Sun. & Mon. Oct. 10 & 11, 2004
Does the beauty of the autumn colors always call to
you? How about three scenic byways filled with autumn hues? Are
you interested in art and craft fairs? Wood Carvers’ Shows, antiques,
historical settings, peaceful fall lakes and rivers, apple orchards, gambling,
bird watching, or getting away from your daily routine? This trip is for YOU!
We’ll stop at the Amish Ovens, an all time
favorite, near St. Charles for an on own morning coffee break. From Winona
we’ll be driving along the Great River Road Scenic Byway, enjoying the
beautiful hues of orange, gold, rust, and red of the bluff country on our way to
the historic and picturesque river town of Red Wing. You’ll be able to
have lunch on your own at one of Red Wing’s casual or elegant cafés and
restaurants, including the St. James Hotel with its Victorian Décor, or you may
choose a lighter lunch at one of the food vendors at the 37th
Annual Fall Festival of the Arts in downtown Red Wing. The afternoon is
yours to enjoy – browsing through the Festival featuring juried fine arts,
live music, and great food among the hundreds of baskets overflowing with
flowers hanging from the lamp posts or wandering over to the river to watch the
barges or excursion boats. Your interests may take you to the Riverfront Center
for the 11th Annual Woodcarvers’ Show featuring the works of
many talented artists from the upper Midwest. Since this is the second day of
the two-day event, you may find some real bargains toward closing time!
At
4 pm our coach will drive us the short distance to the Historic Pottery Place
Mall. Built in 1901, it once housed the Union Stoneware Company, which made
Red Wing known throughout the world for its stoneware and pottery, but today is
home to 51 factory outlets, shops, restaurants, and antique dealers. At 5 pm
we’ll cross the street to the Red Wing Pottery Salesroom, where we’ll
see a skilled potter making salt glazed pottery the way it was made in
the late 1800’s. There are also several unique boutiques located in the same
block.
After
our fun-filled afternoon we’ll certainly be ready for relaxing and enjoying
our on own evening meal at Liberty’s Restaurant and Lounge in historic
downtown Red Wing. This restaurant with its old-time atmosphere is a great
favorite with the locals and serves exceptional food at reasonable prices. When
our leisurely meal is finished we’ll be on our way to Treasure Island
Resort and Casino, our home for the night. You can decide if you want to
relax in the year-round swimming pool and hot tubs set in a lush rainforest
environment, try your luck in the casino, enjoy the popular pastime of people
watching, or simply retire for the evening.
After a restful night, you can put your $3
food coupon toward breakfast in Treasure Island’s Mongo Bay Grill or
Java’s Restaurant. Let’s head down to the Wisconsin Great River Road
Scenic Byway for our morning drive viewing the vibrant autumn colors. Our
first stop of the day will be a short hayride tour of the Maiden Rock
Apple Orchards near Stockholm, in Amish Country. You can pick your own
apples, stroll through the orchard, wander through the
maze, sample the delicious apple cider, and
you may find a few items to purchase from their shop! Our next stop will be in
the village of Nelson where we’ll visit the Nelson Cheese Factory, home
of delicious Wisconsin cheeses and fantastic ice cream! Our last stop in
Wisconsin will be Rieck’s Lake where we’ll experience a fall
phenomenon among the Mississippi River bluffs as Tundra Swans descend on this
particular lake each year, when they pass through the area during their annual
migration to the East Coast. Tundra Swans are large, long-necked, totally white
water birds with a wingspan of seven feet! They are truly majestic looking
birds.
We’ll cross back over to the Minnesota side in time to have our included lunch at Slippery’s Bar & Grill in Wabasha, made famous by the movie “Grumpy Old Men”. This afternoon we’ll be traveling on the Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway of Southeastern Minnesota. Here again, Mother Nature paints the autumn landscape with a beautiful array of colors. We’ll have free time to explore Lanesboro, nestled in a deep valley of the Root River. It’s a wonderful historic little town full of interesting shops and cafés and even has its own local winery that you may choose to visit. Be sure to grab a bite to eat before we continue on the scenic byway and head homeward, mind and body relaxed.
Boarding Points/Departure Times:
Jackson 6:15am/6:20am
Sherburn 6:40am/6:60am
Fairmont 7:10am/7:15am
Blue Earth 7:35am/7:45am
Austin 8:40am/8:45am
Cost: Quad $112
Triple $115 Double $120
Single $145
Deadline: Thurs.
Sept. 9, 2004
Autumn
Beauty in the Mississippi River Valley Reservation Form
Sun & Mon Oct. 10 & 11, 2004
Cost: Quad $112, Triple $115, Double $120, Single $145 Deadline: Thurs. Sept. 9, 2004 Walking Ability - 3
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Tour #40612