MINNESOTA

YEAR VISITED: 2006, 2008, 2018, & 2020

Restaurants	Sites	Sports
Loring Pasta Bar Huberts Hard Rock Cafe Taco Jed	Mall of America Walker Art Center Mary Tyler Moore Statue State Capital Valleyfair Amusement Park Como Zoo & Observatory Mill City Museum Jolly Green Giant Statue Itasca State Park Paul Bunyan & Babe Blue Ox	Minnesota Twins Metrodome Target Field 14th Minnesota Vikings Metrodome St Paul Saints

FAVORITE CITIES & EXPERIENCES: Some of our best friends from college, Becky and Sean, moved to Minneapolis for work in the mid to early 2000’s. The combination of we are always up for an adventure and the fact we always have a good time with our friends, led us to visit them in November of 2006. We stayed in their downtown condo and had a blast catching up and exploring the city.

In 2008 we returned to the Twin Cities for a family wedding. Cousins Tom and Colleen got married at the Varsity Theater with a reception at the Loring Pasta Bar across the street from the University of Minnesota.

In the 1960’s Bob Dylan lived in an apartment above this hip establishment.

In 2018 we returned on a family road trip and stayed with Cousins Connie and Todd in Elkhorn.

Whether we stayed with family or friends in Minnesota, both were extremely gracious hosts and helped guide us to many Minneapolis and Saint Paul attractions. Every visit to Minneapolis has resulted in a trip to the Mall of America. While technically ‘just’ a mall, it is absolutely massive.

It opened in 1992 and is the 9th largest mall in the world. There are over 500 retail stores, a theme park (which is the largest indoor theme park in the world), an Aquarium, and nearly 50 restaurants.

We shopped, ate at the Rainforest Cafe (which was the first location opened), and rode the coasters at Nickelodeon Universe.

Like Disneyland it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to not have a good time at the Mall of America. Outside of the Walker Art Center is a free sculpture garden. We have visited twice and both times enjoyed exploring the well manicured grounds and taking pictures with the iconic sculptures.

The Spoonbridge & Cherry is our favorite.

In 2006 we stumbled upon the Mary Tyler Moore Statue located on Nicollet and 7th Street. While I am not overly familiar, the 1970’s Mary Tyler Moore Show was set in downtown Minneapolis.

Also in 2006 we found City Hall and the Hubert Humphrey statue located out front. Humphrey was the Mayor of Minneapolis, A US Senator, and the Vice President of the United States. We also took a quick tour of the beautiful Minnesota Capital building.

Once inside I was thrilled to take a picture in front of Governor Jesse Ventura’s portrait. I followed Ventura when he was a professional wrestler and known as Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Following our downtown adventures we had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. While the downtown location has moved since we visited in the mid-2000’s, the Cafe is always one of our favorite stops. We made sure to take pictures in front of the Prince memorabilia as he was born and raised in Minneapolis.

Looking back on our travels to Minnesota, I think Jill and I were crazy traveling with a 2 year old and a 2 month old. Interestingly enough not only did we travel with them we also took the entire family on an outing to Valleyfair Amusement Park. For most of the day Jill and I took turns with one of us watching Maddie and the other riding a kiddie ride with Bailey. However, the real hero was Cousin Todd who volunteered to watch Maddie so all of us could enjoy rides together. While it rained that day, the weather was warm, we were with extended family, and had a blast at the 125-acre park.

On that same trip we visited the Como Zoo & Conservatory. This is a free zoo, has beautiful grounds, and our kids absolutely loved it. Our favorite was the giraffe exhibit. In this day and age where everything seems to be getting more and more expensive, free is a great price. We plan on returning anytime we are in the Twin Cities.

The Washburn Mill, later General Mills, was built in Minneapolis in 1880 and was the largest mill in the world. As a result Minneapolis became the Flour milling capital of the world from the time of its creation until 1930.

Today this site is known as the Mill City Museum where you can get a guided tour, a history lesson, and unbelievable views of the city. While we wavered, ultimately we decided to take the tour in 2006 with Becky and Sean and were glad we did.

It was an entertaining morning.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: In 2006 I attended a Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers football game with Sean.

With their condo being less than a mile away from the Metrodome, we decided to brave the cold and walk to the game. On the way to the stadium we were invited into a handful of tailgate parties, and just wandered into a couple others. I definitely felt like an adopted Viking fan!

While the Pack traditionally wins more than they lose, due to their close proximity, this is definitely a rivalry game. This combined with the fact Brett Favre, a future HOF quarterback, was under center for the Packers you could certainly feel a buzz of excitement running through the stadium. Our seats were in the 200 section around the 30 yard line and I had a blast taking in all the sights and sounds. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Packers pulled out the win, 23-17.

Growing up going to games in Seattle’s Kingdome, I wasn’t all that taken with the novelty of the Metrodome. I was however thrilled to be able to see a game there before they ultimately tore it down. In 2008 Sean and I once again connected for a Minnesota Twins game, also in the Metrodome. Before the game we went to Hubert’s Sports Bar for dinner and beverages.

Besides serving traditional bar food, the walls are decorated with all sorts of Minnesota sports lore. If you’re a sports fan, this is definitely a place to check out. We then headed across the street to the game.

While the company was great, the game was just ‘fine’, the seats were just ‘fine’. There is just something about watching baseball inside on a bright and beautiful summer day that I don’t love. On our 2018 trip we attended another Twins game, but this time in the newly built outdoor Target Field.

This open air stadium is absolutely beautiful, and instantly became one of my favorites in all of Major League Baseball.

We sat in the 300 section and while we were a long ways away from the action, the views of the city were spectacular.

It is tough to beat baseball being played outside on a warm and beautiful summer afternoon. Prior to the game the girls and I walked through Target Plaza and took pictures with seven or eight statues of Twin’s greats.

I remember being impressed at how well the Twins managed to preserve their history. However, the absolute best sporting event I have attended in the Twin Cities is a Saint Paul Saints game.

The Saints are an independent minor league baseball team, at the time, owned by comedian Bill Murray. Because of their ties to Murray, the contests in between innings are creative and hilarious and for some reason their mascot is an Iron Pig.

The stadium is beautiful and they play a high level of baseball. If you can only attend one sporting event in the Twin Cities, I recommend it being the Saints. Plus, you just might run into Bill Murray himself. Needless to say this was a great night of baseball and family.

ADVENTURE(s): In 2020, our road trip took us along I-90 on the southern border of Minnesota, where we decided to spend the night in Fairmont. The next morning we packed up and headed out and roughly twenty minutes down the road we stumbled upon a mammoth Jolly Green Giant statue.

To be exact, the statue stands at 55 feet tall and wears a size 78 shoe – you could see the statue coming from a mile away. Interestingly enough it has stood in Blue Earth, Minnesota since 1979 and was designed as a way to welcome travelers. We definitely felt welcomed!

NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: We have been fortunate to have traveled around to a number of Minnesota cities. In 2018 we met up with family in downtown Saint Paul at Tom and Colleen’s condo. We were able to sit and visit on the roof of their complex and take in the gorgeous views of the city.

We also walked a couple of blocks to the St Paul train station. There we were able to see Tom’s “Forever St Paul” artwork that was commissioned for the 2018 Super Bowl hosted by the Vikings.

In 2020 we spent the afternoon in the south eastern city of Rochester. Jill’s other cousin, Steve, started his own restaurant here called Taco Jed.

The establishment is named for Jill’s Grandfather and is uniquely decorated to reflect the family connection. We greatly enjoyed our meal of tacos and it was awesome seeing Steve’s success.

In 2006 we attended the NCAA Baseball College World Series. Following our time in Omaha, the entire family headed to Bemidji and the home of Jill’s Uncle and his wife, Joe and Karen. Besides spending time with family, we explored a handful of sites in the area. First we explored the larger than life Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statue.

These roadside icons were constructed in 1937 and according to the nearby Tourist Information Center, is the 2nd most photographed roadside attraction in the country. Second we headed to Itasca State Park, which is the home of the headwaters of the Mississippi River.