I love sharing tips for exploring everyday living in my city and when traveling, and stories behind the tourist attractions on Google Maps.
Tips for everyday living from Google Maps can save the mishaps and expense that sometimes go with traveler inexperience in a new locale. For example, I am in Doha, Qatar right now. LuLu’s is a grocery/department store that has all the basics you will need during you’re a stay. When visiting, be sure to stop at the produce weigh station before proceeding to check out. It will save you standing in line at the checkout, then having to return to the produce section to have your items weighed. Guess how I discovered this. Nothing like personal experience.
Tourist attractions are more interesting with the stories behind them. I live in Alexandria MN which is a vacation area in a rural part of Minnesota. You would think it would be hard to find something interesting, not at all. Beautiful lakes, a central Minnesota bike trail, fishing, boating and cabin life bring people to visit in the summer and winter. One famous tourist attraction is Big Ole moved to Alexandria after a stint at a World’s Fair. Big Ole has been recently redone and sports a helmet with wings. He had a helmet with horns until the historians found Viking didn’t have horns on their helmets. I wonder if the Minnesota Vikings know about this. Big Ole stands next to the Viking land Fort and Museum in which you can still buy a helmet with horns and a sabre.
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Love the mixture of experiences and facts in your post, @LSJMNTraveler !
What are your favorite restaurants in Alexandria?
Summertime patio at Arrowwood is fun, BugaBoo Bay (soon lures) too. The live music attracts me. La Ferme is interesting for locally sourced lunch,. Angelina’s packed and has great specials. Raapers has good happy hour . PikenPint is a staple, always good.