Staycation, All I Ever Wanted

I don’t know about you, but my perfect vacation includes fun entertainment, good food, and the important fact that someone else does the cleaning. The Plymouth Playhouse Stay and Play Package is the perfect cure for the sick-of-winter/spring-hurry-up-and-get-here blues. The package includes dinner at the Green Mill, a hilarious comedy at the Plymouth Playhouse, and overnight accommodations for two at the Best Western Kelly Inn. To reserve tickets, call 763-553-1600.

Whether it’s your first date or your 50th wedding anniversary, the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre is the perfect spot for casual dining in a fun, friendly environment. Just like being on vacation, your only job is to sit back, laugh, and have fun as you watch the story unfold.

If you want to really feel like you’re on vacation in another place, either schedule a date night or take the whole fam to Solera. The atmosphere is hip and lively, the tapas cuisine and Spanish wine list are excellent, and the location—in the heart of the Minneapolis Theater District—is hard to beat. Enjoy happy hour all day on Thursdays and a DJ spinning beats on the weekends.

I went to college at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, my parents grew up in Wisconsin towns, and I have many friends who cheer for the Packers. One of my favorite close-to-home, yet-in-another-state trips is to Hudson, Wisconsin. What could be better than a beautiful spot between the scenic St. Croix River and the bluffs of western Wisconsin— just 20 minutes east of the metro area? This is a great time of year for bird-watching (bald eagles and swans), hiking, biking, and enjoying impressive views of the Valley from historic Birkmose Park. And while the river is Hudson’s pride and joy, it is—by no means—Hudson’s sole attraction. Stay at a charming B&B or hotel, dine in wonderful restaurants, shop at unique boutiques, tour the Historic Octagon House Museum, play a round of golf, or enjoy a play, concert, or art show at the Phipps Center for the Arts.