Karasek guidebook
Food scene
One of our favorite carry-out pizza places (locally owned/operated). Deep dish is delish!
Bella Pizza
7155 80th St SOne of our favorite carry-out pizza places (locally owned/operated). Deep dish is delish!
Carbone's Kitchen & Pub
7155 Jorgensen Ln S2nd favorite pizza restaurant. Newly remodeled with a bar area.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
2600 Hennepin AveClose and cheap.
Starbucks
1062 Grand Ave-Local grocery store w/ liquor store.
-Has a market to buy different types of foods (i.e.-Chinese, BBQ, Hibachi, Mexican, smoothies, etc), and also has a "sitdown" restaurant.
6 locals recommend
Hy-Vee
7280 E Point Douglas Rd S-Local grocery store w/ liquor store.
-Has a market to buy different types of foods (i.e.-Chinese, BBQ, Hibachi, Mexican, smoothies, etc), and also has a "sitdown" restaurant.
-Good food and good apps with a large bar area.
-Somewhat loud due to "open" concept.
6 locals recommend
Junction 70 Grill
6933 Pine Arbor Dr S-Good food and good apps with a large bar area.
-Somewhat loud due to "open" concept.
Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
7165 E Point Douglas Rd SGood Mexican food. New location with more seating.
-Our ABSOLUTE favorite! Love everything on the menu.
-Locally owned/operated
-Mainly carry-out, but there is some seating (very limited).
Lisu's Thai Taste Restaurant
7145 E Point Douglas Rd S-Our ABSOLUTE favorite! Love everything on the menu.
-Locally owned/operated
-Mainly carry-out, but there is some seating (very limited).
Though this isn't "fancy," we eat here enough to get many-a-free kid's meals. We also know several of the employees who work there (either family friends or former students).
13 locals recommend
Culver's
8845 7th Ave NThough this isn't "fancy," we eat here enough to get many-a-free kid's meals. We also know several of the employees who work there (either family friends or former students).
Again, nothing fancy, but the kids love biking there to get a "sweet treat." Locally owned.
Dairy Queen (Treat)
7175 80th St SAgain, nothing fancy, but the kids love biking there to get a "sweet treat." Locally owned.
Caribou Coffee
4745 Cedar Ave SCoffee. say. no. more.
Great food and fun atmosphere.
Good for birthdays and special occasions.
A bit on the "spendier" side.
Osaka Sushi and Hibachi
9000 Hudson RdGreat food and fun atmosphere.
Good for birthdays and special occasions.
A bit on the "spendier" side.
Neighborhoods
Historic Stillwater has much in terms of food and the river. Many great restaurants close to the river. Grab some food and picnic along the shore on the lawn. Stroll along the river after eating.
94 locals recommend
Stillwater
Historic Stillwater has much in terms of food and the river. Many great restaurants close to the river. Grab some food and picnic along the shore on the lawn. Stroll along the river after eating.
LOVE Hudson. Our most favorite restaurants are downtown Hudson. We have probably been to every restaurant, and we have not been to a bad one yet.
If you love watching boats, this is a great place to go. There are HUNDREDS of yachts, fishing boats, and sailboats. There are also many sandy islands that people will visit for the day to swim and BBQ.
-San Pedro (Caribean) is probably our favorite of them all (love the outdoor seating). They just added a tapas bar in the back with awesome plates, but a bit spendier.
-Winzer Stube (German) is usually our goto birthday restaurant.
-Agave (Tex-Mex) has some unique dishes.
-Pier 500 has great views of the St. Croix (one of the cleanest rivers in the US)
25 locals recommend
Hudson
LOVE Hudson. Our most favorite restaurants are downtown Hudson. We have probably been to every restaurant, and we have not been to a bad one yet.
If you love watching boats, this is a great place to go. There are HUNDREDS of yachts, fishing boats, and sailboats. There are also many sandy islands that people will visit for the day to swim and BBQ.
-San Pedro (Caribean) is probably our favorite of them all (love the outdoor seating). They just added a tapas bar in the back with awesome plates, but a bit spendier.
-Winzer Stube (German) is usually our goto birthday restaurant.
-Agave (Tex-Mex) has some unique dishes.
-Pier 500 has great views of the St. Croix (one of the cleanest rivers in the US)
Shopping
An obvious goto for many visitors to MN.
Hundreds of stores and many restaurants, both fast food and "sitdown."
Also has Nickelodeon Universe which has many rides for all ages. Get a day pass for unlimited rides, or pay-by-the-ride.
476 locals recommend
Mall of America
60 East BroadwayAn obvious goto for many visitors to MN.
Hundreds of stores and many restaurants, both fast food and "sitdown."
Also has Nickelodeon Universe which has many rides for all ages. Get a day pass for unlimited rides, or pay-by-the-ride.
An outdoor shopping mall only minutes away.
-Old Navy, Dicks Sporting, Gordman's, and several other shops.
-A few good fast food restaurants like PeiWei.
6 locals recommend
Tamarack Village
8278 Tamarack VillageAn outdoor shopping mall only minutes away.
-Old Navy, Dicks Sporting, Gordman's, and several other shops.
-A few good fast food restaurants like PeiWei.
-Outdoor shopping mall with many clothing stores.
-Alamo Movie theatre that has great seating and has food to order while watching the movie.
17 locals recommend
Woodbury Lakes
9120 Hudson Rd-Outdoor shopping mall with many clothing stores.
-Alamo Movie theatre that has great seating and has food to order while watching the movie.
Our goto "weekly" grocery store (Hy-Vee if we need to pick up something quick).
-Cheap, organic, and tasty. I don't think there is one thing in TJ's that we don't like.
8 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
8960 Hudson RdOur goto "weekly" grocery store (Hy-Vee if we need to pick up something quick).
-Cheap, organic, and tasty. I don't think there is one thing in TJ's that we don't like.
Target
8655 E Point Douglas Rd SHas everything, including a small grocery store.
Has everything, including a grocery store (but cheaper than Target).
9 locals recommend
Walmart Supercenter
9300 E Point Douglas Rd SHas everything, including a grocery store (but cheaper than Target).
Sightseeing
Beautiful landscape overlooking the St. Croix River.
Making hiking trails.
Afton State Park Visitor Center
Afton State Park TrailBeautiful landscape overlooking the St. Croix River.
Making hiking trails.
Art & Architecture Inc
3338 University Ave SE-A large, spread out zoo. Many unique animals.
-Has a farm area where kids can pet goats, cows, pigs, and sometimes horses.
113 locals recommend
Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Blvd-A large, spread out zoo. Many unique animals.
-Has a farm area where kids can pet goats, cows, pigs, and sometimes horses.
An "urban" zoo with a theme park attached (mainly for little kids). Though a bit smaller than the MN Zoo, this zoo is FREE and has many unique animals (penguins and puffins), particularly in the feline species (mountain lions, lions, panthers, etc).
278 locals recommend
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
1225 Estabrook DrAn "urban" zoo with a theme park attached (mainly for little kids). Though a bit smaller than the MN Zoo, this zoo is FREE and has many unique animals (penguins and puffins), particularly in the feline species (mountain lions, lions, panthers, etc).
-Great trails for hiking and biking.
-Large playground and a man-made "swimming hole," which gets busy on weekends.
-Bring your fishing pole and fish from the dock.
13 locals recommend
Lake Elmo Park Reserve
1515 Keats Ave N-Great trails for hiking and biking.
-Large playground and a man-made "swimming hole," which gets busy on weekends.
-Bring your fishing pole and fish from the dock.
Sporting Events
U.S. Bank Stadium
401 Chicago Ave"Newer" stadium for the MN Vikings.
Target Field
1 Twins WayWatch the MN Twins
Target Center
600 N 1st AveWatch the MN Timberwolves or catch a music event.
Watch the St. Paul Saints, owned by Bill Murray, in the grass or in the stands. Enjoy local brew, fun activities between innings, and enjoy historic downtown St. Paul.
-Enjoy "Barrio" in Mears Park after the game
59 locals recommend
CHS Field
360 N Broadway StWatch the St. Paul Saints, owned by Bill Murray, in the grass or in the stands. Enjoy local brew, fun activities between innings, and enjoy historic downtown St. Paul.
-Enjoy "Barrio" in Mears Park after the game
Museums
-Several floors of "historic" science as well as "modern" science that are very "hands-on."
-Also has the Omni theater to "sit back" and watch the movies in the dome.
235 locals recommend
Science Museum of Minnesota
120 W Kellogg Blvd-Several floors of "historic" science as well as "modern" science that are very "hands-on."
-Also has the Omni theater to "sit back" and watch the movies in the dome.
Minnesota Children's Museum
10 7th Street WestFun, interactive "rooms" for the kids.
Minnesota Museum of American Art
350 Robert St N