Fall/Winter Travel - 2010

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Fall and winter travel guide for Iowa and surrounding states

Transcript of Fall/Winter Travel - 2010

THE COURIERPAGE 2 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010www.wcfcourier.com

By MELODY PARKER

melody.parker@wcfcourier

The light changes as autumn creeps over Iowa’s landscape.

Warm, rich colors of scar-let, butterscotch, purple and pumpkin orange are as intense as a 1950s Technicolor movie. Shadows cast by Iowa’s heavy tree canopy retreat as leaves drift downward to be crunched underfoot and under wheels as we tool around enjoying warm days, crisp evenings and bless-edly lower humidity.

Fall color peaks in northeast Iowa, on average, on the week-end closest to Oct. 10. Peak col-ors occur later in southern parts of the state, but the whole color show is dependent, as always, on the weather. Clear days, cool nights and dry weather pro-motes lovely fall color, while heavy rains, winds and early freezes fi zzle the annual ritual.

State and county parks, wild-life areas, rivers and the route along the Mississippi River, the Great River Road, off er great scenic views.

Iowa’s state fall color report

begins in late September with weekly updates provided by the Iowa Department of Natu-ral Resources Forestry Bureau, available by calling (515) 233-4110 or visiting www.iowadnr.gov/forestry/fallcolor.html.

Which trees have what col-ors? Check out the DNR’s color palette:

Ash: Green ash leaves turn yellow, but white ash has a purplish cast. The leaves fall after those of walnut trees, but earlier than those of oaks and maples.

Bur Oak: Buff to yellow col-ors predominate in bur oaks. The leaves remain on the tree and turn brown before falling.

Elms: Leaves turn various shades of yellow with some turning brown before falling, others falling while still yellow.

Hickory: Leaves turn yellow on hickory trees, then brown before falling.

Maple (soft): Leaves of soft (silver) maples turn yellow but do not turn brown before falling.

Maple (hard): Brilliant fl ame red hues are the signature of

hard maple leaves. The red pig-mentation of some leaves breaks down before falling.

Oak (red): Red oaks have bril-liant red leaves in fall though the color is probably not as intense as that of some hard maples.

Oak (white): White oaks have a more subdued purple fall leaf color. The leaves then turn brown and often stay on the tree until new leaves begin to grow in the spring.

FALL/WINTER TRAVEL

Autumn blaze

COURTESY PHOTO

A view of fall color at Lansing.

Northeast Iowa20th annual German Fest, Gutten-

berg, Sept. 24-25 Fort Atkinson Rendezvous Days,

Sept. 25-26 Flea Market Under the Bridge,

Marquette, Oct. 2, 9-10, Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio

Tour, Decorah, Oct. 1-3 HawkWatch Weekend, Harpers

Ferry, Oct. 2-3 Fall Midwest Horse Sale, Waverly,

Oct. 5-9. Leaf Arts and Crafts Festival,

McGregor, Oct. 9-10Oktoberfest, Marquette, Oct.

16-17 Rivers and Bluffs Birding Tours,

Lansing, Oct. 18 through Nov. 19

Other Iowa regions:Oktemberfest, Marshalltown,

Sept. 23-26. Annual Arts and Crafts Show, Des Moines, Sept. 24-26

Dyersville Festival of the Arts, Sept. 24-26

Amazing Prairie Festival, Maxwell, Sept. 26

Czipars’ Annual Apple Festival, Dubuque, Sept. 25-26

Quad Cities Family Fun and Kite Festival, Sept. 25-26

Sixth annual Iowa Wine and Beer Tasting Fall Festival, Dysart, Sept. 25

Corn Harvest and Applefest Week-end, Urbandale, Oct. 2-3.

Cruise to the Woods, Fort Dodge, Oct. 3

Harriman Nielsen Fall Festival, Hampton, Oct. 3

Homemade Apple Cider and Do-nut Day at Kinney Pioneer Museum, Mason City, Oct. 3

Nathaniel Hamlin Park Fall Festi-val, Audubon, Oct. 3

Harvest Fest, Atlantic, Oct. 9.Fall Foliage Cruise on the Spirit of

Dubuque, Dubuque, Oct. 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16

ArtFest West, West Des Moines, Oct. 9-10

Winding Stairs Fiber Arts Festival, Traer, Nov. 12-13

Tabor Home Winery Annual Nou-veau Wine Festival, Baldwin, Nov. 20.

Annual Arts and Crafts Show, Des Moines, Dec. 3-5

Fall festivals/events

Season’s peak color show depends on weather

THE COURIER PAGE 3SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 www.wcfcourier.com

School House CafeComfort Food Done Right

Sunday Brunch - 11am

A+

Call for all yourcatering

needs!

810 S. Oak St., Iowa Falls, IA 50126 • 1-641-648-4600www.americinn.com

AmericInn Motels and Suites

OCTOBEROctober 2nd - Harvest Festivalat the Hardin County Farm Museum,

203 Washington St., Eldora; 10am-4:30pm

October 9th - Family Barn Danceat the Hardin County Farm Museum, 203 Washington

St., Eldora; 7pm-10:30pm A supper will be served at 6pm until the food is gone.

October 16th - Halloween Hike at Calkin’s Nature Area, 18335 140th St., Iowa Falls

NOVEMBERNovember 19th - Meteor Shower and

Astronomywith Conservation 8pm-10pm

DECEMBERDecember 5th - Calkins Christmas

at Calkin’s Nature Area, 18335 140th St., Iowa Falls. For more information, call 641-648-9878

Hardin CountyFall 2010

FALL/WINTER TRAVEL

Unwrap Crown Center for holidaysBy META HEMENWAY-FORBES

[email protected]

Kansas City, Mo., has long been known for its dazzling charm and enchantment during the holiday season.

A combination of lavish light displays throughout the city, shopping opportunities, holi-day theater and other attrac-tions make this city a great backdrop for a majestic holiday getaway this year.

What to doThe Country Club Plaza’s Sea-

son of Lights attracts thousands of visitors from near and far each year. More than 80 miles of colorful lights in the historic Kansas City shopping district are the city’s winter trademark. The district features more than 150 shops and restaurants.

The mayor’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony is one of the nation’s most heartwarming holiday traditions. It begins the evening after Thanksgiving in Crown Center Square.

For the kids, Santa’s Crayola

Christmas Land in the Crown Center Shops Showplace is where it’s at. Children can enter a world of super-sized Crayola products, running and play-ing while waiting to tell Santa what’s on their holiday wish lists. Admission is free.

The three-level Crown Cen-ter Shops feature more than 60 shops and restaurants. Eat-ing options vary from a burger spot where meals are delivered by miniature train to the city’s only Mobil four-star dining experience, The American Res-taurant. Shopaholics are drawn to the unique specialty stores, headlined by Halls Crown Cen-ter. Theatergoers can choose from Broadway-style produc-tions at the American Heart-land Theatre, award-winning youth-oriented shows at The Coterie Theatre and innovative shows at the new Off Center Theatre. The center also hosts free activities, such as chil-dren’s exhibits, fashion shows, puppet and magic shows and the Crayola Christmas Land.

Crown Center Square, right

across from the shopping cen-ter, is the heart of the complex. Also at the complex are free Hallmark-sponsored activities. The Hallmark Visitors Center details the illustrious history of the world’s leader in personal expression, while Kaleidoscope off ers a creative art experience for children ages 5-12.

Where to stayTravelers can choose from

two of the city’s most luxuri-ous hotels — the Westin Crown Center and the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. They’re con-nected to the shopping center by The Link, an elevated, climate-controlled pedestrian walkway.

The historic and renovated Hotel President’s 15 stories feature 213 large guest rooms, several ballrooms and live per-formances at the Drum Room nightclub and restaurant.

The President Hilton Kansas City is one block from the Kan-sas City Convention Center and is adjacent to the Power & Light District, a downtown enter-tainment area.

COURTESY PHOTO

Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., dressed for the holidays.

THE COURIERPAGE 4 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010www.wcfcourier.com

411 Main Street, La Porte City342-2231FREE DELIVERY

OPEN 4:30 PM TUES.-SUN.

707 Hwy 218 North - La Porte City, IA 50651Phone 319-342-2440 - Toll Free 800-727-7908

Fax 319-342-3648www.compress-air.com

E-Mail: [email protected]

LaPorte CityLive • Play • Connect with us in Fall 2010

September 23 - City Wide Fall Garage Sales 8am-2pm, maps available at Caseys and Pronto.

September 26 - Fall Festivalon Main Street, 11am-3pm

October 23 - Hot Soup...Cool Bowl LPC FFA Museum

November 11 - Chocolate Walk 6:30pm-9:00pm

November 20-December 9Festival of Trees LPC FFA MuseumDecember 4 & 5 - Christmas in Our Town

FALL/WINTER TRAVEL

There’s gold — and more — at Chicago’s major museums

By MELODY PARKER

[email protected]

Gold, green and gray are the colors of fall exhibitions at Chi-cago’s famous museums.

At the Field Museum, the cherished metal and prize min-eral “Gold” will be featured in a

show from Oct. 22 through March 6.

Now through January, visitors to the Museum of Science and Industry can take a gander at “The

Smart Home: Green + Wired” exhibit, a fully functioning, eco-friendly home on the museum’s grounds, transformed for this year by Midwest Living.

“The Gray Collection — A Par-ticular Eye: Seven Centuries of Art” is open September through January at the Chicago Art Institute.

Those are just a few of the worth-seeing tickets in the Windy City, perfect for a week-end getaway or even a whirlwind day trip.

Museum of Science and Industry

Midwest Living interior designers have redesigned “Chicago’s Greenest Home,” the “Smart Home: Green + Wired” exhibit to refl ect the lifestyle of a couple looking to minimize home maintenance, maximize effi ciency and settle in to a space that not only is beautiful, but functional.

More than 200,000 guests already have seen the Smart Home since it opened in 2008. This exhibit is not included in

general admission and requires an additional timed-entry tick-et. Tickets are $10 for adults and seniors, $5 for children 3-11.

Visitors also can enjoy a simu-lated computer tour of the 1893 World’s Fair. The presentation goes back in time to the muse-um’s origins as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1893 World’s Fair.

“Hubble” is the latest in a long list of Omnimax fi lms, and this one is showing at the Museum of Science and Industry daily. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this giant-screen fi lm will take you on a journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings.

Field Museum “Gold” features crystallized

gold, enormous gold nuggets, gold bullion, coins from ship-wrecks, gold bars and exquisite jewelry, and the new exhibit uncovers the story behind the metal.

Explore the depths of the min-ing process and feel the excite-ment of the gold rush as you fol-low gold from natural form to fi nished jewelry. Walk through a room completely covered in gold. And determine the value of your own weight in gold.

Chicago Art InstituteThrough Oct. 3, visitors can

celebrate the reopening of the Art Institute’s newly refurbished permanent installation of the art of the Islamic world, “Arthur Pope and a New Survey of Per-sian Art.”

This exhibition will highlight this historically important col-lection of Persian art, which was developed under the guidance

of Arthur Upham Pope (1881–1969). A noted American art his-torian, Pope was a pioneer in the study of Persian art, heritage and culture.

“The Gray Collection” is an impressive collection of paint-ings, drawings and sculptures from the 15th century to present, gathered by art dealer Richard Gray and his wife, art historian and author Mary Lackritz Gray.

This exhibition features more than 120 of the couple’s most dynamic and important works on paper, including Renaissance- and Baroque-era treasures.

Seventeen major works of pre-Columbian art from Mexico are being showcased through Jan. 2 in “Ballplayers, Gods and Rainmaker Kings: Masterpieces from Ancient Mexico.” Many of these pieces have never before been seen in the United States. The monumental works of ancient pre-Columbian art reveal the distinctive styles and symbolic forms of a series of Mexi-can Indian societies that fl our-ished from the Central Plateau and the Gulf Coast to the mountains of Oaxaca, the Yucatán Peninsula and the forested reaches of Chi-apas between 900 B.C. and A.D. 1521.

Children will love “Everyday Adventures Growing Up: Art From Picture Books,” through Nov. 28. The works of Nancy Carlson, Timothy Basil Ering and Peter McCart are featured. An integral component of pic-ture books, the artworks bring stories to life, presenting new and familiar situations in sur-prising and engaging ways. After viewing the exhibition, families can visit the Vitale Family Room and enjoy their favorite picture books together.

COURTESY PHOTO

Byzantine coins from the “Gold” exhibition at the Field Museum in Chicago.

For breaking news coverage, photos

and video updated all day

Inside:Plan a theater weekend in Chicago.PAGE 9

THE COURIER PAGE 5SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 www.wcfcourier.com

By HOLLY HUDSON

[email protected]

While the natural urge may be to travel to a warmer climate this time of year, why not look Mother Nature in the face and enjoy the pleasures of the win-ter season?

The Midwest off ers a plethora of winter getaways where you can indulge in seasonal activi-ties, fi ne dining, shopping and more — without the airfare.

Listed are just a handful of “hot” cold spots in neighbor-ing Minnesota and Wisconsin. These facilities off er a variety of winter activities with slopes to accommodate all skill levels. All off er detailed and helpful web-sites to aid in vacation planning.

Sundown Mountain Resort16991 Asbury RoadDubuque, IA (563) 556-6676www.sundownmtn.comActivities: 21 scenic trails,

vertical, two terrain parks, six lifts, ski lessons.

Facilities: Two mountain top lodges, gift shop.

Notables: Snowmaking capabilities, award of excel-lence from National Ski Areas Association.

Grand Geneva Resort & Spa7036 Grand Geneva Way

at Highways 50 East and 12Lake Geneva, WI (888) 392-8000www.grandgeneva.comActivities: Downhill skiing,

snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skat-ing, tobogganing.

Facilities: 18 slopes, ter-rain park, 10 kilometers of trails, sports shop, dining, spa, lodging.

Notables: Snowmaking capa-bilities, sleigh and carriage rides off ered, fi replaces in lodge, group rates, night skiing.

Cascade MountainW10441 Cascade Mountain

Road on Interstate 90/94Portage, WI

www.cascademountain.com (800) 922-2754Activities: Downhill skiing,

snowboarding, snowtubing.Facilities: 34 trails, four terrain

parks and superpipe, snowtub-ing park with 800-foot chute, with lift.

Notables: All kids ages 12 and younger ski and ride for free with paid adult, high-speed chairlift, snowmaking capabili-ties, near Wisconsin Dells.

Lutsen Mountain129 Ski Hill RoadLutsen, MN(218) 663-7281www.lutsen.com

Activities: Alpine and Nor-dic skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, snowshoeing.

Facilities: 90 runs, 27 kilo-meters of Nordic trails, lifts, equipment rentals, ski school, dining.

Notables: Horse-drawn sleigh rides to bonfi re, largest and highest ski mountains in mid-America.

Welch Village Resort26685 County Road 7 Blvd.Welch, MN(651) 258-4567www.welchvillage.comActivities: Skiing, snowboard-

ing, lessons.

Facilities: 50 runs, terrain park, equipment rental.

Notables: Trailside bunkhouses.

Giant Ridge Resort6325 Wynne Creek Drive,Biwabik, MN(800) 688-7669www.giantsridge.comActivities: Alpine and cross-

country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling.

Facilities: 35 downhill runs, 60 kilometers of cross-coun-try ski trails, two terrain parks, lifts, ski school, equipment rental, sports dorm, lodge, villas, snowmobile trails, ice

fi shing.Notables: Snowmaking

capabilities, restaurant and lounge, sledding hill.

Granite Peak3605 North Mountain Road,Wausau, WI (715) 845-2846www.skigranitepeak.comActivities: Downhill skiing,

snowboarding, lessons.Facilities: 74 runs, fi ve tree-

skiing glade, lifts, base village, dining, rental shop, tuning center.

Notables: Snowmaking capa-bilities, restored historic stone chalet.

Bill’s Pizza & SmokehouseBILL VERSLUIS, Owner

201 1st Street WestIndependence IA 50644

Phone (319) 334-2455Fax: (319) 334-4934

www.billspizza.netEmail: [email protected]

Family dining in old farmhouse setting overlooking Swan Lake

Lunch and Dinner EverydaySunday Family-Style Meals Served

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2000 Swan Lake Blvd.Independence319.334.9055www.homestead-restaurant.com

Butler’sTravel Service

Owners: Bette and Don Butler

615 4th St. SE, Independence, IA(319) 334-2416 Fax: (319) 334-9260 BButler @indytelcom

• CRUISES• AMTRAK• AIR FLIGHTS

Let us help youset up the

vacation of a lifetime!

• CHARTERS• TOURS• HOTEL

319.334.6703

“An Artistic Emporiumwith a Nostalgic Flair”

• Children’s Toys & Gifts• Pottery • Jewelry• Gourmet Foods• Iowa Wines• Story People Prints and Sculptures• Many Unique American-made Items

Start your holiday shopping here!

Cable TV • Pool3-Bedroom Cabin

Free WirelessInternet

(319) 334-2577JERRY & JUDY LAUER

1810 First Street WestIndependence, IA 50644

For reservations,Call: 800-429-2577

Independence Celebrates Fall 2010CITY WIDE GARAGE SALESaturday, October 2, 2010

L.A.C.E.S. PRESENTSFARMSCAPEOctober 9, 2010 @ Heartland Acres Agribition Center. Info - 334-2764

FALL CRAFT SHOWOctober 16, 2010 - 9am-3pm@ Falcon Civic Center

NOVEMBER 6- DECEMBER 5Saturdays, Noon-8pm,Sundays Noon - 6pmChristmas at THE DEPOT. Small table-top trees, wreaths and specialty items, sold at silent auction on Dec. 5. All towns in Buchanan County donate Christmas items.

JINGLE ON MAINDecember 3 - 5, 2010Celebrate the magic of the season!

FALL/WINTER TRAVEL

Cool hot spots offer winter fun in the Midwest

THE COURIERPAGE 6 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010www.wcfcourier.com

October 2-3: Shihata Or-chard Fest, Visit the Apple House with 25 varieties of apples, jams & jellies, award winning cider, pumpkins, Wis-consin wine, cheese and sau-sage. Weekend outing of fam-ily fun with wagon rides in the orchard, U-pick apple, and The Pumpkin Patch. Free samples of many Apple House prod-ucts, six miles north of Prairie du Chien on Hwy 27, left on Limery Rd., 608-326-2785.

October 2-3 and October 9 & 10: Fall Arts & Crafts Festival, Triangle Park, McGregor, IA, various handmade arts and crafts, 800-896-0910.

October 2-3: October 9 & 10; Flea Market Under the Bridge, Marquette, IA,

563-873-3521

October 23: Victorian Trick and Treat, Learn about the origins of Ameri-can Halloween customs, play seasonal games of the period, enjoy apple cider and other seasonal treats, and more. Held at the Villa Louis Historic Site, St. Feriole Island, Prairie du Chien, 608-326-2721.

October 22-23 and 29-30: Hoffman Halls of Terror, 1600 S Wacouta Ave, Prairie du Chien, 7-10 p.m., sponsored by the Parks & Rec-reation Dept., 608-326-7207

October 22-23 and 29-30; November 5-7: Gun Show, Collectors and dealers of hunting, antique, classic and investment grade firearms from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin,

Prairie du Chien, McGregor,Marquette

continued

FALL/WINTER TRAVEL

Wisconsin road trips offer variety of cheeses MILWAUKEE (AP) — It’s possible,

even pleasurable, to eat one’s way through Wisconsin.

The state has nearly 140 licensed cheese factories, and most are small operations that focus on a few specialty cheeses. That makes it the perfect place to do the dairy equivalent of a Napa Valley winery tour. In a few hours, foodies can sample the only Limburger made in the United States, meet one of the last cheesemakers to use glazed bricks to make brick cheese and try the state’s signature cheese curds.

The Department of Tourism is introducing itineraries this spring for driving trips through the east-ern and western parts of Wiscon-sin, and the Wisconsin Milk Mar-keting Board has outlined alternate routes.

But be prepared to rise early and

call before you hit the road. While many cheesemakers have retail stores that are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., most limit access to the plant because of health regula-tions. Even at those off ering tours or viewing, cheesemaking tends to start early and wrap up before 11 a.m.

Hiram Smith, a farmer on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, opened Wisconsin’s fi rst cheese factory near Sheboygan in 1859. Today, 1 in every 4 pounds of cheese sold in the U.S. is made in Wisconsin, according to the Milk Marketing Board.

“Just like Napa Valley has become synonymous with the wine coun-try, Wisconsin has developed a reputation as an epicenter for spe-cialty cheese,” tourism secretary Kelli Trumble said.

The U.S. and World Champion-ship Cheese contests are held in Wisconsin in alternate years, and the state’s cheesemakers have done well in both.

There’s no cheesemaking plant in Milwaukee, but groceries and cheese shops carry varieties from around the state.

Wisconsin visitors also can learn to make their own cheese. Home brewer and cheesemaker Steve Shapson teaches weekend chee-semaking workshops at bed-and-breakfasts throughout the state. The $145 sessions include a chee-semaking kit and lessons in making Camembert/brie, ricotta, feta and chevre. Shapson also does two-hour, $76 weekday classes on mak-ing Camembert/brie at the Screa-min’ Tuna Surf Shop in Cedarburg. Reservations are needed.

If you goHere are a few cheese stores

and producers:West Allis Cheese & Sausage,

400 N. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis., www.wacheese-gifts.com or (414) 289-8333. Store.

Widmer’s Cheese Cellars, 214 W. Henni St., Theresa, Wis., www.widmerscheese.com or (920) 488-2503. Store and viewing area. Tours by reservation.

Beechwood Cheese Co., N1598W County Road A, Beech-wood, Wis., www.beechwood-cheese.com or (877) 224-3373. Crowds line up to buy fresh, warm curds fi rst Saturday of the month, 11 a.m. Store and viewing window.

Chalet Cheese Cooperative, N4858 County Road N., Monroe, Wis., (608) 325-4343. Only Lim-berger maker in the U.S. Store.

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM CHEESE TRAIL: www.travelwisconsin.com

By AMIE STEFFEN

[email protected]

Beer, beef and berries.It’s autumn in Wisconsin.And while you might know

the state better for its cheese (there’s that, too), Wisconsin has a lot more to off er. Whether you’re coming for the natural landscapes of Door County, the nightlife of Milwaukee or Madi-son or the family fun of the Wis-consin Dells — or want some-thing a little more off the beaten path — fall and winter are prime times to explore.

MadisonThe state celebrates the written

word at the Wisconsin Book Fes-tival, a four-day event Sept. 29 through Oct. 3 featuring national authors, poets, artists, editors and critics lecturing, reading, storytelling and discussing all things literary. Best part? It’s free. (wisconsinbookfestival.org)

What’s more Wisconsin than cheese? Heck, you’re talking about a state that proudly dons cheese hats during sporting

events. That’s why the Wiscon-sin Original Cheese Festival is so popular among artisan cheese fans — you meet dozens of chee-semakers from around the state, take tours of cheese plants and enjoy special cheese tastings throughout the three-day event Nov. 5-7. (wicheesefest.com)

More than 90 artists converge on Madison’s Holiday Art Fair, displaying paintings, prints, photos, ceramics, glass, jewelry and more Nov. 19-21. Live enter-tainment also is a feature, as well as the Gourmet Gallery fi lled with treats like chocolates and, of course, cheese. (mmoca.org)

MilwaukeeComing up very soon (like, this

week) is the Milwaukee Film Fes-tival. Now in its second year, it will screen 150 fi lms from around the world in three venues around the city Sept. 23-Oct. 3. (mil-waukee-fi lm.org)

Whether you know your art or you just know what you like, Gal-lery Night and Day is Milwaukee’s premiere art event. From Friday evening through Saturday Oct. 15-16, more than 50 galleries and

businesses in the downtown area open up for art lovers to browse. (historicthirdward.org)

Wisconsin DellsThink the fun ends when Labor

Day hits? Not a chance. Find out fi rsthand at the Autumn Harvest Fest, an annual event at the Dells featuring scarecrow stuffing, pumpkin decorating, hayrack rides, live entertainment and an arts and crafts marketplace, among others, Oct. 16-17. (wis-dells.com/ahf)

Door CountySpeaking of pumpkins, if

you’re sightseeing for fall col-ors in Door County (a spec-tacular place to do so, by the way), stop by Egg Harbor Oct. 9-10 for the Pumpkin Patch Festival, featuring family enter-tainment in Harbor View Park. (eggharbor-wi.com)

If you come closer to the end of October, check out Zoo Boo in Green Bay’s N.E.W. Zoo for all things Halloween (weekends starting Oct. 15 through Oct. 30). Play in the happy haunted forest or hop aboard the haunted hay-

ride and costumes are encour-aged. (newzoo.org)

Around WisconsinBeer: The heavily German state

will be celebrating Oktoberfest again and again. Check out the beer enthusiast festivals Sept. 24-25 in Appleton (octoberfestonline.org), Sept 24-Oct. 2 in La Crosse (oktoberfestusa.com) and Oct. 9-10 in Lake Geneva. (lakegenevawi.com)

Cranberries: Besides cheese and beer, it’s cranberries that are heralded the most this fall. Cel-ebrate the tart fruit Sept. 24-26 in Warrens (cranfest.com), at the Annual Stone Lake Cranberry Festival Oct. 2 (stonelakecran-berryfestival.com) or at Cran-berry Fest in Eagle River Oct. 2-3. (cranberryfest.org)

Beef: Beef-A-Rama in Minoc-qua celebrates all things beef Sept. 24-25 (minocqua.org), or take in something decidedly non-food-related at the 20th annual Wade House Civil War Weekend in Greenbush, one of the largest reenactments in the Midwest, Sept. 25-26. (wade-house.org)

Fall, winter prime time for fun in Wisconsin

Prairie du Chien, McGregor, Marquette

“The finest smoked fish in the world”

Complete line of fresh Wisconsin cheeseHomemade sausage, jerkeys, smoked fish

Complete line of seafood

608-326-4719Just Across The Bridge • Prairie du Chein

September 25 and October 30: Hole in the Sock Gang 1880 Street Theatre, The Old West comes alive in downtown McGregor, IA, with a reenactment of action-packed bank robberies, cowboy shootouts and saloon girls, free show, 800-896-0910.

September 25-26: Gays Mills Apple Festival, Tourists 608-735-4810, art & crafts 608-735-4643, flea market 608-735-4521, parade, 608-735-4695, Gays Mills, WI.

September 25: National Public Lands Day, Free entrance day, Effigy Mounds National Monument, N of Marquette, IA, 563-873-3491.

September 25: Moonlight Hike,Effigy Mounds National Monument, N of Marquette, IA, reservations taken

beginning Monday, Sept. 20, 563-873-3491.

September 25: Spirits of Wyalusing Past, Meet characters from Wyalusing State Park’s past along a luminary trail, 7 p.m., sponsored by Friends of Wyalusing State Park, 608-996-2261.

More activities for Prairie du Chien, McGregor, and Marquette are on the next page.

102 Business Highway 18McGregor

563-873-9667 Open 7 Days a Week

BREAKFASTLUNCHDINNER

Dining as you watch the great river flow by . . .

RIVERVIEWRestaurant & Bar

Holiday Shores Motel - McGregor, IowaOn the main channel of the Mississippi River

Come enjoy our view!563-873-3449 • www.holidayshoresmotel.com for information.

The building housing Little Switzerland Inn was constructed in 1862 as the home for Iowa’s oldest weekly newspaper, The North Iowa Times. Sadie’s Log Cabin was built at Wexford, Iowa in 1848 and moved into the yard next to the Inn in 1987. With a mixture of primitive and new, the authentic log cabin also features a jacuzzi and beautiful stone fireplace, accommodating large or small groups.

(563) 873-2057 or (608) 874-4559 or (608) 412-0400 • 126 Main St., McGregor, IA • www.littleswitzerlandinn.com

FALL/WINTER TRAVEL THE COURIER PAGE 7SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 www.wcfcourier.com

THE COURIERPAGE 8 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010www.wcfcourier.com

ST. LOUIS — Looking for new or off beat experiences? St. Louis has some sometimes-wacky museums, events and destina-tions to off er.

See the world’s only completely recycled museum when you visit the art-fi lled playground of City Museum. Don’t let the name fool you. This defi antly no-tech, hands-on warehouse of adven-ture, located in a former shoe manufacturing facility in down-town St. Louis’ Washington Ave-nue loft district, has nothing to do with city history. An outdoor playground called MonstroCity, a walk-through whale, indoor per-formances by everydaycircus, the world’s largest pair of underpants and a pint-size railroad are just some of the off beat museum’s treasures. The World Aquarium

has set up shop inside City Muse-um with a please-touch attitude toward its tanks of baby sharks, stingrays, turtles and other assorted water-loving creatures.

One man’s passion for collect-ing just about everything relat-ed to popular culture has cre-ated Blueberry Hill in The Loop neighborhood. In addition to its reputation for food and music, the restaurant is known as home to the world’s best jukebox and eclectic collections that vary from Chuck Berry’s guitar to Howdy Doody items and vin-tage lunchboxes. Outside, along Delmar Boulevard, a changing window display at Blueberry Hill often includes performance art, and Loop merchants sell a variety of goods and services that will delight seekers of the off beat.

Legendary St. Louis rocker Chuck Berry will hold court in The Loop 24/7. In November, an 8-foot-tall bronze statue of Berry is expected to be unveiled at Chuck Berry Plaza at the inter-section of Delmar Boulevard and the Centennial Greenway Bike Path in University City. St. Louis sculptor Harry Weber created the statue, which shows Berry in an old-school tuxedo with his trademark Gibson guitar. The statue will be located across the street from Blueberry Hill, where Berry still plays monthly concerts.

Get your kicks on Route 66 by visiting St. Louis’ Museum of Transportation. It’s home to more than 300 moving vehicles including locomotives, street-cars, aircraft and automobiles.

The passenger car collection includes the 1964 Bobby Darin “Dream Car” and a 1901 St. Louis car — a four-seat, single or two-cylinder engine vehicle with tiller steering. Another

display features a portion of the Coral Court Motel — St. Louis’ infamous Route 66 rendezvous spot that off ered drive-in units.

Source: www.ExploreStLouis.com

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DEC. 5th - The Community Christmas Celebration at 4pm at Nashua Methodist Church.

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OCTOBER 2Seed Savers Exchange Harvest Festival1-4pm, Garden and Seed Saving Workshops, Wagon Rides, Guided Tours, Live Music.Located at the Lillian Goldman Visitors Center, 3074 North Winn Rd., Decorah, Iowa 563-382-5990www.seedsavers.org

FALL/WINTER TRAVEL

St. Louis offers plenty of wacky, off-beat places to see

St. Louis is a hot spot for foodies

ST. LOUIS — Eating great food is part of the fun of traveling. St. Louis may not be the fi rst city that pops into your head when some-one says “great restaurant scene,” but the city has plenty to off er foodies.

Chef Gerald Craft is described as a “dining juggernaut.” Craft opened Niche in 2005 and has now opened Taste by Niche and Brasserie by Niche. Craft’s new outpost is in the Central West End neighborhood. Brasserie, serves traditional French fare in a street-side site that seems shipped directly from Paris. Diners will fi nd traditional rustic French favorites on the menu including cassoulet and beef bourguignon, all with seasonal, locally-sourced accompaniments, and a plat du jour, which, as the name implies, will change daily.

See ST. LOUIS, page 10

THE COURIER PAGE 9SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 www.wcfcourier.com

By MELODY PARKER

[email protected]

A theater weekend in Chicago could be just the ticket. Who needs Broadway when the new season’s off erings are beckoning from the city’s historic Loop the-ater district and beyond?

“Billy Elliot the Musical” has taken the town by storm. Named “best musical of the decade” by Time magazine, the show fea-tures music by Elton John and lyrics by Lee Hall. It’s the tale of a boy with a dream and his triumph against the odds as he decides his future lies on stage as a dancer, not in the boxing ring. The show runs through Oct. 24 at the Ford Center for the Per-forming Arts’ Oriental Theatre.

Disney’s “The Lion King” may steal the show when it opens Sept. 29 at Cadillac Palace The-atre. After fi ve years, the show returns to Chicago for a limited engagement. Elton John again wrote the score with lyrics by Tim Rice.

In the Albert at Goodman Theatre, a new production of “Candide” leads off the season, now through Oct. 31. Featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein and contributions from Stephen Sondheim, Dorothy Parker and more, it’s the story of Candide, who is banished for romancing a baron’s daughter and is chal-lenged by absurd hardships. Director is Tony Award- and MacArthur “genius” grant-win-ning director Mary Zimmerman.

Chekhov’s masterwork, “The

Seagull,” runs Oct. 16 through Nov. 14 and will be on the Owen Stage, directed by Robert Falls, and Nov. 19 through Dec. 31, John Judd will portray Ebene-zer Scrooge in the classic Dick-ens holiday show, “A Christmas Carol.”

The acclaimed Steppen-wolf opened their season with “Detroit,” now through Nov. 7, followed by Edward Albee’s

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” Dec. 2 through Feb. 6. At Drury Lane Theatre, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” hits the stage Oct. 14 through Dec. 19, fol-lowed by Monty Python’s “Spa-malot” Dec. 30 through March 6. That show received 14 Tony nominations.

“Rock of Ages” opens its national tour Sept. 21 through Oct. 3 at Bank of America The-

atre. Tony Award nominee and “American Idol” fi nalist Con-stantine Maroulis reprises his acclaimed performance as Drew in a show fi lled with arena-rock music with hits from Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar and more.

On the quieter side, “Traces” features awe-inspiring acro-batics by a French Canadian company, performing at the

Broadway Playhouse from Oct. 26 through Dec. 19. “Wicked” returns to the Windy City for an eight-week run beginning Dec. 1. The witches of Oz are back by popular demand for the holidays. Named the “defi ning musical of the decade” by the New York Times, it’s the story of two girls who grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

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FALL/WINTER TRAVEL

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THE COURIERPAGE 10 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010www.wcfcourier.comFALL/WINTER TRAVEL

Visit a Kansas prairie for a different view of fall colors By MELODY PARKER

[email protected]

Autumn on the praririe is as pretty as picture. Grasses change color and trees near streams bring color to the vast blue sky.

Central Kansas is a driving destination for fall travelers looking for a change from leaf-peeper routes of the upper Mid-west. It’s a road trip for hardy souls who appreciate the scen-ery of the high plains, lowlands, grasslands,woodlands, hills and valleys with a little bit of history thrown in for good measure.

In Central Kansas, visitors will fi nd the Smoky Hills, Red Hills, Flint Hills and Chautauqua Hills, the high plains and the Arkansas River lowland within 100 miles. The Kansas Travel and Tourism Bureau has devel-oped an itinerary that takes lookie-loos on a scenic sidetrip through the central part of the state.

Start in Cottonwood Falls. You might want to take a few ■

minutes to explore the town’s classic French Renaissance courthouse, built in 1873. The Chase County Courthouse is the oldest public building still in use in Kansas.

From Cottonwood Falls, take Highway 177 south through the heart of the vast Flint Hills, the largest segment of true prairie remaining in the U.S. Named for a complaint made by explor-er Zebulon Pike (he wrote that his feet hurt after hiking these “hard, fl inty hills”), the prai-rie grows big bluestem grasses, which can reach heights of 8 feet or more when left ungrazed.

Other grasses in the Flint Hills include little bluestem, switch grass and Indian grass. As fall moves closer to winter, the col-ors of the prairie change sharp-ly, depending on how much rain the grasses received dur-ing the growing season. Lush green during the summer, the grasses will progressively turn brown, grey and fi nally pink as fall changes to winter.

A few trees pop up here and

there, mostly along the river banks. Sycamores are the most striking with their large, white trunks set against the grayish-pink grasses. Yellow leaves drop from the walnut trees, while the oaks along the river have red-dish-brown leaves. Hackberry, hickory, locust, elm and hedge are a few of the other trees that add color to prairie streams. Cottonwood trees bring color to the draws near the rivers.

Don’t overlook the prairie wildfl owers in the fall, when yellow and blue colors domi-nate. Sunfl owers bloom in the fall. Pitcher’s Sage and Gay-feather are found throughout the Flint Hills, with the latter providing blue plumes about 2 feet tall. Snow-on-the-Moun-tain is a green plant with dis-tinctive white margins on the leaves.

Continue on Highway 177 through the Flint Hills to El Dorado Lake, an 8,000-acre reservoir located in the largest state park in Kansas. With 98 miles of shoreline, the lake pro-

vides plenty of opportunities to see the contrast between prairie and water, not to mention the numerous waterfowl that stop here during migrations.

On Highway 77, head south to Kansas Highways 15 and 55 to Belle Plaine and Bartlett Arbore-tum. This 20-acre garden, start-ed in 1910 by the Bartlett family, has fl owers, trees, shrubs and grasses collected from around the world. Ornamental fl ow-ers of every description, many unique to the Midwest, bloom throughout the fall in a bril-liant array of shapes and hues. A Japanese-style bridge crosses a small lake, completely rimmed by a rainbow of foliage and fl ow-ers, their brilliance doubled by their watery refl ection. Care-fully designed trails allow you to explore every colorful nook and cranny of this unique and beau-tiful arboretum.

Back on Highway 77, head south to Arkansas City, where three physiographic provinces — the Flint Hills, the Arkan-sas River lowlands and the

Wellington lowlands — come together. Arkansas City sits on a bluff at the confl uence of the Arkansas and Walnut Riv-ers, and the annual Arkalalah celebration during the fourth weekend of October takes full advantage of the beautiful nat-ural setting.

The Chaplin Nature Center, on the northwest edge of Arkansas City, covers two hundred rug-ged acres of woods and mead-ows carved from the banks of the Arkansas River. The Nature Center is a popular habitat for both fl ora and fauna.

Poison ivy, Virginia Creeper and other wild vines contrib-ute reds, yellows and oranges to the landscape. Clumps of bit-tersweet, thick with reddish-orange berries, dot the wood-lands. Along the river in late October, the green ash leaves turn to gold while the oak leaves darken to red. Throughout the park, woodland critters skitter and fl itter while making last-minute preparations for the approaching winter.

Craft opened Niche in 2005 in St. Louis’ up-and-coming Benton Park neighborhood. He was quickly acclaimed one of America’s best new chefs by Food & Wine magazine. Niche is an intimate space, so reserva-tions made well in advance of a visit to St. Louis are a must. The menu is new each day, based on the availability of the fresh-est ingredients. The best way to experience Niche is to sub-mit to the multi-course tasting menu, paired with wines if you like, and enjoy whatever comes your way. Noted as a master with pork, Craft’s pork belly creations are a must.

The popularity of Niche spawned Taste by Niche, opened recently in a small space next door to the original. Taste,

which specializes in small plates and craft drinks refl ect-ing the golden age of the Amer-ican cocktail, is designed for an early evening snack or a place to linger later in the night. Try a Chrysanthemum, concocted from dry vermouth, benedictin and absinthe (circa 1930).

Just as the famous Gateway Arch overlooks downtown St. Louis, the Terrace View Cafe overlooks City Garden down-town. Operated by Jim Fiala who also helms The Cross-ing, Acero and LiLuma, Ter-race View serves lunch, dinner and has just added a Sunday brunch.

Bridge, a tap house and wine bar, is the newest off ering from David Bailey, who also operates Bailey’s Chocolate Bar in St. Louis’ historic Lafayette Square neighborhood (try “Choco-late Inebriation” — a chocolate layer cake accented with choc-

olate stout, bittersweet choco-late ganache and cinnamon ice rream) and Rooster, a popular breakfast stop for the down-town crowd.

In a city that is synonymous with beer, distilling is mak-ing an impact on the palate. Square One Brewery, located in the Victorian Lafayette Square neighborhood, has added what it calls The Spirits of St. Louis, consisting of on-site created vodka, rum, Aquavit, Agave Blue American tequila and many others to its craft beer menu. Not far away, the Sta-ble, a restaurant constructed in the historic Lemp brewery stables, is enticing customers to try dark rum aged in French oak, old-fashioned corn liquor, plus grappa, beer schnapps and absinthe.

In the glory days of the Amer-ican automobile, new car show rooms were as glamorous as

the vehicles themselves. Today St. Louis’ Midtown Alley dis-trict and Historic Automotive Row are bursting with great food. The former Stutz Bearcat show room, built in 1916, has been renewed as Fountain on Locust where they specialize in late night ice cream martinis. Nearby, Triumph Grill has been added to the Moto Museum which displays classic Europe-an motorcycles.

Nearby is Pappy’s Smoke-house. Just as St. Louis’ blues musicians hang around B.B’s Jazz, Blues and Soups when they’re done with their evening gigs, area restaurateurs head for Pappy’s Smokehouse when they’re looking for barbecue. Served in a dry rub-style, the ribs are a must, but don’t pass up the beef brisket or the pulled pork. Better try a combo plate. When heading to Pappy’s, go early to avoid lines that often

snake down the sidewalk. When they’re out of meat, they close the doors for the day.

The Loop neighborhood along Delmar is home to doz-ens of interesting restaurants. One of the newest is Eclipse, opened in the neighborhood’s new Moonrise Hotel. Noted for casual fi ne dining with a cosmic twist, Eclipse quickly has become a favorite place for breakfast meetings or late night fun.

St. Louis’ venerable restau-rants are not being left behind in the wake of the new restau-rants. Tony’s in downtown St. Louis, a Forbes four-star res-taurant, continues to be a stop of choice for sports fi gures, visitors and residents celebrat-ing special occasions or just the fact that it’s their favorite day of the week.

Source: www.ExploreStLouis.com

ST. LOUISFrom page 8

THE COURIER PAGE 11SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 www.wcfcourier.com

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FALL/WINTER TRAVEL

Nebraska offers balloon fest, Cobweb Castle, pottery tour

By AMIE STEFFEN

[email protected]

With its rolling prairies and moderate fall temperatures, Nebraska attracts a lot of pheas-ant, goose and wild turkey hunt-ers in the fall.

Wetlands, marshes and lakes provide great habitats for the birds, and more than 800,000 acres of public land are available to suss them out.

But if you’re more into city entertainment options than camoufl age, our western neigh-bor has got you covered there as well. Here, then, is our Nebraska autumn roundup:

OmahaIf the kids want to get into the

Halloween spirit but aren’t ready for the full-on scare, take them to the Cobweb Castle at the Omaha Children’s Museum in Octo-ber. They’ll wander through the

Ghostly Graveyard, Find-Your-Way-Forest, a Pirate’s Parlor, Kooky Kitchen, Vampire’s Batty Bedroom and Casper’s Closet. (ocm.org)

For children of all ages, check out the Spooktacular at the Henry Doorly Zoo. Besides vis-iting one of the biggest zoos around, you can wear your cos-tume and trick-or-treat Oct. 24 from several treat stations around the park. (omahazoo.com)

Pottery lover? Find all things clay-related at the 6th annual Omaha North Hills Pottery Tour Oct. 2-3. Fifteen regional and national potters will showcase their work, and working stu-dios will be featured on the tour. (omahanorthhillspotterytour.com)

Around NebraskaThree hundred miles and

countless fl ea markets, farmers markets, food stands and antique

dealers, and only the limits of your gas tank and your wallet are stopping you from driving all over the state. For better directions for the Sept 24-26 Junk Jaunt, check out the website for the shopper’s guide. (junkjaunt.com)

The family-owned Vala’s Pumpkin Patch in Gretna attracts well over 100,000 visitors per year from September through Halloween, with events, enter-tainment and, of course, that perfect pumpkin. (valaspump-kinpatch.com)

Looking for something cool to see this autumn besides the fall colors? Check out what’s in the sky at the Wakefi eld Hot Air Balloon Festival in Wakefi eld in northeast Nebraska Oct. 15-17. Dozens of balloons will take to the sky above this rural town, and the event includes a craft fair, food vendors, live entertainment and children’s activities. (wake-fi eldballoonfestival.com)

COURTESY PHOTO

Families can get out and enjoy the autumn air at Vala’s Pumpkin Patch near Gretna, Neb.

THE COURIERPAGE 12 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010www.wcfcourier.comFALL/WINTER TRAVEL

Enjoy a view Minnesota’s scenery by water or landBy AMIE STEFFEN

[email protected]

You may have heard the jokes about the seasons of Minneso-ta: Almost Construction, Con-struction, Still Construction and Winter.

But Midwesterners know bet-ter. While East Coasters fawn over New England’s colors, the rest of us recognize the beauty of autumn in our own backyards — sometimes, yes, as we’re wait-ing in road construction traffi c.

Nowhere is that more evident than in our neighbor to the north, Minnesota. The state’s tourism site, Explore Minnesota, even puts out a Fall Colors report every Thursday during autumn describing the scene at various places around the state.

Check out the beauty of fall, all within a day’s drive.

Twin Cities, by boatIf you think you won’t see great

foliage in Minnesota’s population center, you haven’t been there in autumn. The Twin Cities pro-vide plenty of opportunities to kick back and check out the reds, golds and browns of fall.

The best way to take it in might just be by boat. Between Min-neapolis and St. Paul lies a scenic Mississippi River gorge featuring tall, wooded bluff s loaded with color, and the St. Croix River is great for a boat ride as well as a hike.

Take a paddle boat, sightseeing cruise, steamboat or even a six-person gondola down the Mis-sissippi or St. Croix rivers for a relaxing time.

More information: Afton-Hudson Cruise Lines (www.aftonhouseinn.com), Al and Alma’s (www.al-almas.com), Gondola Cruises (www.gondol-aromantica.com), Minneapolis Queen & Paradise Cruises (www.twincitiescruises.com), Padel-ford Riverboats (www.riverrides.com), Queen of Excelsior (www.qecruise.com), St. Croix Boat & Packet Co. (www.stillwaterriv-erboats.com), Steamboat Min-nehaha (www.steamboatmin-

nehaha.org), Taylors Falls Queen & Princess (www.taylorsfalls-boat.com)

Gliding down the river isn’t the only way to take in the colors.

Drive itThere’s the tried-and-true

drive through back roads. Try Palisade Head, off Highway 61 northeast of Silver Bay. Besides being a lush wooded area, the overlook has great views of Lake Superior and Wisconsin.

Garvin Heights, in Winona off Hwy. 61, boasts great views of the Mississippi River, bordered by tall, forest-cloaked bluff s.

Mount Tom in Sibley State Park

is the highest point in this part of the state, complete with views of the area’s wooded hills, lakes and farmland.

Hike itYou can take the trees in at your

own pace with a hike. Mount Tom is good for that too, with a three-mile round trip hike to the top.

Oberg Mountain northeast of Tofte has a two-mile loop along the Superior National Forest trail, with views in every direction as you ascend the mountain.

Around the Mississippi River Valley between Red Wing and LaCrescent, check out John Latsch State Park north of Wino-

na for a half-mile Riverview Trail that rewards you with amazing views from the top of Mount Charity.

Or check out the appropriately-named Inspiration Peak north-west of Alexandria in the heart of Lake Country.

Climb itYou also can hike up manmade

features. Climb to the top of a 100-foot fi re tower, once used as lookouts for wildfi res, in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park and view Mille Lacs Lake as well as the surrounding colorful hardwoods.

Other fi re towers to check out: Itasca State Park north of Park

Rapids, St. Croix State Park east of Hinckley and Whitewater State Park east of Rochester.

Drive up to the northwest cor-ner of Minnesota to climb an old stone water tower and observa-tion tower in Lake Bronson State Park.

Ride itEven before the snow fl ies,

make your way to Lutsen to ride the tram to the top of Moose Mountain. At a thousand feet above Lake Superior, you’ll have arguably the best views of the surrounding area. The tram runs daily through Oct. 18 and is $10.75 per adult. (lutsen.com)

SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO

A view of Lake Pepin on the Mississippi River in Minnesota.