How To See Red Wing: From Water To The Sky

How To See Red Wing: From Water To The Sky

At one point, Red Wing, Minnesota was the biggest wheat trading market in the world. Now, it’s known as the home to the Red Wing Shoe Company. Better yet, this charming small town of 16,000 on the Great River Road has become a favorite weekend getaway for people around the midwest.  

You’ll immediately feel at home with its restored red brick buildings and beautiful flowers lining Main Street. The historic downtown area is loaded with boutiques, shops, and galleries to leisurely explore at your own pace. Discover the appealing small town of Red Wing by its Mississippi River roots or a bird’s eye view at an easily accessible scenic overlook. From a historical perspective to modern-day boutiques, you’ll fall in love with this Great River Road town.

 

St. James Hotel: An Iconic Red Wing Destination

In the late 1800s, riverboats, and trains adjusted their schedules so that passengers could experience dining at the renowned St. James Hotel. Built in 1875, the hotel became the center of Red Wing’s business and leisure affairs. The hotel was held in high esteem with its Italianate-style architecture and modern amenities such as hot and cold running water, steam heat, and a first-class kitchen.

Now, the St.James Hotel proudly displays its 19th-century features to all who come into the Historic Downtown Main Street District. Come inside for its shops and dining but stay overnight to experience a little slice of history.  

Fun fact: Red Wing Shoe Company now owns and operates the St. James Hotel.

 

Red Wing Shoe Store And The World’s Largest Boot

Red Wing Shoes celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005 by making a size 638 1/2 made to scale replica of their most famous 877 model boot. Each enormous piece was made exactly like an original 877. Skilled craftsmen from their factory constructed the World’s Largest Boot from the same original design and materials they manufacture Red Wing Boots with.

You can see the World’s Largest Boot by visiting the Red Wing Shoe Store at 315 Main Street. You can shop inside the store for new merchandise that’s surrounded by original factory antiques and a museum next to the big boot. Take our word, it’s a cool place to visit.

 

 

 

 

Click here to see even more about Red Wing.

Bev’s Cafe: Three Pigs And Hand Dipped Beer Battered Cheese Curds

You know you have found a great place to eat when locals line up.

A trip to Red Wing to eat at Bev’s Cafe serves as a reason to go by itself. Plus, if you stay at the St. James Hotel you can walk there in two minutes for a notable meal. However, arrive early on weekends because there’s often a line during the busiest times. On the other hand, they open at 5 am during the week for early birds.

Even though breakfast is the most popular, don’t skip a chance for lunch. Some of their most popular items include a half-pound patty melt you can’t go wrong with, a mouthwatering Reuben, Don’t Kiss Me Garlic burger, and the Three Pigs burger.  

Of course, Friday means traditional beer-battered fish fry. In any case, if you want a stick-to-your-ribs lunch then order the roast beef or pork meal. They both come with mashed potatoes and more than enough gravy. 

It’s easy to find deep-fried cheese curds this close to Wisconsin but Bev’s Cafe makes them extra special. First, they get them from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery then hand-dip them in homemade beer batter. Ellsworth Creamery is famous for making and supplying cheese curds to state fairs in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Alaska, and South Carolina. If you have eaten cheese curds from these state fairs, you know how incredible they taste.  

 

Uffda Shop Fine Scandinavian Gifts

Stop in the Uffda Shop for an authentic Scandinavian shopping experience. From the beginning in 1977, the owners traveled to Scandinavian countries to source products for their shop. Today, they currently use 70 to 80 Scandinavian merchants to provide products so that customers can buy original items. Of course, you can find several types and sizes of Swedish handcrafted Dala Horses. Did you know that Dala horses were used centuries ago as a form of currency in Sweden?  

Make sure to look at the architecture of the building and the block it’s connected to. James Lawther, an Irish immigrant and eventually mayor, relocated to Red Wing and one of his most noticeable accomplishments was building this block in 1859. At the time, this was the most sophisticated and largest development in Red Wing. Also, look for star-shaped metal tie rods sticking out of its limestone blocks.

Fun fact: Uffda, an original Norwegian expression, translated means a good or bad exclamation for “good grief.”

 

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Red Wing Marina: A Rare Gin Pole Boat House Village

Just steps away from Red Wing’s historic downtown is the Boat House Village at the Red Wing Marina. One of a handful of gin pole boat house villages remaining, it began in 1903 when the Red Wing Yacht Club and Red Wing Motor Company formed a club to house all of their recreational vehicles. The club started with forty community members who wanted to bring scattered boathouses along the levee to one place.  

In the beginning, logs made the boat houses float but now plastic floatation tubs float the structures. Attached forty feet tall gin poles hold the metal boat houses in place so when the Mississippi River rises or falls they easily adjust with the water level. Every so often gin poles need to be reset into the river’s floor or else they’ll sink too far into the mud. 

There are six ramps, called booms, leading down the middle of boathouse rows. Each boom has approximately 40 boat houses attached, which equals about 240 single and double-door boathouses in the community.  

 

People often want to look inside a boathouse to see what they look like. Along with personal decorations and furniture, owners’ boats stay inside year-round on lifts that keep them out of the water. 

Furthermore, take an inside tour when the riverboats come to town. The Red Wing Marina gives tours to the public and guests of riverboats so that everyone can see this important part of the town’s history.

 

Watch A Parade Of Boats At Bay Point Park

Take a walk or relax along the Mississippi River shoreline in Bay Point Park. Find beautiful views of Red Wing and its surrounding bluffs on the east side. By the same token, stay for a while and watch all kinds of boats, from yachts to fishing boats, travel up and down the river like a parade. Plan time for activities like picnics, BBQs, photography, walking, and even sand volleyball. In addition, bring binoculars to view bald eagles and numerous other birds.

 

Easy Accessible Views Of Red Wing At Memorial Park Overlook

See beautiful downtown Red Wing from the sky at Memorial Park Overlook. Anyone can see downtown here because of its easy accessibility. If you choose, you can stay in your car and still see the entire amazing view of the town. We recommend parking at the Memorial Park Disc Golf Course for an easy view of Red Wing from the sky.

Of course, if you play disc golf then plan some time for this beautiful course.

For more ways to see downtown from a bird’s eye perspective take short hikes to other overlooks from the Upper and Lower Quarry hiking trails. Or, just stay in Memorial Park and relax. They have very nice paved pathways for relaxing biking and walking. In addition, there is an 11-mile single-track mountain biking trail for you to enjoy. As you can see, there’s more than a remarkable downtown view so make sure you explore the entire park.

Our advice: Go early in the morning or dusk for excellent golden hour photos.

 

Dog-Friendly Red Wing

 

Everything we experienced in Red Wing and its parks was dog-friendly. Please make sure to check with each business first before bringing your fur friend inside since each one has its preferences.  

 

Final Thoughts

 

Red Wing, Minnesota is a small town treasure on the Great River Road with a nice variety of things to do and see for everyone. We didn’t allow nearly enough time to see everything we wanted to so we’ll have to go back again. You’ll have a great time too and want to come back again and again!