There are few trips that I get more excited about than piling into the car to make the pilgrimage to Minneapolis. Living seven hours straight north of the city means it’s the perfect combination: a taste of Big City American Life with NPR flooding the radio that’s just slightly out of reach. It’s the perfect place to get away.
This past weekend Mister and I piled in the car again to make our third(!) road trip of the summer in our ongoing series of budget friendly get aways.
These are some of the ways it made me really happy:
- I ate Combos for breakfast, which seemed exotic to me. And vaguely gross. But also exotic!
- I shopped Ikea for our upcoming massive DIY kitchen/mud room renos in August.
- I had drinks (a bunch of drinks!) with the always wonderful Doniree who I would like to have in my pocket all the time.
- I went to all the Places Of Commerce We Don’t Have either in my province or in my city that I have a physical NEED to visit when I’m near them: Urban Outfitters, Target, H&M, Victoria’s Secret, Ikea, Archivers, Panera Bread, & Bath and Body Works.
- I went to a farmers market where I got to pet a goat and took pictures of Roosters because they reminded me of Miss Dallas and her fancy chickens & new coop.
- We walked the dogs from our hotel to the metrodome during a Twins game so I could buy Kettle Corn.
- I found out that I’m the featured blogger for the 20SB.net community this month! (THANK YOU!!) so Mister and I bought cheap beer and ordered in pizza from an amazing local pizza place to have a mini-celebration.
And then nearly as soon as we got there, we were turning around. Awash in love for the city, I clicked the puppies into their car harnesses while Mister checked us out of the hotel and I felt a little sad. Visiting the big city always leaves me mixed- it’s so huge, there’s so much, and it seems like there’s possibility and… such an unfathomable volume of options around every corner that coming home is at least a little anticlimatic.
As we drove north listening to Radiolab podcasts I’d burnt to CD for us I lost first sight of the Guthrie Theatre, then the old fashioned signs downtown, then the cloud-like top of the metrodome and then finally the sky took over where the city used to be. We drove to the border, shushed the puppies as they barked at the border guards, and then suddenly we were back in the rolling Canola fields and home in our little house.
I’ve been trying to find a way to cope with the nagging small town feelings I’ve been having lately as more friends move away to Toronto or Vancouver- I’ve been trying to find a way to feel like my prairie city is “NICHE AND LOCAL!” instead of “SMALL AND COLD.” and while I was happy to be home I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing out by living where we do. I was quiet on the way home because of it, and when we arrived I grabbed my bags and got down to the business of unpacking.
I tossed down my bags, picked up the phone and fired up my computer. On the answering machine and in my e-mail were messages from friends and family, all waiting for us to get home so we could have a barbecue, come out for dinner, or get coffee and reconnect. There were comments on my blog from so many of you about my thoughts on community, and there was our little house welcoming us home. And while it still felt a little small, it was also comforting to be back with all the possibility of this summer, school in September, and taking the story of my twenties in a completely different direction.
I might not be able to have Combo’s for breakfast here, but at least there are always Combo’s waiting for me in Minneapolis. And seven hours really isn’t that far to go for something so exotic.
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
How adorable that the puppies barked at the border guards, though I’m sure they (the guards) didn’t like that so much.
Love that you want to keep Doniree in your pocket. I would have to agree with you wholeheartedly on that one.
I sometimes get the reverse feeling than that of what you have… that I’d rather be in a small town than a big one. I wonder what my life would be like. How my expectations of my life, myself, the world around me would change. What would my pasttimes be? Maybe we should trade places for awhile, dragging our men and dogs along with us for the ride?
Sounds like a lovely trip. I’ve never been to Minneapolis, but have always wanted to go.
What will you be studying in September?
That sounds lovely, I know what you mean though. I’m a city girl and if I ever move abroad someday, I’ll seek for a big city too. I guess it’s about where you’re happy the most. From your last paragraph I can tell you’re happy where you live and that’s what matters.
Minneapolis was a bit brighter this weekend with you here! I’d love to keep you here forever, and look forward to the next time you and Mister make it down here :)
As we’d discussed, I find Minneapolis increasingly smaller, especially having spent time in overwhelmingly larger cities this summer. Regardless, it is home, and no matter where I go I’ll always feel that way.
I’m glad you had a great trip, love. I think it’s easy to feel a little down on your city and get the itch to move… especially when you visit awesome places. You just have to remember that visiting and living there are two different things… and try and remember all the things you love about the ‘Peg. xo
I know where you live is lovely, but I’m just so sad that you don’t have a Target.
I think Eric and I are learning the same thing. I know it probably seems ridiculous when I think of Austin as being small, and somewhat limiting, but we’ve had dreams of living in vibrant international cities. The longer we’re here the deeper we dig ourselves into our niches. I’m learning to love it for what it is–a safe base, somewhere we can always come back to with family nearby.
I still have a travel bug, but that doesn’t mean I have an “I gotta move immediately!!!” bug so much anymore!
So so glad you like Radiolab. Sounds like a fab trip. xo
I’m so glad you & Doni got a chance to meet up! I saw pictures & you both looked so content & happy with each other. I wish I could have been there with you two!
I’ll be heading to Minnesota for the first time in September (the farthest north I’ve ever been!) – any recommendations? Now I’m even more excited after reading that you had such a good time! It’s a 19 hour drive from here in Philly – so I’ll definately be flying =) oh – loving the counting crows reference too! <3
Glad you had a safe and exotic trip to Minnesota. I’ve always wanted to go to Minneapolis but haven’t seemed to find the right time.
I also go to all the “Places Of Commerce We Don’t Have in my city” like Anthropology, H&M, Zara, or Forever 21. Its kind of like a treat for me.
It’s always great to get away somewhere, do something different, but you know what? It’s always so good to come back home to family, friends and your own little place. :)
Now you need to come and visit DC!
I’m so glad you had a great time here during your visit to Minneapolis!
It seems very small to me now but growing up it was almost a mystical place. Regardless of our different perceptions of size, it really is a beautiful city. (I adore all of the bridges!)
I hope you make it here again. Maybe next time I will have to meet up with you and Doni. (I need to start working on meeting some of my favorite internet personalities!) :)
Take care!
Sounds like a lovely trip. Ted and I need to take more mini-breaks.
Personally, I love visiting the city, but I also love coming home to the quiet. Of course, it only takes about 40 minutes for me to get to Chicago, so it’s a nice luxury.
You should cherish what you have and think about it like this: if you lived in the city, where would you go for your roadtrips? ;)
I think there are very few people in the world who are 100% satisfied with where they live and would not want a little something from somewhere else. I’m a city girl – born in the city, bred in the city and chose the city as an adult. But, some of my most treasured times are the trips to the beach house where I’m completely disconnected from city life. Or the upcoming trip to Montana where all we’ll see is untouched lands and all we’ll hear is nature. Sometimes, it takes visiting other places to better appreciate the world around us. And the world in which we live.
I’ve only been to Minneapolis once, but I remember how exciting it all seemed! We made the long trek from Thunder Bay, but the Mall of America totally made it worth the drive. haha!
I do know what you mean about feeling like you might be… missing something in your small town. I grew up in a tiny town 8 hours north of Toronto, and when I finally moved to the city it was so… liberating. I felt like I had so many choices and options about what to do and where to take my life.
We (the Hubster and I) actually talked extensively about moving your way when we heard about incentives Manitoba was offering for university graduates, but I don’t think I could bear to leave Toronto. I love it too much. :)
I love road trips and exploring new cities, but there is nothing compared to coming home. Its an amazing feeling.
My husband is country raised, like deep east Texas country. I am a city girl — Houston.
Right now I am feeling rather torn about apartment life… I have always been a fairly sufficient blend of outdoors + city. Recently, I have felt kind of disgusted with the new neighborhood “developments” popping up everywhere and if we move I want to live somewhere with some land and a big yard. On the other hand, I desperately love our tiny apartment. It’s so perfect for us. *shrugs* I am riding my 20′s out like a wave of exciting uncertainty!
yay for road trips and being featured this month! you totally deserve it! woo!
What a nice trip (and congrats on being the featured blogger – well deserved!)
Firstly, congrats on being the 20sb featured blogger! Well deserved!
Secondly, I can totally relate to what you’re saying in regards to small town living. I was born and raised in a city, and moved to a very rural area about a year before I got married. My husband and I still work in major cities, so we’re in the city quite a bit, but its not the same as living there. Before moving to New Hampshire, The Husband and I lived in the heart of Boston. We still debate moving back.
glad to see the trip was well worth it. looks like you hit up all the staples. i don’t know how you do it sans Target. I live in that place. (with my money in the car of course)
also, i love that your last post about community fit in perfectly with you being selected the 20sb feature blogger. the timing was just that good. hugs.
I’m so happy you had a good trip. And I completely relate to the feeling of being “stuck” in your small town and sometimes wanting more. Austin seems so much smaller after just having lived in New York, but I’m really beginning to appreciate everything it has to offer. It’s a lovely place, really.
your trip sounds wonderful!;)
I lived in or near Toronto for the last 20 something years.
2 years ago I moved to a small town… and trust me when I say the “Big City life”
isn’t all that great.
Hearing crickets instead of sirens at night was WELL worth the move!
For those of us who don’t live in a big city, I think that’s the feeling many of us who love those places leave with. I’m less than 30 minutes from Charlotte – which isn’t quite NYC, but it’s great and big anyway – and every time I turn to go home, even if I’m there three days in a row, I’m a little sad that my life isn’t there.
But a few days back here, and a few news stories about crime later, and I’m grateful to be right where I am. Hopefully you feel the same.
.-= MinD´s last blog ..Fighting the addiction. =-.
I feel the same way sometimes about my small town life. I absolutely adore it, but some times it just seems like the big city holds so much more allure.
.-= mandy´s last blog ..Fruits and Veggies Make It Healthy Right? =-.
Congratulations on making the featured blogger of the month! :)
I love IKEA! I haven’t been there in a long time which is probably a good thing but I think I need to visit soon….or not to save money.
It’s nice to know you’re liked & wanted around from family & friends. Of course because you rock!
.-= steph anne´s last blog ..Finally Home Projects! =-.
I wish you and I were driving distance apart.
.-= nicoleantoinette´s last blog ..insomnia, crackers, and one of many potential explanations for my crazy =-.
I live in a small town. I’m from a semi-big city, and the difference is extraordinary. I always feel more peaceful at home than when I visit the city.
.-= Megan´s last blog ..It’s Okay Friday =-.
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