What to check out in Minneapolis

Walker Art Center & Sculpture Garden

Walker is one of the most praised contemporary art centers in the country. They have a world-renowned collection of contemporary art which includes 11 galleries and special exhibitions! In the warmer months be sure to check out the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden! It is one of the largest urban sculpture parks in the United States, featuring works by leading American and international artists, including the monumental fountain sculpture Spoon Bridge and Cherry.

Mill City Farmers Market

Be sure to check out the farmers market’s on Saturday mornings. They have a wide variety of local food vendors as well as the art work of local artists! Nothing like eating some fresh dumplings and wandering through the farmers market! Don’t miss it! It’s located next to the Guthrie Theater, which in itself is worth seeing!

Nicollet Mall

A pedestrian only street in downtown Minneapolis filled with great restaurants, trendy shops and hoppin’ bars! It’s definitely worth a stroll. It seems as though all roads in Minneapolis lead to Nicollete, so you’ll have no trouble finding it.

Fun on the Water

Minnesota is after all the land of 10,000 lakes, so it would be just a pity not to check out some of them! Lake Minnetonka is a great day trip, but there are also many lakes within the city itself! There are several small lakes in the city; the larger of the small lakes are Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. I recommend Lake Calhoun where you can walk, bike, or jog around one or more of the lakes! I packed a picnic and sat and ate a lakeside lunch with an old friend! It was magical!

I hope you learned some fun facts about Minneapolis and are ready to see it for yourself. I loved it so much I might just move there! So be sure to look me up ;-)

Where to Stay in Minneapolis

W-The Foshay

The Foshay itself was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi, now it’s one of the smaller buildings in the city, but has held its dignity and charm nonetheless. It is now home to the uber posh W-The Foshay hotel. With its low lights and ultra modern décor, the W certainly is a spectacular hotel. The ultra modern rooms are very clean and the atmosphere truly creates a unique experience! The location of the hotel is fantastic as well. It is within walking distance to many great attractions including Tennepin Theater District, Weisman Art Museum, Walker Arts Center and Sculpture Garden, Nicolette Mall, and others. I stayed here on my first night in Minneapolis, and it was phenomenal- I plan to stay there again!

Tip: For a great view, visit the Foshay’s observation deck, or a few floors below check out the Prohibition - the Foshay’s trendy cocktail bar! I enjoyed sipping Cava and seeing the spectacular view of the city!

I stayed at the Foshay for $123 per night. This is significantly less than the average rate which falls around $240. If you are interested in staying at the Foshay- contact me for low rate details!

The Depot Renaissance

This classically beautiful hotel was once the train station of the Milwaukee Road Line. Opening in the late 1800’s, it was bustling with activity from the get go. The depot reached its prime in 1920 when it had nearly 30 trains a day departing. In 1971 the last train left the station, and it was later converted into an elegant hotel complete with high ceilings, beautiful trim and the feeling of being in a grand railroad station. It stands as a reminder today of this classic travel experience; The Depot is a fantastic place to stay in Minneapolis. As if the spectacular architecture isn’t enough, they have plenty of fun things to do on property, including a 15,000 square foot indoor water park, a full service bar and restaurant, and an enclosed seasonal ice skating rink! It’s within walking distance to many fantastic Minneapolis attractions including: Guthrie Theater, Nicollet Mall, and Saint Anthony Main!

Insider Tip: Book in advance and you can stay at this beautiful hotel for only $99 per night! Far less than the normal rate that falls around $200.

Smitten with the Twins

The Twin Cities that is! I just travelled to Minneapolis and St. Paul for the first time, and I am loving’ it! On my first day I spend the day and an overnight on the beautiful Lake Minnetonka. Minnesota has 10,000 lakes and I decided, to see a few of them! Then I spent the next several days exploring what the Twin Cities have to offer and thus far I have discovered this…Minneapolis (the hip and modern twin) can rival any major city in poshness, its far cleaner than LA or NYC and the people are significantly friendlier than those in most major cities! In addition to great art venues, good eats, and fabulous shopping Minneapolis offers a variety of outdoor activities as well! There are actually several lakes in the city! I had a picnic at Lake Calhoun yesterday! On a Thursday afternoon the paths were filled with runners, bikers, walkers and roller bladders! Then myself the picnicker and dozens of sun bathers soaking up the sun and celebrating the start of summer! St. Paul (the quant & quiet twin) is a beautiful riverside city that has a great mix of classic architecture and history combined with a chic and modern flair! The city is filled with small shops, awesome independent restaurants and lovely parks!

Over the next several days I will write about the sites, sounds, grub and love that can be found in Minneapolis!

Beautiful Boone

I just returned home from a lovely week in Boone visiting my honey. Shortly after I arrived, I lay down to rest, and awoke 20 minutes later to the sound of rain. Through the window I could see the most spectacular view of the rain falling on the mountains, and I knew I had to share some details on this amazing vacation spot with others.

For those of you not familiar, Boone is a small town in western North Carolina, located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. In addition to being the home of Appalachian State University, it also has an adorable downtown, and endless outdoor activities.

Where to Stay

Camping

For my budget travelers, camping is a great way to stay in Boone! The weather here cannot be beat; you don’t have the sweltering heat of the NC lowlands, and here in the high country you can wake up to cool mountain air and a spectacular view: check out www.koa.com for info and rates on their campground in Boone, or try the Flintock Family Campground http://www.flintlockcampground.com/. Both are great places to camp!

Broyhill Inn

For those that prefer to be in town and around the action, try the Broyhill Inn, situated in the mountains and on the campus of Appalachian State University. Continental breakfast is complimentary to guests. The hotel is located right next to ASU’s wind turbine and it is assumed they receive much of their energy from this source!

Country Inn & Suites

This property has a fantastic location, great view, and many amenities! It is similar to many of the other chain hotels in the area, but for about $20 less per night! So if you want a name you know- this is the hotel for you! Included in the rate is a full breakfast buffet! Rates run around $110 per night.

Where to Eat & Drink

Hob Nob Farm Café

This restaurant uses the freshest and finest local, regional, and organic foods! They have a very diverse and eclectic menu and everything is made fresh to order! Menu ranges from sushi to Jamaican rice and beans. The food is delish. For me, no visit to Boone is complete without their Tempeh Gouda Taco! Located on King Street, you shouldn’t miss it. They are open breakfast, lunch and dinner and have both indoor and outdoor seating.

Vidalia

Vidalia is really unique because it is both casual and upscale. They serve American cuisine with a unique twist to it! Vidalia changes their menu a few times a year in keeping with the seasons, so you are guaranteed freshness! They also try to keep it local whenever possible. Great for date night and celebrations, you should definitely check out Vidalia on your next trip to Boone. Visit their website for more info: http://www.vidaliaofboonenc.com/index.html

Eating out in Boone on a budget?

No worries! Many of Boone’s restaurants have daily specials that help you save when eating out, here just a few:

Taco Tuesdays at Boone Saloon- right on King street, you can grab a taco for $1.25

Beer & A Burger are just $4 for lunch on Thursday’s at Galileo’s Bar and Café. Galileo’s also has $6 all you can eat baked ziti on Tuesdays!

What to do & See

The high country has a plethora of outdoor activities available to visitors. I have just listed a few of my favorites. There are many other places to hike, see waterfalls, zip lines, kayaking, tubing, etc.!

Hebron Rock Colony

For a spectacular view and a load of fun you must visit Hebron Rock Colony! There is a beautiful, long slope of humungous boulders, great for crawling, climbing and jumping (if you are the risky type). The river cascades down the rocks, so there are several small waterfalls and dozens of sweet little swimming holes.

Elk River Falls

This is one of the High Country’s most beautiful waterfalls! When the weather is nice, there will be a crowd, but it’s worth it to see the 60-foot falls!

King Street

It’s great for taking a stroll and stopping in some of the fun shops along the way! Don’t miss Artwalk! It is three floors of local and regional art. There are also a lot of restaurants along King Street.

Day Trip From Boone

Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock is a charming town about half an hour from Boone. It was a beautiful old down town area with shops and great eats. They also have some spectacular views! Its a bit crowded in the summer, but worth a visit!!

New Blog Series

I am doing my fair share of travelling this summer and have decided to blog about the various places I visit, both hits and misses…offer options and advice from budget friendly to Puttin on the Ritz! You’ll find it all.

My hope is you will learn something about new places, and get some fun new ideas of places to visit on your next vacation! First spot will be Boone! Check it out, it will be up in the next few days.

Bon Voyage!

Cash Back to Cruise?

Carnival has a fantastic promotion going on right now! If you book a selected sailing you will receive an "on board credit," which can be applied to beverages, spa treatments or shore excursions at no additional cost to you! So if you are thinking of cruising, now is the time!

Here is some additional info on this rockin’ promotion:

Cash back is provided as a refundable onboard credit to your Sail & Sign account of $40 per person up to a maximum of $80 per stateroom on select 3 - 5 day sailings and up to $80 per person up to a maximum of $160 per stateroom on select 6, 7or 8 day sailings. If your Sail & Sign account has a cash balance at the end of the cruise after all authorized purchases have been applied to the account, any remaining unused portion of the cash back onboard credit will be delivered in check form to your stateroom on the morning of debarkation with your final Sail & Sign statement.

For more info or if you are considering a cruise let me know! You don’t want to miss this deal!

Don’t just dream it- DO IT!

D