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For a Half Day
Stillwater: Set along the banks of the St Croix River, 32km (20 miles) north of the Twin Cities, Stillwater is Minnesota's oldest town. Downtown contains many well-preserved, 19th-century buildings, which visitors can admire from the Rivertown trolley. Stillwater is a centre for antiques and speciality shops and has many good restaurants. Pleasure boats cruising the river dock here in summer. Taylors Falls, 24km (15 miles) north, is another historic town surrounded by stunning scenery and rock formations called the Dalles. The most scenic route for driving to Stillwater is I-94 east, exit on Highway 95, north to Bayport. The Chamber of Commerce (tel: (651) 439 4001) can provide further information on Stillwater.
For a Whole Day
Red Wing: The old river town of Red Wing lies 80km (50 miles) southeast of the Twin Cities, in the Hiawatha Valley. The area is known for its scenic bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Among the restored 19th-century buildings in the historic town centre are the Sheldon Theatre and the St James Hotel. A major attraction is the Red Wing Pottery, where visitors can see how pottery was produced between the 1880s and mid-1990s. Scenic attractions nearby include Frontenac State Park or a longer drive around Lake Pepin, through delightful towns such as Pepin and Lake City. Red Wing is off Highway 61, turning south of the I-494. Further information is available from Red Wing Visitors and Convention Bureau, 420 Levee Street (tel: (651) 385 5934 or 1 800 498 3444; website: www.redwing.org).
Great River Road: This popular route through the Hiawatha Valley, south of the Twin Cities, loops around Lake Pepin, a beautiful 42km (26-mile) stretch of water, bordered by scenic bluffs, which forms the widest part of the Mississippi River. The entire loop is 137km (85 miles) and starts from the I-494 (just east of St Paul). Highway 61, turning south, goes to the old river town of Red Wing (see above). From here, the route travels south through the delightful towns of Frontenac, with its historic buildings, and Lake City, with its scenic river vistas. At Wabasha, another historic river town, there is a bridge to Nelson in Wisconsin and the return loop back to Red Wing on Highway 35. Highlights on the return journey include the town of Pepin (birthplace of Little House on the Prairie author Laura Ingalls Wilder), tiny Stockholm, with its antiques and gift shops, and the picturesque town of Maiden Rock. The Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission (tel: (763) 212 2560; website: www.mnmississippiriver.com) provides further information.
Stillwater: Set along the banks of the St Croix River, 32km (20 miles) north of the Twin Cities, Stillwater is Minnesota's oldest town. Downtown contains many well-preserved, 19th-century buildings, which visitors can admire from the Rivertown trolley. Stillwater is a centre for antiques and speciality shops and has many good restaurants. Pleasure boats cruising the river dock here in summer. Taylors Falls, 24km (15 miles) north, is another historic town surrounded by stunning scenery and rock formations called the Dalles. The most scenic route for driving to Stillwater is I-94 east, exit on Highway 95, north to Bayport. The Chamber of Commerce (tel: (651) 439 4001) can provide further information on Stillwater.
For a Whole Day
Red Wing: The old river town of Red Wing lies 80km (50 miles) southeast of the Twin Cities, in the Hiawatha Valley. The area is known for its scenic bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Among the restored 19th-century buildings in the historic town centre are the Sheldon Theatre and the St James Hotel. A major attraction is the Red Wing Pottery, where visitors can see how pottery was produced between the 1880s and mid-1990s. Scenic attractions nearby include Frontenac State Park or a longer drive around Lake Pepin, through delightful towns such as Pepin and Lake City. Red Wing is off Highway 61, turning south of the I-494. Further information is available from Red Wing Visitors and Convention Bureau, 420 Levee Street (tel: (651) 385 5934 or 1 800 498 3444; website: www.redwing.org).
Great River Road: This popular route through the Hiawatha Valley, south of the Twin Cities, loops around Lake Pepin, a beautiful 42km (26-mile) stretch of water, bordered by scenic bluffs, which forms the widest part of the Mississippi River. The entire loop is 137km (85 miles) and starts from the I-494 (just east of St Paul). Highway 61, turning south, goes to the old river town of Red Wing (see above). From here, the route travels south through the delightful towns of Frontenac, with its historic buildings, and Lake City, with its scenic river vistas. At Wabasha, another historic river town, there is a bridge to Nelson in Wisconsin and the return loop back to Red Wing on Highway 35. Highlights on the return journey include the town of Pepin (birthplace of Little House on the Prairie author Laura Ingalls Wilder), tiny Stockholm, with its antiques and gift shops, and the picturesque town of Maiden Rock. The Minnesota Mississippi River Parkway Commission (tel: (763) 212 2560; website: www.mnmississippiriver.com) provides further information.
View Our Airport Guides for Minneapolis-St Paul:
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
