The small town of Red Wing, Minnesota, is situated along the banks of the Mississippi River, about an hour away from the Twin Cities and Rochester.
The historic town offers a number of specialty stores and antiques malls, as well as pottery and stoneware shops. Red Wing's second-leading industry was once Red Wing Union's pottery. The factory at the west end of town is now The Pottery Place mall, where you can buy some original pieces. Also popular with visitors is the Red Wing Shoe Co. museum.
For a day of Victorian architecture and memorable Mississippi River views, start by visiting the St. James Hotel, which preserves the Victorian elegance of Red Wing's prosperous grain-milling days and offers a creative fine-dining restaurant.
Outdoor activities include downhill and cross-country skiing, snow boarding, golf, fishing and boating. Birders will enjoy seeing the eagles who roost along the Mississippi.
Travelers who visit Red Wing in spring and summer can board the historic trolleys for tours around the town. Tickets and boarding are available at the Red Wing Visitors and Convention Bureau in the historic train depot.
The Cannon Valley Trail provides a good spot for hiking and biking. Be sure to visit Levee Park on the Mississippi River.
For more information about Red Wing, visit https://redwing.org.
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