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City Guide - Minneapolis-St Paul - Excursions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Excursions 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 nineteenth-century buildings, which can be seen aboard 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. For a Whole Day Red Wing and Lake Pepin: The old river town of Red Wing lies 80.5 km (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 from the 1880s to 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. 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, a turning south, goes to the old river town of Red Wing, 80.5km (50 miles) from St Paul. Among the restored nineteenth-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 from the 1880s to the mid-1990s. 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 gifts shops, and the picturesque town of Maiden Rock. Further information is available from Red Wing Visitors and Convention Bureau, 418 Levee Street (tel: (651) 385 5934 or (800) 498 3444; web site: www.redwing.org ) |
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