Five more days til vacation! Of course the main intent of taking this trip is the chance to visit my dad’s grave, and visit with family…. perhaps do a little genealogical digging while I’m there… but I’m starting to plan out other things E and I can do while visiting my home town of Wabasha.
Clearly, we will enjoy the scenic beauty of the River, though it will look a little different in Wintertime, frozen solid with cars parked on it.
(I took this picture of the Mississippi River, on my last trip up there, in June of 2006)
And while enjoying the beauty of nature, we will make a stop at the National Eagle Center which is located in Wabasha… where you can see Bald Eagles circling over the Mississippi River year round.
We could visit the nation’s largest independant toy store, just down the road in Kellogg… Lark Toys!
We’ll be driving up the road just a little ways to visit my Aunt Murriel in Red Wing, MN. Maybe we’ll go search out the Stone Cairn’s, which are Native American Indian Mounds found in the area…
We’ll definately have to cross the river, over to Wisconsin, visit the Nelson Cheese factory (where I used to follow my dad around sampling the cheese when I was a little girl, and ending the trip with an ice cream cone) and then take a drive along the The Great River Road which is unsurpassed in its beauty and winds it way between the Mississippi River and the 500 ft Limestone Bluffs. Part of that drive will include a visit to Maiden Rock which I visit every time I am in the area. Maiden Rock is where the legendary Sioux Maiden We-no-nah leapt to her death to avoid marrying a man she didn’t love. The town of Winona, just south along HWY 61 from Wabasha, is named after her. Winona Ryder was born nearby and named after the town of Winona.
We could always go skiing, at Coffee Mill… Though if you’ve ever heard the story of my first and only attempt on ski’s you won’t be surprised if I sit out and let Eric go by himself.
And of course, at least one night will be spent having a romantic dinner at The Historic Anderson House in Downtown Wabasha.
At any rate, I think we will manage to keep ourselves busy, and I cannot wait to go!
