Thirty minutes southwest of Minneapolis, the suburb of Chaska offers travellers a low-key base for a Twin Cities trip — plus a few surprises most visitors never see coming.
The town of roughly 28,700 residents has an odd industrial backstory. Settlement in the area north of the Minnesota River dates back to 1200 BC, but it was the discovery of distinctive local clay that put Chaska on the map. Brickyards churned out the sought-after Chaska Bricks used in the Minnesota State Capitol and the Twin Cities' sewer systems. When the brickyards closed, the excavated pits filled with water and became lakes — now a draw for outdoor recreation rather than a scar of industry.
Those clay pits aren't the only quirky claim to fame. Chaska has become something of a curling capital: the Chaska Curling Center counts about 1,000 members, making it one of the largest curling hubs in the country. It hosts regular bonspiels (tournaments) and runs Learn to Curl classes for curious visitors who fancy a go with a broom and a stone.
Downtown is the place to start. It's compact and walkable, with local brickwork worth admiring and a couple of independent shops, including the antique store Rust and Luster and an artist's gallery. Food options span several cuisines, though the standouts sit a little north of downtown. The Bellows Bistro is a well-loved spot with a medieval fantasy theme and Dungeons and Dragons references woven into the menu — great if you're in on the joke, less so if you're not. For something more conventional, family-run Detello's earns strong reviews for its deep-dish and thin-crust pizza.
Outdoor activity radiates outward from the centre: three outdoor skating rinks operate in winter, a web of hiking and biking trails loops through and around town, and the Chaska Town Course offers a well-kept public golf option at reasonable prices.
Practicalities are straightforward. Chaska is an easy drive from Minneapolis, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport — ranked North America's best for passenger satisfaction — is under 30 minutes away. Lodging in town itself is limited to two modest hotels that don't inspire rave reviews, but you'll barely be in your room anyway. A worthwhile detour is the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, just 12 minutes away: an award-winning venue pairing well-reviewed stage productions with a dinner of roast chicken or steak.
Timing depends on your tolerance for a genuine Minnesota winter. January brings an ice fishing contest, and the town runs events year-round including a Homecoming Parade. Whatever the season, squeeze in one gloriously silly stop: the corner of North Pine Street and Chaska Boulevard, home to what's billed as the "World's Largest Mustache." Reviews admit it's basically a mustache in someone's yard — and that's exactly the point.
Chaska won't replace Minneapolis on your itinerary, but as a peaceful counterweight to the Twin Cities' buzz — with curling, brick history and a fantasy-themed bistro thrown in — it earns its half-hour drive.
