Crabtree's Garden Gate, Marine on St. Croix

It's rare that a trip to the shop feels like a walk in the park. Enter Crabtree's Garden Gate. It blends curiosities and locally made goods with a heaping helping of horticultural whimsy. Even wandering through their Facebook page feels a bit like a garden party. Behind the curiosity shop, a borderline magical garden waits, complete with just about every conceivable lawn ornament.

Inside the shop, walls creek under the burden of so many tchotchkes and art, such as metal stamped signs that read "Life Is Better With Bacon," vintage-style table lamps with stained glass shades, and graffiti-style watercolors of pensive buffalo on canvas. A Minnesota Made section stocks artisan jams and spreads, a wide selection of bird-feeders, and feed by the pound.