Hotel Emery is both a sleek boutique hotel and a chic urban jungle. It hides in plain sight in downtown Minneapolis. The words “sleek” and “jungle” rarely appear in the same sentence. But when you’re describing a design-forward luxury hotel — especially one as artfully curated as this one — all bets are off. In an average hotel, the lobby is the last place you’d want to hang out. At Hotel Emery, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, it’s a place where people intentionally ga

What’s the best hike you’ve been on lately? Mine is this gorgeous hike in the Beartooth Mountains of southern Montana. From the minute my feet hit the trail, I had this John Muir quote imprinted on my brain; “Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” That’s always excellent advice. While I didn’t have a week to spend in the woods, it was meditative (and practically medicinal

I have a secret; I actually love cold weather. I crave a winter reset. I like to rest, reflect, and recalibrate during these short days and long nights. This is pretty much sacrilege to say in the upper Midwest, when this season can feel dark, bitter and endless and discussing (or maybe lamenting) the weather is practically a sport. But hear me out. Winter is a reset button. By reducing our options and forcing us inside, it also forces us to look inside ourselves as well. Win

Books about North Dakota and Minnesota (especially creative ones) aren’t incredibly common, but I think they’re one of the most powerful and accessible ways to understand the part of the world that I call home. And they’re fun and easy to give as gifts, because there’s something for everybody and we don’t often treat ourselves to a brand new book, but most of us really like to receive them. Ever since I read that books are a traditional Christmas gift in Iceland – and that fo

If you have a thing for North Dakota landscapes or street art, then my new North Dakota postcards are for you. You can order a super cool set for just $4 (with free shipping!) right here, or find me in Fargo, Bismarck or Grand Forks between now and December 22. While I’m on location, I’ll also be selling a few extra exclusive postcards that you can’t get anywhere else. North Dakota Postcards are my newest obsession. I’ll also be selling my North Dakota beer book, beer buttons

There’s something soothing about skipping the big box stores and opting for indie crafts, art shows and handmade gifts this Christmas. The gifts are unique, your dollars support a small businessperson and the shopping experience often includes fun extras like mulled wine, beer, live music, and entertainment to keep the youngest shoppers transfixed. As an added bonus, you can usually meet the artists and makers to get the story behind the gift you’re giving and learn how it wa

When the temperature drops, layers are the secret to packing for cold climates and staying warm and comfortable both indoors and out. These layers aren’t the giant snow pants and massive parkas that immobilize you like the kids in “A Christmas Story.” They’re packable, comfortable and cozy enough to keep you warm in the harshest elements. One of my proudest travel moments came during a tour of Erfurt, Germany. We’d been tromping around for a few hours when my guide, a local,

We have entered the chilly season here in the Midwest, a time when the days are dark and often our moods are too. Cooped up inside for longer than we’d like, that feeling of ennui — that familiar listlessness and mild dissatisfaction that seems to lack a direct cause — can creep up on us. But winter is also a great time for nesting, for introversion, for creativity, and solitude. These things can refocus and replenish us. And ennui isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can be our

Earlier this year, I started work on a new project. It’s called the Travel Tomorrow podcast and I’m almost ridiculously excited about it. The Travel Tomorrow podcast is a show for curious people who are interested in what’s happening around the world — whether they actually travel or not. I think the strength of this show lies in the fact that people with a passport full of stamps and total armchair travelers can both find something to think about. We’re trying to focus on is

Dakota Chappy is the undisputed queen of prairie glam. North Dakota fashion designer Chappy Windsor presides over a fashion empire that is equal parts extra and empowering. Her boutiques, located in Minot and Bismarck, are an eclectic mix of boho, western, rocker and romantic influences. And Chappy herself is on a mission to help women of all sizes look fabulous by providing streamlined wardrobe solutions. Her looks might seem complex, but the Dakota Chappy dressing system is

A canvas by painter Erica G. Thune is drenched in vivid, saturated color. Her work swirls with motion, pulses with energy. Yet it never feels chaotic. There’s a strong, still center to paintings by the North Dakota artists, all that straight-from-Fauvism color against a calm, crisp background of white. In addition to being a painter, Erica G. Thune is a poet as well. I asked her about what inspires her work, how she arranges her days and her studio space and what she’s workin

Minnesota United FC will play its first MLS playoff match in franchise history at the brand new Allianz Field tonight. No matter what happens on the soccer field in Saint Paul, I can promise you that the action in the stands will be just as compelling. The Loons are a team for everyone. That doesn’t happen by accident. Management, ownership and the players have thoughtfully, purposefully engaged with the fans. And it shows. From the design of Allianz Field to the way that mat

Staying in a yurt is delightful. Jo and I got an almost ridiculous kick out of Rockstad’s River Inn and Yurt in Fort Ransom, North Dakota. (We may have actually squealed a little bit when we got the keys.) It’s right on Main Street, but you don’t really need an address to find it. (Honestly, if you can’t find a 30-foot yurt with a wraparound deck in a town of 77 souls, then you should really consider traveling with a guide.) The property contains RV sites, a cottage and an in

Autumn is in full swing, but there’s still time for a fall getaway. Midwestern hotels have some great deals on all the fall experiences you’ve been craving, from ghosts stories and fall foliage tours to apple picking and spa getaways. Many of these deals are for a limited time only, but the resorts, hotels and bed and breakfasts listed here are destinations in and of themselves. So even if you can’t travel this year, it’s worth bookmarking these properties for future trips. H

Fall dressing requires lots of layers, and packing for an autumn trip requires a little strategy. These fall layering pieces work for sunny days and chilly nights. Everything is light, warm and packable, so you won’t add a lot of bulk to your body or weight to your luggage. And since everything fits neatly in a carry-on, it’s easy to stash a layer in your bag for when you’re out and about when the temperature drops. 1. Draped Cardigan: Tissue-thin and ultra versatile, an open

It’s prime pumpkin patch time, people! Here are five of the best North Dakota pumpkin patches and corn mazes to get your fall fix. You’ll find family friendly spots for a little corn maze/pumpkin picking/hay ride magic. Or you could zoom over the crowd on a zipline or load a pumpkin into a sinister looking weapon and launch it across a field. (Hey, it takes all kinds…) Whichever options you choose, be sure to visit sooner rather than later. Pumpkin patches are seasonal and we

Staring up into the thick, velvet night, with the monolith of Bear Lodge at my back, I realize that the sky isn’t black at all, but a marbled expanse of slate and jet, charcoal and gray, sprinkled with glittering stars. The Black Hills slumber hard and deep. I know the names of many of the constellations that suddenly seem to burn close and impossibly bright. But I know them in Greek. I have no knowledge of the star stories from the people who have lived here for thousands of

For an in-depth look at the largest city in North Dakota, check out Fargo Food Tours. This Fargo walking tour just launched this spring and it’s a great way to experience the history, culture and food scene at street level. Well, mostly at street level. You do go underground to one of the most cleverly hidden restaurants in downtown Fargo at one point. The three hour walking tour explores six iconic Fargo restaurants and eateries every Saturday during the spring, summer and f

You don’t have to go to Minneapolis or St. Paul to find some of the best food trucks in Minnesota. In fact, many of them can be found in a small, west-central Minnesota city near you. If you happen to be in Fargo this weekend, you’ll have a rare chance to try them all at the Fargo Food Truck Festival. It’s a great opportunity to try a few trucks from outside the state, all in one place. I joined the judges panel yesterday and it was a blast to see what the regional food truck

Dutifully reading about local history? Been there, done that. I like my museums a little more immersive, thanks. Seeing a city from a giant praying mantis, a Ferris Wheel or a boat marooned on a rooftop in a place where you can run and jump and make as much noise as you want? Now we’re talking. Sign me up. If you think that museums are quiet places where you can look, but can’t touch, think again. These five Midwestern museums encourage you dive in (often physically) and use