Twin Cities Getaway

 We wanted to go to the Cities to see Chase so decided to make a little vacation out of it.

We left Wednesday morning around 10:00. Took a different route to avoid road construction and I wanted to go to Minnesota Largest Candy Store. Stopped at a gas station in Madelia to use the potty and ran into a couple guys Kurt used to work with. He chatted with them for a bit while I looked for a lunch spot. Decided on Arby's in Mankato. 

We made a quick stop at the candy store knowing exactly what I wanted: Pop Daddy Smoked Gouda pretzels. I adore these, and the candy store is the only place I have seen them. I also picked up some beer cheese pretzels and Gouda popcorn. Kurt persuaded me, and it wasn't easy, that we couldn't leave the candy store without any candy, so we grabbed some malted milk balls, which have already disappeared.

Ventured into the Cities amid the traffic, we opted for St. Paul Brewing, considering it was too early for hotel check-in but we wanted to be nearby before rush hour got worse. The brewery, housed in the historic Hamm's Brewery, boasts a cute patio set amidst the ruins of ancient horse stables. While Hamm's beer isn't brewed on-site, they offer it in cans alongside their craft brews. I had a can of Hamm's and sampled their homemade root beer, while Kurt enjoyed a couple of their beers. It was a fun visit!

Traveled just a few miles down the road and checked into the Drury Inn for the night, located right downtown St. Paul. After relaxing in the room for a short while, went down for happy hour. They had chicken alfredo, baked potatoes, hot dogs, nachos, salad, and three complimentary drinks. After having a bite and a few drinks, we headed out.

Walked about half a mile to Bulldog Lowertown, a neat bar bustling with a happy hour crowd. Sitting at the bar, we watched the staff hustle. It was a lively place, perfect for sitting back and people-watching. As a bonus, they had one of my favorite beers on tap!

Just a block from the Bulldog, was Barrel Theory Brewing and decided to drop in during our walk back to the hotel. After enjoying a few drinks, we continued on to the hotel. In hindsight, we probably should have bypassed this detour since I had already reached my limit, but let's not dwell on the specifics.

The morning began with a hotel breakfast of biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, and sausage. We met Chase at the Country Inn Eagan, where we are staying for the rest of the trip. He joined us, and we set off for the Minnesota Zoo. Had a good time, though I believe Como Zoo is nearly as nice, and it has the added benefit of being free!

We strolled along the Treetop Trail, which encircles the entire zoo. Along the way, we realized that it was the former monorail route. The 1.25-mile walk was pleasant, although there were not many animals to see.

Roamed the zoo for a few hours; it was a lovely day with no crowds. 

Feeling quite hungry and thirsty, we decided on ZZQ Smokehouse for lunch. Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of the fantastic barbecue – a delicious decision! Afterward, we returned to the hotel, checked in, and rested our feet for a while.

Visited the Mall of America and wandered around for a few hours. Chase bought a sweatshirt, but that was the only purchase. For dinner, we stopped by Bubba Gump's. Kurt and I, not feeling very hungry, decided to split a seafood platter that included fish, shrimp, seafood hush puppies, and fries. It was more than enough! Chase ordered the jambalaya — it was a tad spicy for my taste but delicious (he gave me a taste).

Back to the hotel to relax for the night and watch the first football game of the season.