Top Things to Do in Stillwater, Minnesota
As a quiet neighbor to Saint Paul, historic Stillwater lures Twin Cities locals and vacationers to the scenic banks of the St. Croix River. Boutiques, bell towers and wooded bluffs make a day trip fun, but the Venetian gondola may sway you to stay the night.
Do
Aamodt's Hot Air Balloon Rides
Take flight from the property of Aamodt's Apple Farm and Saint Croix Vineyards for panoramic views of the Twin Cities skyline and the countryside. Then try a wine tasting at the vineyard, or buy some freshly picked apples at the farm to complete a picnic. aamodtsballoons.com
Franconia Sculpture Park
A rotating collection of modern sculptures dots the 43-acre park 25 miles north of Stillwater. franconia.org
Gateway-Brown's Creek State Trails
The 5.9-mile Brown's Creek State Trail leads bikers and walkers to the heart of Stillwater, and it connects to other trail systems, including the 18-mile Gateway State Trail running from Saint Paul to Stillwater. gatewaybrownscreektrail.org
Gondola Romantica
Former Boundary Waters guide John Kerschbaum traded canoe paddling for gondola cruising in 2000 (after shipping an authentic vessel from Venice to Minnesota). He's been crooning to lovers on the St. Croix ever since. gondolaromantica.com
Shopping
Stillwater earned a reputation as the state's birthplace after hosting the first territorial convention in 1848. The Main Street where settlers met has become one of the state's most popular stretches for vintage wares and collectibles. Explore 50-plus shops, like Kathe Wohlfahrt of America (for holiday decorations). discoverstillwater.com
Urban hike
The city built on hills holds five long, iconic staircases with San Francisco-like inclines. Create your own path or find a route at discoverstillwater.com.
Eat and Drink
Freight House
A former railway warehouse from the 1880s churns out beer-brined steaks and elk burgers. thefreighthouse.com
LoLo American Kitchen and Craft Bar
LoLo (short for locally owned, locally operated) has won over regulars from Saint Paul with inventive fare like Korean barbecue steak tacos. loloamericankitchen.com
Marx Fusion Bistro
Eat your way around the world with a menu that combines Caribbean, Italian-American and Asian dishes. marxfusionbistro.com
Phil's Tara Hideaway Bar and Restaurant
Join locals for walleye, pastas or Greek dishes. Located off of State-36. tarahideaway.com
Stay
Ann Bean Mansion
One of the six bedrooms in the former home and estate of a lumber baron has an oversize copper soaking tub; another room has a ladder leading to a tower with scenic views. annbeanmansion.com
Lora
The 40-room lodging traces its roots to an 1868 brewery built into the bluff. Today, modern linens and decor soften the look of original stone walls and vaulted ceilings. Borrow a complimentary bike to explore the town. lorahotel.com
The Outing Lodge at Pine Point
The 1858 Georgian premises in the heart of 300-acre Pine Point County Park is known for sumptuous theme dinners. outinglodge.com
Rivertown Inn
Deluxe rooms and suites are named for Victorian authors. Some rooms have antique crystal chandeliers and stained-glass windows. rivertowninn.com
Water Street Inn
Each room in this historical inn has period furniture and a whirlpool tub; all but five have a gas fireplace. waterstreetinn.us
For more information visit discoverstillwater.com