I felt the need to get out of the house for a drive today, so Joe and I checked out a few local reserves near us. These are the kinds of places where people cross country ski, ride horses, or head out for a hike. There is snow everywhere, except on most well traveled roads, so we decided we will go back in the summer when we can actually get out of the car and walk one of the paths.
I love barns. Not to hang out in. Just to look at. So when I spotted a red barn off in the distance, we took a detour to get as close as possible. As close as possible turned out to be about a quarter of a mile from the road. There was a dirt road leading toward it, but a locked gate stopped us. I showed admirable restraint by not crawling over it. My iPhone camera was zoomed to 15x to get a better view, which felt like a reasonable compromise.
While we were already out and about, we decided to stop at Millside Tavern as we headed back into town. We went in without realizing they have won the Star Tribune’s Best Burger in Minnesota two years in a row, 2024 and 2025. We shared a double cheeseburger with jalapeños and pepper jack cheese, served with sweet potato fries. We also ordered a side of deep fried mushrooms.
I had a taste of the fries and carefully counted how many mushrooms I could eat while staying within my daily allotment of nutrients. The burger was excellent. The mushrooms and fries were excellent too. I was doing such a good job until I discovered they had huckleberry ice cream.
The ice cream was amazing. Only one scoop, and I did share it with Joe. I can easily see this becoming a new go to spot for us on Saturday afternoons. They also have a good children’s menu, and the prices were excellent.
Sometimes a simple drive, a barn admired from afar, and a very good burger are exactly what the day needs. Today reminded me that you do not always have to go far or do much to feel refreshed. Getting out, noticing small things, and sharing a meal can be more than enough.
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