Random Minnesota Stuff 2024

Here's some stuff from our Minnesota trip that didn't make their own post...

We went out for brunch on Father's Day. Across the street was this amazingly large sporting goods store called Scheels. They have a ferris wheel and a fish tank archway! At the end of the trip, our kids rode the wheel.

Indoor ferris wheel

Putting the "aqua" in aqueduct?

Getting off

Next to our hotel for the first night is a large conference center called Earl Brown Heritage Center. The property was originally a family farm. It was bequeathed to a university in hopes that it would become a teaching farm or agricultural extension. The university wasn't interested and sold off the land. It eventually turned into a sprawling conference center that retains some of its farm roots.

Farm-like entrance

Not many farms have fountains

Entrance by the big parking lot

An odd bit of decoration

Questionable blend of farm and electronics

At least they have some livestock wandering around

We went over to Chanhassen to scope out the neighborhood and get dinner at a brew pub. We got their a little late and most of the brew pubs were closed for Sunday afternoon, even though it was Father's Day. 

One claim to fame there is a large dinner theater complex where we wound up having dinner (at their pub, not with a show). After that, we went over to another claim to fame--Prince's Paisley Park Studio. We were too late to get in there, too, so we took some pictures from outside.

The way is blocked!

The studio complex

The next day my father-in-law and I took my son to Concordia Language Village just outside Bemidji, Minnesota. He's studying Spanish so the village (where they spend a month speaking only Spanish) has a hispanic flavor.

Approaching the village

Spanish-language countries?

Checking in

Going to the dorm

The plaza

Main room

Saying farewell for the month

Grandpa and I drove back through Bemidji where we saw a famous site. Northern Minnesota is Paul Bunyon country and they have a famous statue of the giant lumberjack along with his faithful companion, the blue ox Babe. 

I am the shorter one

Not far away is a statue of Chief Bemidji, the native for whom the town got its name. 

The chief and me

On our way back south we stopped at Zappy's Cafe in Akeley. The food was really great but the service was even better. Look at how many tater tots that came with my burger!

A great meal

My wife and I went to have dinner with a cousin in the area. We walked around their neighborhood and took some pictures.

My wife and her cousin

Me and the missus

Playing in the community game room

On the last day, my wife and I had some time to explore on our own. We went to visit the Capitol. In the area is a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The bluff has some Native American burial mounds and educational displays.

Info on the burial mounds

An airplane guidance tower

Another view of the mounds

Nearby is a geocache that requires a ladder! We did not have a ladder.

Can you see it?

Maybe next time

We went to lunch (without the kids) to Yoerg Brewing Company, the oldest beer-maker in Minnesota. They first opened in 1848 (ten years before Minnesota became a state!). They brag about their "cave aged" beers. The current pub serves hundreds of beers from across the world but no IPAs, since you can get those anywhere (at least, that's what the proprietor said). 

Yoerg Brewing Company

I tried a flight of beers while my wife sampled a local root beer.

Five beers in one sitting!

From left to right above, Yoerg's Beer is a steam beer, which is a lager-style that is brewed in heat rather than cold-brewed; Yoerg's Roggenbier is a rye beer with a nice flavor like a hefeweizen; Westmalle's Dubbel is a Belgian-style bock beer with a rich flavor; Gulden Draak's Tripel Dark is a tripel beer (also Belgian) that has an even richer, nutty flavor. Left to right was also my preference for these beers, the tripel was definitely the best of many good drinks.

I had the Austrian kasekrainer (a cheese-filled sausage) and soft pretzel for lunch. Sauerkraut comes as a side along with a pickle and Dusseldorfer mustard.

Yummy

We decided to get dessert since they serve cheesecake made by nuns(!). I picked another beer off their extensive menu, the Doppelbock Oak/Smoke by Brauerei Heller-Trum in Bamberg, Germany. The malt is smoked-kilned with oak wood giving it a smooth and smoky flavor. I am a big fan of Lapsang Suchoong tea (which has a lot of smoky flavor), so this was delightful to me. The cheesecake was good too.

Beer and cheesecake

The whole experience was quite delightful. We will definitely come back here on our next trip.

The quiet interior on a Thursday afternoon