The idea of a StayCation has never really grabbed me. I feel like I have lived here for so many years, that when I need to escape - I need to really getaway. Sitting in a hotel looking at a familiar skyline does not grant me that. I would rather take short day trips out of town to both new and old destinations for a quick cleanse.
But this idea of a diversion in a city that I know so well has been tempting me now for two years. I first became of aware of Preserve Minneapolis two years ago in the early days of the pandemic. I believe they are a summer/ seasonal offering only. But their idea is to experience small walking tours that are not big & showy, but seeking out the smaller, intimate stories we likely walk past many times. They are just a short $14 fee and booked online. Not for the tourist coming in to town (or possibly?), but more-so for the residents with a sense of curiosity. Or maybe the true History buffs.
Looking at the current page, there seem to be 2-3 tours a week. Yes there are the typical Minnehaha Falls or Nicollet Mall walks. But even the familiar are looked at with a twist. Lakewood Cemetery is a beautiful retreat just blocks away from me. But how about a tour through the grounds "creating a landscape of memory?" Sounds introspective and inviting to me. The small houses of Milwaukee Ave are familiar to me, but why have a I never heard of a beautiful short boulevard blocks away called Red Cedar Lane? How about a shout out to the North Side and forgotten Synagogues? I'm not aware of the writings of Maud Hart's children's books, but I am guessing the Lowry Hill tour puts a very different slant on those giant homes in the roaring 1920's. I'd be interested in the less-grand but ornate homes just blocks away walking through the Middle Wedge - I had no idea it was a classified destination in itself. So many options! I am putting the site on my to-do list so that I can take in at least 2 before the end of the season. Check them out. Or hit me up and we can venture out together.
