Lady’s Things to Do in Red Wing, Minnesota

Today I want to share my guide to things to do in Red Wing, Minnesota with you. This city on the Mississippi River is famous for its shoes, but there’s a lot more to discover in Red Wing than just footwear.

Things to Do in Red Wing, Minnesota

We’ll start with that, though. I’m face-to-face with the world’s largest boot. Well, face-to-toe, really. This boot is huge. And it’s not surprising.

I’m in the home of the famous Red Wing Shoes in Minnesota, and I would expect nothing less. But I didn’t come to Red Wing for the boots, and there are a lot of things to do in Red Wing beyond shopping.

Red Wing, Minnesota

Red Wing, Minnesota is only an hour’s drive from Minneapolis, but it feels as far removed from urban life as a city can get.

Its beautiful red brick downtown gives way to Barn Bluff on one side and the Mississippi River on the other, and the outskirts feature wineries where suburbs would be.

Red Wing first came to my attention when my aunt did some genealogical research and discovered my family had ancestry there.

But it was my cousin’s fiancee’s description of Red Wing as an idyllic city on the river that made me want to travel there.

Where to Stay in Red Wing, Minnesota

And I’m glad I have. As soon as I arrive from Stillwater, which is only an hour’s drive away, I check into my room at the St James Hotel in Red Wing and fall in love.

The high ceilings, historic-meets-modern decor, and huge bathroom are enough to make me want to stay inside all day.

Things to Do in Red Wing, Minnesota

But I have a meeting down the street at the visitor and convention bureau. It’s a good thing, as Kathy from the bureau takes me around and shows me the best things to do in Red Wing.

We start off exploring the city’s natural attractions. A drive up to Memorial Park and Sorin’s Bluff show us picnic areas and great views of Red Wing.

On the way down, we see Barn Bluff, a popular hiking spot, and the train tracks that run from Seattle to Chicago.

Soon we’re back by the water and I’m face-to-face with the Mississippi River for the first time in my life.

Maybe it’s the American in me, but it’s something special to see the Mississippi in person after so many years of reading about it in history books (and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, of course).

The wide expanse of blue is dotted with boats and looks dazzling in the sun. I’m excited just standing on the banks of it.

But I’m more excited about the boat trip. A local company takes me on a 2-hour Mississippi River cruise to spot bald eagles. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Red Wing.

As we go, we learn Red Wing is a mecca for bald eagles in the winter. Around 800 of the birds pack the trees along the Mississippi River every year.

But a few stay year-round, and we’re able to see Marilyn and Benji, Connie and Gary circling in the sky.

Back on land, Kathy and I explore Red Wing’s shopping areas with stops at pretty gift shops and a Scandinavian store called Uffda. Shopping is one of the most popular things to do in Red Wing, and I can see why.

A short drive away, we visit Red Wing Pottery, one of the most famous stoneware manufacturers in America.

We get a behind-the-scenes tour of the salt kiln, where the pottery is fired, then take a browse through the wares on the shelves of the showroom.

As we do, I learn about the Pottery Museum of Red Wing, which is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the story of Red Wing’s clay industry.

Soon we work up an appetite and hop over to Red Wing Brewery for some pizza and a beer tasting. My favorite of the brews is the Goodhue Farmhouse, a Hefeweizen with hints of banana and clove.

As soon as I taste it, I can tell eating and drinking will be some of my favorite things to do in Red Wing.

But we can’t taste the local beer without giving the local wine its due. And what better place for me to go wine tasting than at Falconer Vineyards in Red Wing?

The winery, which is located just outside the city, is in a gorgeous setting above the vineyards. Kathy and I sit down with John Falconer, the proprietor, and have a glass of wine in the afternoon sun.

Later I enjoy more of Red Wing’s food and drink at The Port restaurant back at the St James Hotel. My beet salad and wild mushroom beggar’s purse are the perfect endings to a great day of discovering the best things to do in Red Wing.

Sadly, they’re the end to my only day in Red Wing, too. The next morning I’m up early to travel to Minneapolis.

I’ve enjoyed my stay in Red Wing, and I hope someday I can return to the home of the beautiful bald eagles, the big bluffs, the Mississippi River, and, of course, the world’s largest boot.

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