Hotel review: Fairfield Inn, Mankato MN

There’s something about sitting in a hot tub and being able to look out the window at snow-covered trees. Sort of a one-up on winter.

Besides the view, Fairfield Inn’s hot tub was a good temperature and in working order, with of course, plenty of chlorine, so make sure to shower. Best of all, the pool area had a tile floor that wasn’t that false-gravel texture that hurts tender bare feet.

The room and bed was clean and comfortable, but with several small half-pillows on each bed. Worked sort of nice for being able to adjust them for comfort, but a new concept we hadn’t seen before.

There were several all-commercial cable channels, with only brief interruptions of actual programming. (Or is cable tv like that all the time now?)

Highlight of the stay was the morning breakfast – a wide variety of waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, yogurt, fresh fruit, cereal, breads, rolls, muffins, etc. Keeping in the mind that it’s prepared in bulk and served over four hours, it was very well done for a hotel breakfast.

Hotel coffee can run in a very wide range from motor oil to delicious. This, too, was on the excellent side of the spectrum.

The only catch was, even with a decent-sized seating area, it was full to the point of having to sit and eat on a couch without a table. Good things draw a crowd.

All in all, for a pre-tax rate of $89, Fairfield is an excellent value in hotel choices in Mankato. Here's more.

Restaurant review: El Mazatlan, Mankato MN

Hadn’t been to what became my favorite Mexican restaurant, El Mazatlan in Mankato, for some time, but was glad to find it’s still there and thriving.

In many aspects, it’s like other Mexican restaurants with a colorful decor and an extensive menu of how many ways you can use the same ingredients to make different things. Add some Mexican music, and there was even soccer (futbol) on the tv screens.

But best of all, for some reason, El Mazatlan’s food always tastes great. This time, had the Burrito Cancun – chicken and shrimp in a burrito with onions, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream. Even the accompanying rice tasted better than most rice dishes.

El Mazatlan is located at 1525 Tullamore Street, near the corner of Madison Ave. (the main commercial strip) and Victory Drive. See the web site here.

And if you’re up for it, they even have 27- and 45-ounce margaritas in a variety of flavors.