Prairie School architecture, a lakeside rose garden and
several interesting small museums. The large, new
Minnesota Marine Art Museum on the riverfront features
artwork depicting old sailing vessels and historic images
of the Mississippi. The Great River Shakespeare Festival
runs for several weeks each summer, and Beethoven
Festival features classical music concerts. Horse shows
are regularly held at the Minnesota Equestrian Center.
From the Garvin Heights overlook above the city, there’s
a magnificent view of the river valley, part of the Upper
Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Garvin
Heights Vineyards sits in the bluffs above the city.
Beautiful Lake Pepin is the
widest part of the
Mississippi River.
Near the village of Kellogg is a one-of-a-kind toy shop,
L.A.R.K. Toys, with an antique toy display and a large carousel
populated by whimsical, hand-carved creatures. At Plainview,
13 miles to the west, the Center for Rural America Arts is
home to the Jon Hassler Theater, a professional company
named for the noted Minnesota author.
Wabasha is one of Minnesota’s oldest towns,
established in 1843. Many of the distinctive, 19th-century
shop fronts downtown have been carefully restored. The
National Eagle Center, in a striking building along the
Mississippi, has exhibits and programs featuring these
majestic birds. Visitors can view the center’s resident bald
eagles or watch for wild eagles along the river. There’s a
large concentration of eagles during the winter, since the
river doesn’t freeze here. Another unique find downtown
is a gallery of Japanese wedding kimonos.
Lake City is on the shore of Lake Pepin, three miles
wide and 21 miles long, the widest part of the Mississippi
River. Water skiing was invented here in 1922 by a creative
teenager, who was sometimes towed by airplane. The
lake is popular for sailing, boating, and fishing; the largest
small-craft marina on the Mississippi is in Lake City. To
get out on the big lake, board a cruise on the Pearl of the
Lake paddleboat. A 2. 5 mile riverwalk has good lake
views from shore. Beautifully nestled among the bluffs,
The Jewel Golf Club is a top-notch course designed for
playability at all skill levels.
The tiny, quiet village of Frontenac tucked back from
the highway is a cluster of 1850s-60s Greek Revival-style
homes. The architecture recalls the era when this
riverside community was a summer resort, with
vacationers arriving by riverboat. Along the river bluffs is
Frontenac State Park, with hiking trails through the
woods and a picnic area overlooking Lake Pepin. There’s
good bird watching here, especially in
the spring.
