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Powwows, blackjack, and bald eagles highlight a long-weekend cruise on the upper Mississippi River—all for less than $1,000.
By Liz Pasch — Fall
2004
We northern boaters have a season that’s barely four months long, so we pack a lot of cruising into a short amount of time. On the upper Mississippi River, the Minnesota and Wisconsin shorelines provide plenty of scenic river towns to visit. Even with a couple of kids, there’s more than enough to entertain everyone during a three- or four-day weekend for less than $1,000 (excluding fuel and dockage, which vary from boat to boat).
Less than an hour southeast of Minneapolis in Prescott, Wisconsin, the St. Croix River empties into the Mississippi River at mile marker 811.5. Head downstream, pull back the throttles, and look up. Every spring and fall the sky is filled with migratory waterfowl including bald eagles, trumpeter swans, falcons, herons, and egrets. It’s a cheap thrill.
Make your first stop just 15 miles south at one of our favorite overnight spots, Treasure Island Marina, which provides a courtesy shuttle to the casino and free access to the hotel swimming pool, hot tub, and exercise room. Treasure Island’s summertime event calendar is jam packed: an annual powwow dance competition, collector car shows, antique boat shows, dance parties, and a variety of music venues, many of which have free admission. Try the prime rib or hot ham sandwiches in the casino.
South of Treasure Island Marina and eight miles past Lock 3, the historic city of Red Wing is just around one of the sharpest bends on the river. A three-poled landmark commemorating the Sioux chief for whom the town was named marks the entrance to Ole’ Miss Marina. The nearby downtown is packed with antiques stores, quaint shops, restaurants, and a bicycle shop named The Route, which provides rentals along with helmets, maps, and trail passes. My favorite ride is 9.8 miles north on the Cannon Valley Bike Trail to the village of Welch, where the best ice cream cones can be found at The Trout Scream Cafe.
>> Next page >> Part 2: On calm days we cruise to the south end of the lake and dock at Dan’s Pepin Marina in Pepin, Wisconsin, the birthplace of author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Page
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