Awesome Things to Do in Minneapolis
Minneapolis is the Midwest’s Cultural Hub Over the years, the Twin Cities have gained national attention for being the midwest center for arts, music, theater, culture, incredible cuisine, and nearly 20 Fortune 500 companies, making it a great place to live and work. Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and Minneapolis is known as the City by Nature with one of the top park systems in the country. Minneapolis boasts some of the best biking and walking trails, connecting lakes, beaches, and popular neighborhoods for miles. Plus, Minneapolis has a 53-foot waterfall at the Minnehaha Regional Park (details below). Minneapolis also has several fantastic colleges, including the University of…
20 Must-See Places Along Minnesota’s North Shore
Minnesota’s North Shore Is Breathtaking Lake Superior’s North Shore is a truly magical place. Parts of the North Shore remind me of Ireland and Vancouver and I can’t seem to get enough of it. Every time I go, I discover another great hike, coffee shop, or lunch spot. Here’s the full summary of the absolute must-see spots along Minnesota’s North Shore. 1. Canal Park Canal Park is a bustling section of Duluth with tons of restaurants, a brewery, and distillery, and many shops. We love Canal Park Brewery for burgers and beer, or Vikre Distillery for fancy cocktails. For excellent seafood, stop by Northern Water Smokehous, or Vitta Pizza for Neapolitan-style…
2021 Holiday Gift Guide with Discount Codes
Happy Holidays The holiday season is here and I’ve put together a really fun gift guide for the adventurer in your life! This gift guide is filled with products and companies I love and fully support. Additionally, as a special thank you for supporting Expedition Kristen, I’ve worked with many of these awesome local businesses to pull together exclusive discount codes just for you. Most discount codes are good from November 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021, unless otherwise noted below. Please note, this blog post contains affiliate links and if you click on an affiliate link and complete a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This does not…
Top 5 Minnesota Winter Destinations
The Best Minnesota Towns to Visit During Winter Just because the weather is getting cold and the days are getting short doesn’t mean our fun has to stop. One of the things I appreciate most about Minnesotans is their hardiness when it comes to the cold. With some warm boots and a great hat, Minnesotans will be outside all winter. Although I grew up on Long Island where winters are much milder, my family would go to Vermont every winter to downhill ski. With the right clothing and attitude, nothing is too cold! Read on for the top five places to visit during winter in Minnesota. 1. Northfield, Minnesota I…
14 Awesome Things to Do in Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a Great Place for a Getaway I absolutely love spending time in Duluth, whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a longer visit when possible. I’ve visited Duluth many times over the years for vacation, as a lunch stop on the way up to the North Shore and even a wedding. My brother-in-law lived there for three years as well, and that gave us a great excuse to drive up from the Twin Cities and visit him often. After a number of trips to Duluth, this is a roundup of my favorite things to do, see and eat in Duluth! Where We Stayed Duluth has a ton of options…
12 Awesome Things to Do in Burnsville, Minnesota
Burnsville is a Great Town With two breweries, many parks, tons of restaurants, a beautiful lake, a performance center, coffee shops, and a place for skiing and snow tubing, there’s so much to do in Burnsville! Located about 20 miles from both Minneapolis and St. Paul, Burnsville can be overlooked but there is much more to this unassuming town than initially meets the eye. 1. Burnsville Has Two Breweries Burnsville has two great breweries and each one offers a unique experience. Ineffable Brewery has a wide selection of beers. They also have a food menu with a smoker on-site and a large indoor space with an even larger outdoor patio.…
An Honest Rumpl Blanket Review
Are Rumpl Blankets Worth the Hype? Rumpl blankets are becoming more popular and for good reason. These blankets are lightweight, water-resistant, and made from post-consumer recycled polyester. They also come with their own bag so you can roll up the blanket into a compact ball, making it easy to toss in the back of your car or clip onto your backpack. Another reason I love Rumpl is that they are dedicated to offsetting their carbon footprint by donating one percent of sales to environmental causes. Additionally, they work to continuously find ways to reduce their impact on the planet by using recycled materials and transportation options with a low carbon footprint.…
4 Reasons to Visit the Renaissance Festival
The Renaissance Festival is Super Unique In 2021, the Renaissance Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary in Shakopee, Minnesota. The Renaissance Festival features a 16th-century European-style village with 16 stages of entertainment, more than 250 vendors with handcrafted items, a wide variety of food, local beer and cocktails, and so much more. After visiting the Renaissance Festival many times over the years, here are some key things I’ve learned: Go during off-peak days and hours. It’s always better to walk around the grounds with lighter crowds, wait in shorter lines for food and get a better seat for the entertainment. But the biggest difference is the long line of cars that forms…
