My pal Meg and I simply got here dwelling from a weekend in Minnesota to see the Luke Bryan Farm Tour! Sadly, the Farm Tour was cancelled on account of storms, rain, and dirt. So very unhappy! However we had a enjoyable whirlwind of a visit nonetheless, so I nonetheless needed 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 associate 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.
Getting access to meals – particularly wholesome, reasonably priced meals – is a privilege for many who stay near grocery shops and have the means to purchase it. At this time, 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 method to elevate consciousness of rural care deserts and improve entry for these experiencing starvation. As a Dietitian, I needed to assist unfold this message on my channels.
Bayer’s purpose is to remind rural communities how vital it’s to “Take care, Now.” Take a look at 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 carry a pal, and I requested my #1 Luke Bryan fan Meg! Right here’s the story of our travels, adventures, and extra travels : )
Journey 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 happen to stay anyplace close to Dulles airport or fly by way of it typically, you have to get a Capital One Enterprise card! The Enterprise X will get you and two companions in limitless instances, and the Enterprise will get you 2 visits per 12 months.
The lounge was STUNNING with restaurant-quality meals, snacks to tackle the airplane, glowing water, a espresso bar, and a full bar (all complimentary!!) Plus good onesie loos, wifi, a lot of plugs, and cozy seating. It was proper after TSA PreCheck and so handy for a go to earlier than flying out. We sampled practically all the tapas type bites supplied. I so appreciated that every part 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 selfmade dressing and a s’mores parfait with chocolate ganache. I used to be significantly impressed!! I shared the additional sandwich I picked up with the gentleman within the seat subsequent to me. He loved it!
Study extra concerning the journey bank cards and all the advantages of the Capital One Enterprise 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 will have seen me point out Rochester on Instagram. It’s dwelling to the Mayo Clinic and a small metropolis. Due to these dozen or so followers who despatched me restaurant suggestions! Almost everybody talked about Thai Pop as the recent 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 cherished it! We sat on the bar and had drinks earlier than dinner.
And Previous Normal for Meg; a Mezcal + Passionfruit for me
For dinner we determined to remain on the bar as a result of we cherished the vibe. We shared brussels and noodles in an exquisite sauce, and cauliflower pops. All the things 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
Within the morning we had deliberate to go to the farmer’s marketplace for breakfast and occasional, nevertheless it was pouring : ( So as an alternative we opted for the free lodge breakfast and a exercise.
Oatmeal with peanut butter and banana and occasional!!
Finest Gymnasium Exercise
The gymnasium 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! Humorous small world. We had an excellent exercise.
Farmer’s Market Cease
And the rain cleared up! We took showers and went to the market. At this level we had been getting excited that it may not rain all day for the live performance.
Spy Home Espresso
Our subsequent cease was Spy Home Espresso 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 Factor
We obtained a textual content from our Bayer group that they had been so bummed to must share that the live performance was cancelled. Apparently Luke’s group had arrived to step up and the was a lot mud from all of the rain they couldn’t even arrange the stage. We had been clearly actually unhappy, however we understood. If you happen to can’t arrange, you possibly can’t arrange. Plus if you happen to’re a Luke fan you realize that “rain is an efficient factor.” Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey… We sang that track 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 dwelling the following morning.
Lunch at Forager
However earlier than we left, we went to Forager Brewery for lunch. This was one other extremely beneficial spot from the locals.
Peach + Avo salad
Wonderful pear and gorgonzola pizza
Heading North
Again 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 an excellent record to take a look at.
However then extra storms rolled in. And nothing was tremendous near us – the uber rides would value about $30 every manner. So we made the troublesome resolution to not enterprise out within the rain after we couldn’t get a resy and go to the Mall of America as an alternative. 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.
These spicy cheese curds with a yogurt dipping sauce had been definitely worth the journey alone!!
Mall of America
We ventured into the mall, and I believe we solely noticed about 1% of it…
As a result of we discovered the amusement park inside! We went on the Pretty Odd Coaster that was so enjoyable. We each Facetimed our youngsters to indicate them.
We had been up at 6am the following morning for our flight / drive dwelling 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!
