One of the best things about living in Minnesota is all the parks in our hometown Minneapolis. In fact, did you know that Minneapolis features 180 park properties?!
This sunrise skyline view is from Bde Maka Ska park. The lake is the largest in the chain of lakes and has three beaches. The park is 518 acres with a 3.1 mile loop for pedestrians. We love walking and running around this lake in every season. It’s the perfect distance with nature views, neighborhood views, and the skyline. If you want to add distance, you can keep going around the chain.
The full chain of lakes covers 1555 acres with a total of 14.81 miles of pedestrian trails along with 15.27 of biking trails.
The lakes include Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet and Brownie Lake.
There are endless activities: Concerts, Boating, Fishing, Volleyball, Archery, Tennis, Grilling, Ice-Skating, Cross-Country Skiing, Playgrounds, and more. You can see all the amenities by clicking HERE.
This area is definitely one of the highlights of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Make sure to visit and take it all in!
Our all time favorite restaurant in Sedona is The Hudson. We order the pork chop every time. The Hudson’s tagline is “A Neighborhood Restaurant” and we couldn’t describe it more perfectly. When we sit at the bar and chat with the bartender, locals, and tourists, it feels like we’ve known everyone forever. Their service is impeccable. Do not leave without ordering dessert! I can’t resisit their flourless chocolate cake. Enjoy this list of the best restaurants in Sedona, your mouth will be watering!
Our favorite dessert in Sedona
Speaking of dessert, this beauty is from Creekside American Bistro. This hot banana churros with ice cream is incredible! Yes, that IS banana bread. It was so good! I would recommend ordering this as your meal. 🙂 We loved stopping in for a lunch and sitting at their cozy bar. They also have great burgers and I really enjoyed their salads.
Breakfast at the airport offers the most incredible views
Breakfast at Mesa Grill is a must! Beside a yummy breakfast, you get an amazing view on the way up, and it’s cool to watch the planes land. They also offer an awesome dog-friendly patio with a full dog menu. They even bring your dog a bowl of water when seated. We were so impressed by the level of service especially with our dog. Allen gave it two paws up.
Best brewery, winery, coffee shop and more in Sedona
The Oak Creek Brewery is a great location to sit at the bar and catch a game OR sit on their patio for some sun. The cheese tray is perfect to split and enjoy with your drinks. My husband’s favorite Oak Creek Brewery beers were the Amber Ale and Gold Lager.
The Secret Garden Cafe has the best rueben and coleslaw. The slaw has blue cheese and raisins added which brings it to another level. The perfect spot to stop after shopping at the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. They offer a cute patio and we appreciated their friendly service.
The views from Mariposa are unbeatable! My favorite item on their menu is the deep fried avocado. Oh yes….let me say that again…deep fried avocado. Delicious!
For a special treat, enjoy lunch at the L’Auberge de Sedona. The patio sits right on beautiful Oak Creek. It’s so peaceful listening to the sounds of the creek while sipping on a glass of wine. Make it extra special and book an appointment at their spa.
For coffee, stop by Creekside Coffee (now Rattle & Hum Coffee Roasters). They source the highest quality green beans from around the world. Their coffee warms the soul. Look at that view!
For fresh juice (and for more superb coffee or a delicious meal), visit Indian Gardens. This cafe and market is a historic general store just 4 miles north of Sedona. It’s a nice short drive with hikes along the way. They have wonderful to-go lunches for your hike or picnic.
There are a lot of wineries to check out while in Sedona. We ended up only stopping at Page Springs Cellars. It was one of our favorite afternoons with live music, an excellent cheese tray, and very good wine. Page Springs Cellars is located approximately 15 miles south of Sedona. Another beautiful drive with other wineries on the way, you can make a day of it.
Last food tip. Check out the Whole Foods nightly happy hour! Great prices and good food. They also offer a really good coffee and juice bar.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the best restaurants in Sedona. I would love to help!
There is something about Grand Teton National Park and the first moment you see the jagged peaks of the Tetons. We’ve driven this road many times and the view takes my breath away every time. Growing up, I loved traveling west with my Dad. He was a science teacher and would give us lessons on how these grand mountains were formed. It was like having a park ranger in the car with us! If you want to learn more while visiting, the park offers great educational park ranger programs.
Grand Teton National Park Hiking
Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) has something for everyone. Hiking, camping, boating, fishing, scenic drives and more. We love the hikes! Below, find a few of our favorite popular easy hikes, mountain lakes, and places to relax. This barely scratches the surface. There is so much to do and see at GTNP!
Lunch Tree Hill Loop Trail is a great spot to start. It’s an easy hike with full views of the Teton Range and Willow Flats. This is a 1/2 mile hike starting at Jackson Lake Lodge. John D. Rockefeller ate his lunch on this hill and the view was what inspired him to push to protect this land.
String Lake is crystal clear and gorgeous! Go for a hike and then jump in to cool off. The String Lake Loop is 3.7 miles. The loop is rated easy but for us it felt moderate. Even though it’s relatively short, it takes 2-3 hours. When hiking in the mountains, make sure you understand your abilities. We are from the flatlands so the elevation definitely affects us. Always have plenty of water and snacks! And bear spray.
You can do an out and back to make this a shorter hike OR you can connect with different trails to make it longer. String Lake connects to Leigh Lake. Leigh Lake is a little less populated and adds another 1.8 miles to your hike.
There are very few places left that you can escape the sounds of cars, planes, people, etc. This spot was my favorite because it was silent. ❤️
Colter Bay – Grand Teton National Park
Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail is stunning in the morning! This is an easy 2.1 mile hike starting at the Colter Bay Visitor Center. The trail makes a figure eight around the wooded peninsula that protects Colter Bay. There are beautiful views in every direction and we loved the rocky beaches. It’s a perfect spot to pack a lunch, sit on the beach, and listen to the waves.
Oxbow Bend is ideal for watching the sunset over the mountains and capture stunning photos. It’s a popular spot so be prepared for traffic and get there early. We noticed people brought their lawn chairs and settled in waiting for the sun to set. Good tip to bring a chair!
Take a Jenny Lake Boat Cruise to see the mountains from a different angle. You might even spot a bear eating huckleberries from a safe distance. The boat cruise is a fun way to get out on the water and learn more about GTNP from the driver.
Even the cloudy, smoky days are beautiful. It’s fun to just drive around and soak up the scenery. I love finding and capturing the reflections.
Also, check out my blog post about the Jackson Lake Lodge Breakfast Cruise that departs from Colter Bay HERE. One of our all time favorite things to do at Grand Teton National Park while staying at Jackson Lake Lodge.
Things To Do for the Holidays in Santa Fe New Mexico
The cool Minnesota air has me thinking about winter travels.
Santa Fe, New Mexico is magical over the holidays. We had a blast celebrating the new year in this unique and historic city! Imagine seeing twinkling lights adorning the trees on Santa Fe Plaza, the comforting aroma of local cuisine in the air, creamy hot chocolate to warm your hands, and the sound of live local music on the streets.
Before the New Year celebration, we enjoyed walking around town, learning about Santa Fe history, shopping, and eating. The historic buildings and churches are absolutely gorgeous.
I toured the Loretto Chapel which was built in 1873 and learned about the legend of the “miraculous” spiral staircase. The chapel is a peaceful, special, place. It’s a must-visit.
We stayed at The Sage Hotel, a dreamy bohemian retreat. It’s a spacious, comfortable, dog-friendly hotel. There is a park right across the street which was perfect for quick walks and dog potty breaks. Our girl, Utah, gave the bed two paws up. 🙂 She was a little tired after the long drive.
Where to Eat in Santa Fe, New Mexico
For authentic Northern Mexican cuisine, we went to Tomasita’s for lunch before walking around the Santa Fe Railyard (see more about the Railyard below). This was the best Mexican food that I’ve had in a long time. Hit the spot!
For breakfast and coffee, you have to stop at The French Pastry Shop. Amazing French food! The quiche serving is huge and melts in your mouth. The service was above and beyond and we enjoyed the cozy atmosphere.
For dinner, we loved the romantic Luminaria located at the Inn & Spa at Loretto. Delicious, innovative, Southwestern food with impeccable service.
The Santa Fe Railyard is such a cool urban space. There are restaurants, shopping, art, events, and we loved watching the trains. What a fantastic idea to transform this historic area into an inviting space for the public to enjoy!
If you’re REI addicts like us, you’ll love the REI in Santa Fe. 🙂
We spent New Year’s Eve at the La Fonda on the Plaza. It was decorated with tons of balloons and looked so festive. One of the best things about traveling is the people that you meet. On this night, we met new friends and celebrated bringing in a new year with them. The following day, there was a snowstorm and all of us were getting back on the road. We had exchanged phone numbers, so as we all traveled, we texted each other giving weather updates. It was very helpful knowing we were there to help each other.
Happy holidays and cheers to the new year!
If you’re in the southwest, make sure to visit Sedona. Read more HERE and use the search bar to find all of our Sedona blog posts.
There are five no-fee days at National Parks and Monuments throughout the year. On one of these special days, we made the trip to visit Montezuma Well! It was so cool to see this much water in the middle of the desert.
The Story of Montezuma Well
1.5 million gallons of 74-degree water run through the well every day! The water enters through an underground stream and flows through 150 feet of limestone before exiting the other side into an irrigation ditch.
You can feel the Sinagua culture as you walk around looking at the cliff dwellings and reading about the history. I kept imagining what life was like 1000 years ago. This site is still considered sacred by many local tribes.
The trails are nice and easy to walk and the site is pet-friendly. If you want a little bit more of a challenge, there is a rocky area to climb down towards the well.
In every direction, there is a beautiful view…
Montezuma Castle National Monument is only 11 miles away from Montezuma Well. The castle is one of the most well-preserved cliff dwellings in North America. We didn’t make it over there due to time constraints but I would definitely add it to your itinerary if you make the trip to the well.
Grand Teton National Park is another one of our favorite parks. Read more about hiking the park here.
To see all five no-fee days at the National Parks, click HERE.
Keep searching for what stirs your soul and #FindYourPark.
This post was created from our 2019 August trip. Make sure to confirm what is open during the corona virus pandemic before hitting the road.
Big Hole Bagel & Bistro was our first stop again for breakfast in Driggs, Idaho. We are always impressed with their service and their portions get us ready for a day of adventure. My favorite is the veggie omelet with the addition of avocado. The building is historic and has been part of Main Street for over 100 years. There is a full bakery in-house so the bagels are baked fresh every morning!
A new one for us this time was the Warbirds Cafe at the the Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport. This is a unique setting with gorgeous views of the Teton and Big Hole ranges. There are huge windows and a terrace to watch the planes arrive and depart while you enjoy your meal.
The Roasted Teton Caprese with Steelhead Trout was melt in your mouth amazing! All of the food was incredible plus above and beyond service. Here’s a quote from their Chef and Manager, David Hugo…
“I think of food as medicine,” says David Hugo, “You always want to put the best stuff in, which is usually local, fresh, and close to the source. The closer to the source you can get it, the better the flavor and the more nutritious.”
There is also a very cool Warbird Airplane Museum to check out while you wait for your food and sip on a glass of wine.
Another new one for us that Terry was super excited to check out (you know how he likes his local beer) was Citizen 33 Brewery. Terry loved trying the different local brews and we both loved the atmosphere.
I tried this beautiful steak salad and Terry had the burger. Both were very good! We weren’t surprised since the owners are the same as Forage Bistro & Lounge. We look forward to hanging out here again in 2021.
Then we had to go to our other favorites! Forage Bistro and Lounge is on the very top of our list. There is something about this little bistro. They treat you like your a local or family and the food is over the top good. It’s amazing what they put out considering the size of their kitchen. So, so, good! Literally some of the best meals we have ever tasted.
Rise Coffee is a must! They have an awesome outdoor patio/garden area to spread out, live music on Sunday mornings and the best coffee. We love their avocado toast and fresh baked goods. Yes that is bacon. 😍
Get there early because they get busy!
If you’re visiting during the summer, check out Music on Main in Victor which is just 8 miles away. There are shuttles offered from Driggs. We love this event! The music is always awesome and it feels like a big family picnic. Music on Main was cancelled for 2020 but watch for the 2021 dates! It runs on Thursdays through the summer.
Another must! A huckleberry shake from the Victor Emporium.
