Day 1 Winona, MN

We depart this morning on a fantastic fall adventure Our first stop is at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha on the banks of the Mississippi River. This unique place brings you closer to eagles than you have ever been before and allows you to explore their connections to humans in nature, history, and cultures. We will even get the chance to meet the resident Eagle Ambassadors up close. We make our way to LARK Toys in Kellogg afterwards. It’s one of the largest independent specialty toy stores in the country and is known for their handmade, heirloom wooden toys. Peek through the viewing windows into the LARK Workshop to see the creative toy-making process or check out the Antique Toy Museum. Another highlight, the Carousel. Unlike any other carousel in the world. It is hand-carved from Minnesota basswood and designed with exquisite detail, each animal is a rideable work of art. We end our day in Winona. We will spend the next two nights here. This evening, we will gather for an included welcome dinner. (D)

Day 2 Winona, MN

This morning we cross into Wisconsin to La Cross to visit the Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The 100-acre grounds include a visitors’ center, a church tour and outdoor devotional areas such as a rosary walk, Stations of the Cross, and a votive candle chapel. Our afternoon will be spent at the 52th annual Warrens Cranberry Festival, a great place for you to immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of cranberry farming and discover the story behind this unique fruit. Our visit starts off with a self-guided tour of the Cranberry Marsh. After that you are on your own to explore the festival. You will find arts and crafts vendors, a farmers market, a flea market and a variety of food vendors. Be sure to check out the many cranberry flavored foods such as Cranberry Funnel Cakes or Cheesecake on a Stick with Hot Fudge Cranberry Drizzle! On our way back to Winona, we’ll stop in La Crosse again for a included Mississippi River Pizza Cruise aboard the La Crosse Queen. This fun-filled cruise offers complimentary pizza and unlimited tap beer and soda as you soak in the views of the mighty Mississippi. A great way to end our day! (B, D)

Day 3 Home

Today we will begin our trek back home. A stop will be made in Owatonna at the Orphanage Museum. It is the only one of it’s kind in the U.S. and is a unique pierce of Minnesota history. While here we will learn about the history of the school. Explore the Museum, see the historic Cottage 11, the Children’s Cemetery, and get a glimpse of what life was like for the children who called the orphanage their home. (B)