Minneapolis Minnesota

You can never have too many Minne's in Minnesota 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minnehaha and minne more :)

Traveling has to be one of our all-time favorite things to do, it seems like every time we have a few days off we pack up and go somewhere. For one month we were not able to travel but also we were stuck in two different countries. Shridhar was out in India on business and I was in America also working. After talking we decided that what we needed was a nice long road trip. Road tripping is our vacation of choice. There is something about driving out on an open road, the sun setting or rising, and don't forget all of the stars you see when you get away from all the city lights. We were itching to hit the highways and decided to drive 8 hours away to Minneapolis Minnesota. So has soon as Shridhar got back in town we were off to Minnesota. That's right Minnesota “the place from Mighty Ducks, Drop Dead Fred, Friday the 13th, Grumpy Old Men, Mall Cops” oh I heard about all the old classic movies and shows when I told people we are going to Minnesota. Minnesota has been making us laugh our whole lives, but then the questions came, “what is there to do there? Isn't it cold there? Do they really have that accent out there?” Well well, my friends the answer is Minneapolis Minnesota is way to much fun. There is a reason they have been making us laugh so hard for so long. Let me answer the questions...

Is it cold?

Shorts and a dress, it wasn't cold

The reason for this question seems to always be linked to a movie with snow, big jackets, and ice fishing. It wasn't cold when we went, well not in September anyways. It's pretty much like the rest of American in September. In case your not from America its warm in September normally it is not hot, and it is not really rainy, just good weather to be outdoors in. 

What is there to do there?

The Lego store at mall of America has giant Lego's,
and parts of the store made out of Lego's.

What isn't there to do there. Talk about a place full of everything. I can say with confidence that you could go to Minneapolis in the winter, snow all over the ground and still have an amazing time. They have amazing indoor activities, one of which is Mall Of America. Before I get carried away here is a short list of places and what it's like there.

Basilica Of St. Mary

The Basilica was open May 31, 1914, and is 101 years old this year. The original Basilica was built in 1871 but due to warehouse expansions it had to be moved. The new site is also the home of the first school crossing in the world. It is also home to the Basilica Block Party which is a weekend long music festival throughout the streets around the Basilica.

Mall of America

Dusk shoot of mall sign. 

Not only does Minnesota have first school crossing it is also has the largest mall in America. This mall has roller coasters inside of it, and more stores and food places than you could possibly see in one day. Taking up some major city blockage this mall could take up a big part if not all of trip if you let it. Make sure to enter through the side with the Mall of America sign or you will find yourself trying to find your way out of a giant Macy's or Sears.

Minnehaha Park

Waterfall at the park.

This place is a sight to be seen and smelled. There is an old time train, trolley bikes, amazing seafood, and a waterfall. It has the makings of a real family place but also a little romantic getaway all in one place. At the train, they have men and women dressed in old western wear, but this team is not carried out throughout the park, so if it's not your style it isn't forced on you. When you enter the park you can rent a bike or a trolley bike they have bikes for one, two, three, four, or more people to ride together.

Sculpture Garden

They love this spoon it is the center of this garden.

They love the big Snoop and Cherry sculpture in Minnesota, and it is in the middle of the garden. There is also a bridge that is a sculpture with a poem written on it, as you walk along you can read it in its entirety.

Minnesota State Fair

In the air at the fair

What a fair!! For one whole month, Minnesota turns into the largest fair I have ever seen. I mean they had a ski lift to take people from one side of the fair to the other. There are different sides to the fair which can be better describe as theme park style. One-half is the kids fair, then there is the family fair, and another side is the grown up fair where you can buy things like motorcycles, hot tubs, patios, and listen to music in RV bars, and then there's the ride side. There is so much to do at the state fair and so many local treats and dishes to eat.

What on the menu

The local foods are interesting just like the people who live there, They have meals called hotdish, something on a stick, and fish dishes. "Hotdishes" are items you would find on a dinner table all put in one dish and baked, and something on a stick it any food that you can get to stay on a stick. I was lucky enough to get two Minnesota local foods in one I have a hotdish on a stick.

Do they have that accent

Oh yes, yes they do. That famous accent we all know and love that rings happily through our ears, like every time we hear a New Yorkers accent on TV, is very very real. The first time we got up and close with the accent was when a cop told us which way we could and could not drive at the fair. He had a nice thick Minnesota accent which left us smiling for a long time. We wish he would have started to tell us one of those famous Minnesota stories but that would have caused some traffic problems so thank you for doing your job Minnesota policeman

Click the link for our pick of one of the best places to dine in Minnesota: http://thephagomaniacsguidetolove.blogspot.com/2015/11/sea-salt-eatery-minneapolis-minnesota.html

4 Travel Tips

Four Steps for Amazing Vacation.

By Elizabeth Kilgore 10/20/2015 

Traveling is something that takes perpetration from booking tickets, finding places to stay/eat, knowing how much gas you will have to put in your car, or if you should rent one is all part of the magic of trip taking. No matter how much you plan things can still go wrong, that is why it is so important to take the right people on the trip with you. That's why travel tip number one is....

Take an amazing person with you.

Million Dollar Highway

When traveling it is so important to have someone to travel with. Not just for safety, but also for fun. I have done a lot of traveling alone, and with people, I wish I hadn't taken on a trip with me, and to be honest having the right person with you really makes for a good trip. Not just anyone will do, you have to have someone that loves to travel in the same fashion as you do. They have to be someone you can be stuck with in a car in the middle of the mountains or stuck in the middle of a river on a five-hour canoe trip that was only supposed to take an hour with no food and minimal water. Traveling through the best and worst circumstances should be fun even when things start to go bad.

Booking

The Cherry & The Spoon Minneapolis

A lot of people ask me questions about how to book cheaper and easier because they want to go on a trip without breaking the bank and without the stress of trying to make plans. Don't worry making travel plans does get easier. Splitting up the work can make things easier as well, don't try to do it all alone. Here is what we do when we travel. First, we think about where we want to go we take a lot of road trips so we Google map points A and point B first and then pick the middle places if needed, this way we get an idea of places we want to visit so we can book hotels. Expedia and Orbitz are the two we use the most they have the lowest priced fares so there isn't much need for us to book elsewhere and it is rare when we have to. Shirdhar (my travel partner in crime) normally books the hotels, airlines, and cars if needed because those things go together you can sometimes get really good deals from bundling and it is less stress for one person to do them all together. It really doesn't help keep stress away if you have to call someone many times in a day to see what, when, and where they booked. I have the task of finding places to go, things to do, and places to eat. I try to plan things that are close together because no one wants to hike a mountain for 3 hours and then have to drive 3 hours for a meal, so places to go, things to do, and food go together and should be handled by one person, else you may starve. Splitting up the work not only gets the trip off to a good relaxing start but it keeps you focus on the little details you might skip when worrying about too many details at once, details that could get you stuck on an endless road with no gas, or in a rental car that can't take you driving it anymore driving {yep hiccups do happen.}

Always always bring provisions

Himalayan Kitchen Durango Colorado

It doesn't matter how much you plan things, things can still go wrong so here is what we have learned that saves us a lot of stress. Bring a bag goodies, and fill that bag with water, napkins, tea biscuits/hard cookies {because they don't go bad}, coffee creamer {because powered is something that can make some people go a little crazy :)}, bread, apples or fruits that don't get all nasty when left sitting. Don't forget bags for trash. Things to collect along the way maps of the town you're in they are free at rest areas, and visitor centers {GPS likes to stop working when you need it the most.} Also, grab coffee straws, and cup lids because not all stops have them and coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are, well, HOT! and your lap will thank you not to spill those things on it. Other items to bring, Place drinking water in your trunk to fill your bag with when you run out,and a gas can if you are traveling a long road with no stops.

Your sanity.

Minneapolis Skyline

Honestly, its vacation you should be relaxing not rushing around and waking up earlier to the point of making yourself sick. If something you planned doesn't fit in your time frame do it later, make room some other time, or plan to come back. If your head hurts because you were up to late, or ate something bad rest a little longer or until you feel better. Oh and if your travel mate/mates wants to do something that you didn't plan to, you should change the plan so everyone can get to do something they think is fun, trust me wherever you are going you most likely won't be able to see everything in a few days and it won't fall off into the ocean unless it is in certain parts of California :), you can also plan a trip to go back again next year or in a few years, so play nice with you travel friends. Also sometimes you will plan to go somewhere and it won't be there anymore so don't stress the little things, just relax and remember trips are supposed to be fun.