Explore Waconia, Minnesota
by Julie Johnson, Tastemaker in Residence
Food and beverage establishments are starting to feel the vibe they once had prior to COVID-19. Although these venues are not operating at 100% capacity, it’s fun to start thinking about your next summer day trip. If you live in Minneapolis or are visiting from afar, consider spending a day in Waconia, MN.
Waconia is a community nestled on Lake Waconia, located 45 minutes west of downtown Minneapolis. It offers a great variety of food and drink venues appealing to different palettes. Wine lovers, beer lovers, coffee lovers, and food lovers can all find their guilty pleasure here in Waconia.
Come early and begin the day at Mocha Monkey, Pangea Cafe, or Bakery on Main. Mocha Monkey is a quaint coffee shop located in the heart of downtown Waconia. They offer a wide variety of specialty drinks such as flavored mochas, espressos, hot teas, and smoothies. A few catchy names from the menu are the Nutty Zebra Mocha or Nutty Monkey Mocha. If you enjoy a smaller bite to eat, Mocha Monkey offers baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, and oatmeal.
For those of you with a little heartier appetite, mosey on around the corner to Pangea Café. Pangea Café offers a full breakfast menu with omelets, skillets, eggs benedict, and hotcakes. They serve up hearty portions so be sure to arrive hungry! Last but not least is the Bakery on Main (BOM). BOM opened in November 2019 and has already made a lasting impression! All items are baked fresh daily. Need something more than a pastry, try their breakfast sandwich on the BOM homemade buttermilk biscuit. So, so good!
After indulging in some great food, take some time to meander through downtown Waconia and check out some of the quaint shops. Right across the street from Pangea Café is Sam & Friends: Hometown Goods with a Purpose. Sam & Friends offers a trendy selection of Waconia apparel, watercolor art, puzzles and games, jewelry, and a wide variety of other types of gifts. Down around the corner is Main St. Floral offering unique gift and décor options along with fabulous fresh-cut bouquets. Only a few more steps and you’ll arrive at Unearthed Arts which has the perfect blend of pottery, jewelry, and other handmade treasures by local artists. For the fashionistas, check out The Stash, Clearwater Clothing, and Shop Chicks Co.
Once you are done with shopping and ready to kick your heels up for some relaxation, head to the brewery or one of Waconia’s three wineries. The Waconia Brewing Company is situated on main street just down from all the shops. If you are willing to venture outside of your comfort zone, you have to try the Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter – it offers a very smooth, chocolatey, and nutty taste. Delicious!
The wineries are situated just a tad outside of Waconia’s city limits but don’t let that deter you. Each winery offers a beautiful rural setting with a plethora of outdoor seating. Schram Vineyards caters to the wine lover and beer lover by offering a tasting and taproom. Complete your visit with some healthy competition by partaking in bocce ball. Sovereign Estates is situated on the North Shore of Lake Waconia complete with a tasting room and bistro-style dining. Parley Lake Winery is located east of Waconia near Parley Lake and surrounded by a beautiful apple orchard. All three wineries offer their own unique experiences so check out their websites for planning your visit. Live music and/or food trucks are commonly available at all three locations for those wanting some entertainment or dinner.
Goodness, I think I could write a book…there is so much to say about all these wonderful places and some I haven’t even mentioned. So, please come check out Waconia, MN and see what this great community is all about! Cheers!
