Beautiful and peaceful. Hubby and I walked around Taylor Falls, then canoed on waterway for a few hours. It was time that I wanted to stand still. The trees and foliage were a special kind of green and the water was calm. There were numerous birds in the area...a lone eagle even swooped down in front of us at one point and glided above the water. It was the kind of tranquility that really allows you to relax and be restored. I want to go back.Note: There is a fee for canoeing but not for just being on the waterway.
We had a ride on the railroad to Marine on the St Croix from Osceola Wisc. A nice time with the grandchildren.
The river is wonderful but don't overlook the visitor center. They have displays of the river and animals. Its a federal facility and the rangers are very friendly. Nice movie on the history of the river and an aquarium. Don't miss the visitors center.
You can't beat the scenery and the exhilarating thrill of looking over the edge of every cliff! The wind in your face is more refreshing than biting into a York Peppermint Patty!
Beautiful area for a drive any time of year and only an hour away from the city life. So many hiking trails to explore in the Interstate park. Rent a canoe or kayak and experience the abundant wild life. There are many places along the rivers edge for picnicking. It's a must see!
Rented a canoe from Taylors Falls Canoe rental. Did it on line, and got $5 off each canoe. Took the 7-ml trip down to Osceola. Brought our cooler, and one of those $4 disposable grills, and had a shore lunch of Angus burgers and an ice cold adult beverage. Made that area of the river smell like a bar-b-q. :) Calming, relaxing and just something you have to do if you're in the area. (The only thing that was a little quirky was that I had to pay the State Park $5, to get to this "private canoe rental"? Maybe it's because you launch off of State Park land or something?)
Drove an few hours out of our way so that the kiddos could partake in the Jr. Ranger program! Very small facility with lots of information about area birds, river condition and information. Small walkway and overlook deck to beautiful views of the river and Dam. We followed a boardwalk (literally) down a pathway and ended up on personal property! Rangers were most helpful and offered extended information in regards to the area!
Took a fall drive both up and down the Riverway and enjoyed it both ways. The road is easy to navigate and there are some interesting small towns along the way to stop in and stretch your legs. Very scenic.
The National Park system offers classes at their parks year round. Check out their web site to see what is going on near you.
We stopped at the visitor center to view the river! They have all native grasses and flowers around it, which made it look like it was deserted! It would have looked nicer on the approach if they had groomed the landscape a little. The visitor center plays a very informative film that lasts about 20 min. Was worth watching. From there you can walk down to the landing area to see the River. Lovely view of the river.