After my weekend staycationing in Minneapolis, I've realized the penthouse life is the life for me. There's nothing like looking out from the twenty-sixth floor and seeing trees that look like buds, a jigsaw of rooftops, and cars as small as pill bugs rolling down the road. 

As stellar as the 180° views are, the glitz and glamour of the W Minneapolis' penthouse suite are what made me want to move in. Decked out in art deco, I felt trapped in a time before today, but with a ton of modern flair. 

With bold flashes of color across the room to keep things interesting, the clean and simple statement furniture easily stand out. The crystal chandelier lamps and gleaming chrome accessories were one of my favorite touches. 

I love finding neat places that are so much about the design. The W transports you to another time and place—where anything can happen—which is exactly the attitude you're looking for on vacation.

Boasting the Living Room bar and ever-popular Manny's Steakhouse as in-house eateries, the W is a hotspot for locals and travelers alike. The Living Room exudes vibrance and spontaneity, which makes for great people watching, and a weird and cozy place to hang out for happy hour and appetizers.

My favorite place to chill is at the top of the tower, the Foshay Observation Deck, which is free admission if you're a guest of the hotel. I've seen both Seattle and New York City from the sky, and as a traveler, I have to say it's a unique and wonderful way to experience a new place. You get a chance to locate your place in the city and figure out which way's north. If you do it toward the end of your trip, you can spot the places you've been or pinpoint where to go for the rest of your afternoon.

All things considered, this staycation fell upon one of the best weekends of my life. It was towards the end of my time as a Minneapolis resident. Standing at the top of such a historical, iconic building looking down at the metropolis that's been my home for four years was as magical as I imagined it would be. Minneapolis is one of those places that welcomes you with the warmest heart, despite the fact that it might be twenty degrees and snowing in the middle of May. It's a force to be reckoned with. It was my force to be reckoned with. And I can't wait to be back.

Thank you so much to the W Minneapolis for hosting me.

I have always loved the idea of a stay-cation, but I never convinced myself to take one until Le Meridien Chambers invited me to spend a night in their penthouse suite. I didn't get a chance to do much research before going, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but my expectations were definitely exceeded. 

As you can see by the Snapchat story I posted below, my mind was pretty much blown by the light and bright luxury of Le Meridien's corner penthouse. From the huge patio space and wraparound balcony to the deepest plush mattress, the night was nothing short of paradise.

Even if you're not in the market to spend penthouse prices on your weekend getaway, Le Meridien is a cool place to hang. The hotel is heavily involved in the Minneapolis art scene, and even boasts 200 original art pieces right within its walls. The Walker Art Center, arguably the most popular museum in the Twin Cities, is just a mile away and you get in free with your Le Meridien room key!

The day I enjoyed at Le Meridien started with cupcakes and champagne with my sister, thanks to the team who set up my stay. Once Caitlin went home to her husband, I invited my blogger bestie Lindsey to spend the night! We enjoyed late night room service and breakfast the next morning at the attached Marin restaurant—I was under the weather, and their green smoothie + delectable Irish oats hit the spot perfectly.

Thank you to Le Meridien + the team at Diamond PR for this fun experience!

Catch the inside Snapchat scoop:

If you read my recent post with Maison Jules, you'll know I'm a lover of all things French. Most people are, I've found, and that includes the folks behind one of my favorite Minneapolis eateries, Barbette. Tucked into the corner of Irving Avenue and Lake Street in lively and colorful uptown Minneapolis, it's the kind of place that you don't have to plan for, beyond busy-time brunch reservations. It's casual dining in the best possible way. Fantastic and simple, easy-going yet creative, both its French vibes and French food make it an easy addition to my restaurant rotation.

I end up at Barbette most often for brunch, but it also boasts a hopping happy hour of bubbly, steamed mussels, a mean charcuterie board and more. However, if you're heading in on a late Sunday morning like I was, expect to be seated pretty quickly with almost too many delicious menu options ahead of you. When I want savory, I tend to go for breakfast classics like scrambled eggs and potatoes, but I never leave Barbette without indulging in a croissant and their famous iced mochas (please note, the way they are famous is that I am making them so right here and now).

Beyond just food, there are many charms in and around Barbette. The decor is magically transformative. It's warm, welcoming, quirky and full of personality, making you feel like snowglobe Minneapolis is a place miles away. Something is bound to catch your eye any way you look, whether it's the stained-glass hanging pendant lights or one out of a million masterfully arranged pieces on the gallery-inspired walls. In the summer, the sidewalk patio is one of the loveliest and most colorful places you can be.

I highly recommend it to anyone traveling from out of town. I love letting local's favorite places become mine, even when I'm just passing through.

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Don't forget to read my Pieces of Paris post for more of my favorite French-inspired locations in the Twin Cities!