Park Rapids, Minnesota

There’s a reason Park Rapids was named Minnesota’s most charming town, by HGTV, because it is! Park Rapids happens to be the closest decent sized town to my in-laws cabin, so its where they do their grocery shopping and dog grooming, among other errands, but no one complains about making this trip.

If you’ve never taken the short trek to Park Rapids, it should make it on your short list, but you may want to do it before summer ends. It tends to get pretty quiet on these streets once fall rolls around. Some shops even close up for the winter. You’ve got a couple weeks left! Get out there!

I’ll start with my top two can’t skip stops:

The Beagle and Wolf book store is at the top of my list for favorite book stores anywhere. I’m not sure what it is, but this small store always has something that is intriguing to me. I’d guess at least half of my cookbooks are from here, and even though there is only two to three shelves for this category, when I go back in a month or two, the selection will be new. The owner does an amazing job at always making the store feel new, yet you still know where everything is! They also specialize in books that are local or have local roots of some kind.

Next Up: Molly Poppins!

I believe this just opened last year. At least, that’s when I remember it opening, but memory can be a weird thing and it doesn’t always tell the truth. Popcorn might be my favorite snack and this is hands down the best I’ve ever had. Their flavors rotate, but my go-to’s are Salted Carmel and Chicago.

I have not tried these yet, mostly because I can’t decide which flavor to start with, but they have several options for infused olive oils and balsamic glazes. If anyone else reads this and has a recommendation for the best, I’m all ears!

No trip to any small town is complete without ice cream, is it? Molly Poppins has this covered with their homemade options. Lucy got cherry and Blake got mint chocolate chip. Notice how Blake’s isn’t green… I find this interesting because we are always hyper aware of food dyes for Kellen. I like this alternative!

If you’re in town for lunch or dinner, I have three recommendations, and I can’t narrow it down, it just is a matter of what you’re in the mood for: Pizza, something a little unique or Italian.

Pizza: Rocky’s! I can’t say enough good things about Rocky’s. The seating can be a little tough inside depending on how busy it is or what time of day, but it is worth the stop. They have many different unique pizza’s. Our top recommendation is the German Delight.

Something Different: The Good Life Cafe

Our first time eating here was last Saturday and we will definitely be back. Their menu was diverse and unique, but not so out there that any more particular members of your party won’t find something. Also, if I designed the decor of a restaurant, this one would be it, so a few aesthetic points in my book! I think I took twenty pictures here alone, but for the sake of the length of this post, I won’t share them all.

I ordered a Thai PB burger. Half of you are reading this and thinking I’m totally nuts, and half might be intrigued. This is not the first burger I’ve had with peanut butter on it, and it won’t be the last. It was classified as spicy and I’d definitely say it was “Midwest,” spicy, not real spicy, but would absolutely recommend it. Blake got wings, and Lucy got the Gouda mac and cheese. Both were good, but I was happiest with my choice! Oh, and their chips were homemade and amazing.

Don’t worry, I’ll post a crazy recipe with peanut butter soon…

Seriously, how cute is this? There was a record wall that was even better, but there was a family sitting in front of it and I didn’t think they’d appreciate me snapping their pictures…

Italian Food: Necce’s

Sadly, I didn’t take any pictures of this during our last visit, but it is still worth mentioning. This is my favorite “date,” spot in the area. Its relatively quiet, and the food has to be the best Italian in the area.

Shopping: This next section is all about the shopping. If you’ve known me long, or really any time at all, you know I love to shop. I try to be thoughtful about my purchases, and as I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I’m sucker for unique items. So, here is where you find them in PR!

Flora and Floret:

This is a new store this year, but it is the top of my list because it had to be one of the cutest stores I’ve been in for awhile. It is mostly florals, with a handmade baby section and a small amount of home decor. The fresh flower smell alone is worth stepping inside for.

Seriously, though. How freaking cute is this store?

The next two, I didn’t stop in this time, only because by this point in the day, I was fully fed, and spent my fun budget for the day. Plus I had been in both just two weeks before, so I felt okay sitting them out this time. HOWEVER, if this is your first time in Park Rapids, or even your first time in awhile, you should check them out:

Aunt Belle’s Candy:

Don’t skip the fudge.

The Olde Liberty Shoppe:

I especially love this one because compared to other similar boutique and gift shops, this one seems to be significantly less expensive…

Unfortunately, I don’t think they have Facebook or a website, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one- stop in.

Studio 176:

Again, anything unique or local- I’m there! This is a local art store that sells both originals and prints done by local artists. One thing to keep in mind, is anytime you shop at a store like this, you are supporting someone local directly with your sale. I think there is something that feels so good about that. Plus, I just love art in general. Its fun to stop, even if you’re not in the market, just to see all the beautiful pieces.

Rescued Treasures:

This is off the main drag, so you’ll need to look it up, but its worth the short drive.

While my stop on this particular day was a bust, I love this store. I’ve even made trips in the dead of winter because I saw something on Facebook I had to have…

I’m not exactly sure how to describe this store: antique, consignment, crafty… somewhere in the middle of all of that. It has become my top spot for refurbished furniture. Back when I was doing more design and staging, I made many purchases here! Now that I’m beyond that and only furnishing my own home, it’s slowed down some. Follow them on Facebook though. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll eventually see a piece you need to have.

I can’t tell you how much I wanted these cabbage plates. Sadly, they were a little more than I wanted to spend, so they stayed behind. Side note: If anyone needs a Christmas gift idea for me… now you know where to find them! :)

Bonus to watch for: If you’re into rustic or refurbishing yourself, watch for days they post that their shed is open. That’s where the true treasures are found! This is where they keep the undone pieces, and I could spend hours in there.

Last stop before you hit the road: Bella’s Caffe for Coffee. Also, a pretty decent place for baked goods and sandwiches!

Oof, that was a long one! I really could have written more. I love this town!