About Janelle

I'm an urban explorer and challenge myself to walk long distances (40 miles in one day is my record).

I live in southwest Minneapolis with Scott and our adorable dog Stewie and work at the University of Minnesota.

​I document what catches my eye on long walks in hopes of inspiring others to discover hidden gems in their own communities.

Inspiration for Minneapolis 81

On a cold March morning in Minneapolis, I parked a mile away from my brunch destination, Maria's Cafe, and walked along Franklin Avenue, marveling at all I would have missed if I hadn't gotten out of my car and walked around. As I passed through the Seward neighborhood, I saw a sign for Ventura Village, a neighborhood I'd never heard of. When I got home, I looked at the City of Minneapolis neighborhood site and discovered that Minneapolis has 81 neighborhoods! I decided right then and there that I needed to tour each of the neighborhoods. 

Urban hiking is one of my favorite past-times with my husband, Scott. It's been fun discovering gems like the toy tree in Linden Hills, the shoe chimney in Fulton, and the giant produce lawn sculptures in Hiawatha. But what has been missing is the stories behind our self-discoveries. I decided that getting tours from residents and business owners would allow me to capture those stories.  

This blog captured those tours and hopefully inspire people to experience different parts of the city that are often forgotten. 

This blog went on hiatus in 2012. Now, you can find my walking adventures on Streets.mn.