Over the weekend my husband and I decided to get out and about and explore Rochester’s surroundings. We did two things. We went to Austin, MN to check out the Spam Museum and we had dinner at The Hubble House in Mantorville, MN.

The Spam Museum is free and fun! It is quite a large museum that boasts all sorts of fun facts about Spam. For example, did you know that they have sold over 7 billion cans worldwide?! Or that on average 3.8 cans are consumed every second in the US? The museum lays out the history of the company, the people behind it and its important roles during several different wars. There are games and interactive activities for kids, which makes for a fun family outing also! Across the street from the Spam Museum is a small diner called Johnny’s Main Event. It’s a great place to stop before or after the museum to try some of their Spam menu options. Having never eaten Spam before in my life, I wasn’t adventurous enough to try one of the Spam specialties, but I did order a side of sautéed Spam which was surprisingly good. For anyone looking for something different to do, it is definitely worth a trip. It is a quick drive from Rochester and a quirky fun day out for all. Check out their website for more information:

http://www.spam.com/games/Museum/default.aspx

The Hubble House is also worth the drive. Located on the outskirts of Rochester in quaint Mantorville, the restaurant is housed in the original 1856 building that has kept its old world charm. Though a large restaurant, it is divided into several smaller dining rooms that provide an intimate and cozy setting. The restaurant owned by Paul Pappas for 50 yrs, is now in the hands of his family who continue to deliver classic food in this charming and intimate setting. My husband and I both ordered steaks which were nicely cooked and full of flavor. They came with a potato side of your choice and an appetizer (soup, salad or herring.) The meal was also served with bread and garlic toast. The portions were large and the price reasonable. Definitely check out this historic and fun restaurant for something different:

http://www.hubbellhouserestaurant.com/