Fall is the perfect time to drive the Great River Road. Vibrant colors paint the trees from Minnesota to northern Mississippi, and you’ll find festivals, farmers markets and fun activities all along the Mississippi River corridor.
Category Archives: Wisconsin
Celebrate Drive the Great River Road month
September is Drive the Great River Road Month, a great time to explore America’s longest and oldest National Scenic Byway.
Fall is the perfect time to drive the Great River Road. Vibrant colors paint the trees from Minnesota to northern Mississippi, and you’ll find festivals, farmers markets and fun activities all along the Mississippi River corridor.
Looking for a few things to see and do in each of the 10 Great River Road states? We’ll head north to south with our suggestions:
- Minnesota: Want to see where the Mississippi River starts its journey to the Gulf of Mexico? Visit Itasca State Park in Minnesota, where you can walk – yes, walk – across the headwaters of the Mississippi.
- Wisconsin: A perfect stop to see fall color, Grandad Bluff in La Crosse gives you a 600-foot-high view of the city below and the Mississippi River beyond.
- Illinois: Make a stop in the charming community of Galena, where you can find historic sites, tempting shopping, and toast-worthy wineries.
- Iowa: Want a great view? Hop aboard Dubuque‘s Fenelon Place Elevator, the world’s shortest, steepest scenic railway. Ride to the top for an astonishing panoramic view of the Mississippi River and three states.
- Missouri: This stop isn’t really more of a where, it’s a what: St. Louis barbecue. St. Louis has dozens of delicious barbecue options, including perennial favorite Pappy’s Smokehouse.
- Kentucky: Learn about the Mississippi River’s role in the Civil War at Columbus-Belmont State Park, where you can find a six-ton anchor that – along with a mile-long chain – was used to blockade the river during battles between the North and South.
- Tennessee: Students of American history should visit The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, an educational experience built around the preserved Lorraine Motel. Learn about the struggle for civil rights in America and see the preserved hotel rooms where Martin Luther King, Jr., spent his last hours.
- Arkansas: Don’t miss the The King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, which welcomes tens of thousands of blues fans to the Mississippi Delta every year. Don’t miss this year’s festival Oct. 8-11.
- Mississippi: Traveling through the Mississippi Delta? Stop by the Gateway to the Blues Visitor Center and Museum on Highway 61 in Tunica. There, you’ll find valuable travel tips and advice from area experts. The museum is scheduled to open later this year.
- Louisiana: You might recognize this place from numerous movies and TV shows — Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie welcomes visitors with an awe-inspiring canopy of 300-year-old oak trees leading to a pristine antebellum plantation.
Find more attractions in each state here.
Wisconsin: Five Must-see Attractions
The Wisconsin Great River Road runs for 250 miles along the Mississippi River. Along the way, the road passes through 33 unique river towns offering everything from museums to wineries. There’s a lot to see and do along this stretch of scenic highway. Here are five things you shouldn’t miss.
- Dickeyville Grotto – This ornate sculpture park is one of the finest examples of folk art in America. Built by Father Matthias Wernerus from 1918 to 1931, this complex of pillars, statues, walls, fountains and buildings shimmers with glass, colored pottery, sea shells and other colorful items. You’ve never seen anything quite like it.
- Potosi Brewery Museum – Housed in one of Wisconsin’s oldest breweries, this museum tells the fascinating story of how beer was made, transported and marketed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This museum includes the National Brewery Museum, the Potosi Brewing Company Transportation Museum and a Great River Road Interpretive Center.
- Fort Crawford Museum – Prairie du Chien is one of the oldest communities on the entire Mississippi River. It was once the site of Fort Crawford, and important military station on the American Frontier in the early to mid 1800s. The museum includes a number of artifacts and exhibits, including an interesting exhibit focusing on Frontier medicine.
- Villa Louis – Prairie du Chien is also home to Villa Louis, the elegant home of a wealthy 1800s fur-trader. The tour includes 25 painstakingly restored rooms in four different buildings. The estate includes beautiful garden paths, duck ponds and exhibits about fur trading. It’s a beautiful place you don’t want to miss.
- Buena Vista Park – Located on a bluff high above the picturesque town of Alma, Buena Vista Park offers what might be the best view in Wisconsin. Gaze down at the town, watch passing barges or look far across the river into Minnesota. It’s also a good place to see eagles and other raptors soaring on the warm air that rises along the face of the cliff. Bring a camera.
Can’t-miss restaurants along the Great River Road
While journeying down the Great River Road, you’ll pass through ten different states, each with its own unique dining culture. Here are some restaurants located just off the GRR that you should definitely check out.
La Crosse, WI: The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern
Dine on Waterfront Restaurant‘s contemporary versions of American classics, relax in the cushy lounge and enjoy the smooth sounds from the piano bar. And as the name hints, patrons can appreciate panoramic views of the Mississippi River, as the restaurant is situated along the waterfront.
Dubuque, IA: L. May Eatery
L. May Eatery takes pride in its use of local ingredients, serving a rotating seasonal menu of “gourmet comfort food.” Whether you’re craving a sophisticated pizza, delectable seafood or a refreshing cocktail, L. May guarantees delicious cuisine.
Quincy, IL: Tiramisu’
Order the unique homemade pasta when you visit Tiramisu’. This Italian restaurant also offers a fine selection of wine, pizzas and more. A great place to unwind.
St. Louis, MO: Bogart’s Smokehouse
Strap on your bib for a BBQ excursion at Bogart’s Smokehouse. You’ll need an appetite for this one, as the smokehouse serves up mouthwatering meats like pulled pork, smoky brisket, apricot bruleed ribs, pastrami and prime rib.
Memphis, TN: Restaurant Iris
Specializing in French-Creole cuisine, Restaurant Iris has been named Memphis’ “Best Restaurant” for the past four years by a number of qualified reviews. Its charming atmosphere can be attributed to its presence inside a restored old home near the historic Overton Square.
New Orleans, LA: Commander’s Palace
Last stop on this culinary food tour of the Mississippi… New Orleans! Commander’s Palace is the perfect place to experience New Orleans culture. Serving award-winning Creole dishes since 1880, the restaurant holds vibrant history, and vast experience has driven their success throughout the years.
Celebrating the 75th Anniversary
Attractions on the blog give examples of places to visit on your next trip. Read more »
September is Drive the Great River Road Month
Plan a fun and memorable road trip this September along the Great River Road! This 3,000-mile long byway is one of the oldest, longest and most unique in North America, and along the way you’ll find plenty to explore. Experience a variety of cultures as you travel down the river, from Midwestern Minnesota and Iowa down to Southern Mississippi and Louisiana and all of the cultural blend in between.
Your trip down the Mississippi should include stops in each of the bordering ten states. Plan to see popular attractions like the Mall of America in Bloomington, Navy Pier in Chicago, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and more. Experience natural wonders, captivating historical sites and rich agriculture as well. There’s so much to see along the Great River Road! Plan your trip down the river this September.
Agritourism options along the Great River Road
Credit: Blue Sky Vineyard
Agritourism encourages travelers to learn about a region by exploring its diverse agricultural landscape. And the Great River Road offers an abundance of agriculture for you to see. Along the Mississippi, you’ll find orchards, cheese factories, gardens, nurseries, tree farms, farmers markets, museums and more. Make sure to pencil in a stop at one of these farm-related attractions when you visit the Great River Road.
Spotlight Wisconsin: Stonefield Historic Site
Discover the agricultural history of Stonefield, a community that helped make Wisconsin become “America’s Dairyland.” The 2000-acre Stonefield estate was originally home to Wisconsin’s First Governor, Nelson Dewey, until it burned down in 1873. Eventually reconstructed and passed among a string of different owners, the land was bought by the state in 1936 and transformed into a village that celebrates Wisconsin’s rich agricultural history. More than 30 buildings, antique farm equipment and Stonefield’s State Farm Museum make up this historic site.
Contact:
Stonefield Historic Site
PO Box 125
12195 Hwy VV
Cassville, WI 53806
(608) 725-5210
[email protected]