There's nothing like the Midwest in the Fall. The colors are vibrant (if you can catch the timing right). I was able to visit some M&M's - Minneapolis (the metropolitan side of the trip) and Menomonie (the out in the sticks side of the trip - yes, I had to google map it as well). Sorry, no candy here. Below are a few pictures from the trip with some of the fun things you can do with only a few hours to spare.
Minneapolis
The quickest and closest site seeing opportunity outside of the airport is Mall of America. I'm not a big shopper (in fact I get physically sick if I shop too long!) but this place has personality!
This boot is too big even for Shaq! an LL Bean flagship store.
For my nephew, he LOVES legos. And those life size robots are pretty cool!
Another close stop for either leaving town to the east or arriving into town from the east is the St. Paul cathedral. This definitely rivals any cathedral in Europe with magnificent architecture and stained glass.
Menomonie
Going east a little over an hour you run into Menomonie Wisconsin. This is the definition of a small quaint Midwest town out in the sticks. It used to be a major center for lumber. Now, its small town USA with a small branch of the University of Wisconsin. Everybody walks from their homes to work and around town. It has lots of charm.
Who doesn't enjoy seeing a tractor drive up to the gas pump or better yet...the snowmobile route on the main thoroughfare through town?
The fall colors were spectacular.
Someone built a tall lookout structure so you could get above the trees (did I mention that mountains or even hills are non-existent?) This was located at Hickman Hills (did I mention that they think small mounds of dirt are hills?)
It was worth all the stairs.
A couple of other significant features were the Devil's Bowl where a small stream dizzles down a ravine and the Red Cedar river - where I even saw a pair of bald eagles!
These ying and yang versions of the Midwest might not be everyone's cup of tea but I found it fun to see the vast differences and meet some really nice people along the way. If you are out that way....these things are some great diversions!
