Begin your weekend away with lunch at Yum! Kitchen & Bakery. This woman-owned café and bakery features delectable made-from-scratch eats, seasonal favorites and signature cupcakes, cookies, and cakes. Try the chicken club sandwich with avocado and pommeray honey aioli or Hugo’s Baja Mahi Tacos with spicy baja sauce and cotija cheese. For lighter fare, try the “Fancy Schmancy” tuna salad made with white albacore tuna, kalamata olives and red peppers or choose a cup of homemade chicken noodle soup. Be sure to save room for dessert – they’re all so decadently good!

Snag a table on the patio at Hazelwood Food + Drink, a fine dining restaurant serving comfort food with a twist. Hazelwood is known for their black angus 28-day-aged steaks, fresh seafood, wood fired pizza and rotisserie chicken. Start with the boursin artichoke dip or house made crunchy tater tots served with bacon ketchup. Try the lobster mac & cheese made in a wood fired clay pot and oozing with five different cheeses, caramelized onions and a potato chip crust. Don’t leave without trying Grandma Betty’s chocolate cake made with Callebaut chocolate and cocoa cream frosting. Ask for extra forks – there’s plenty to share!

Next, it’s time to get crafty! Head to Golden Valley’s Skylab Glass Arts and try your hand at glassblowing. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with a lovely pendant, wine stopper or glass drinking straws. Hankering for something a bit “dirtier?” Try a clay date at Fired Up Studios, a space for clay artists and potters of all levels to explore their creativity. Take a pottery wheel for a spin and get your hands dirty while Fired Up’s instructors help you make your own unique pot. They provide all the tools, buckets and towels you need for the class, and they’ll finish and fire your pot with the glaze of your choice.

Doolittles Woodfire Grill, with its emphasis on woodfired rotisserie cooking, delightful patio and extensive wine list, is the perfect spot for lunch. Signature dishes include spit roasted chicken and smokehouse ribs. For lighter fare, try the roasted pear and chicken salad with spiced walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette. They also serve a variety of burgers, steaks, fish and pasta. Be sure to save room for dessert – the “Molten Nirvana” is a delectable chocolate cake served with vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate sauce.

If shopping is your bag, you’ll love our unique boutiques. Start nearby at Patina, a Minnesota gift shop with a curated mix of gifts, home décor, paper goods, jewelry and more. Then check out the large selection of music on vinyl at Down in the Valley Records. At Mainstream Boutique, you’ll find the latest arrivals of the season, while Ragstock will outfit you in retro style.

After a day on the go, relax on the spacious patio of Rojo Mexican Grill. This West End eatery is known for their freshly made guacamole and killer margaritas. In fact, Rojo’s Tequila Bar features over 60 types of tequila and over 50 varieties of mezcal. The drinks have a kick, so be sure to pair them with Rojo’s delicious fish tacos, enchiladas or fajitas.

Then it’s on to the Aquatic Park for an afternoon of relaxing by the pool. A hit with kids and grown-ups alike, the Park features ample sun decks with loungers. Cool off by swimming a few laps or channel your inner teen and take a spin down the tube slide! The concession stand will hook you up with mini-donuts and ice cream treats.

All too soon it will be time to pack up and head home. Hopefully, you’ll leave feeling recharged, refreshed and reconnected!

This is just a sampling of what you might do in Minnesota’s Sweet Spot. View our Experiences to help plan your trip!