To start of my exploring of Minnesota, I thought it would be best to blog about my home city first since that is what I will be comparing all other places to. I live on the border of Apple Valley and Burnsville, but I identify more with Apple Valley since that is where I went to high school and where most of my life took place. I drove around my home town today and choose some spots that mean something to me to share with you guys. 
The first stop was Caribou Coffee, something I missed so much when I was in State College. Hazel (my dog) and I walked over from my house and of course had to indulge in a treat. PA has the Wawa vs. Sheetz debate and Minnesota has the Caribou vs Starbucks one (Caribou is better). If you every have the chance to come to Minnesota stop at Caribou (they are all over the state so I am sure you can find one), and let me know your opinion on the debate.
The next stop was my family’s restaurant, El Camino Taco Deli. Just down the street from Caribou, this place means the world to me and my family. This is location one of two, the original. If you ever come to visit anywhere near the cities you need to stop by because the tacos are the best (this is coming from an unbiased opinion of course).
The third stop, and perhaps one of the most Minnesotan pictures I have ever taken, was Crystal lake. This park with a lake is filled with amazing memories. Almost everyday during the summer, my friends and I would meet here to play Spikeball or go tubing. However, that was not the case today. Yes, I am standing in the middle of the lake and if you zoom in you can see all the ice fishing tents and their trucks. I would also like to point out that hill you see in the background, Buck Hill Ski and Snowboard, is the closest thing you will find to a mountain in Minnesota.
The next stop was of course my high school. Over the last four years, I spent more time here than anywhere else, so much so that Google Maps thought it was my home and my actually house was my work. However, I would not take back anything because my experience here was amazing!
The fifth and final destination was my local Culver’s. This place was me and my friend’s hangout spot. We would go to Culver’s order our $2 custard and sit and talk for what seemed like hours. If you ever come across a Culver’s, a pro tip is to ask for your fries extra crispy.
This was so much fun and I hope you guys enjoyed learning a little bit more about me and Minnesota. Where should I go next? Comment if you would like to see someplace specific. Overall I would rate Apple Valley, Minnesota a 1 Billion out of 10 because it is my home and nothing can top that, although State college is pretty close.
Enjoy this short time lapse I made when driving around!
Yay! I am so happy you did this! Last semester, I tried to envision your family’s taco shop and what Minnesota looked like during the winter and this blog brought everything to life. I really appreciate how you took the time out of your day to drive around your hometown and take these pictures for your blog! One, your dog is sooo cute! Two, I am still interested to see if I would like Caribou better than Starbucks. Lastly, I really want to try the tacos! I am a full-blown Mexican food fanatic and tacos are my all-time favorite Mexican meal! If I ever get the chance to visit Minnesota I will be sure to stop by El Camino Taco Deli! I am still interested to see what the Mall of America looks like, so it would be interesting if you were able to go there and take some pictures for a blog! Thanks for sharing this blog and I look forward to reading your posts each week!
I am so happy you posted this! So I lived in Wisconsin and Culver’s is a big part of the culture. Not the healthiest but something every teenager looks forward too. It is so shocking when you leave a state and see how different things are. I can totally relate to that! Lets talk about Caribou Coffee, my best friend and I would constantly take trips to Edina and grab some. I feel like people really need to experience the superior taste it has. I can’t wait to see what you write about next!
This post was such a fun read! I visited Minnesota once and I absolutely loved it. As someone who would eat tacos for the rest of her life if she could, I loved reading about your family’s restaurant. I loved the pictures you chose to include. It made the whole thing feel like a real (in person) tour! I can’t wait to read your future posts!