Solsite Co. Creative

Category: travel

Taylors Falls, Minnesota

Best Small Towns in Minnesota

We’re exploring Minnesota looking for a new home! Summer is winding down but there’s still plenty of warm weather days to get out and enjoy the season. Taylors Falls is popular day/road trip from the Twin Cities. We’ve been to Taylors Falls, Minnesota a few times but this time, we are seeing the area with new eyes thinking of a move. Below is a fun day itinerary!

We made it to Interstate State Park in the morning before the park got too busy (which I always recommend).

First on the list, checking out this very unique natural attraction.

The Glacial Potholes! Did you know there are over 200 potholes and one is the deepest explored in the world? I love this short 1/2 mile trail because you can see so much in short time. There are beautiful overlooks with breathtaking views of the St. Croix River.

The St. Croix River has been designated a National Wild and Scenic Riverway, giving it special environmental protection.

There are 4 miles of trails to explore at the park. The trails are pretty rugged with lots of steps. You can also rock climb! There was an REI class going on while we were there. REI offers many helpful outdoor classes, events, and adventures.

Or take a boat tour on the Taylors Falls Queen. The offer 45 or 80 minutes excursions. See more details on their website here: https://www.taylorsfallsboat.com/boat-tours/daily-excursion/

After our hike, we stopped at Juneberry Cafe for some watermelon. I love their healthy, quick, and fresh options.

This snack was perfect to get us back on the road driving the St. Croix Scenic Byway to Marine on the St. Croix for lunch.

Places to eat in Marine on the St. Croix

Such a cute town! The General Store has everything that you need from clothes to a deli. There’s also a yummy coffee shop. We had lunch at Brookside Bar and Grill. The nachos were so good!! They layer the cheese between the chips not just on top. It’s a huge portion! The patio in the back is so cozy and is dog-friendly.

Of course we needed dessert. Nita Mae’s Scoop is adorable. You can get over 24 flavors of soft-serve ice cream! It is the perfect treat.

Make sure to stop at Franconia Sculpture Park too. We didn’t this trip but have in the past and they offer such cool exhibits.

For other best small towns in Minnesota, see my Afton, Minnesota, blog post.

Life is short, never stop searching for What Stirs Your Soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers

August 26, 2022
Afton, Minnesota

Best Small Towns in Minnesota

Historic Afton, Minnesota, is home to Afton State Park on the beautiful St. Croix River and is only 45 minutes from the Twin Cities. This summer, we’ve been exploring Minnesota in search of our new home base. We sold our house in 2020 and have been renting due to the crazy housing market and because we weren’t sure where we wanted to land. It’s been a fun summer visiting new cities and returning to our favorites. By doing so, we have a renewed appreciation for where we grew up. Minnesota is filled with incredible small towns, history, restaurants, nature, state-regional-and national parks, and endless recreation.

Best Restaurants in Afton, Minnesota

We started our day in Afton at the Lumberyard Pub. We sat at the bar to take in the open air (see pic below) and loved the atmosphere and excellent service from the bartender. The house-made chips and french onion dip are crazy good! The summer salad was fresh and bright and a perfect companion to the chips and dips. Terry loved his burger. Yes, I know you’re shocked he had a burger. 😉

*Note: you can call ahead from your boat and pick up your food curbside to-go.

The next stop was Selma’s Ice Cream Parlor. You can’t go to Afton and not stop at Selma’s! They offer so many unique flavors and we enjoyed the nostalgic candy for sale. *Tip: walk along the river while eating your ice cream.

Afton State Park

After fueling up, we headed to Afton State Park for a hike. The park offers 20 miles of trails including a variety of habitats and walking the old railroad bed. Three bridges remain from the line that once ran along the river to Stillwater. The river views from the bridges, bluffs, and lookouts are beautiful! Especially surrounded by all the wild flowers.

“Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. Trails pass through remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines, and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. The trails are perfect for hikers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. The park offers visitors a swimming beach, backpack campsites and a visitor center with interpretive displays.” – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Did you know that Afton State Park has goats?! They brought the goats in for prescribed-grazing of their 42 acres. We visited in June so I’m not sure if they are still there but make sure to keep an eye out for them.

We didn’t have the dogs with us on this trip but the state parks are dog-friendly.

Add Afton to your Minnesota day trip list!

Another fun spot to explore and camp close to the Twin Cities is Whitetail Woods Regional Park. The camper cabins are amazing!

Life is short, never stop searching for What Stirs Your Soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers

August 4, 2022
Capitol Reef National Park – Utah

Capitol Reef National Park

Celebrate National Park Week in April and explore a new park! Capitol Reef National Park surrounds a 100-mile-long “wrinkle in the earth” known as the Waterpocket Fold and is located in south-central Utah. It is part of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks, including Arches, Zion, Canyonlands, and Zion. If you love to escape the crowds, this park is for you!

Top Things To Do – Capitol Reef National Park

Get homemade pies and cinnamon rolls at the Gifford Homestead!! The pie is homemade from fruit grown in the orchards. The green orchards among the red rocks are so beautiful. Get there early because the pie goes fast! It’s the best pie I’ve ever tasted. So fresh and delicious! Our favorite flavor was the strawberry rhubarb.

After pie, explore the Historic Fruita District. There are historic buildings, a visitor center, campground, and many hikes and trails. Eight families lived in the Fruita District until 1969 (Capitol Reef became a National Park in 1971) and lived completely off the land including the orchards and drinking unfiltered water from the Fremont River. There have been people living in this area for thousands of years as you will see by the petroglyphs below and they believe the first Latter Day Saints settler in this specific area was around 1879. At that time it was known as Junction and mail was delivered to the Fremont Cottonwood tree (“mail tree”), which still stands today.

Scenic Byway 24

Drive Scenic Byway 24 – This is the main road that runs through the park and the views are breathtaking. Some of the top sights along this route are Panorama Point, Sunset Point, and Goosenecks Overlook.

See the Petroglyphs carved by the Fremont Culture in the 300-1300 Common Era. The more you look, the more you will see.

We stayed at Rim Rock Inn located in Torrey, Utah at the entrance to the park. It’s a great location! There are regular hotel rooms and individual cabins. We loved the cabins, the view is incredible. The cabins are super spacious with cool antique furniture and are dog-friendly. There is a very good restaurant onsite plus an awesome bar/patio with outdoor patio with live music.

There’s so much more- we only had one day to visit so this barely scratches the surface. There are a lot of scenic drives and hikes to do in this park. I can’t wait to go back and explore more!

While in Southern Utah, another fantastic drive is Cottonwood Canyon Road at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Read more HERE. Life is short, find what stirs your soul. ❤️

© What Stirs Your Soul Media

April 22, 2022
Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Road Tripping through Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Add Cape Cod to your Vermont road trip! While road tripping through Vermont and Upstate New York, we drove down to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and stayed for a couple of nights. It was nice exploring during the off-season (we visited in the fall) with fewer people. Of course, it wasn’t as warm, but it was still amazing. Top on my list- visiting the Cape Cod National Seashore and Provincetown.

“My life is like a stroll upon the beach, as near the ocean’s edge as I can go.“ — Henry David Thoreau

Cape Cod National Seashore – Marconi Beach

The Cape Cod National Seashore is a must-see. These 40 miles of protected rugged and pristine sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean with six swimming beaches and unique lighthouses offer so much to do. You can hang out at the beach, swim, kayak, bike/walk/run the trails, hike the sand dunes, explore historic areas, and more.

Marconi Beach is gorgeous. The salty air, sand in my toes, dunes, and ocean views made for an unforgettable day.

Wellfleet, Massachusetts

There are many quaint villages to choose from with Provincetown being the most popular. We decided to stay in Wellfleet because it was close to Marconi Beach and only minutes from Provincetown. We stayed at Endless Coast, A Boutique Hotel. Endless Coast is dog-friendly and offers a lovely lounge/picnic area in the back of the hotel to hang out. We liked the hotel, but there was a large group staying next to us that were very loud partying late- plus, if you’re on the lower level, it’s pretty noisy with people going up and down the stairs. We left early because this made it difficult to work and rest during our stay. The staff was accommodating to our request.

We ate at Wicked Oyster and Mac’s Shack. We really loved both and I especially enjoyed the “nester” from Wicked Oyster.

Wicked Oyster – The Nester

We visited Uncle Tim’s Bridge. Built in 1783 and listed on the State Historic Register, the bridge crossing Duck Creek connects Hamblen Island to Wellfleet. The island is beautiful, offering trails and beaches to explore. Timothy E. Daniels, known as Uncle Tim, had a retail shop across from the bridge in the 1800s and the bridge still bears his name.

Provincetown, Massachusetts

It was so fun to walk around Provincetown and see the houses, architecture, shops, and vibe.

Race Point Beach Provincetown, Massachusetts

After walking around town, we headed out to Race Point Beach.

This is another incredible spot to explore and watch for dolphins!

We grabbed a pizza from Ptown House of Pizza and then headed to the beach. The pizza was fabulous!

If you’re planning a Vermont fall road trip, click HERE for our favorite stops.

And make sure to add a couple days to visit the Cape!

Life is short, keep searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️

©What Stirs Your Soul Media

April 3, 2022
Glenwood Springs Colorado

The Best Colorado Mountain Town

If you’re going to get stuck on a road trip, Glenwood Springs, Colorado is the place! Vail Pass (10,666′ mountain pass over the Rocky Mountains) was closed due to a snowstorm so we were lucky to enjoy an extra day. We loved it so much, now we always make this a two night minimum stop. *Note- make sure to plan for unpredictable weather when traveling through Colorado in April.

We’ve stayed in a few different hotels in Glenwood Springs and so far Hotel Denver is our favorite dog-friendly hotel. Their service is consistent and above and beyond every time. It’s a super convenient location- walkable in town with an attached brewpub and in-house coffee shop. There’s also great community space which we love to hang out or work.

The rooms are historic (Doc Holliday stayed at The Hotel Denver) and so pretty with beautiful views.

Colorado Hot Springs – Glenwood Springs Resort Hot Springs

The Glenwood Hot Springs are right across the river with a walkable bridge to enjoy all the health benefits of a dip.

It’s so easy to walk around town and enjoy restaurants, shopping, and the Colorado River.

The beautiful views of Hotel Denver.

We loved the food from the Brewpub too. It’s great atmosphere and I appreciate gluten free options. The coffee shop rocks too!

Next time you’re driving through Colorado, make sure to visit Glenwood Springs!

Allen gives Hotel Denver 5 paws up! The cozy bed is his favorite.

We always stop in Glenwood Springs on our way road tripping to Utah. Click HERE for another awesome dog-friendly hotel in Southern Utah. Enjoy the road and keep searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️

Life goes fast, never stop searching for what stirs your soul.

©What Stirs Your Soul Media

April 1, 2022
Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile – Dog Friendly Hotel in Southern Utah

Top Dog Friendly Hotel in Southern Utah

Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile is an awesome dog-friendly hotel in Southern Utah. It’s not your typical dog-friendly hotel, pets are not only welcome but expected. Located in Kanab, Utah, it is the perfect base camp while volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and exploring Southern Utah. The recreation options are endless! Plus, while you’re enjoying Best Friends Roadhouse hospitality, you’re also supporting their life-saving animal work. 🧡

Sunrise at the Roadhouse

We have stayed at the roadhouse multiple times, along with other hotels in Kanab, during our visits over the last 10 years. Here is why we love and recommend Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile (besides being dog-friendly): first-rate customer service, easy online booking, unique and well-appointed guest rooms, a walkable location, and convenient onsite services. Let’s get into the details.

“The only reason we invite people is to open the doors for the pets!” 😉

– JoAnne Rando-Moon, Front Desk, Best Friends Roadhouse

We all love the small touches. Our top two favorite activities at Best Friends Roadhouse are kitty bingo and s’mores by the bonfire. The smell of cedar, pine, and juniper in the evening, surrounded by the red rocks, is the best and warms the soul. Kitty bingo is hilarious- a fun night of community, meeting new people, lots of laughs, and kittens running around the Mercantile. Keep an eye on their calendar because they also offer live music and other events!

Kitty Bingo-

Pet-Friendly Hotel Amenities in Southern Utah

For pets: a fenced, spacious park, a personalized nameplate, a pull-out bed and cubby holes, welcome treats from the staff, a pet-washing station, and their very own drinking fountain. The fenced pet park offers plenty of room to run and a splash zone for hot summer days. There is also a small run area. ALL of this and the pets stay free.

From the cozy beds to the outdoor park, our dog Allen gives the Roadhouse 5 paws up.

For people, shopping and a continental breakfast at the Mercantile, a laundry station with products included, technology (An INTELITY® in-room control and information tablet), and excellent Wi-Fi (which is a priority for us because we work while traveling).

Here is Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile employee, Michael, to tell you more –

Another huge plus for us is being able to walk to the many wonderful restaurants in Kanab. You can read about our favorites HERE.

Best Base Camp to Explore Southern Utah

Location, location, location! Kanab is ideally located close to National Parks and Monuments, Public Lands, State Parks, Geological Attractions, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. We’ve visited many times, and our “things to do list” is still long. There is so much history and some of the most beautiful areas in the country. Below are a few ideas for your next visit.

Zion National Park. If you want to bring your dog hiking, there is one dog-friendly trail. Read more HERE.

Explore Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon National Park.

Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon View

Hike to the Sand Caves, Hidden Lake, and around Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

Hidden Lake

Sand Caves

You can also go ATVing or sledding at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.

Escape the crowds and take a drive through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. We loved driving and hiking, and we hardly saw anyone. Below is one of the coolest stops at Grosvenor Arch. Incredible!

Camping, Swimming, and House Boating at Lake Powell. There is so much to do in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

And our favorite thing to do is volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary! If you don’t have time to volunteer, we highly recommend scheduling a tour of the sanctuary. You will learn about the inspiration behind Best Friends and meet animals along the way. If you’re interested in volunteering, make sure to schedule ahead of time- they fill up quickly and book out a year ahead of time.

Volunteering with the dogs fills my heart. There are many different jobs to be done, from cleaning to taking them for walks. I don’t like to do my own dishes, but I could wash dog dishes all day long. My volunteer days at the sanctuary are my best days. It’s emotional and hard to put into words- it’s so fulfilling. I love working the morning shift and then grabbing lunch at Angel Village Cafe. Lunch is always vegan, delicious, and is only $5! You can find the menu HERE.

Life can change in a blink; do more of what stirs your soul.

©Tracy Blowers

March 20, 2022

error: Content is protected !!