I know this great barbecue joint in Austin.
I know what you're thinking: A weekend trip to Austin, Texas, requires at least one flight or an ambitious road trip. But to eat smoked brisket at this particular establishment, you're going to follow the North Star instead of the Lone Star. Austin, Minnesota, is just two hours' drive from the Twin Cities.
Beyond spam
Austin is home to Hormel, purveyors of Spam, aka "Miracle in a Can." Hormel employs 4,000 people — approximately one-fifth the town's population. Austin is also a delightful place for a day trip or a weekend getaway. Lucky small towns in America have their old movie theaters, many of them preserved and repurposed by devoted local patrons of the arts. Austin's is the historic Paramount Theatre (www.austinareaarts.org/Paramount_Theatre.html). It's a gem, lovingly restored and maintained, hosting everything from the high school jazz band to community theater musicals to nationally known acts like St. Paul's Rose Ensemble.
Around the corner from the Paramount, you can shop at Twice Is Nice consignment shop (417 N. Main St.) or see the Minnesota Disasters exhibit on display at the Austin Public Library (www.austinpublic library.org) through March 16.
Our little secret
For cross-country skiing enthusiasts, this brutal winter has meant, at least, plenty of snow. The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center (www.hormel naturecenter.org) features 15 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails (mostly classic style; 2k are designated for skating technique). It's flat prairie terrain, with lots of small loops; that means fewer Lycra-clad elite athletes in training, and plenty of meandering for beginning skiers. You can rent ski equipment on the cheap ($6 for adults, $1 for children). On Thursdays, rentals are free.
Did I mention barbecue?
Skiing, even the meandering kind, burns calories. Piggy Blue's (www.piggybluesbbq.com), on Austin's main street, is a mashup of a Minnesota Nice cafe and a mid-South barbecue joint. The décor is kitschy and family-friendly (paper towels instead of napkins at each table), but serious about the 'cue (paper towels instead of napkins at each table). You'll find ribs, po' boys, pulled meat combo platters, "salads" (with meat, of course) and decadent sides like sweet corn puffs or "pit potatoes" covered in cheese, bourbon sauce and brisket. Kids can choose Piglet Meals for $3. For dessert, Piggy Blue's offers homemade gelato.
Top Noodles (501 1st Av. NW.), just around the corner from the Paramount and Piggy Blue's, focuses on iconic Vietnamese dishes like pho (fragrant, spiced beef broth soup) and bun (rice noodle salad), and it's affordable — everything on Top Noodle's menu is under $10.
Where to stay
When traveling in outstate Minnesota, my go-to lodging is the AmericInn, a better-than-budget motel chain with a good loyalty points program, a decent free breakfast and quiet rooms. Austin has an AmericInn, (www.americinn.com/hotels/MN/Austin) about a mile from the downtown area, with room rates starting at $105. For a bit more per night (about $117, but you can sometimes find a better deal on Priceline), there's the Holiday Inn (www.holidayinn.com; type Austin, Minn., in the destination box) just across the parking lot. Breakfast isn't included, so you'll have to visit an Austin tradition, Kenny's Oak Grill (www.kennysoak grill.com) for Spam and eggs and 1950s décor.
