Mrs beagledave and I are celebrating our 5th anniversary Columbus Day weekend (October 7th weekend).
We’re trying to plan an extended weekend getaway…hopefully within driving distance of where we live (Davenport, Iowa the Quad Cities)
I don’t know if that is too early to catch the leaves changing up in Wisconsin? Any other ideas in the Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois etc… area for a nice romantic getaway?
thanks in advance!
dave
Congrats to you and Mrs. Dave!
awwwwww… ::sentimental sniffs::
You could do the bed-and-breakfast thing in Galena, IL; gorgeous old Victorian river town, if you’re into antiques, etc.
Door County, WI is beautiful; the White Gull Inn is great; the lake is gorgeous in any season, but w/ luck the trees may have turned by then. Lots of trails, great biking, cute little towns, etc. (You could also catch House on the Rock and/or Wright’s Taliesin on the way.)
The lodge and cabins at Starved Rock State Park are wonderful. A cabin with a fireplace…hmmmm? The setting is simply gorgeous, and Lodge facilities are fine. (Pool, excellent dining room, huge stone commons area.)
But how are you going to make things right with Clancy not going along?
Veb
thanks for the ideas veb…I had been thinking about Door County…neither of us has been there yet…need to check driving distances
Probably need to get a pooch sitter for Clancy…most b&bs are not hound friendly …
Dave, this might be a little more driving than you had in mind, but hubby and I always like to do extended weekends in Duluth, Minnesota, in the fall. In fact, we’re going there the weekend of your anniversary. There’s a nice tourist area down by the lake called Canal Park, with lots of funky shops and restaurants, a wonderful lakewalk path, and other goodies. Unfortunately most of the hotels in Canal Park are booked; we ended up getting into a hotel downtown that’s still in walking distance. Fitger’s Brewery has a nice shopping complex, there’s a revolving restaurant with a goirgeous nighttime view of the city, and last time we got to watch a ship come into port – very nice for us central-WI land-lubbers.
I’ve heard Duluth described as the Seattle of the Midwest. Though I’ve never been to Seattle, I’m prepared to believe that. They have a pretty good Web site at http://www.visitduluth.com.
is very nice, and has B&Bs, two gorgeous public flower gardens, several amateur theater companies, lots of shopping malls, and lots of big old houses in the area of the university.
It is in sort of the middle of the state on the Mississippi River, and there are walking and biking trails along the river on either side.
There are also lots of restaurants and movie theaters.
That’s a plug for my hometown, but I also gotta agree that Starved Rock State Park would be marvelous (near one of the places I lived while growing up). The other places TVeblen mentioned sound very nice too, and I have heard other people praise Door County.
Congratulations, you two! Have many more happy anniversaries!
I would go with Door County. I’ve never been there in the fall, but I’ve been told it’s awesome. Here’s a [link](http://www.innline.com/door/events.htm#October 2000) to a schedule of community events going on that weekend for ya! Have a great time wherever you go and Congrats!
No offense, Spider, but St. Cloud is boring 
Of course, I could give Mr. and Mrs. beagledave a personal tour of my parents’ farm - there’s always something to do there, although that’s not quite what they had in mind, I think 
I would recommend a slow trip up the Mississippi River through using US 61.
Stop in Red Wing and visit the old…what is it, an old woolen mill? An old pottery mill? Anyhow, they’ve converted it into a rather interesting mall.
Follow 694 around the Cities and end up in Stillwater. Spend the night in one of the old B&Bs in the old part of town and spend the next day window shopping. Even if antiquing isn’t your thing, there’s lots of stuff to see in that town, not the least of which is the architecture - the houses there are BEAUTIFUL - Jessica Lang lives there, in a big old Victorian with a double picket fence.
After spending your second night in Stillwater continue on to Cannon Falls, stopping at the sculpture park in - New Caledonia, I think. I can’t remember where it is, but it’s on the way to Cannon Falls and you’ll see it as you go by it. Check out the falls in Cannon Falls, then zip back home using the highways, if you’re pressed for time.
Crud. I meant Taylors Falls. And that sculpture garden is in Franconia. Sorry about that.
I do love St. Cloud but I guess you’re right about it not being as much of a tourist attraction as all those other places.
I must confess to being a little bit of a homebody (if I could afford it I’d be agoraphobic and never leave the house).
I admit, I’m biased, but I think that if you REALLY wanna get away from it all, try Brainerd MN, it is RIGHT near St. Cloud, MN, and less than a 3hr. drive from Duluth, and it is right in the middle of the state, Hell, Look at the map of MN, see all those lakes? yea, right there, that’s Brainerd!!!
~Ad Noctum
OMG sandyr…I grew up in Stillwater. I moved away when the town went touristy. It is still a nice town, I visit often, my parents still live there (very close to Jessica Lange’s house BTW, the house was an antique store when I was a young un).
I love Duluth! I go there every chance I get. I like to watch the big iron ore ships come in through the canal and under the lift bridge, eating at Grandma’s, visiting the museums and driving up the North Shore. I would recommend Duluth.
Bo
Wow, all these natives coming out of the woodwork
Where are you now, Boscibo? I agree that Stillwater is a bit touristy, especially in summer, but it’s a charming town if you go during the off-season. Did you ever go on the Zephyr?
beagledave, Davenport to Stillwater is about 350 miles; much of it in southern MN is a two-lane highway along the river - beautiful but slow-going if you’re in a rush. Duluth (for which I also give a ringing endorsement) is another 100 miles or so. Davenport to Sturgeon Bay, WI is about 360 miles.
If you’re looking for fall color, here’s a link to this fall’s predictions.
And don’t keep us in suspense! Let us know what you’ve decided.
The McGregor Prairie du Chein area is pretty if the leaves are turning,It is nice even if they aren’t.
If they have turned look south. There is a scenic drive advertised along the Spoon River in Ill.Mos t of the river towns have something to see.
I’ll leave the romantic part to you and Mrs BD
I now live right across the river in Hudson, WI. I call Hudson “Stillwater Jr.” It is quickly becoming another tourist town. :eek:
I have never been on the Zephyr, but I have bought tickets and given them to others as gifts. I used to ride my horses up that railroad track…I’ve seen the sights.
I second Starved Rock. Easily the most beautful park in Illinois, and the refurbishment is the only good legacy of Governor Thompson.
What about the Apostle Islands?
You should have Fall colors in the northern tier of the state by that time.
I was looking for a place to go on vacation which would allow me to bring my pooch, and found the Alpine Resort in Egg Harbor, WI. it’s in Door County, right on Green Bay.
Take a look at Wisconsin Dog Friendly Places for details.
Starved Rock is nice too, been there. I’d say get there for the Sunday brunch if you can.
Catch Oktoberfest.
Stroll through the historic downtown.
Take a trip on the steamboat Julia Belle Swain.
Stop at the Myrick Park Zoo.
Bike the Great River Trail.
Drive to the top of Granddad Bluff (You can practically SEE Quad Cities from there!)
Ah, hell…just click here
But you could race there, correct?