GRR: La Crosse to St. Paul Recap

GRR: La Crosse to St. Paul
La Crosse, WI (3 nights) at Radisson Hotel, Harborview. Our first stop was the Minnesota Welcome Center where Lock & Dam #7 was closed due to construction. We checked out Riverside Park and walked to dinner at Buzzard Billy’s. The next day we walked to our sightseeing cruise aboard the La Crosse Queen and saw our first swing bridge in action.

More in La Crosse, WI
Our stay in La Crosse continues. We enjoyed “the most scenic view in the state” from Grandad Bluff, up-close views of the I90 ALT bridge, Pettibone Park Pavilion, the World’s Largest Six-pack, and Friendship Gardens. We ended the day with a short walk to Turtle Stack Brewery and awesome wood-fired pizza on the rooftop at the Charmant Hotel.

Sunfish Capital of the World
Our time in Onalaska included breakfast at the Blue Moon x2, a visit with Sunny, and fabulous lake and river overlooks. Also: Great River Landing, Eagle Watch, Lake Onalaska Overlook and Visitor Center, a walk to three of seven bridges, and a stop at El Maro for a little wine by the vines.

Our Inn on the River
Trempealeau, WI (2 nights) at Inn on the River. We enjoyed this lovely small town and our deck was great for watching the trains, boats, and barges. We visited Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Perrot State Park, Lock and Dam #6 and finished off our stay with the best Canadian Walleye I’ve ever had at the Trempealeau Hotel.

Excellent Tour Guides
Minneapolis, MN (2 nights) stayed with friends. En route we checked out Lock and Dam #5. Our excellent accommodations included excellent tour guides and lots of laughs! We started with a Sightseeing Cruise on the Padelford River Boat, Boom Island Lighthouse, the Stone Arch Bridge, Lock and Dam #1A, cabbage rolls at Kramarczuk’s, Ford Dam, and LOTS of Nelson’s ice cream! Fun times!

On the Road to Red Wing
Redwing, MN (1 night) Country Inn & Suites by Radisson. On the road to Red Wing, we saw Kaposia Landing, Rock Island Swing Bridge, and two riverfront parks. Prescott’s Riverfront included a historic lift bridge, a draw bridge, and a bald eagle adorned with silverware! We stopped at Freedom Park and listened to the music in Hager City before arriving in Red Wing. Great views at Memorial and Bay Point Parks, a stop at the Redwing Brewery and its train depot finished up this long, but wonderful day!

One Last Move
Today we head to Winona. Along the way we enjoyed the river views, the National Eagle Center, and had lunch at Slippery’s in Wabasha. Our stop in Alma offered its Beach and Recreation Center, Rieck’s Lake Park, Lock & Dam #4, and the best views of the trip from Buena Vista Park Overlook (see photo above). We ended with Prairie Moon Sculpture Gardens before arriving in Winona.

A Very Grand Finale
Winona, MN (2 nights) at Alexander Mansion Bed and Breakfast. Since breakfast is the main attraction at a B&B, we got a late start both mornings, which was perfect. We did a little antique shopping, then headed for more views at Garvin Heights Park. Back down at street level, we enjoyed Lake Lodge Recreation Center and Windom Park, two bedazzled banks, and the Historic Pickwick Mill before heading home.