Late last fall we had the opportunity to visit a brand new city and enjoy a weekend getaway in Minneapolis, MN. Lauren and I weren’t really sure what to expect and were pleasantly surprised to find a warm and inviting city that has lots to do. From lovely public art, to fine dining, to an international marketplace, there was definitely lots to do whether you are visiting during the week on business, or taking a short weekend getaway.
Rapid City in South Dakota is one of our favorite places to visit. We have been there a few times and always have a ton of fun. We always take our weimaraner Zoe with us when we visit because it’s also a very pet-friendly town and Zoe travels with us wherever we go. Luckily, we have found several places that allow us to vacation with our dog and the Best Western Ramkota Hotel made for amazing pet friendly fun in Rapid City.
When it’s your stated mission to go out and seek new and interesting adventures, it can be hard to return to certain places. It’s not because you didn’t enjoy it on your first visit, but rather because you enjoyed it so much that you’re afraid a second visit might reveal it as one-dimensional or heck, kind of bland.
Well I’m happy to report that after a second visit to Rapid City, South Dakota we can officially say that it’s definitely not bland! As a matter of fact, we enjoyed it so much we’ve put together a Ramblin’ Guide to Rapid City, South Dakota so you too can explore everything from regal Mount Rushmore to the breathtaking Badlands and all the great stuff in between.
One of my biggest pet peeves when traveling are hotel rooms that are just too tiny to really enjoy. It’s a bit ironic when you consider that Lauren and I live out of a 2-door hatchback, but when I check into a hotel, I want to feel like I can spread out and relax while also enjoying some of the usual amenities from “home”. Well I think I hit the suite spot when I checked into the residential suites at the GrandStay in Rapid City, SD.
From the moment we started looking into the best places to eat in Minneapolis, one name started coming up over and over again: Hell’s Kitchen. Located in the basement level of a skyscraper (where else would Hell be? ) in downtown Minneapolis, this restaurant has been a local staple of the Twin Cities’ food scene since the doors opened over a decade ago. When you look at the restaurant, with its heavy over the top kitsch decor you have to ask yourself: Is this all style or is there substance? Well we decided to descend into the depths to find out.
