Great River Road Fall Color Drive
From Itineraries Midwest Summer 2010 Issue.
This sample itinerary is best during the fall.
The Great River Road is a scenic byway that stretches from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. From the bluffs of the river valley area, some of the most spectacular views of the Mississippi River can be viewed along the Great River Road to Red Wing. From mid October to early November, is the perfect time to see the fall colors at their peak.
9 – 10:00 am
The journey to Red Wing begins in Alma, Wisconsin. This historic village on the Great River Road (Wisconsin Hwy 35) is the resting place for hundreds of Tundra Swans arriving in mid October. The snow-white swans are traveling from the Arctic Circle area enroute to their final destination, the East Coast near Chesapeake Bay. The Tundra Swans are not the only waterfowl that call Rieck’s Lake home; Canadian Geese, mallards and egrets are also in the spotlight.
10 – 11:30 am
Follow Hwy 35 to Hwy 25 and cross the Mississippi River into Minnesota. It’s worth the extra time to backtrack a bit to Kellogg, Minnesota, home of LARK Toys. Groups can tour the antique toy museum, take a ride on the hand-carved wooden carousel and stroll through the many rooms of handcrafted toys.
11:30 – 12:30 pm
During the drive to Red Wing, stop along the Great River Road at Pepin Height’s Orchard in Lake City. Arrive in Red Wing for lunch at any one of Red Wing’s fine restaurants, including the historic St. James Hotel.
12:30 – 3:30 pm
After lunch, stroll downtown to admire the beautiful hanging flower baskets. Over 350 baskets adorn Red Wing from spring to mid October. Downtown specialty shops highlight the area’s Scandinavian heritage and rustic spirit of adventure with the Uffda Shop and the St. James shops to name a few! Visit the new Red Wing Shoe Store & Museum and see the world’s largest boot – a size 638-1/2 D! Shop for some Red Wings of your own and take a look around the museum before you go.
3:30 – 4:30 pm
Red Wing is just full of surprises – watch pottery being made at the Red Wing Stoneware Company. Admire local potters creating beautiful stoneware in the tradition of Red Wing’s famous Union Stoneware Company. The handcrafted stoneware as well as hats, clothes, candles, soup mixes and bread and pancake mixes are available for purchase.
4:30 – 6:00 pm
If more birding is on your agenda, a Red Wing City Tour is the ticket to more eagle watching. By late November Colvill Park is the winter resting place for hundreds of Bald Eagles. The eagles nest and fish in the open waterways of the Mississippi River from November to early March.
6 p.m.
Enjoy a delicious dinner at one of Red Wing’s unique dining spots. Then enjoy a good night’s rest at one of their comfortable lodging facilities.
For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or the Red Wing VCB,
800-498-3444.
