Half An Hour From Minneapolis Is A Tranquil Suburb With A Charming Downtown, Local Eats, And Outdoor Fun

There's a certain hum to the Twin Cities that's hard to describe, yet easy to understand. It is two cities separated by 12 miles, home to 3.7 million souls. For certain peace-seeking travelers, that density might be a turn-off. Fortunately, there's a tranquil suburb about half an hour from Minneapolis that provides a subdued detour while still letting travelers enjoy micro-doses of Minneapolis-St. Paul's energy. Chaska, with its charming downtown, local eats, and outdoor fun, offers a cool chaser to a buzzing trip in the Twin Cities or a restful sojourn after a day spent roaming Minneapolis's streets. Plenty have visited already.

The area north of the Minnesota River has a long history of settlement and reconfiguration, dating back to 1200 BC. Early European settlers came from German-speaking nations, and the discovery of local clay deposits turned brick-making into the town's economic engine. The distinctive color of the clay made Chaska Bricks a well-known and sought-after brand. Locals used it to build municipal structures, the State Capitol, and the Twin Cities' sewers. The brickyards are now shuttered, the holes left behind from extracting clay becoming lakes and, eventually, local epicenters for outdoor sojourns.

After the brickmakers left, Chaska's next stone obsession involves ices and brooms. The suburb doubles as the country's curling epicenter. Yes, curling. But more on that later. After the long, steady evolution from bricks to curling and the slow sweep of history, Chaska and its 28,700 residents now offer a tranquil suburban escape for visitors to the Twin Cities and its surroundings. It's the perfect addendum to a week spent checking the six best Minneapolis attractions tourists should never skip.

Chaska's downtown serves as its fulcrum, where social, governmental, and logistical facets of life converge. It's also the best place to start your visit — checking out the local brickwork along the way, of course. The bespoke retail options include Rust and Luster, an antique shop that specializes in one-of-a-kind finds, and a local artist's gallery. For something a little offbeat, stop by the Chaska Curling Center, where 1,000 members create one of the largest gatherings of curlers in the country. The center's calendar is surprisingly stacked, with bonspiels (curling tournaments) held regularly. The extra curious can grab a broom and a stone and sign up for Learn to Curl classes. 

If all that sweeping has left you hungry, no worries: The local eats in Chaska cover a wide gamut of cuisines and restaurant styles, though the best-rated eateries are a bit north of downtown. There you'll find The Bellows Bistro, a highly rated, high-calorie joint with a medieval fantasy theme. In-the-know guests enjoy the menu's Dungeons and Dragons references, though it may be a turn-off for the uninitiated. If you'd rather something a bit more familiar, head to Detello's. The well-rated, family-owned pizza and Italian food restaurant gets plaudits for its deep-dish and thin-crust pies.

The suburb's outdoor fun radiates from downtown to the periphery. If you're visiting during the right time of year, one of Chaska's three outdoor skating rinks may be open. If you prefer sure footing, take a hike along one of the suburb's trails. A web of trails either bisects or creates a loop within Chaska. If the weather allows, hit the links. The Chaska Town Course offers affordable rates and is well-maintained, considering it's a public course.

Chaska's proximity to the Twin Cities, specifically Minneapolis, makes it a breeze to reach. If you're within driving distance, by all means, hop behind the wheel. While downtown is certainly walkable, you'll need a car to gallivant the surrounding areas. Those further afield can book a flight to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, the closest major travel hub and North America's best airport for passenger satisfaction, less than half an hour away. A small suburb will naturally have a dearth of lodgings, and Chaska is right on par with expectations. Two smaller, not-exactly-well-rated hotels await. Yet it's not like travelers will be spending much time within your digs, anyway.

Within 12 minutes of Chaska lies an off-the-radar must-visit: the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. The award-winning dinner theater delivers world-class performances and the house chicken or a steak. Timing a trip to Chaska should depend on two things: the weather and what facet of smaller-city life you want to see. This being Minnesota, the winters are bitterly cold; it's more a matter of what you want to get out of them if that's when you visit. Chaska hosts a battery of events throughout the year, from an ice fishing contest in January to a Homecoming Parade. Regardless of the weather, though, be sure to stop by the corner of North Pine Street and Chaska Boulevard to see what's claimed to be the "World's Largest Mustache." Though some travelers were underwhelmed, it's a total giggle of a road stop. "I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but a mustache in what looked like someone's yard was not it," one Google reviewer wrote, accompanied by a delightfully goofy picture. "Either way, it was an experience!"