Plan Your Day Trip to Northfield, Minnesota Northfield, Minnesota is the perfect place for your next day trip. It’s a quaint town located about 40 miles south of the Twin Cities. Around 1914, Northfield declared its official town slogan “Cows, Colleges and Contentment.” In 2014, Northfield ranked number two for the best small town in the country. This charming river town has beautiful parks, great restaurants with outdoor patios, farmer’s markets, and a handful of very trendy shops. I spent three years leaving just outside downtown Northfield, and I absolutely love this town. Looking to learn more about Northfield’s history? Visit the Northfield Historical Society and learn more about the town’s unique…

The Best State Parks in MN Various spots along the North Shore of Lake Superior remind me of Maine, Vancouver, and Ireland. It’s absolutely breathtaking and it’s hard to believe it’s just a few hours away from the Twin Cities. There are many incredible places along the North Shore with stunning beauty, breathtaking ruggedness, and powerful waterfalls. How many have you been to? #1 Jay Cooke State Park Best known for its iconic swinging bridge, Jay Cooke State Park makes an awesome stop on a trip to the North Shore. Just 20 minutes south of Duluth, Jay Cooke State Park offers unbelievable views of the St. Louis River. There are…

Cook County is the North Shore’s Most Northern Spot Cook County is the most northern part of the North Shore. It offers rugged hikes, spotty cellphone reception, potential bear and moose sightings, and some of the most breathtaking views in the midwest. There are several state parks, epic waterfalls, including Minnesota’s tallest waterfall and one of Minnesota’s cutest towns, Grand Marais. #1 Walk to Artists Point Be sure to walk along the beach and out to Artists Point, which is a narrow peninsula that juts into Lake Superior. Be aware that sometimes this narrow pier is slick and wet in warmer months and icy in colder months as water often…

The Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener In partnership with Explore Minnesota, I was invited to Otter Tail County to celebrate the Governor’s Fishing Opener, which was my very first time at the opener. I have a friend with a lake house in Otter Tail County, but I’ve never been out to explore the area beyond his dock. About three hours from the Twin Cities, Otter Tail County is home to over 1,000 lakes, which is more than any other county in the United States. It includes the towns of Pelican Rapids, Fergus Falls, Battle Lake, Perham, and more. A great summer destination for fishing, state parks, lake activities, shopping, breweries, and…

Stillwater is a Historic and Charming Town Stillwater is a special place with an adorable, quaint town nestled along the St. Croix River. The downtown area has a huge selection of restaurants, bars, bakeries, and ice cream shops. The waterfront park is a beautiful spot to sit and relax or set up a picnic. There are also a lot of parks and places to hike, a trolley, and even a gondola! Support a Local Florist I stopped by Sarah’s Cottage Creations to meet the founder, Sarah, and walk with her around her gardens. While the property is not open to the public for tours, you can purchase seasonal bouquets with vibrant colors from…

A Weekend Getaway to Pine City My husband and I were looking for something fun to do for my birthday weekend, so it’s probably no surprise that I wanted a weekend getaway in a little cabin on a quiet lake in Pine City. Neither Nic nor I had ever been to Pine City before so we didn’t know what to expect. After spending two nights and three days exploring this lovely town, we can definitively say we had an awesome time, not only relaxing at a beautiful cabin but visiting a handful of small businesses around town. Pine City is a small town with a big personality. With many businesses…

See the Cities in a Unique Way The Twin Cities are known for having a ton of incredible breweries. What better way to explore than a self-guided brewery bike tour in Minneapolis? With roughly 150 breweries in Minnesota, it’s hard to narrow down the list and figure out where to begin. If you want to taste the beers first and see which ones you like, head to a Total Wine store. There are six locations around the Twin Cities, and they have an entire aisle of local Minnesota beers sold as individual cans. My husband and I like to grab a variety and create flights at home, that way we can…

Don’t Wait to Visit Grand Marais Like We Did I can’t believe I’ve lived in Minnesota since 2011, and my husband grew up here, and our very first trip to Grand Marais, Minnesota wasn’t until August 2020! Since then, we’ve already returned a few more times! Something about this special town just keeps pulling us back. Grand Marais is an adorable harbor town with a plethora of options for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. Grand Marais itself offers stunning views of Lake Superior and has many hikes to choose from. It also has easy access to the Boundary Water Canoe Area, state parks, and the Superior Hiking Trail.  If you…