Girlfriend Getaway — A Rejuvenating Weekend in Minnesota’s Sweet Spot

Shopping, pampering, delicious dining, and time with your favorite people make the perfect escape from busy schedules. Gather your gal pals for a weekend of reconnecting, trying a new craft, enjoying feel-good fashion, and relaxing together in Minnesota’s Sweet Spot.

Included in this Itinerary

• Food
• Spa
• Shopping
• Attractions
• Outdoor Activities
• Drinks

Friday

Afternoon

Start the getaway with lunch at Yum! Kitchen & Bakery, a woman-owned café and bakery known for delectable made-from-scratch meals, seasonal specialties, and signature cupcakes, cookies, and cakes. Options include the chicken club sandwich with avocado and pommeray honey aioli, Hugo’s Baja Mahi Tacos with spicy baja sauce and cotija cheese, or the “Fancy Schmancy” tuna salad prepared with white albacore tuna, kalamata olives, and red peppers. Homemade chicken noodle soup offers a lighter choice. Leave room for dessert, since the decadent sweets are hard to resist.

Continue your unwinding at SALT Salon Spa Café, where a broad menu of salon and spa treatments addresses all your aesthetic needs. For a private experience with friends, choose the party package in the Himalayan SALT Room. It includes a 60-minute massage or facial, manicure, pedicure, and a wash and hair style. You’ll depart relaxed and polished.

Once you’re feeling fabulous, browse for accessories at Excelsior & Grand’s Max’s. This woman-owned contemporary boutique carries an eclectic range of artisan jewelry, hand-blown glass pieces, chocolates, and gifts. Two blocks north are Opitz Outlet and The Annex by Opitz, two discount clothing destinations. For over 20 years, Opitz has offered men’s and women’s designer clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories at 70% off retail. The Annex features apparel and accessories with small imperfections at even deeper discounts. The stores have long been regarded as the Twin Cities’ best kept secret.

Evening

Dine on the patio at Hazelwood Food + Drink, a fine dining restaurant that puts a twist on comfort food. Hazelwood is known for black angus 28-day-aged steaks, fresh seafood, wood fired pizza, and rotisserie chicken. Begin with boursin artichoke dip or house made crunchy tater tots accompanied by bacon ketchup. The lobster mac & cheese comes from a wood fired clay pot and combines five different cheeses, caramelized onions, and a potato chip crust. For dessert, share Grandma Betty’s chocolate cake, made with Callebaut chocolate and cocoa cream frosting. Extra forks are a good idea.

Head to the West End for some real-world “funning” at Punch Bowl Social. Inside, 25,000 sq. ft. of “foodertainment” await. Enjoy a signature punch, sing a power ballad in the karaoke room, bowl a few games, play Giant Jenga or Scrabble, and revisit vintage arcade games to close out the day.

Saturday

Morning

Begin the morning with a mimosa or bloody mary at The Block Food + Drink. The menu includes playful choices such as the “This Chic is Hot” biscuit sandwich,” featuring crispy chicken covered in hot chic sauce, and pacos: mini pancakes filled with cheesy scrambled eggs and hash browns, then finished with spicy pepper jam and maple syrup. For something sweet, consider cinnamon swirl French toast with berry compote and powdered sugar or mini donuts served with berry compote and chocolate syrup. Numerous vegan options are available as well.

After breakfast, explore the neighborhood on foot and seek out the area’s Insta-worthy murals, including Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox on the side of the sota clothing building. Stop inside afterward for sota swag. Keep an eye on the sidewalks during your walk, as they feature poetry stamped by local residents.

Make Something by Hand

At Golden Valley’s Skylab Glass Arts, try glassblowing and create a pendant, wine stopper, or glass drinking straws to take home. For a more hands-on clay experience, Fired Up Studios welcomes clay artists and potters of every level. Take a turn at the pottery wheel while instructors guide you in making a one-of-a-kind pot. The studio supplies the tools, buckets, and towels, then finishes and fires your pot with the glaze you select.

Afternoon

Enjoy lunch at Doolittles Woodfire Grill, whose woodfired rotisserie cooking, inviting patio, and extensive wine list make it an excellent midday stop. Spit roasted chicken and smokehouse ribs are signature selections. The roasted pear and chicken salad with spiced walnuts and raspberry vinaigrette is a lighter alternative, while burgers, steaks, fish, and pasta round out the menu. Save space for “Molten Nirvana,” a chocolate cake served with vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Continue with a boutique-shopping circuit. Nearby Patina is a Minnesota gift shop offering a curated assortment of gifts, home décor, paper goods, jewelry, and more. Down in the Valley Records has a large vinyl music selection. Mainstream Boutique carries the latest arrivals of the season, and Ragstock supplies retro looks.

Take a break with a pint at Under Pressure Brewing. The brewery pours over 20 beers on tap along with an equal number of blended beers in a rustic medieval environment decorated with suits of armor and tapestries. Try the butter beer, their take on the Harry Potter classic.

Next, visit the Nordic Ware Factory Outlet Store, the home of the bundt pan, for bakeware, cookware, and BBQ products. A flower-shaped cake pan is among the possibilities.

Evening

Unwind on Chi-Chi’s spacious patio in the West End. The restaurant is known for freshly made guacamole and killer margaritas, with over 100 types of tequila and mezcal available. Because the drinks have a kick, pair them with chimichangas, enchiladas, tacos, and other hearty dishes. Finish with the signature fried ice cream.

Sunday

Morning

Enjoy a relaxed morning at Honey & Rye Bakehouse, a rustic-chic neighborhood bakery and café serving artisan breads, baked treats, and all the caffeinated beverages you could want. Pair coffee cake with a cappuccino, or choose a scone with chai tea.

Brookview Golf & Lawn Bowling

Spend the morning on the lawn bowling greens at Brookview Golf and Lawn Bowling. Brookview Golf and Lawn Bowling is home to the largest lawn bowling green in Minnesota. Similar to bocce ball, the game involves rolling a bowl—a ball with flattened sides—as close as possible to the jack, a small white ball. The team closest to the jack earns the point. The activity is easygoing and fun, with views across the golf course’s rolling hills and treelined fairways.

Afternoon

Have lunch at Brookview’s Three One Six Bar + Grill, which serves wraps and sandwiches, salads, and burgers. Choose a patio table to take in the views.

Aquatic Park

Spend the afternoon unwinding beside the pool at the Aquatic Park. The park appeals to kids and grown-ups alike, with generous sun decks and loungers. Swim laps to cool down or take a ride on the tube slide. At the concession stand, pick up mini-donuts and ice cream treats.

Before long, it will be time to pack up and return home. The hope is that you’ll leave feeling recharged, refreshed, and reconnected.

This itinerary offers only a sampling of what you might do in Minnesota’s Sweet Spot. Our Experiences can provide more ideas as you plan your trip.