thrifty travel Archives - your fav travel besties!

April 1, 2024

10 of the Best Outdoor Activities to do in Minneapolis this Spring

Two friends on the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis

It may not feel like spring just yet, but a true Minneapolis spring will be here before we know it. As a native Minnesotan, I’ve experienced many different versions of MN spring throughout the years. There are the years of “will Spring every come” when we are gifted with the occasional winter white out in May. Or the "Spring in Feb", when temperatures rise above 40 degrees and the streets are filled with grown men in shorts and sandals. Regardless of when the true start of spring is in Minnesota, when it does arrive, it's one of the best tim[...]

Minnesota, Thrifty Tips

October 17, 2023

Grand Rapids, MN – Your Affordable Weekend Retreat

Black girl sitting on a chair in Grand Rapids MN

As avid Midwest travelers based in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we are always on the hunt to discover new pockets of the Midwest. It is one of our favorite things about being travel bloggers - exploring interesting, yet affordable places right in our backyard! Located only 3 hours north of the Twin Cities, Grand Rapids, is a quiet and quirky city in Northern Minnesota. From scenic hiking trails to outdoor music festivals and local breweries, this city surprised us with its unexpected charm. We partnered with @VisitGrandRapids and @Riverfest[...]

Wisconsin

March 5, 2023

9 must try fish fry spots in Milwaukee

Wisconsin is known for it’s Friday Fish Fry. It’s a tradition where most restaurants will offer a special fish fry option on their menu for Friday, and it's only on Friday! Don’t try ordering it any other day; most likely, the fish fry will not be available. With such a strong tradition, we set out to find the top 9 fish fry spots in Milwaukee. With so many great fish fry options in Milwaukee, we spent a year trying out a new fish fry restaurant every other week. Here are the top 9 must try fish fry spots we found in Milwaukee! *Some prices may have[...]

Tennessee, United States

December 31, 2022

How to do Nashville, the Right Way

Ultimate guide to Nashville - various neighborhoods

Consider this your ultimate guide to planning a trip to Nashville that doesn't suck. Nashville has so much more to offer you besides getting blackout drunk on Broadway (although there is plenty of fun to be had on Broadway). We’ve visited Nashville a handful of times and each trip we’ve gotten to see a different and more unique side of the city. It can be difficult to know what to prioritize in your trip, especially if you only have a few days to explore. We are going to make sure that you are seeing the best parts of Nashville when y[...]

Minnesota

December 10, 2022

Why you need to check out MN’s new interactive sports store

By Wunmi Alowonle As a long time athlete and sports fan, seeking out a wellness lifestyle has always been important to me. From the earlier days of soccer teams and basketball tournaments, to present day gym memberships and hiking trails. And throughout all of my peaks & valleys on my journey with "wellness", there is one store that has been a constant resource for me - Dick's Sporting Goods! I recently visited the Dick’s House of Sport at Ridgedale Mall in Minnetonka and got to experience the store's evolution into a true athletic community. The ic[...]

France

September 9, 2022

The Best Free Things to do in Paris, France

Two girls standing in front of the Love Wall in Paris

Paris is undoubtedly one of the most expensive cities in Europe. From its top notch cuisine to its sophisticated fashion scene, Paris can feel completely out of reach for us budget-friendly travelers. But don’t let the high price tags scare you! We created this list of the best free things to do in Paris to help. It is absolutely possible to plan a budget friendly trip to the 'City of Lights'. When we visited recently, we managed to keep daily spending to $90 per person; this included transportation, meals, and many activities in Paris. One of t[...]

Wisconsin

April 14, 2022

6 Budget-Friendly Dining Activities in Milwaukee

In the past couple of years, Milwaukee has undergone a revitalization. The Milwaukee Bucks tore down it’s beloved Bradley Center and built a brand new arena called the Fiserv Forum. Along with it, the city added a new entertainment district. In other parts of downtown Milwaukee and the surrounding city area, more entertainment spots and experiential dining activities in Milwaukee have popped up. It's been so fun seeing the city be revitalized and offering more and more to it’s residents and tourists. Here is a list of 5 budget-friendly dining activit[...]

Wisconsin

April 13, 2022

8 date night restaurants downtown Milwaukee

Cheese, beer, and more cheese. That’s what most people think when they hear Wisconsin. But, there’s more to us! Especially, restaurants downtown Milwaukee. The food scene in downtown Milwaukee is incredible. There are so many talented chefs and so many cute, romantic date night restaurant spots that will inspire you to travel to a new country simply with the cuisine. We love using our CityTin to pick the next date night restaurant we’ve never been to, but we also have a list of our never-disappoint spots. Here is a taste of our favorite romantic date[...]

Europe, Italy

April 13, 2022

Our Budget Guide to Rome, Italy

Unbelievable architecture, historic treasure, ancient world, expensive: that's what came to mind when we thought of Rome, Italy. Being one of the most visited cities in the world, we assumed everything in Rome would be pretty pricey. So heading into our 4 day adventure to Rome, we were prepared to budget a little bit higher than most trips. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that Rome is much more affordable than we thought! From transportation, housing, activities to food and drinks, Rome was slightly cheaper compared to the other Italian[...]

Europe

March 17, 2022

Our Budget Guide to Florence, Italy

Florence is the ideal destination for wine drinking, street shopping, and dancing the night away! When we were planning our Italian city tour, we originally did not have Florence on the list. But luckily, a few of our friends talked some sense into us, and we are so glad we added it to our trip! It’s smaller than some of the other popular Italian cities like Rome but worth spending a few days to explore all of its charm! It can be overwhelming when visiting a new city to know what the must see spots are and where to spend your money. That's wh[...]