I have put all over social media how I went on vacation by myself and even made a lame Vlog on it (I'm not good with YouTube videos. I'm awkward). So pretty much everyone knows I went on vacation. But I wanted to write a post on it for people who didn't watch the Vlog and also add some little things I never mentioned before!
I have wanted to go on vacation by myself for years. I wanted to go out of the country by myself but I finally thought rationally and decided to do something IN the country. I am a weird type of person: I am independent but I also love people. I go out to dinner alone but then want to get ice cream with someone when I'm sad. This trip was something I wanted to experience, to see if I was okay alone.
I had 2 weeks off from work (no one knows why. I just wasn't scheduled) and decided suddenly that I wanted to go somewhere. I mean, I had the time. Maybe not the money, though...Anyway, I didn't care where I went, as long as I could drive there. I went on the Airbnb app for the first time and just started searching. I found a seemingly cute place in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
MINNESOTA IT WAS, THEN!
It was about a 6 hour drive from where I am in Illinois. I've done that before, maybe a little less, because some of my friends live about an hour and a half away from Minneapolis. I've visited them a few times. So I certainly could drive 6 hours by myself. I booked that Airbnb right away so no one would take it.
I was so excited that I started packing a week early. I delved into Google: what I could do there and what I could eat for meals. I had a good list picked out in couple days. I was pumped.
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When it was the day to pack up and go, I woke up early, made coffee and packed all my stuff into my car. Which, I pack way too much and it looked like I was staying for a week and I was only staying for 3 nights. I started driving and put on a playlist that I made.
By hour 2 of driving, I was dead bored. I stopped at a McDonald's to get something to drink but I really needed a break. ALREADY?! Geez, Megan. By the time I finally reached Minnesota, I was almost asleep. Until I ran into I-94. I had no idea that it was a terrible highway. I was almost at my Airbnb but then I took I-94 (which runs in the middle of the city) and almost puked because the traffic was so scary and my anxiety was so bad. It was...just an all around terrible experience.
I reached my little house and I was staying on the top floor (there were only 2 floors). When I walked in, it was creaky so I let out a little "Hello? Someone here?" There was no one, so I felt better. I unpacked and got ready right away to go out to eat for dinner.
A couple days prior, I booked a reservation at a place called Hell's Kitchen (NOT related to Gordon Ramsey). It's slogan was "damn good food." I was excited. I took a breather at the house for a few hours, then left in my car to go get dinner. I, once again, had to take I-94. Not a fun time. I also forgot about parking. Parking was not free in Minneapolis. At least at all the places I went to. I had to pay $7 for ramp parking, which isn't bad, but honestly, that's $7 wasted.
The food at Hell's Kitchen? AMAZING. I got the deviled eggs and the creamy mac and cheese (with a hint of pepper jack). It was the best mac and cheese I've ever had. Such a great experience.
When I got home that night, I found something out: my bed was on a loft level, which you need to climb a ladder to get to. I knew that. What I didn't know: I couldn't climb the ladder. It was straight up, no tilt, and I'm chunky. I just...couldn't do it. So I tried sleeping on the couch that first night. Long story short, the Airbnb turned out to be crappy and old and the pipes wouldn't stop pumping water, so I didn't sleep.
The next day, I got up early and went to a coffee shop called 7 Corners. Once again, I had to pay for ramp parking. For a cup of coffee. So ridiculous. The coffee, as it turned out, was also not very good. I mean, it wasn't terrible, but the caramel latte was more bitter than most I've had. I decided afterwards to go see Minnehaha Falls, a waterfall in Minneapolis. There was snow everywhere at the time and everything was frozen (just to paint a picture). I paid for parking ($3.25) at a public park, then set off the find the waterfall. It turned out that I couldn't get close to it because the steps to it were frozen, but I still got some good pictures. It was a beautiful site. I was the only one around and it was peaceful with the sun shinning on such a cold day.
I then went to the "Stone Arch". It was a bridge walkway, pretty much. Still had to pay for parking.
I paid for a planetarium ticket beforehand and I was scheduled to watch a show at 4:00 pm, so I took a Lyft because I was completely done driving on I-94. The show? Fantastic. It was 20 minutes of a movie that shows how the Earth is all connected (super cool) then 20 minutes of a young college kid named Scott showing what our sky would look like that night. I was the only one in the showing and it was cool to ask questions (Pluto is not a real planet, guys. I asked).
That night I went to Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge. A Tiki bar! I took a Lyft and had a great time by myself. Amazing drinks and such friendly bartenders. I ate 15 cherries that night, and I consider that WILD. I guess in the summertime, you can go outside and sit by the river, but it was 12 degrees out that day.
That night, I only slept 2 hours because of the creaky house and pipes. The next day, I stayed home because I was exhausted. I ordered in breakfast (the coffee was bad there too. What's with Minnesota coffee?!) and then took a 3 hour nap. I ordered dinner that night too. I just didn't leave that day, and only heard my own voice to say "thank you" to the delivery drivers.
I left the next day. I packed up, not sorry that I wasn't sad to say goodbye. I met up with my friend for breakfast (remember, she lives an hour and a half away) on my way home. That was so much fun catching up. Then, I had 5 more hours to drive home.
SO. BORED.
Music couldn't even save my boredom.
When I finally got home, I reflected on my trip. It turns out that I was pretty lonely. Staying in a place by myself was fun at first but then I had no one to physically talk to. I would never stay at that Airbnb again. I did enjoy getting up early for breakfast and not waking anyone up. And the best part of the trip was the planetarium show.
Would I do it again? Maybe. Depends.
Am I glad I did it? Most definitely.
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