My pal Meg and I simply got here house from a weekend in Minnesota to see the Luke Bryan Farm Tour! Sadly, the Farm Tour was cancelled resulting from storms, rain, and dirt. So very unhappy! However 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 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. 

Gaining access to meals – particularly wholesome, inexpensive meals – is a privilege for individuals who dwell near grocery shops and have the means to purchase it. At present, 90% of counties with the 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 approach to elevate consciousness of rural care deserts and improve 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.” Try their web site, and enter to win VIP tickets to subsequent 12 months’s farm tour so you will 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. When you dwell anyplace close to Dulles airport or fly by means of it typically, you need to get a Capital One Enterprise card! The Enterprise X will get you and two companions in limitless occasions, 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 bogs, wifi, a number 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 fashion bites provided. I so appreciated that every part was single serving so it was simple 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 critically 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 automobile (boo for an hour-long rental automobile 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’ll have seen me point out Rochester on Instagram. It’s house to the Mayo Clinic and a small metropolis. Because of these dozen or so followers who despatched me restaurant suggestions! Almost 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 beloved it! We sat on the bar and had drinks earlier than dinner. 

And Outdated Long-established for Meg; a Mezcal + Passionfruit for me

For dinner we determined to remain on the bar as a result of we beloved the vibe. We shared brussels and noodles in an exquisite sauce, and cauliflower pops. Every thing 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 received 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 low, but it surely was pouring : ( So as an alternative we opted for the free lodge breakfast and a exercise. 

Oatmeal with peanut butter and banana and low!!

Greatest Gymnasium Exercise

The gymnasium had a Peloton!! Meg and I are each riders, so we traded off cardio rides and Jess Sims weight periods. I truly rode with Thomas for a minute who was on his bike in Cville! Humorous small world. We had an awesome 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 won’t 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 received the information that the live performance was cancelled : (

Rain Is A Good Factor

We received a textual content from our Bayer crew that they had been so bummed to need to share that the live performance was cancelled. Apparently Luke’s crew 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. When you can’t arrange, you possibly can’t arrange. Plus if you happen to’re a Luke fan you recognize that “rain is an efficient factor.” Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey… We sang that tune 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 house the following morning. 

Lunch at Forager

However earlier than we left, we went to Forager Brewery for lunch. This was one other extremely really useful spot from the locals. 

Peach + Avo salad

Wonderful pear and gorgonzola pizza

Heading North

Again close to MSP, we returned our rental automobile, 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 superb listing to take a look at. 

However then extra storms rolled in. And nothing was tremendous near us – the uber rides would price about $30 every approach. So we made the tough resolution to not enterprise out within the rain once 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 well 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 children to indicate them. 

We had been up at 6am the following morning for our flight / drive house 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! 

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