REGIONS: SOUTHERN ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD By Lisa Havelka After a long and beautiful winter, I buckled up my kids for a quick spring road trip to stretch our legs and see the landscape as it started to bloom. In Red Wing, our first stop was Barn Bluff Regional Park . The 2.9-mile hike took us to the top of a limestone bluff with panoramic views of the river and historic downtown. Back on Main Street, we visited the Red Wing Shoe Company Museum —home to both the beloved Minnesota brand and World’s Largest Boot. Back in the car, we headed south to the Wabasha-Kellogg area for a stop at Lark Toys , an eclectic toy store that’s part amusement park and part antique toy museum. After a ride on the hard-carved wooden carousel, we ate lunch at Slippery’s in downtown Wabasha , known for its appearance in the movie Grumpy Old Men . Outside, bald eagles soared above us along the river. Eager to learn more, we hit the National Eagle Center . I loved standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the incredible view of the river; my kids loved meeting the center’s resident bald and golden eagles. Finally, we wrapped up our little family road trip at Bloedow’s Bakery in downtown Winona. Easily my favorite donut shop in Minnesota, the kids grabbed a few donuts from the bakery case, and I bought a frosted cookie for the drive home. A FAMILY ROAD TRIP Eagle demonstration at National Eagle Center, Wabasha Girls at Barn Bluff overlook in Red Wing -Photo by Manda Baldwin Downtown Winona Photo by Visit Winona MORE TO SEE & DO: » Frontenac State Park » Pearl of the Lake Paddleboat » Minnesota Marine Art Museum Minnesota Marine Art Museum, Winona Follow the Great River Road to these historic Mississippi River towns: ExploreMinnesota.com/RiverTowns EXPLORE RIVER TOWNS » Great River Bluffs State Park 96 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2021 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 97
