I’ve been so grateful to get to know communities all over the United States, from coast-to-coast and even to the far ends of the Pacific Ocean, in Hawai’i on the Big Island and on O’ahu. And I’ve been even luckier to get the chance to travel solo in Costa Rica and Bermuda; both countries inspired this travel blog!
But now the adventure takes me to a part of the country I’ve never been: the Midwest.
It’s bittersweet: a bitterly sad goodbye to New York City, but a warm, sweet welcome to Minneapolis-St.Paul.
For a state known for its chilly winters, I really mean it when I say it’s one of the warmest welcomes I’ve had.
This big move to the Twin Cities is thrilling, and nerve-wracking at the same time. And I’m so excited and grateful.
I’ve worked at news stations in Hawaii, Washington State, Rhode Island, and New York City. Every city brought different culture and showed me a new perspective, and I’d like to think the people in every place have made me a better journalist with the stories they helped me tell.
And that’s a privilege I don’t take for granted.
But I’m so excited to bring you more adventures and solo travel ideas from a state and city with many nicknames: Mini-Apple, The Mill City, West St. Paul, MPLS, The City of Lakes, PrinceTown, Miniature-opolis.
Coming from the Big Apple, I think I’m most fond of calling Minneapolis the “Mini-Apple.”
As someone who’s admittedly a major night owl and has reported for the 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. show (along with the early evening newscasts) almost my entire career, I know I’ll miss New York City — the city that never sleeps. Because that’s made for many great late-night stories, and even better late-night food and solo travel adventures.
But in Minneapolis, I’m really excited to be around so many parks, lakes, and trees. And perhaps some good old-fashioned hospitality that sometimes gets lost in the hustle and bustle of New York.
It’s a needed break from the concrete jungle and I’ve already had so much fun in the last 48 hours exploring the Minneapolis sculpture garden, the Nicolette Mall, and meeting my coworkers ahead of my first day at work in the North Loop.
My new coworkers at have been absolutely amazing, and I haven’t even sat down at my new desk yet!
While it’s been a crazy few weeks and a quick transition to the Twin Cities, I’m so thankful for the many blessings I know the Midwest will bring. And I’m excited to learn about the community here, different traditions and must-do and must-sees. And I promise to tell you all about it!
I’m already counting down to the Minnesota State Fair, which I hear is one of the largest fairs in the country, attracting travelers from all over the United States and beyond. That’ll be a fun series for me to feature for you on this solo travel blog, so look forward (and subscribe) to those posts.
My next stop is definitely the Mall Of America which is a short drive away from downtown Minneapolis. Just need to make sure I stick to window shopping and leave the credit cards at home!
Also, a big thanks to Roadway Movers partnering with me for the move, making it a smoother transition; their team made my 7th (wow!) move to a different state as painless as possible.
More upcoming for this solo travel blog on Midwest explorations — and all the suggested places for you to check out for whenever you visit!
The adventures continue,
PS: Roadway Movers wanted to offer Adventures With Crystal readers a discount. You can use >> CRYSTAL10 for a 10% discount >> off local moves.
