Mi Casa Es Tu Casa

Also known as “Chanhappenin,’” I am lucky to call Chanhassen, Minnesota my hometown for 21 years. With attractions big and small, there is a reason why people around the state, nation and world choose to come, and why many choose to stay.

Why You’ll Come

Here are three Chanhassen attractions that bring people to this city:

Chanhassen Dinner Theatre

The Chanhassen Dinner Theatre (CDT) was founded in the 1960s, and it continues to be the best place to catch a dinner and a show. You can’t leave the CDT without trying a bite of the Famous Chicken Chanhassen, and after a night at the CDT, you will leave satisfied and amazed by the very talented actors and actresses.

My family and I visit the theatre once or twice a year. The most recent show we attended as a family was Camelot (pictured above). The list of past productions we have seen at the CDT include: Annie, Beauty & The Beast, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, and Grease. Every time I visit the CDT, it seems to me that the shows keep getting better and better, making it impossible to pick a favorite!

Paisley Park & Prince Mural

Photo taken by Courtney Cannon

Prince’s Paisley Park studio is located less than a mile from my house. Prince, the iconic rock star, resided in Chanhassen for much of his life, but the cool thing was, many of us locals didn’t make a big deal of it. And I think that is why Prince enjoyed living in Chanhassen so much, he was able to blend in and not always have to carry around the “superstar status” if he was just going to Walgreens.

When Prince passed away in April of 2016, his studio became a very popular place. What once was a building with not much going on (except for when he put on spontaneous performance events), became a place where people, young and old, from around the world came to see his studio, and hang something on the fence in his remembrance (see photo above).

Paisley Park is now open for public tours, and there is also this incredible mural of Prince painted on the wall of the Chanhassen Movie Theater. These are two must-see spots in Chanhassen, even if you aren’t a big Prince fan.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

With more than 1,200 acres of gardens and miles of trails, visiting the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will give you the ability to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the other Chanhassen attractions and just enjoy nature. I love being at the Arboretum, especially on a beautiful summer day or night, and my favorite thing to do here is run the 3-mile drive, and view all the gardens and trees by foot.

Why You’ll Stay

Although Chanhassen has many great attractions, it is the hidden gems that make people not only want to visit, but want to stay:

The Lakes

There are twelve lakes in the city of Chanhassen, and with parks surrounding all the lakes, this gives you plenty of opportunity to do anything outdoors, from running to biking to swimming to boating, all activities I have spent my time doing each summer.

I grew up fishing on the lake with my dad and sister, enjoying many beautiful summer sunsets. If you grew up in Minnesota, you know that being on the lake is a big part of our summers, and in my opinion, the Chanhassen area has some of the best lakes around.

Ice Fishing

Although many think of Minnesota winters as unbearable, this time of year can be very memorable. Like summers on the lake, I also grew up ice fishing. This activity can be more than just drilling a hole in the ice and waiting for a fish to bite, but with the right equipment and technique, you might just catch a keeper as big as this one!  

The Community

Photo taken by Courtney Cannon

I grew up in one of the best towns to live in the U.S. Here, we are involved in our community, from participating in local festivals, to attending sporting events at the high school. Pictured above is my favorite annual festival of Chanhassen, the 4th of July carnival and street dance.

My Home

I titled this blog “Mi Casa Es Tu Casa” (which translates to “My House Is Your House”), because I hope with this post, you captured a small glimpse of my hometown, and feel welcomed to visit some day.

I believe that places shape the person you grow up to be, and I know that my hometown has largely shaped who I am today. Thank you for letting me share it with you.