Although I don’t want to admit it, I am a Minnesotan through and through. I love the cold Minnesota winters and the hot Minnesota summers by the lake. I am completely confused by the fact that there is no snow on the ground in Philadelphia (considering it is the middle of January), and yes, I do own Minnetonka Moccasins.

I get made fun of a lot for my Midwest roots. Most think the entire area is filled with hicks, that we’re homebodies (and only leave our houses to go to our cabins) and that everyone who grew up there has weird accents. But, in fact, the Midwest is a great place to grow up and even (gasp!) vacation.

Start out in Minneapolis and drive about an hour and a half southeast along winding roads lined with beautiful scenery and you will find yourself at a small vacation town called Pepin, located in Wisconsin. I grew up coming here on warm summer days because of a restaurant off the beaten path called the Harbor View Café, directly on Lake Pepin. Using all locally grown ingredients, the Harbor View Café produces dishes good enough to drive an hour and a half (or more) to sample and provides an all-around Midwestern experience. Many vacation here during the summer, as the scenery is hard to beat.

Sitting inside on a cold day like today reminds me of all the wonderful times I had driving to Pepin with my parents, stopping along the way to pick up fresh produce at stands right off the road. There are so many places similar to Pepin in the Midwest, that outsiders would never know exist, that arguably make the Midwest the charming place is it.

So, the next time you plan a trip, don’t dismiss the Midwest. I am counting down the days until my family and I go on our next Lake Pepin adventure.

— Lindsay Gruen, digital account executive