Spend the day in Stillwater, Minnesota, and enjoy delicious food, unique shopping, and beautiful views of the St. Croix River!
Many times, we think we need a big getaway. After spending the day in Stillwater, Minnesota, I was reminded that one day away or even a half day is revitalizing. So often, we talk about self-care, and we don’t discuss travel being part of it. I see too much of the 10-step nightly face routine. 😉 Travel is expensive but so are women’s beauty products. It’s about prioritizing what works for you and getting creative. It doesn’t have to be a 10-day trip to an exotic island to have the same effects. A smaller dose of relaxation and filling your soul is worth it!
A Day Trip to Discover Stillwater
Best Small Towns in Minnesota
We started the day at Feller Restaurant for lunch. We really loved the cozy atmosphere with comfortable bar stools and big windows that look out to Stillwater’s historic Main Street. We enjoyed the Nicoise Salad and Foragers Crostini but the star of the show was the Bacon Wrapped Dates! They were so delicious. They deserve another close up picture!
After lunch, we walked and shopped Main Street. Our favorite stop was the Stillwater Olive Oil Company, where you can sample a variety of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It’s a unique tasting experience and so yummy! The service was fantastic too with the staff being super helpful and answering all of our questions.
Next, we walked down by the St. Croix River and took in all the views. The Stillwater historic lift bridge is such a sight to see and fun to walk across to take in the river views and downtown Stillwater.
Last, we had a delicious cup of coffee at Made Coffee before hitting the road. My favorite is a hot oat milk miel. The weather in Minnesota has been so crazy warm so it was nice to sit by the fire and then inside the cozy Lora Hotel. Don’t forget, a simple day trip with a friend can make a huge difference in your mental health.
Miracle at Big Rock is an epic light show including 17 million lights in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. See the year-end finale!
What a blast!!! Holiday lights, food trucks, artisans (located in a beautiful barn), s’mores, cocktails, and so much more.
⛺️ Private Rental Spaces
🏠 Onsite lodging
🎇 Fireworks
🌝 Visit the Moon (This was a favorite but there a so many unique installations, watch for Bigfoot!)
We knew this would be a fun night but it was even better, we left feeling like little kids full of joy.
Here is a list of the remaining hours and events from their website :
Wednesday, December 27: 4pm-9pm, Youth Night! Kids 4-12 $8 admission using code “Kids” Thursday, December 28: 4pm-9pm Friday, December 29: 4pm-10pm FIREWORKS at 830pm Saturday, December 30: 4pm-10pm Sunday, December 31: 4pm-10pm
A Big Rock’n NYE Barn Dance and Fireworks!
Definitely add @miracleatbigrock to your holiday to do list. Cheers!
Holiday Events in Lindstrom, Minnesota, and surrounding communities
The holiday events start the first weekend of November!
You will find an abundance of holiday spirit in Chisago Lakes, Minnesota. There is so much holiday magic, I believe Santa has a special place in his heart for these Minnesota communities. In fact, you will see Santa at most of the Chisago Lakes holiday events arriving in epic fashion! Chisago Lakes is a 40 minute drive from the Twin Cities and encompasses Chisago City, Lindstrom, Center City, Shafer, Taylors Falls & Almelund.
Where to See Santa This Holiday Season
The Chisago Lakes area is known for celebrations year-round, but over the holidays, it is extra magical.
The holiday season events are what you imagine or remember when you think of wholesome fun, connection, and community. You will feel wonderment and joy watching Santa ride in on his sleigh, singing Christmas carols, taking horse-drawn sleigh rides, counting down and anticipating a town tree-lighting, shopping for the perfect homemade gifts, experiencing Swedish traditions, drinking hot chocolate, and seeing historic houses lit up in spectacular lights.
Calendar of Holiday Events in Chisago Lakes
Check out these festive annual events in November and December!
Kick off the holiday season at the huge Chisago Lakes PTO Annual Craft Fair at the Wildcat Community Center! 150+ booths with vendors and local crafters, plus food trucks and fresh baked goods. Free admission, easy parking, and building access. This event has been taking place for over 30 years!
Experience unique wines paired with amazing chocolates and rare cheeses the winery has specially selected for this special weekend. Winehaven Winery and Vineyard is a family-owned and operated winery located in Chisago City, Minnesota, and has been in operation since 1995. Its vineyard consists of 15 acres of various winter-hardy grapes.
Another can’t miss event at Winehaven. Enjoy a fantastic dinner and dueling piano show! The winery will be filled with the sounds of music from the 1970s through current favorites. Grab your family, friends, and favorite song requests for a fun night of food and music.
The quaint town of Taylors Falls, Minnesota, becomes a Christmas Card Village! This event has been held on the Friday after Thanksgiving since 1985. The Lighting Festival includes a parade, medallion hunt, craft fairs, Christmas at the 1855 Folsom House Museum, an ecumenical Choral Vesper Service, family Bingo, Mrs. Claus at the library, a giant bonfire, and snowman making. Watch for the limited edition Lighting Festival ornament and make sure to wear your lumberjack flannel!
Santa arrives in a fire truck! Small Town Christmas is hosted by the Center City Fire Department Auxiliary at the Center City Fire Hall. The annual small-town Christmas evening includes cookie decorating, cocoa, popcorn, raffles, and a Christmas story read aloud. Put your Christmas jammies on and celebrate! This is a FREE family event. All proceeds from the raffles go to local residents in need this holiday season.
The annual Christmas Bazaar has been a tradition for over 20 years. Including more than 30 vendors and their always popular “Bethlehem Bakery,” stocked full of fresh baked goodies, including lefse! They serve hot cinnamon rolls and coffee in the mornings and then a sloppy joe lunch in the afternoon. There are also antiques and a raffle with great prizes!
The Holiday Craft Boutique is hosted by the Center City Fire Department Auxiliary at the Center City Fire Hall. Their annual Holiday Boutique has many vendors, crafters, and baked goods! There will be unique gifts for teachers, family, co-workers, friends, and so much more. Raffle tickets will be available for a chance to win prize baskets. Lunch will also be available for sale. Do some holiday shopping while supporting a great cause! All proceeds go towards local residents in need.
Have a fun day shopping! The Holiday Craft Fair has several vendors with a wide variety of items, including holiday gifts, Scentsy, jewelry, handcrafted items, and gifts. You can make a day of it and attend two other craft shows on the same day in Center City (within 4 miles of each other). Visit the above link to the Facebook event page with a Google Map and information. Local Cub Scout Pack #144 will be selling food and beverages, plus wreaths and garland.
Don’t miss Lindström’s Annual Tree Lighting Festival at Lindström’s Memorial Park! FREE Admission.
Visit a winter wonderland and see live reindeer, take pictures with Santa, stay warm with hot cocoa, coffee and a bonfire, enjoy a freshly grilled hot dog or brat, make a s’more with Boy Scout Troop 159, meet the KOD/Chisago Lakes Ambassadors, plus listen to live music: High School Brass Ensemble & Santa Lucia Carolers.
Chisago City’s Annual Tree Lighting Festival at Moberg Park.
Come to Moberg Park for Chisago City’s Annual Lighting Festival! FREE Admission.
Events include horse-drawn sleigh rides, music, caroling, refreshments, and of course, Santa! Bring your letters to Santa with a returned addressed envelope, and Santa will reply.
Picket Fence Gals is a one-of-a-kind sale! They have become one of the premier occasional sales in Minnesota. Through the years, Picket Fence Gals has grown to 2 buildings and added Picket Fence Guys. Each vendor has their own design aesthetic that gives Picket Fence Gals a wide array of styles that shoppers will love, from Farmhouse to Modern to BOHO to Mid-century. Every day during the sale is different because the vendors restock each night. Have fun and find wonderful treasures.
Join the Chisago Lakes Chamber team for their Annual Meeting and Holiday Gala. Get to know the community and the team during a social hour then enjoy a delicious buffet dinner and desserts!
For more events in Chisago Lakes, visit the Chisago Lakes Chamber calendar!
Another fun and unique spot to shop is Pleasant Valley Orchard. Plus, you can pick up fresh apples for your Thanksgiving pie.
Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️
Have you been to Medora, North Dakota? What a kick! This area is rich in history and nature but also offers unique activities for the whole family from the Pitchfork Steak Fondue Dinner to the Medora Musical.
Medora is located at the entrance of Theodore Roosevelt National Park with beautiful views of the North Dakota Badlands. Medora was founded in 1883 which is also the year that the young Theodore Roosevelt visited this region to hunt bison. Can you imagine the feeling of seeing this amazing landscape for the first time?
The Pitchfork Steak Fondue Dinner was delicious and yes, the steaks are truly cooked on pitchforks! Our steaks were cooked perfectly and we appreciated all the sides which included fresh fruit, salad, coleslaw, vegetables, baked beans, garlic toast, baked potatoes, brownies, and cinnamon-sugar donuts plus coffee and lemonade. You can purchase wine or beer at the bar.
It was busy (see picture below) but they are super organized and the line moved quickly. There’s also plenty of tables in either the shade or the sun so you don’t have to feel rushed for a seat. We were impressed with all the staff walking around asking if we needed anything and clearing our plates.
They have a live band (The Coal Diggers from the Medora Musical) playing good ole western music. The music combined with the views and eating outside, it’s a night to remember!
We walked around the bluff after dinner and took in all the views. Both the Pitchfork Steak Fondue Dinner and the Medora Musical are located up on the bluff. The drive up is only 5 minutes from town and they do offer shuttles.
The set of the Medora Musical
We stayed at the historic Rough Riders Hotel in the heart of downtown Medora. The rooms were very nice. The three C’s…convenient, clean and comfortable. 😉 Plus, there is a wonderful private library filled with everything Theodore Roosevelt for you to enjoy.
Breakfast is always my favorite meal and The Farmhouse Cafe perfectly satisfied all my cravings from the coffee to chocolate syrup on the pancakes! Check out the Redneck Breakfast below, that’s a huge piece of ham on top of sausage with an over-easy egg and cheesy hashbrowns. Holy moly so good! The service was top notch and I found the most unique gifts here.
If you live in the Twin Cities, getting to Medora is an easy 8-hour drive. Fargo is approximately at the halfway point, so it’s a convenient stop to take a break for lunch or to spend the night. We stopped at the Würst Bier Hall in downtown Fargo for lunch. The locally-made polish sausage was amazing and Terry loved the local beer. Terry will be sharing more in his Tuesdays with Terry post.
Do you remember this spot from the Forrest Gump movie? There have been many movies filmed in Monument Valley which makes for fun trivia when road tripping through!
Best place to stay in Monument Valley, Arizona
Speaking of movies, staying at Goulding’s Lodge in Monument Valley on the Arizona/Utah border, feels like you’re on a set. The lodge is located approximately five miles from the Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center, which allows you to get up close and personal with the monuments. Plus, you can set up exclusive tours right at the lodge or drive the 17-mile Tribal Park Loop on your own. This iconic view!!!
Goulding’s offers a variety of lodging options, including spacious rooms, suites, stand-alone villas, and a campground/RV park. Amenities include the onsite Stagecoach Restaurant, Grocery Store, Laundromat, and Gas Station. We loved the convenience of having everything we needed so close. Some rooms are dog friendly, and we loved that each unit has its own door. It makes it so much easier when traveling with the dogs. The views of the monuments are incredible; both sunrise and sunset were spectacular. There is easy access to hiking right out your door and not to mention all the onsite attractions. There is so much to do and see at the lodge and beyond.
Sunrise views from our room.
Things to do in Monument Valley
The dogs loved the trails and hiking around the Goulding’s property. Other onsite attractions include the Goulding’s Museum, Gift Shop, Earth Spirit Theater, Navajo Culture, and history, including “John Wayne’s Cabin” filled with movie memorabilia.
You have to try the traditional fry-bread at the Stagecoach Restaurant! Mouthwatering.
Monument Valley is magical. This was our second time visiting, the first time we just drove through and this time we stayed a couple of nights. I didn’t want to leave. Here are more incredible views…
We’re exploring Minnesota looking for a new home! Summer is winding down but there’s still plenty of warm weather days to get out and enjoy the season. Taylors Falls is popular day/road trip from the Twin Cities. We’ve been to Taylors Falls, Minnesota a few times but this time, we are seeing the area with new eyes thinking of a move. Below is a fun day itinerary!
We made it to Interstate State Park in the morning before the park got too busy (which I always recommend).
First on the list, checking out this very unique natural attraction.
The Glacial Potholes! Did you know there are over 200 potholes and one is the deepest explored in the world? I love this short 1/2 mile trail because you can see so much in short time. There are beautiful overlooks with breathtaking views of the St. Croix River.
The St. Croix River has been designated a National Wild and Scenic Riverway, giving it special environmental protection.
There are 4 miles of trails to explore at the park. The trails are pretty rugged with lots of steps. You can also rock climb! There was an REI class going on while we were there. REI offers many helpful outdoor classes, events, and adventures.
After our hike, we stopped at Juneberry Cafe for some watermelon. I love their healthy, quick, and fresh options.
This snack was perfect to get us back on the road driving the St. Croix Scenic Byway to Marine on the St. Croix for lunch.
Places to eat in Marine on the St. Croix
Such a cute town! The General Store has everything that you need from clothes to a deli. There’s also a yummy coffee shop. We had lunch at Brookside Bar and Grill. The nachos were so good!! They layer the cheese between the chips not just on top. It’s a huge portion! The patio in the back is so cozy and is dog-friendly.
Of course we needed dessert. Nita Mae’s Scoop is adorable. You can get over 24 flavors of soft-serve ice cream! It is the perfect treat.
Make sure to stop at Franconia Sculpture Park too. We didn’t this trip but have in the past and they offer such cool exhibits.
The set of the Medora Musical
