3 1/2 Days
2 States
1,958 Miles
37 hours 3 minutes driving time
33.9 MPG
53 MPH Average Speed
15 Restaurants
16 Bakeries
9 Ice cream stops
4 Drink stops
4 Audio books
Prologue
A couple months ago it became apparent I was going to lose my job. A company struggling to deal with decreasing sales and fearful of the word “downsize” had discreetly been letting people go and initiating other cost savings. Easy equation- low guy on the totem pole and while I was insanely busy others had “plenty of bandwidth”. But I wasn’t going to give in and continued 50-60 hour weeks motivated by my work ethic and in a quest to continue the achievement.
So, facing impending unemployment the optimist in me said, “At least I’ll have some time to travel”. That voice then said, “You can cross a state off the list!” With the two left being Hawaii and Alaska you can see how these destinations require a lot of time to both get there and then explore. Plus it would be nice to take a long trip and not constantly be fretting about work. So I started to formulate a plan to see Alaska by cruise (inside passage) and train (interior).
Sure enough I got it on June 19th.
Within a week the Alaska trip was starting to be booked. With several cruise lines having multiple ships going both north and southbound it was surprising most were booked through August. Then I found one at the end of July.
That left some time to get some more travel in to ‘fill in the map’. Figuring the 4th of July weekend would work out as not to feel guilty about being away from job searching I packed up the German sedan and set out to see Americana.
Despite 5 past trips to Minnesota you can see there was still a lot of territory to cover from the ‘before’:
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
Had to trek across Wisconsin to get to Minnesota so pulled out my spreadsheet of Wisconsin small town cafés.
Passing Baraboo on a whim decided to spring into town to see if the bakery had changed hands and for granola.
Sure enough Salecker's Baker's Dozen Bakery is now Althen’s Elite Bakery. Mini Bear Claw.
The Granola at Jen’s Alpine Café has a reputation I confirmed in 2005. This unique concoction uses corn flakes in addition to the traditional rolled oats, but it wasn’t as good as remembered. Oh well.
Well of the beaten path one of the few businesses in North Freedom is Carol’s Railroad Inn Café.
Motored along the county roads appreciating the rolling hills alive with green set off with a blue sky and accessorized with silos and red barns.
The classic neon sign, canopy and resolute brick façade of Greenwood’s Café give Reedsburg a timeless breakfast stop.
On the main drag of Reedsburg couldn’t pass up this edifice for a Blueberry Frozen Yogurt.
Downtown Viroqua is like a step back in time. Leaving town Viroqua Food Cooperative was a source for a healthy salad.
Three, yes three, bakery stops in Westby. And since this is a Norwegian themed town it had to be a Lefse at Ole & Lena Kaffee Hus.
Crossed the mighty Mississippi into Minnesota just after noon.
You’ll never know what you’ll find in remote areas. Footing Rushford’s stoic downtown was a jovial pizza and ice cream parlor where I recharged with a Strawberry Frozen Yogurt.
Making it to Minneapolis at 5 I had time for a workout at the Hilton to banish the day’s bakery and make room for dinner.
Dinner at La Belle Vie allowed me to have dined at 9 of Gourmet magazine’s Top 50:
1. Alinea – Chicago, IL
4. Spago – Beverly Hills, CA
13. Charlie Trotter's – Chicago, IL
17. Babbo – New York, NY
27. Jean Georges – New York, NY
30. La Belle Vie – Minneapolis, MN
35. Providence – Los Angeles, CA
40. Sanford – Milwaukee, WI
48. L'Etoile – Madison, WI
Tomato and Burrata Salad with Basil, Preserved Lemon and Watermelon
Smoked Trout with Grilled Salsify, Idiazabel and Steelhead Roe
Heading south out of Minneapolis I meandered down Lyndale Avenue admiring the eclectic shops and al fresco dining. Not surprising, stops were for food including the Wedge Community Co-op for Collard Greens , Crema Café for Banana Ice Cream and butter bakery café for an Apple Turnover.
Considering where I am from it was mandatory to evaluate Liberty Frozen Custard. Lemon Custard got a big thumbs up with its dense and velvety smooth texture and clean bold lemon taste.
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
Cuban is the theme in food and décor at Victor’s 1959 Café.
Sitting amid a cavalcade of graffiti I had at it with a Mango Pancake.
Marissa’s Bakery was just pulling out carts of fresh goodies.
French Meadow Bakery & Café for an Iced Oatmeal Cookie with swirling of open oat texture and dense brown sugar/butter pockets.
Food god Alton Brown’s 6 episode series Feasting on Asphalt on Food Network was the source of finding Bob’s Java Hut. Steamer- skim with sugar free raspberry flavor shot.
Wuollet Bakery.
Having been to downtown Minneapolis 3 times no exploring was needed as Nicollet Mall was navigated to get to the next breakfast spot.
Don’t let the posh décor of Hell’s Kitchen fool you.
The servers wear pajamas and furnishings feature the macabre.
With a 3 page breakfast menu of delicacies Toasted Sausage Bread was chosen:
-as one of several signature items
-it included protein, carbs and fruit
-it comes with a caddy of homemade peanut butter, homemade orange marmalade and homemade blackberry jam.
Eating this bread was one of those situations where you want to return to try more items to see if they are also that excellent. Made with homemade bison sausage, toasted walnuts and black currents each hefty bite was savory AND sweet with a lingering heat from black coffee and spices.
And that caddy? Best peanut butter I’ve ever had. The robust flavor had a wonderful sweetness matched by using brown sugar and honey. Unlike store bought chunky this had smaller bits which gave a tremendous gritty chew.
United Noodles is the Midwest’s largest oriental grocery. Well organized shelves showcase a breadth of merchandise from across Asia.
At Keefer Bakery a Wintermelon Cake was selected to satisfy a need for glutinous texture.
View of Minneapolis from the University of Minnesota.
Dinkytown, northeast side of Minneapolis.
Wayzata is a prosperous community 15 miles west of Minneapolis.
Families were just starting to assemble for the 4th of July festivities.
Down at the historic depot was a pancake breakfast, cotton candy, militia demonstrations and music.
It was a wonderful feeling of community AND country. Enough to pull hard at one’s heart strings.
The Peppermint Twist in Delano is known for their Fresh Raspberry Shake. OK, I’ll be a sport and judge it. Good, but not enough for the favorites list. This wayside deservedly earns respect for their atmosphere of carhops, colorful teddy bear silhouettes everywhere, friendly folks and playland.
Darwin’s population of 276 can tout of housing the World’s Largest Ball of Twine.
How is this for creative photography? And it ended up being the only pic with me for the trip.
The ball of twine was created from 1950 to 1979, weighs 11 tons and is 12 feet in diameter.
Willmar
Benson
Believe it- Clearwater Travel Plaza was featured on the Food Network years ago. At the forest themed Nelson Bros. Restaurant it was a Garden Salad....
....then Multi-Grain Bread from Nelson Bros. Baking Co.
Mille Lacs Lake
Sunday, July 5th, 2009
Brainerd
Wadena
Not a record (notice the room left on the tach).
Insert your own joke here.
Crookston
This is how NW Minnesota looks. Never tired of it.
Who can pass up a neon cone?? That twist is a work of art.
In north central Minnesota is the source of the Mississippi River. Which is Lake Itasca in the background, to the south. That's right, Old Man River flows north for miles before it turns south.
The lake spills over the stone embankment / tourist photo spot.
It then flows in this 10 foot wide creek to build up and pour into the Gulf of
Mexico 2,340 miles later. It was really cool to visit this site.
Eastern part of Lake Itasca
Monday, July 6th, 2009
No debate on the bakery choice at Lindstrom Bakery since their Scandinavian Donut put them on the map. Looks like a typical cake donut until a bite divulges a crunchy exterior and then after a few chews a tangy interior.
St. Croix River which borders Wisconsin.
Rugged Taylors Falls has a bakery!
Back in Wisconsin shortly after 10AM.
Drive for a while on a county highway. Then turn off that county highway onto some narrow farm road and drive a bit more. Then you’ll find a handful of business including Sand Creek Café.
Besides a meal you can get hunting licenses, groceries or read a magazine. Sitting at the well worn counter I discreetly observed locals gabbing and helping themselves to coffee.
A trip to the bathroom allowed a glimpse of the homiest of kitchens.
Needed to cross some places off the list in Stevens Point. First up a Garden Salad at the airy The Wooden Chair in a refurbished bank.
Belts Soft Serve is all about using their soft serve with local fresh produce. Driving up seeing signs declaring FRESH STRAWBERRIES and FRESH LOCAL STRAWBERRIES showcased what I would be having.
They had Strawberry Shortcakes, Strawberry Shakes, Strawberry Flurries and Strawberry Smoothies. Here is their Strawberry Sundae:
Oh look, across the street Colligan’s Bakery. Morning Glory Muffin.
