HotelTonight – Baudette Hotels
When I'm driving so far north of any major cities in Minnesota that I'm closer to Winnipeg than I am Minneapolis, I tend to lose myself behind the wheel and think about what I have to accomplish later that day when I get to my next meeting. It's easy to do, as you can drive for quite some time without seeing much in terms of civilization. It's also easy to do because you can pass by most of these communities in a matter of seconds as you zoom along on the highway. It never occurred to me to stop in one of them and explore. That all changed after a recent trip. I was driving near the Canadian border when I got a call that my meetings for later that day were canceled. I decided that instead of just driving onward, I'd stop in one of these places to experience it. I was near a place called Baudette, so that's where I decided to spend 24 hours. I wasn't concerned about finding a place to stay, as I travel with my HotelTonight app. I'd book a Baudette hotel room as soon as I was ready.
The Size
The first thing that struck me as I pulled into the downtown part of the community was its size. I found out later that day that only about 1,000 people live here, and you get that feeling when you see the main part of town. It's very small, but also very quaint and very comfortable. It looks like the buildings are from a bygone era, but they have been preserved quite well and the people who walk around all seem to know each other. They are also extremely welcoming to visitors, as I found out within minutes of arriving.
The Fishing
Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes for a reason – there are bodies of water almost everywhere you look anywhere in the state. The main body of water here is the Baudette River, which is part of the Hudson Bay watershed. It's filled with fish, and I know this because Baudette is proud to call itself the walleye capital of the world. Walleye is a distinctly freshwater fish that, when cooked right, is about as tasty as anything you'll ever eat. I saw a lot of fishing boats around as well as bait shops and the like.
The Dining
What else was I going to have for dinner but walleye when in Baudette? I heard about a place right in the middle of town that made walleye in several different ways. I wanted mine fried, as I heard that fish fries are big here. I went in, and it looked like a small-town diner, which was great with me. I ordered the beer-battered walleye, and it was delicious. It came with a nice, crunchy side of coleslaw and some rye bread with an onion. I ate hungrily and enjoyed the cold beer served with it.
HotelTonight – Baudette Hotels Are Available
I was full and happy that I had decided to spend some time in such a happy and welcoming place. I opened my HotelTonight app and booked a Baudette hotel room in seconds. It was right down the block, so I walked to my room and fell asleep almost immediately. I couldn't wait to tell people about my adventure.
