Enduring the Midwestern Cold

I doubt there are many of you who are looking to plan a trip to Minneapolis in the winter, but you might find yourself there anyway. Either you live there, live in a nearby city/state or have to schedule a business trip there. If you can make it when there isn’t some snowpacalypse happening (which the Midwest and East Coast seem to be having more frequently in recent years and not being able to leave a destination is not always the most enjoyable), then it can easily be a fun winter getaway.

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Despite packing your carry-on with some warm sweaters and boots and having to bring a bulky coat on the plane, you can stay warm in Minneapolis even when wandering the downtown area. In fact, the best thing about downtown – in my opinion only maybe – is that it has a Skyway system. It’s an above-ground clear tunnel system that connect downtown venues and businesses and helps visitors to the city get around without freezing their bums off. It covers 11 miles and 69 blocks, allowing you to have an entire day in the city without actually setting foot outside if you don’t want to. It’s fairly awesome that it’s temperature controlled, but with windows along each side, you can easily see the city and enjoy any sunshine that may be peeking its head out or even see the beautiful snow.

Don’t know where you’re going? Many of the walkways have a stand with the free Downtown Guide that you can pick up and figure out how to get around. So, where can you go besides the bank? Lots of places, actually. Here are just a few of the places I would check out if I were headed to downtown Minneapolis:

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The Oak Grill Restaurant is a hidden gem that’s located on the 8^th floor of Macy’s department store. It has Chinese favorites like sesame chicken, shrimp stir fry and beef and broccoli, all at under $10 a plate. You can make reservations on OpenTable to ensure you get a table and rack up points for free dining. Download the app for easy booking on the go!

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For a night out, I’d splurge on a dinner at Zelo. It’s an Italian restaurant with fantastic seafood selection, including wood grilled ahi tuna, salmon with blood orange sauce and walleye Milanese. Yes, good seafood is possible when you don’t live near the sea.

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Apparently, if you’re into live performance, then the Orpheum is a must. It is a vintage theater that gives tours where you can learn about the history, architecture and more. Of course, you can just take in a show. Broadway Across America performances stop here as well as dance and concerts.

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I love a museum, especially when it’s unique. The Mill City Museum is an old flour mill and takes visitors on an interactive tour of the history of the milling industry. That’s pretty cool, right? Though the mill had been nearly gutted by age and fire, it has been restored to its former glory so you can learn all about it while escaping the cold. If you visit in the warmer month, there is a nearby farmers’ market to check out after.

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Traveling with kids? Stop at the Wells Fargo History Museum. This museum offers hands-on fun for the whole family. From an authentic stagecoach from the late 1800s to real gold nuggets, you’ll learn the history behind Wells Fargo and what it was like to drive a coach, send telegraphs and more. Take a free guided tour by reservation!

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That’s just a few of the cool things there are to see when traveling by Minneapolis Skyway. The convention center and many shops are also connected to the system as well as a bunch of hotels, so you could almost spend your whole trip inside and not feeling like it. Note that the Skyway portions are owned by individual businesses, so they don’t all open and close on the same schedule. Make sure you pay attention to this, so you don’t get stranded and have to unexpectedly hike the city or hail a cab when it’s super cold outside.

Hipmunk can help you find an affordable hotel in the downtown area if you want to check out the Skyway for yourself. If you’re on a budget, don’t fear, because there are plenty of hotels in all price ranges.

Disclaimer: This post was inspired by my partnership with Hipmunk - a great site to find low hotel rates wherever you travel. #hipmunkcitylove

Travel is Good for Your Health

I'm not going anywhere this holiday season. Luckily, almost all our family and friends live close by, so we can see everyone pretty easily through Christmas and New Year. We also feel like using your hard-earned vacation days (and budget) to visit family doesn't really count as a real vacation. When you only have finite dollars to spend on trips, you have to pick an choose carefully. Go visit your aunt and uncle in Ohio or take that cruise to Mexico? You can justify a trip to Ohio by also seeing the sights only so many times before you start to feel regretful that you don't go somewhere you want to go. So, if you haven't been on a real trip lately, start planning one now, because not only is it fun, but it is also good for your health.(Maybe your aunt and uncle can meet you there.)

Now you know, I'm a big believer in traveling no matter how much money you have. Budget for it and go somewhere, preferably somewhere you haven't been before. You can't make excuses anymore, because you can argue that travel is good for you and your health. Once I get on a plane, I feel like I can finally breathe deeply. It relaxes me and starts me off on a clean slate when I get back home, so I feel recharged and renewed. How does travel make you feel?

Stocking Stuffers and Email-Worthy Gifts

So, you're still working on your gift list for the holidays and you've run out of ideas or have no idea what to get for the people who don't live nearby? Well, you're in luck It's not too late to stuff stockings, buy real gifts on a budget or buy for far away friends and family. If you missed my main gift list, go check it out first. Remember that though Amazon doesn't wrap gifts, they will put a nice note in the box for the recipient, and if you're a Prime member, shipping is free or super cheap.

Turn their phone into an awesome(r) camera with cell phone lenses. This kit from Photojojo works on iPhones and other brands of mobile while it lets travelers take all kinds of funky pics, like through a fisheye lens.

Give them a personalized tour with the Anywhere Travel Guide deck of cards, which inspires creative traveling wherever you go. You could even use it in your own hometown.

By now, you probably already know that I love games and I love one more than all others when I travel, because it's cards, it's fun and it can be played anywhere. I'm talking about Fluxx. We have three different versions, which can be played together or alone. We even got our friends to play when we had a recent game night an it was big laughs. It's easy to learn and it's never the same game twice, plus you can get them with different themes. We have original Fluxx, Monster Fluxx, and Zombie Fluxx. I think Holiday Fluxx might be next on my list.

Kids love games, too, especially board games (in my experience). While it's not always feasible to pack up the Game of Life or Sorry, there are always the travel versions of some games and then there is this fun little board game that fits in your carry-on. It's called Zombie Kidz and it is easy to play and fun for all ages. Eric and I own it and it employs simple strategy and teamwork to win.

It's always nice to have a drink on hand and when you're expending so much extra energy out traveling then it's imperative to keep hydrated. The Vapur Water Bottle collapses when it's empty, making it easy to carry and ensures you always have a bottle on hand to fill up wherever you go. It rolls up to fit into your pocket and also has a clip on it to hang on your day bag or belt loop.

3-1-1 bags can be a pain to deal with, but Travelon has some great ones that I use and totally recommend. The one quart plastic toiletry bag is sturdy and last way longer than your zip-top bag you are probably using, plus it comes with travel-size bottles and jars. The wet/dry bag comes in fun colors, has travel bottles and allows you to keep everything in one bag, plus it's TSA approved. One side is your 3-1-1 bag and the other side holds your other toiletries. Get something in between the two with the Deluxe one quart bag. It is basic, but trimmed in color and comes with a set of bottles and jars, too.

 

Give them the gift of cheaper travel with copies of my ebooks right to their inbox. Do they often travel in summer? Get them my Secrets of Summer Savings ebook. If they more often travel during the holidays, you can purchase How To Survive Holiday Travel on a Budget. they are so affordable, you can even buy both for the rabid traveler.

Know someone who goes on a lot of long plane rides? help them keep the blood circulating in their legs/feet/toes in style with a pair of compression socks like these from Sockwell. If, like me, they have swelling problems even from long days of walking, they will think you're a travel angel. 

Wearing shoes on the plane can be the worst and totally confining. Nobody wants to put their bare feet on the dirty floor though...and nobody really wants to see you without shoes, no matter how pretty your pedicure is, in such close proximity. Nufoot makes these awesome Neoprene slippers that are like shoes, with the comfort of socks. They have slip-resistant grips on the bottom (for when you are traipsing around your hotel room and lobby for continental breakfast) and are antibacterial, too.

Keep all your delicious travel snacks together and looking scrumptious in the Bentgo Bento Box. Not only will it keep your fruits, veggies and homemade granola bars from getting all squashed in your bag, but it also comes with utensils if you happen to pack something that needs a fork or spoon. 

Don't you hate it when your phone runs out of battery in the middle of the day and you want to call someone or look up a restaurant address? Yeah, me too. Everyone does. The HALO portable battery pack can charge your phone twice, but it also charges anything else that uses an iPad, iPhone or mini USB tip, like your iPod mini. I carry mine with me everywhere I go and it has come in handy quite a bit. They're fun too, because you can get them in different colors an patterns.

Hopefully, this helps you complete your holiday gift list for the traveler on your list. What are some of your favorite travel gifts to give?