Autumn in Minnesota
Growing up I didn’t explore much of my home state. Many highlights I have not seen since I was little, or I have missed them completely. This autumn, Yana and I decided to focus on discovering the beauty of Minnesota. We had a few initial goals - to see fall colors in full bloom, to find “hidden gem” restaurants in the Twin Cities, and to spend quality time with friends and family.
Our mission to see the fall colors was organized by Yana (for the most part). We stayed at my cabin in Isle on Friday evening, then we did a day trip to the North Shore on Saturday. We stopped at iconic locations like the Black Sand Beach, Gooseberry Falls, Palisade Head, and Silver Bay Marina. I’d never been to the North Shore in autumn, and I was blown away by the beautiful colors of the foliage. The stops were incredibly busy, but that didn’t take away from the fun. I think we may make this a yearly tradition!
We were also successful in our quest to find amazing restaurants in the Twin Cities. Yana and I love going out to eat with friends; we view it as a great opportunity to catch up with people that we don’t see often. The best restaurant we discovered this fall was Rincón 38, a Spanish restaurant in Minneapolis. We met up with some friends for Tapas and enjoyed multiple shared plates - the scallops, patatas bravas, and the wine selection stood out in particular. Some other notable spots that were Café Cerés and Rustica Bakery.
Lastly, we spent a lot of time with our friends and family this autumn. Shibani, our friend from college, visited for a weekend and we took my family’s boat out on Lake Mille Lacs. We also rented a cabin on the North Shore for a weekend with our parents. We stayed at Cove Point Lodge in Beaver Bay and had a great time relaxing and playing Uno. The view from the lodge was incredible; I definitely plan to stay there again.
Autumn is the best time of year in Minnesota - the weather is in the perfect and the foliage is at peak beauty. I loved that we focused on enjoying all that Minnesota has to offer during the last few months. The appreciation I have for my home state is higher than ever. I’ll always adore exploring new places, but Minnesota will always be my home.
-DB
