My good friend Meg and I simply got here residence from a weekend in Minnesota to see the Luke Bryan Farm Tour! Unfortunately, the Farm Tour was cancelled because of storms, rain, and dust. So very unhappy! But we had a enjoyable whirlwind of a visit nonetheless, so I nonetheless wished to share our adventures.
Bayer + the Luke Bryan Farm Tour
Bayer has been a sponsor of the Luke Bryan Farm Tour since 2015, and as a Bayer accomplice for 2023, they flew me as much as assist share the tour mission: serving to these in rural communities have entry to the meals and healthcare they want.
Having entry to meals – particularly wholesome, reasonably priced meals – is a privilege for many who dwell near grocery shops and have the means to purchase it. Today, 90% of counties with the very best meals insecurity charges are rural, the place grocery shops are many miles away.
The farm tour is greater than a live performance – it’s a technique to increase consciousness of rural care deserts and enhance entry for these experiencing starvation. As a Dietitian, I wished to assist unfold this message on my channels.
Bayer’s purpose is to remind rural communities how necessary it’s to “Take care, Now.” Check out their web site, and enter to win VIP tickets to subsequent 12 months’s farm tour so you may get concerned!
Bayer graciously let me convey a good friend, and I requested my #1 Luke Bryan fan Meg! Here’s the story of our travels, adventures, and extra travels : )
Travel To Minnesota
We determined to fly out of Dulles airport to get a direct flight to Minneapolis and did a 2 hour drive on each ends. Small city to small city it’s what you gotta do!
We left Cville on Friday morning and arrived with an hour of time to take a look at the model new Capital One Lounge at Dulles airport. If you reside anyplace close to Dulles airport or fly by means of it usually, you have to get a Capital One Venture card! The Venture X will get you and two companions in limitless occasions, and the Venture will get you 2 visits per 12 months.
The lounge was STUNNING with restaurant-quality meals, snacks to tackle the aircraft, glowing water, a espresso bar, and a full bar (all complimentary!!) Plus good onesie loos, wifi, plenty of plugs, and comfortable seating. It was proper after TSA PreCheck and so handy for a go to earlier than flying out. We sampled practically the entire tapas type bites supplied. I so appreciated that every thing was single serving so it was straightforward to seize one thing with out having to glop buffet meals in your plate (germs!).
The seize and go space – all complimentary!
I additionally grabbed some snacks for the flight: a quinoa salad with grilled peaches, contemporary spinach, and do-it-yourself dressing and a s’mores parfait with chocolate ganache. I used to be critically impressed!! I shared the additional sandwich I picked up with the gentleman within the seat subsequent to me. He loved it!
Learn extra in regards to the journey bank cards and all the advantages of the Capital One Venture playing cards right here!
Drive to Rochester, Minnesota
Upon our arrival, we rented a automotive (boo for an hour-long rental automotive wait) and drove south to Rochester, Minnesota the place we stayed two nights on the Hampton Inn there. Fall was simply beginning to present! The drive was very fairly.
Dinner at Thai Pop
You could have seen me point out Rochester on Instagram. It’s residence to the Mayo Clinic and a small metropolis. Thanks to these dozen or so followers who despatched me restaurant suggestions! Nearly everybody talked about Thai Pop as the new new restaurant, in order that’s the place we made reservations.
Rain please don’t soak the entire weekend!
Thai Pop was SO enjoyable! We liked it! We sat on the bar and had drinks earlier than dinner.
And Old Fashioned for Meg; a Mezcal + Passionfruit for me
For dinner we determined to remain on the bar as a result of we liked the vibe. We shared brussels and noodles in a beautiful sauce, and cauliflower pops. Everything was delish, particularly the palm sugar caramelized brussels!
Dessert at Flapdoodles
Our subsequent cease additionally got here multiple-recommended and was proper close to our lodge: Flapdoodles ice cream!
We obtained a flight to share of Oatmeal Cookie, Key Lime Pie, Pumpkin Gingersnap, and Birthday Cake. EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS! So delish!!!
Breakfast
In the morning we had deliberate to go to the farmer’s marketplace for breakfast and occasional, nevertheless it was pouring : ( So as a substitute we opted for the free lodge breakfast and a exercise.
Oatmeal with peanut butter and banana and occasional!!
Best Gym Workout
The health club had a Peloton!! Meg and I are each riders, so we traded off cardio rides and Jess Sims weight classes. I truly rode with Thomas for a minute who was on his bike in Cville! Funny small world. We had an excellent exercise.
Farmer’s Market Stop
And the rain cleared up! We took showers and went to the market. At this level we have been getting excited that it may not rain all day for the live performance.
Spy House Coffee
Our subsequent cease was Spy House Coffee the place i had a Biscoff Cookie Butter Cappuccino! AMAZING.
Moments earlier than we obtained the information that the live performance was cancelled : (
Rain Is A Good Thing
We obtained a textual content from our Bayer workforce that they have been so bummed to should share that the live performance was cancelled. Apparently Luke’s workforce had arrived to step up and the was a lot mud from all of the rain they couldn’t even arrange the stage. We have been clearly actually unhappy, however we understood. If you’ll be able to’t arrange, you’ll be able to’t arrange. Plus in the event you’re a Luke fan you recognize that “rain is a good thing.” Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey… We sang that music all afternoon.
We went into logistics planning mode and determined to drive again to Minneapolis to get nearer to the airport after which take an earlier flight residence the subsequent morning.
Lunch at Forager
But earlier than we left, we went to Forager Brewery for lunch. This was one other extremely really helpful spot from the locals.
Peach + Avo salad
Amazing pear and gorgonzola pizza
Heading North
Back close to MSP, we returned our rental automotive, ubsered to our new lodge, checked in, and went into planning mode to seek out some restaurant recs within the space. Thanks to some extra weblog followers, we had a great record to take a look at.
But then extra storms rolled in. And nothing was tremendous near us – the uber rides would value about $30 every method. So we made the troublesome choice to not enterprise out within the rain once we couldn’t get a resy and go to the Mall of America as a substitute. It was proper throughout the road and shielded from climate.
Cedar + Stone
For dinner we landed at Cedar and Stone and had drinks, cheese curds (!!) and a few small plates of brussels, scallops, and fries.
Those spicy cheese curds with a yogurt dipping sauce have been well worth the journey alone!!
Mall of America
We ventured into the mall, and I believe we solely noticed about 1% of it…
Because we discovered the amusement park inside! We went on the Fairly Odd Coaster that was so enjoyable. We each Facetimed our children to indicate them.
We have been up at 6am the subsequent morning for our flight / drive residence to Virginia.
Luke Bryan Deja Vu
And whereas it was tremendous unhappy to not get to see the Farm Tour live performance, the excellent news is that Thomas purchased tickets to see him for my birthday months in the past! So I’ll be going to my third Luke Bryan present on the finish of October. It’s inside, so rain can pour down!