Tag: Minnesota

Weekend Getaways

Great Family Friendly Weekend Getaways to take in the Midwest this Summer!

— Katy Flint4 Comments
Great Family Friendly Weekend Getaways to take in the Midwest this Summer!

The Midwest is a great place to spend time during the summer. It is full of many great family friendly weekend getaways. Sometimes busy families don’t have time to head out on week-long vacations, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore! We’ve been there in life, so I rounded up some of our favorite family friendly weekend getaways in the Midwest for you and your family to enjoy.

Charles City, Iowa

First in our list of family friendly weekend getaways is Charles City, Iowa. This community of 7300 people offers kayaking, golf, mini golf, delicious eats, history, and bike trails.

Get Outdoors in Charles City, Iowa
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Midwest Travel

Visit Owatonna, MN: 6 Great Stops

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Visit Owatonna, MN: 6 Great Stops

Located in southern Minnesota, you’ll find Owatonna. It’s a booming community with a lot going for it! From good food, coffee, chocolate, history, shopping, and more….you’ll find plenty to do. If you’re looking for a fund day trip from North Iowa or central Minnesota, we highly suggest planning to Visit Owatonna, MN!

Planning a Trip to Visit Owatonna

We all follow that social media account that makes us want to explore their community, right?! For some time now, it’s been Owatonna for me. So, when I knew I needed a “brain break” from my full-time job and a girls day with my mom, I decided to plan for us to visit Owatonna! We ended up exploring 6 different stops that we think are a must!

Central Park Coffee Co

What great girls day doesn’t start with great coffee?! We headed to Central Park Coffee Co located in downtown Owatonna for ours! This quaint coffee shop offers a variety of seating so whether you need to work at a table or relax in a casual chair to just visit with friends, you’ll be comfy! They not only offer an expansive coffee and espresso menu, but also breakfast and lunch items! We watched a plate loaded with waffles and fruit go by that looked amazing! I chose the White Lavender and it was delicious, white chocolate & lavender flavor! Central Park is a great way to start your adventures!

Casual & comfy seating available at Central Park Coffee in Owatonna
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Midwest Travel

The Best Ice Cream Shops in the Midwest

— Katy Flint15 Comments
The Best Ice Cream Shops in the Midwest
best ice cream shops in the midwest

If you’re on a quest to find the best ice cream shops in the Midwest, then you’ve come to the right place!  I love ice cream and no road trip is complete without it. The Midwest is full of amazing locally owned ice cream joints and my fellow Midwest Travel Bloggers have helped me by compiling them all in one spot!  For your ease, I have organized them by state!  

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Day Trips

The Best Wineries, Breweries, & Cideries in the Midwest

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The Best Wineries, Breweries, & Cideries in the Midwest

I think it’s safe to say that microbreweries and wineries are gaining more popularity. Thankfully, we have some of the best wineries, breweries, and cideries in the Midwest! No need to travel to the metropolitan areas. From Minnesota to Wisconsin, & Iowa we are full of great places to grab a drink, enjoy a brew or wine, and relax! Check them out!

breweries wineries cideries in the Midwest
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Gluten-Free

Eat Gluten Free in the Midwest at these Delicious Stops

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Eat Gluten Free in the Midwest at these Delicious Stops

One thing I’m asked for over and over is the best places to eat gluten free in the Midwest! If you’ve followed along for a while now, you know that I have a gluten allergy. I was diagnosed in November 2019 and have been working to adjust my eating ever since. Eating at home is easy as I have complete control of the groceries that I keep in the house and how food is prepared. But sometimes when traveling, eating gluten-free can be a challenge! (It’s amazing how many places offer only fried foods & sandwiches!) Thankfully, over the last several years, I’ve found several delicious places to eat that either offer Gluten-Free specific menus or have lots of menu options that are gluten free!

*Note – I cannot guarantee that cross contamination does not happen at any of these restaurants as cross contamination. For your own allergy/intolerance, please make sure to consult each of the restaurants before dinning there!

gluten-free in the midwest
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Midwest Travel

Austin, MN – Not Just SPAM: 9 Reasons to Visit

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Austin, MN – Not Just SPAM: 9 Reasons to Visit

I don’t know about you, but when I hear of Austin, Minnesota, I can’t help but think of SPAM! It makes complete sense since Austin is the home to Hormel, the maker of SPAM. But, after a recent weekend getaway in Austin, we know that there are so many more reasons to visit Austin. In fact, there are 9 reasons to visit Austin, MN. Whether you love spending time outdoors, history, or art, Austin offers it all! Time to plan a trip to visit Austin, Minnesota.

Thank you to Discover Austin, MN for hosting our visit to Austin! All thoughts and opinions are 100% authentic and my own. For full details, please see the disclosure tab.

Hormel Historic Home

Hormel Historic Home
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Girl's Trips

The Best Weekend Getaways in the Midwest

— Katy Flint2 Comments
The Best Weekend Getaways in the Midwest

Ready to travel? We’ve gathered up this list of the very best in Midwest Weekend Getaways to help make your planning easier! You’ll find them grouped by state, but I’ve also noted which ones are the best for families, couples, girlfriends getaway, and more! I hope you’re excited to get exploring!

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Midwest Travel

The Minnesota State Fair: A Guide to Don’t Miss Fun

— Katy Flint4 Comments
The Minnesota State Fair: A Guide to Don’t Miss Fun

This was not my first visit to the Minnesota State Fair! In fact, it was actually my 3rd or 4th visit. I do however consider myself an expert in fairs! Not only was I involved with the Franklin County Fair in my hometown for more than 10 years, T and I love visiting different fairs and especially the Iowa State Fair!

So, what’s so great about the Minnesota State Fair?

Things To Do

You will not, I promise, run out of things to do at the MN State Fair!  The choices are endless!  

1. Math On A Stick

If you have small children, we recommend heading to Math On A Stick!  Created as a way for kids and adults to both enjoy mathematical skills without actually doing equations, there are several stations that challenge kids to use their logical and creative brains at the same time!  The stations can change each day as well!  The day we visited, there was  a station that used balloons to create different shapes, etc.  Even the big guys found it entertaining!

Tips for Visiting the Iowa State Fair

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