|
|
Bemidji, The First
City on the Mississippi, Minnesota USA
|
|
|
|
FROM SKYLINES TO TREELINES Tour Along
the Great River Road
Wend your way upstream via the Great River Road Nation Scenic
Byway to the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Explore a
variety of river towns and ever changing landscape as you venture
into the northwoods. |
|
Contact:
Cindy Habedank 800-458-2223
X 106
|
| Day One |
|
9:00 a.m.
|
Depart Minneapolis via Great River Road
(Interstate
94) |
10:00 a.m.
|
Option
1: Arrive in St Cloud
Tour Munsinger/Clemens Gardens on
the bank of the Mississippi River.
|
|
11:30 a.m. |
Lunch - Flowerpot lunch or
restaurant of choice. |
10:30 a.m.
|
Option 2: Arrive in Little Falls at the St
Francis Convent
and Center - Tour/Lunch of Sacred
Heart Church and campus, known for baking and shipping of 'host' for communion.
A chef's choice lunch
available.
Or - tour Charles Lindbergh's
childhood home. Lunch at an area restaurant.
Contact:Jean Robbins
St
Cloud CVB 800-264-2940 |
|
1:00 p.m.
|
Depart for Grand Rapids
via MN Hwy 371/169
Watch as landscape changes from farmland to lush forests and
lakes.
|
|
3:00 p.m.
|
Arrive Grand Rapids
- Tour Forest History Center guided by lumberjack
interpreters. Option: outdoor afternoon snack.
Or follow the
yellow brick road to the Judy Garland Museum |
|
5:00 p.m.
|
Check into
motel. |
|
6:00 p.m. |
Dine at The Harbor or the Sawmill Inn |
|
7:30 p.m. |
Browse Itasca Heritage Center |
|
8:30 p.m. |
Attend 'Mississippi Melodies Showboat' -
live theater performance on banks of Mississippi River (July only)
Contact: Cheri Bialke
Grand
Rapids CVB 800-335-9740
|
|
|
|
|
| Day Two |
|
8:30 a.m. |
Depart for Bemidji via
US Hwy 2,the Great River Road
National Scenic Byway. |
|
9:30 a.m. |
Arrive in Bemidji - first stop at Tourists
Information Center for photo opportunity with legendary lumberjack statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe his Blue Ox.
View Paul's memorabilia and the Fireplace of States.
|
|
10:00
a.m. |
Next stop, the Headwater's Science Center for
a presentation such as "All About Raptors". Spend
some time on the 'hands-on'
exhibit floor and gift shop.
|
|
12:00 Noon |
Board coach, depart for Buena Vista Logging
Village. Chuckwagon style lunch and then board horse-drawn
covered wagons to ride to the 'Top of the World'. From the top of the
Laurentian (East/West) Continental Divide, view lakes and forest and learn about the true
source of the Mississippi River.
Contact: Suzanne Thomas
218-243-2250 www.bvskiarea.com |
|
2:00 p.m. |
Return to Bemidji, tour Bemidji Woolen
Mills Factory
and Outlet Store. 5 generation operation of quality woolen
garments constructed in
factory here in Bemidji. |
|
4:00 p.m. |
Option 1: Afternoon refreshment at
Raphael's Bakery
Option 2: Take Art Walk
through downtown Bemidji,
dotted with sculptures and outdoor murals.
Browse shops. |
|
6:30 p.m. |
Dining Options: Bemidji
Town & Country Club - view of Lake Bemidji
Cattails Bar & Grill
Downtown-'Something for Everyone'
variety
of restaurant choices |
|
8:30 a.m. |
Entertainment:
Option 1: Paul Bunyan Playhouse
–
live theater productions (Jun – Aug) Downtown Bemidji
Option
2: “Hickory Wind Trio’ – special performance by
popular ‘folk grass’ group
Option 3: Native
American Flute - performance and narrative on history of flutes
Option 4: Classical
Trio - unique blend of
classical guitar, violin and
accordian
Contact:
Cindy Habedank 800-458-2223 X 106 gayle@visitbemidji.com |
|
8:00 p.m . |
Theater
Performance |
|
10:30 p.m. |
Return to
lodging |
|
|
|
|
| Day Three |
|
8:30 a.m. |
Depart for Itasca State Park - Headwaters of the
Mississippi River via the Great River Road. |
|
9:15 a.m. |
Arrive at Itasca State
Park
Option 1:
Stop at Headwaters of
Mississppi River – walk to
headwaters -step
across! 30
minutes
Option
2:
Stop at state-of-the art Visitors
Center. Step-on
Naturalist tour through park on Wilderness Drive
with stop at Headwaters area.
1 hour
Option 3: 1 1/2 hours
- Lake Itasca Boat Tour
Board the "Chester Charles" for a narrated
tour of Lake Itasca, whence
the Mississippi River
springs from.
Departs from
Douglas Lodge Pier.
Capacity: 141 passengers.
Restroom equipped. Lunch
cruise available.
Reservations required.
218-266-2101 /
218-573-2216
Memorial Weekend - 1st
Weekend October
Contact:
Park Naturalist 218-266-2114
|
|
11:30 a.m. |
45 minutes
- Douglas Lodge or Mary Gibbs Restaurant options:
This historic log lodge has been accommodating guests for
nearly a century. Dining room offers specialty lunch for
groups, or will cater a 'picnic lunch' at one of the picnic
shelters. Mary Gibbs Restaurant near headwaters offering
light fare. Open Memorial Day Weekend - Early October.
Contact:
Jim Keller
218-266-2124
|
|
1:00 p.m. |
Depart for Minneapolis, Grand Forks,
Fargo/Moorhead and points beyond. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
