Our Essential Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are our favorite websites and resources to help you plan an incredible trip. For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination. Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international! We always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates. To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required). For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick, especially for tours in Asia. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance. Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels. Food at the Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair is known for a few things - the incredible exhibits, fun concerts, and most of all, the food. There are typically around 300 food vendors and over 500 different foods to try - so the hardest part is figuring out which ones to spend your money on.
If this is your first visit, or you just want a few tips, we recommend :
16 Best Food Items to Try
1. Fresh Crab Fritters $7
We first tried this item in 2023, and after having the same dish at the Alaska State Fair and having pretty high expectations - we were actually very impressed by these crab fritters! They came with a yummy dipping sauce too! ​ 2. S'mores Beer $6.25 One of the newer items on our food list, this s'mores beer is one of the underdogs at the Minnesota State Fair. We had a countless number of people asking us where we got it (you can find it at the Giggles Campfire Grill) - and it tastes just as good as it looks! 3. Swedish Egg Coffee $4 ​This unique find is one of the cheaper items on our list, and believe it or not an egg is actually added to the coffee grounds before brewing the coffee! We found that this made the coffee much smoother than others we've tried.
4. Reuben Bites $7
Another excellent find last year, these Reuben Bites come with a side of Thousand Island Dressing. To be completely honest our review was mixed, but with one of us loving them we decided to include them in our list. Crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside - these are like the mac and cheese bites version of a reuben. 5. Pickle Pizza $9 Ok hear us out, when we first heard of these we were honestly a little confused and really didn't think we'd like it - HOWEVER, after seeing the line and making a stop ourselves to try the famous Pickle Pizza - we were blown away. Not only was it delicious, but it ended up becoming a new annual tradition! This pickle pizza is definitely worth the wait. 6. Olives on a Stick $4 One of Tyler's annual traditions at the state fair is to get Olives on a Stick, you can find them inside the International Bazaar - and they typically have 5 differently stuffed olives.
7. Cider Freezee $3
The perfect treat to cool down with in the summer heat, these frozen apple ciders and tart and fairly cheap (considering you're at the fair) and a great way to rest your stomach before you continue eating. You can find these inside the Agriculture/Horticulture Round Building. 8. Thelma's Ice Cream Sandwich $5 Another great snack if you're looking to cool down, these individually packaged ice cream sandwiches come in all kinds of flavors! 9. Poutine $8 Another tradition of Tyler's whenever we're at the Minnesota State Fair (or in Canada) is to get a bowl of poutine. Honestly, you can't go wrong and if there's more than one in your group we recommend sizing up (smallest size pictured above). This is one of the most savory dishes on our list - and in my opinion one of the tastiest!
10. Hot Dish on a Stick $7
When in Minnesota, you have to try the Hot Dish on a Stick. If you're new, you might not realize that casseroles don't exist in Minnesota - only hot dishes - and since you're at the fair it has to be on a stick. This imitation of Tator Tot Hot Dish is one of the most uniquely Minnesotan items, and it even comes with a side of mushroom & hamburger dipping sauce. You can find this item at Ole & Lena's. 11. Fried Pickles $7 We've finally made our way to my personal favorite item at the entire state fair - I get these every single year without fail so it's pretty obvious why they made the list. These slices of pickles are breaded and deep fried and come in a few different varieties - although I always get the original - with ranch on the side to dip them in. The bright green booth is pretty hard to miss! 12. POG Lemonade $6 If you've been to Hawaii then you're familiar with POG Juice - a delicious mixture of passionfruit, orange, and guava. At the "Island Noodles" stand you can find a unique POG Lemonade mixture, and I promise that it'll be the most refreshing drink you have all day!
13. Chocolate Shake $8
Although the chocolate shake is one of my personal go-to's, really anything from the Dairy Building will do. Tyler usually gets a side of fresh cheese curds and I typically switch every year between the chocolate malt and a sundae! This is known hands down as the best ice cream & dairy products at the entire state fair! ​ 14. Corn $4 You can't visit the Minnesota State Fair without stopping for an ear of corn from the Corn Roast. This may sound silly, but once you try it yourself you'll see why. No doubt this is some of the best corn we've ever tasted. 15. Sweet Marthas Chocolate Chip Cookies $8 Another Minnesota State Fair classic is Sweet Marthas. Making nearly 3 million cookies every day of the fair, they've become so popular that they've even begun selling frozen versions at the local grocery store so you can enjoy them year round! The portions are huge, but if you're looking to bring some home you can always order the bucket. :) ​16. Pronto Pup $8 I'll be honest, I wanted to end the list at 15 but Tyler wouldn't let me close out a State Fair food list without at least mentioning the Pronto Pups. You'll see these stands throughout the entire fairgrounds, but Tyler swears by the yellow pronto pup stands. In case you're not sure what the difference is between a pronto pup and a regular corn dog - corn dogs have a cornbread batter, while pronto pups have a pancake batter!
Watch our State Fair Adventures here!
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