Early fall adventures around Minneapolis

These days we typically only make it to my hometown of Minneapolis once a year. While we're home, I'm fiercely protective of my time; I've got so many agenda items and yet all I want to do is lounge around on my parents' back deck, enjoying the trees and the breeze and conjuring up memories of childhood Minnesota style.

This visit and our last both took place in early September—the week a short but glorious summer gives way to a short but glorious fall. 

Above: Storm clouds gather over the Lake Harriet Bandshell. Below: We spent a lot of time close to home, discovering the paths that wind through my parents' stunning garden (and collecting buckets of rocks along the way).

When we did stray from home, it was for good reason. We hit some of my favorite old stomping grounds this year, many of which I wrote about here last year.

Jeff and I even got to escape for a dinner date at The Bachelor Farmer, a new-ish restaurant in the Warehouse District that's been getting good press. It was fantastic. We talked about our meal the whole way home and then spent the next day blabbing about it to anyone who would listen.

Below left: Another highlight was our stop at Wild Rumpus Books, which is packed with kids' books and home to many cuddly and not-so-cuddly animals. Below right: We couldn't walk around Lake Harriet without showing the girls my mom's childhood home.

We had so much fun at Lake Harriet's Lyndale Park Rose Gardens last year that we headed back this year for more exploration. Below: I couldn't hear what Cricket was saying, but I imagine it went something like this: "Nora, I'm going to drag you around the garden at break-neck speed until you fall down and cry."

Completely unprompted and utterly intense smelling of the roses.

First yellow leaf sighting on the path around Lake Calhoun.

Below left: Cricket was thrilled to play for the first time at the park in my childhood neighborhood. (The large field behind her is transformed into a skating rink in the winter. We spent countless hours perfecting our spins and jumps at that rink back in the day.) Below right: The Minneapolis skyline from Lake Calhoun.

Adios, Minnesota! I'll be pining over you until next year.

Planning your next adventure? Here are some tips on flying with young kids. And here are more adventure ideas.