The Minnesota stay at home order is here which means we’re all looking for ways to pass the time while at home. Keep reading for ideas on how to support local, while also staying at home!
One thing to note – DO NOT feel like you have to do anything or everything on this list! Do whatever feels right for YOU. If you just want to watch Netflix in bed, that’s totally ok too! But if you are looking for things to do within the Minnesota stay at home order, here’s some ideas!
Minnesota stay at home order: 16 ideas to pass the time
Read a Minnesota Magazine
Looking for a local read? I subscribe to a few local Minnesota magazines that I love reading but never have the time to sit down and read. Now’s the perfect time! I especially love MSP Magazine, Make MN, and Laketime Magazine.
Play a board game
Sometimes you just need to turn off the TV and do something different. We find ourselves playing a game a few times a week. Our favorite two player games are Ticket to Ride (the Europe and NY edition – gotta keep travel alive somehow!), Azul (great strategy game), and our go-to two-player card game of golf. This is a favorite when we’re at a local brewery so now we just play it at home!
Try your hand at a new craft
Projects in Person is a local company based out of Hopkins, MN. They offer in-person workshops to build things like bags boards, headboards, wall decor, and all sorts of fun projects! Being they’re not able to offer in-person classes right now, they’re offering Build Boxes! We ordered ours online and could choose from a variety of different projects. Everything you need is right in your box. We love our wooden tote and had such a fun night making it!
Order-in from a local restaurant
At least 3 nights a week, we order-in food from one of our go-to restaurants. We started ordering through delivery apps, like BiteSquad, but those took way too long, so now we just order with the restaurants directly and it’s a dream! We love Quang for pho and pad thai, Wakame for sushi, Black Sheep Pizza for wood fired pizza, Parlour Bar for my favorite burger EVER, and Centro for street tacos and guac 🙂
Buy a local cocktail kit
A few different restaurants and distilleries in the Twin Cities are offering make-your-own cocktail kits. Such a great idea! We get to support local while also doing a fun activity together. We picked up a gin cocktail kit from Lawless Distilling this last weekend and are planning to make it after work one night this week. They need to keep this concept after all this is over! Cocktail kits are also available at Hai Hai – it’s next on the list!
Buy or rent a kayak
Because we’ll be sticking around Minnesota more this summer we thought now was a great time to finally invest in a kayak! We live in a little apartment, so don’t have lots of space to store things, so after TONS of research we decided to purchase an Oru kayak, which is foldable! We have the inlet version, which is perfect for us. It’s a great socially distant activity where you can still be outside and be active.
Related Post: 5 Ideas to get you outside during Quarantine
Send goodies to family from local businesses
Have some loved ones who need a pick-me-up during this trying time? Or Need to send some Easter goodies to family now that you won’t be seeing them on the holiday? Send them something from a local business! I recently sent some MN gift boxes from White Spruce Market and Minny & Paul. If you’re looking for another fun idea check out Nikkolette’s macaroons! She makes the cutest designs – I’m obsessed! They’re sure to brighten anyone’s day.
Print photos from recent trips
Not going to lie, this is still on my to-do list because the frames in our apartment could use some updated pictures! But, we DID get out the calligraphy we wrote while in Japan this summer and finally hung them on our wall!
Go on a hike at a Minnesota state park
As of now, the state parks in Minnesota are still open! We recommend driving out of the cities a bit so that you’re not hitting a crowded area. We visited Nerstrand Big Woods State Park near Northfield a few weekends ago and had a great afternoon taking in the waterfall and finding little ice caves along the river!
Keep it local with a neighborhood walk
Don’t want to venture out to a state park? Walk around your local neighborhood! We live downtown Minneapolis, so it’s been fun to stroll around to some new parts of the city while we try to avoid the most populated paths like the Stone Arch Bridge. We also discovered that the Minnesota State Fair Grounds are open to walk around too! Wide open streets and a change of scenery – a great reason to get outside!
Try an at-home workout
This stay home order has really got me into at-home workouts. I’ve always loved Tone it Up which has lots workouts on their app for only $100 per year. I’ve also participated in some local gyms who are doing free virtual classes. Check out my friend Planet with Sara’s recent post that includes local Minnesota virtual gym details!
Do some trip planning
We don’t know what the future holds as far as when it will be safe to travel again, but that won’t stop me from planning some trips, even if they don’t happen! First, we’re planning a canoe trip up to the Boundary Waters with Tuscarora Canoe this summer. We’ve never been and are really hoping the area stays open, being the BWCA is basically the definition of social distancing.
We’re also taking advantage of the crazy cheap flights right now that extend into the second half of 2020 and even into 2021. We’re starting to book things in September hoping it will be fine to travel by then. If not, we won’t push it and can easily cancel due to Delta’s easy cancellation policies. Note, we’re only booking Delta right now because of their flexibility.
Drink a local beer
SO MANY local breweries offer pickup. Check out the MN Brewer’s Guild map of all breweries in the state offering online ordering and pick up and place an order to support your local brewery. One of our favorite Minnesota stay at home activities 🙂 We’ve now begun to collect growlers from our favorite spots to display in our house someday!
Attend virtual trivia
Speaking of local beer, attend a virtual trivia event with LiftBridge Brewing Co! The event is hosted every Tuesday and Friday, and there’s prizes for the winners. If you can, swing by their Stillwater taproom to pick up some of their beer to enjoy while you play! There’s always fun themes, hosted my MN locals.
Play virtual games with friends
Love talking to your group of friends virtually but want to take it up a notch? Download the “Psych!” App from Ellen and play from your phones while you video chat! It’s a super fun and easy to learn game. We played for hours the other night with our friends and played the “And the truth comes out” deck. Such a blast!
Start journaling
Last, I’ve spent some time reflecting on my thoughts during this time. I love to write (hello, lookaboutlindsey.com), so I you’ll probably see a few more articles from me about my thoughts on travel, life, and what inspires me. I hope these give you inspiration to do the same! Documenting your thoughts at a point in time can be so humbling to look back on and see how far you’ve come. Read my most recent thoughts on why we’re glad we traveled when we did!
Don’t have the Minnesota stay at home order get you down. Make the best of it if you can! Hang in there, Minnesota.
