Big Foot Gas & Grocery

40 minutes east of Fergus Falls on highway 210 there is an odd sight.

You might know this place better for the quirky sculpture park (Nyberg Park) next to a gas station, but the regulars know the place for big breakfasts and broasted chicken at a reasonable price.

After a night of hard living on the pontoon, there's nothing better than a big stack of cakes, hash browns, eggs, bacon, and toast for around $6.00.

The building is newer, clean, and well lit, so don't take my next comment the wrong way, but when you head off to the rest room, past the fishing lures and rubber waders, you can peek into the bait tanks full of shiners and chubs.

You can't do that at McDonald's, unless you're in your truck at the drive through.

It's a great place to eavesdrop on the conversations of local farmers and trades people, swapping stories of hunting dogs and honey-do chores abandoned for more noble pursuits, like fishing. In the height of summer, the folks from the Cities come to air out their $400,000 cabins, and they bring down the tone of the place with their dissolute teens staring glumly at their own knuckles as the adults discuss golf and office politics.

For those of you roadtrippers looking for Minnesota adventure: go. Visit the giant foot statue, or the giant cockroach on a pliers statue. Or the green alien statue. This place rivals, or maybe is the out-state Minnesota response to, Minneapolis' Walker sculpture garden.

Oh, yeah, and pancakes.