneapolis, there are many dining options to choose from. Aster Cafe has charming outdoor dining and is dog friendly. Make sure to ask for a table on the patio, it has beautiful views and it's great for people watching.

We ordered the roast beef, roasted red pepper, mozzarella sandwich, served on a brioche bun, which was moist and a delicious combination and perfect on a warm summer afternoon and served with chips.

We also ordered the chorizo, queso fresco, potato, chimichurri flatbread pizza. The flatbread was an interesting combination. Potatoes on a pizza was a delicious surprise (admittedly, we were skeptical and curious going into this one).



Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Main Cafe on Main Street in Stillwater



Walking down the main street in Stillwater, MN, we were looking for breakfast and with few options open early in the morning, we found our way into the Main Cafe. This great little spot is a hit with the locals (while we were dining, a local police officer, and at least two other locals were also eating breakfast).

We ordered their seasonal special, the strawberry chocolate chip pancakes. The chef makes the pancake batter fresh every morning and mixes in the perfect amount of chocolate chips. The pancakes are fluffy and sweet and topped with super fresh, sweet strawberries that the chef has left untouched.

We also ordered the daily special of two eggs, two bacon strips, hash browns and toast, which was exactly what you would expect from a home cooking cafe on the main drag in town. Everything was cooked perfectly and there was way more there than we could possibly eat. But everything was delicious and our waitress, the only waitress for the entire restaurant, was pleasant and answered questions as well as chatted with us.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Walker Sculpture Garden


Take some time out of your trip or your day to visit the Walker Sculpture Garden, where you'll find the famed Spoonbridge and Cherry, among other works. Here is also the Alene Grossman Memorial Arbor and Flower Garden, which is a beautiful walk.

Take your time walking through the gardens and take in all of the pieces. If its a nice day, take a picnic lunch with you.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Wabasha Street Caves


A local hidden gem of St. Paul, the Wabasha Street Caves gives visitors a unique view into the history of the city, especially focusing on the history of nefarious gangsters.  Originally used to house a mushroom farm, by the 1920's the caves became a speakeasy during the period of Prohibition in America.  Infamous gangsters, such as John Dillinger, were regular customers.

Over the years, the caves have changed purposes ranging from just storage to a disco.  Today, in addition to giving historic tours, as well as ghost tours, the caves can be rented out for private parties.  The tour guides are very informative and give various stories of the history and myths of the caves.

The cost of the attraction is only $6/person and is well worth your time.  They only give tours a few times a week, so be sure to check their schedule at www.wabashastreetcaves.com to ensure you figure out the best time for you.  Also, it's cash only, so make sure you have it with you as you don't want to miss out on this while searching for an ATM.


Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sea Life Aquarium


How many people can say they have an Aquarium located in their local mall?  Unless you live in the Twin Cities, you probably can't.  At the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN, in the basement is the Sea Life Aquarium.  


Originally built in 1996, you'll get various exhibits with your entrance fee.  You'll be able to walk through a world of Jellyfish as well as a "tunnel" to make you feel as if you're in the water with the creatures.  In here, you'll see various sharks, sea turtles and numerous types fish and other sea life.


If visiting both the Aquarium and Nickelodeon Universe in the mall, you should definitely get the combination pass that is offered to save you some money.  This is an aquarium worth seeing, so if you happen to find yourself at the Mall of America, take a visit.