I knew this long holiday weekend was going to be a tough one. Why, you may ask? I mean who wouldn’t love having a four-day weekend with the weather in Minnesota forecasted to be absolutely perfect, right?

Well, me that’s who. At least, not this year.

Without any real plans to get away I had no idea what I was going to do with myself. My first instinct, Vegas- lie by the pool, read a book, shop, eat and enjoy the night life, endless possibilities but apparently even 2.5 star hotels on the weekend of the fourth in LV are overly priced and I could not fathom paying a thousand- plus dollars just to run away. Maybe I should have taken that invitation to fabulous Palm Beach, FL (or was it Palm Bay?) but is it safe to take a stranger up on their invite at 2 a.m. bar close? My best friends, my pa and ma would all give me a stern look and say “Yeah, probably not a banner idea”. Too bad, I’ve never been to Florida and he seemed like a nice guy…but I digress.

I went instead, into the past few days with no real expectations (ok maybe some expectations, a girl does need to dream a little).

What I decided to do was bum around with a few of my closest friends, have some drinks, meet a crazy bar tender (funny thing- he wasn’t crazy three months ago. Now? Cra-Z with a capital ‘Z’!); I chilled by the local pool with my best friend and her kids, see, I did get poolside it just cost a thrifty $6.50 instead of a not-so-cool grand, besides hangin’ with a best-y and her two cuties, can’t put a price on that; I went for a couple of bike rides, more sun, more outdoors; got lost in a 12- 14 hour marathon of The Walking Dead season 3 (love that show!) and I decided to start wandering around my fair state of Minn-e-so-wonderful-(in-the-summer)-ta on the weekends.

So begins my journal about my weekend travels. There are many places to explore in Minnesota- great shopping, biking, hiking, wining & dining. It may be that upon reading these entries you will find someplace you will want to explore yourself, or perhaps you will fall in love with this great state from afar or just gain some delight in reading about Miss Susie Who’s ‘Weekend Wanderings’.

Enjoy. Smile. Cry. Laugh. Most of all- Be true to YOU (BT2U)