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Coon Rapids Dam, Bryant Lake Bowl, Fort Snelling and St. Paul Adventures with the Rents

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My parents came to visit this weekend. It's been over a year since they were here last. Naturally we took them to our favorite buffet Q. Cumbers. Then we walked around Centennial Lakes. 

We are a bit obsessed with Q. Cumbers. An endless salad buffet and epic ice cream bar. What's not to like?

My dad watched a YouTube video about the Coon Rapids Dam and wanted to see it in person. I had never been here before. 

I'd biked up here a few times when we lived on the Northside of Minneapolis and then shot the dam for a client years back.


The water was low enough it looked like you could walk to the island, but then it got deep fast. 

Not quite, Brookie.

If only my parents had e-bikes we could have went on a bike ride. 

After the kids got out of school we debated on what to eat for dinner. Bryant Lake Bowl had been on my dad's bucket list for awhile. 

We've eaten here but hadn't bowled yet. 

This 1930's bowling alley stays true to it's original days. Meaning you have to keep your own score. 

The pin reset is a bit janky, but it was fun bowling in this old school space.


Meadow surprised us with her bowling skills.

Theo liked to mimic us as we bowled. He's not quite big enough to roll his own ball yet. Though he did try rolling between his legs for the first time.


I guess he got tired from all the practice bowls. 


Then we did an outdoor movie of the Wizard of Oz. 

I prefer watching movies on the projector indoors, but you've got to make the crowd happy.

I've always wanted a projector so we could do this. 

I picked up a bigger version of my new grill a couple weeks after getting the little one. Anybody need the perfect couples sized grill?

I hadn't taken my parents to Fort Snelling yet and I've been wanting to go. I have been reading about the history of this area. Today happened to be free admission day. Unlike when we came last time where we were free to roam, they had only guided tours. 

The old barracks had been transformed into the visitors center and museum. I'll miss the subterranean visitors center, but this new one much nicer.

The tour was quick, but still interesting to visit and share this piece of Minnesota history with Brooke's parents.

Our tour guide was very knowledgable, but I feel like we didn't get to see everything. 

Definitely abbreviated. Maybe we have to take them back on a normal day.



Theo and Meadow always want something from the visitors center gift shop. Theo recently decided he loves eagles, so he NEEDED this print.

Mr. Mike wanted to get a view of the Mississippi. You can just barely spot Downtown Minneapolis in the distance.

We tried to go to Waldmann Brewery for lunch, but unknown to us it was their Oktoberfest celebration and you needed a wristband to get in.

We weren't sure where to go and I thought, "Well, Cossetta's is famous and close by." We've somehow never been here before.


I was little overwhelmed with the menu and felt like I had to make a decision fast. Then I couldn't hear what the woman was asking and she seemed annoyed. 

Lost in translation, but all was well when we got our food.

The food was good, wish we could have went when it was a small little restaurant. 

Actually started out as an Italian grocer on the Mississippi River just south of Downtown St. Paul. After regular flooding that neighborhood was razed and Cosetta's made the move to West 7th.

On our way back we stopped at Bang Brewing. 

Might just be my favorite taproom in the cities and even better when it's a perfect September day.

We picked up some sweets at Cosetta's bakery. A lobster tail for us. Of course G.G. had to steal some.

The kids liked that they had old fashioned toys to kill time. 

Better brewery in the cities? Maybe. Better place to drink beer? I don't think so.

Brittany gave us the rug hook kit to try out. Meadow picked up on it pretty quickly. 

While the guys watched the Packer's game, us girls went shopping at 38th and Grand. Meadow loves all the stores and I knew my mom would too. 

She really wanted this kitty clip.


I loved that Kinoko Kids had vintage Halloween decorations. I got the cat on the top. 

Usually I make my parents go to Ikea without me but I needed some things so we all tagged along. I loved this set up. This would be perfect for Meadows art stuff. 


I think the kids love Ikea just as much as my mom does. 

Ha.

We had dinner and Theo wanted chocolate cake. I told him he had to go buy it if he wanted it. He actually went up by himself and did it!

So proud of him. 

I'm sure you folks had fun, but I'm glad I had to work. 

Trying to give me the sad face so I'll buy this wolf for him.

I ended up getting this for Meadow's wall to hang all her art supplies. 

And that's a wrap on Gail and Mike's 2024 visit to the Twin Cities.

They extended their stay to Tuesday as Scott had jobs in Grand Rapids and New Ulm. 

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