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Bemidji, The First
City on the Mississippi, Minnesota USA
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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. |
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Contact:
Cindy Habedank 800-458-2223
X 106
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| Day One |
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9:00 a.m.
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Depart Minneapolis via Great River Road
(Interstate
94) |
10:00 a.m.
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Option
1: Arrive in St Cloud
Tour Munsinger/Clemens Gardens on
the bank of the Mississippi River.
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11:30 a.m. |
Lunch - Flowerpot lunch or
restaurant of choice. |
10:30 a.m.
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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 |
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1:00 p.m.
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Depart for Grand Rapids
via MN Hwy 371/169
Watch as landscape changes from farmland to lush forests and
lakes.
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3:00 p.m.
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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 |
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5:00 p.m.
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Check into
motel. |
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6:00 p.m. |
Dine at The Harbor or the Sawmill Inn |
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7:30 p.m. |
Browse Itasca Heritage Center |
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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
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| Day Two |
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8:30 a.m. |
Depart for Bemidji via
US Hwy 2,the Great River Road
National Scenic Byway. |
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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.
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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.
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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8:00 p.m . |
Theater
Performance |
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10:30 p.m. |
Return to
lodging |
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| Day Three |
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8:30 a.m. |
Depart for Itasca State Park - Headwaters of the
Mississippi River via the Great River Road. |
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9:15 a.m. |
Arrive at Itasca State
Park
Option 1: Stop at Headwaters of Mississppi River –
walk to headwaters -step
across!
Option
2:
Stop at state-of- the art
Visitors
Center. Step-on
Naturalist tour through park on Wilderness Drive
and to Headwaters area.
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: 55 passengers.
Reservations required.
218-266-2101 /
218-732-5318
Memorial Weekend - 1st
Weekend October
Contact:
Park Naturalist 218-266-2114
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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
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1:00 p.m. |
Depart for Minneapolis, Grand Forks,
Fargo/Moorhead and points beyond. |
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