Minnesota, In Between
A moment to pause along the trail.
Shared Joy Series
📍Minnesota: Minneapolis, St. Paul & Duluth | 📅 June 13-16, 2023
🛏 Celeste of St. Paul & Leah’s sister’s home
This trip to Minnesota felt like an in-between — part solo wandering, part time spent reconnecting with someone who knows me well. I arrived on my own, ready to explore at my own pace, and left feeling full after days of shared moments with my close friend from graduate school, Leah.
I landed in the Twin Cities and headed straight to the Mall of America. It was my first time visiting, and it felt like one of those places you have to see at least once — big, busy, and a little overwhelming in the way only something that large can be. I walked through shops, took it all in, grabbed dinner, and let the day unfold without much of a plan.
That night, I stayed in St. Paul at the Celeste of St. Paul, a former convent turned boutique hotel. After the energy of the mall, the space felt calm and grounding. I had a drink at the bar, settled in for the night, and let the quiet reset me.
The next morning, I had breakfast at the hotel and took public transit to Minneapolis. I spent the day walking the city, exploring the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the Walker Art Center, and lingering over lunch while waiting for Leah to finish up and pick me up. There was a sense of anticipation that day — knowing the trip was about to shift from solo exploration to shared time.
Leah was in town to run a marathon, and while I didn’t stay for race day, I was glad to be there beforehand as moral support. Once she picked me up, we headed north to Duluth, where I stayed with her at her sister’s home for the next couple of nights.
Duluth slowed everything down. We spent time hiking, often with one of Leah’s dogs, and taking in the views of Lake Superior. I met more of her family, including her nephew, and the days were filled with easy conversation, shared meals, and time outdoors. One evening, we had dinner with her family and played games — the kind of simple, unplanned moments that end up meaning the most.
✨ On my last day, Leah dropped me off at the airport, and just like that, the trip came to a close. Minnesota gave me both space to wander on my own and the warmth of shared time, and I left grateful for a place that held both so naturally.
A Minnesota moment with Leah.
Thanks for reading! You can find more moments, memories, and adventure over on Instagram: @_GracefullyWandering
