Winona, Minnesota, sits to the south of the Mississippi River. Three colleges and their students account for one-third of the population of this peaceful river town. On the shores of the Mississippi River, you’ll find steamboats, while Winona Lake offers everything from pleasure boating and fishing to hydroplane boat races. When you feel the need to leave this quiet river town for a glimpse of the countryside, there’s no end to the scenery in every direction. Here’s a look at our five most scenic drives around Winona.
Great River Road – East Bank, Wisconsin
You’ll cross over the river and into Wisconsin before turning left onto Great River Road (Highway 35) and travel north. In less than 15 minutes, you’ll arrive at Fountain City, a town perched on the bluff overlooking the mighty Mississippi. Stop in at the Monarch Public House on North Main Street, Wisconsin’s oldest continually operating tavern. While you’re there, grab a cold glass of Fountain Brew, a local beer brewed there since 1854.
After you’ve refreshed, take the 15-minute drive north to Alma, a historical village loaded with quaint buildings restored to their original glory. Next, cruise up to the Buena Vista Park for a view from 600 feet above the village. When your eyes have seen enough, venture down and do a little shopping or dining at one of the many artisan shops and eateries.
Fifteen minutes in the car brings you to Nelson, another quaint village full of antique and gift shops. We recommend you stop at the Nelson Creamery and Cheese Factory, where you can get your favorite ice cream cone and a box of artisan cheese to take home.
A few minutes west of Nelson, you enter Pepin, the birthplace of Laura Ingles Wilder. Stop at the museum before heading to the Villa Bellezza winery, where you can purchase some fantastic wine. While you’re there, you can sign up for a cooking class or take a tour of the vineyard and winery.
Continue north out of Pepin, and in 10 minutes, you’ll arrive at Stockholm, yet another quaint village. The town motto is “little village, big arts.” You’ll find plenty of art and handcrafted goods at the many shops in the downtown area. From here, you travel 18 miles north and cross the river in Hagar before heading home down Highway 61.
Kinstone
Sometimes, it’s about the destination, and in this case, it’s Kinstone. The drive will last under 20 minutes as you cross the Mississippi River into Wisconsin. You’ll turn right on Highway 35 and then left on County Road M, which you’ll follow to Cole Bluff Lane.
Once you arrive, be prepared to enjoy the world’s largest privately owned stone circle in the world. Over 30 acres sit atop a bluff, filled with stone circles, stone monoliths, sculptures, gardens, and more. People come from miles around to enjoy peace and tranquility.
Ecker’s Apple Farm
Another short trip long on rewards, you can enjoy a scenic drive over to Ecker’s Apple Farm. Cross the river and head south on Highway 35 and enjoy the scenery along the river until you reach the farm. Once there, you can enjoy the live music every weekend, grab some apples from the market, and enjoy some food truck fare or sweet treats from the bakery.
In addition, you can enjoy some great craft brews at Hog’s Back Brew Farm. They offer over 20 craft beers and ciders on tap made from their private stock of apples. Brewmaster Taylor Roessler has brought back the famous Fat Blossom Girl and recently debuted The Hum Stinger, a funky, juicy cider guaranteed to curl your toes.
Metz’s Hart-Land Creamery
Leave the river behind as you head south from Winona along Highway 43. The trip takes approximately 30 minutes as you enjoy the rolling pastures through cow country. Metz’s Hart-Land Creamery started in 1983 with only 20 cows. Today, the herd numbers over 200. In addition, the Metz family bought the neighbor’s honey farm in 2013 and now sells raw and processed honey to retailers and restaurants in the region.
In 2014, the Metz family continued their growth, building a cheese plant on the farm and processing their cheeses. You can purchase flavored cheese curds in 6-ounce packages up to 5-pound bags. Other cheeses include cheddar, frying cheese, hand-crafted string cheese, and more. After buying cheese and honey, visitors are encouraged to explore while they enjoy gelato.
Great River Road – West Bank, Minnesota
This scenic trip will take you north from Winona along the west bank of the Mississippi River. The drive offers spectacular views of the river, and in the fall, glorious foliage as the leaves begin to turn. Take Highway 61 north from Winona and enjoy the relaxing 40-minute ride up to Wabasha. In the winter, you can pack the skis and take a few runs at Coffee Mill Ski & Snowboard Resort.
Continue north for another 20 minutes, and you’ll find Frontenac, a village full of scenic vistas from the top of Garrad Bluff in the Frontenac State Park. The historic community of Old Frontenac was once the French Fort Beauharnois. After the French ceded control, the fort became a trading post, and the town built up around it. As a result, you’ll find architecture dating back to the early 1700s, and the National Register of Historic Places has listed the entire Old Frontenac village on its esteemed register.
From Frontenac, you can turn around or head north to Red Wing and cross the River to Hagar. From Hagar, you can take the Great River Road South and stop at any of the villages listed on the East Bank on the Wisconsin side of the river on your way home.
Nestled along the Mississippi River, Winona offers many great scenic drives and places to visit that there’s virtually no end to the views. At Tom Kadlec Kia, we’re proud to be a part of such a vibrant community. We hope you enjoyed our scenic drive suggestions and wish you well on your next day trip. If you feel like we missed one of your favorite drives, feel free to let us know. We’ll be sure to add your favorite trip to our list on our next update so everyone can enjoy the drive.
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