Traveling as a Group
Are you looking for a unique destination product for your group? Red Wing, Minnesota, famous the world over for its fine shoes and pottery is also becoming one of the most exciting group travel destinations in the Midwest.
- Has more buildings listed on the National Historic Register per capita than any other U.S. city?
Boasts the nations first municipally owned performing arts theater, the meticulously restored T.B. Sheldon Memorial Theatre? - Is home to one of the largest populations of wintering Bald Eagles in the country?
The Red Wing Visitors & Convention Bureau offers a variety of services to make your stay the most enjoyable.
- maps & brochures to operators
- customized tour planning
- sample itineraries
- Remarkable Red Wing video
- group rates
- visitor guides
- advance distribution of Red Wing Visitor Guides
- FAM opportunities
Receptive Operators
- Roaming Red Wing
- E-mail: westphaltours@earthlink.net
Escorted Group Tours around our beautiful city of Red Wing and the surrounding areas. Personalized itineraries for an exciting tour of some of the most breathtaking historic sites against the backdrop of the gorgeous bluffs and the great Mississippi River. Our 'River Ramble' lets you spend a day visiting the special towns around Lake Pepin in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Your guide will provide you with a knowledgeable narration and insight into Red Wing's days gone by and tell you many interesting facts of today. Let us assist you in your plans to visit our many interesting and enjoyable attractions.
Sample Itineraries
- A Day in Historic Red Wing
- Great River Road Fall Color Drive
- On Your Way...Mall of America Tour
- Mississippi Ramble Tour
- Fun Filled Day in Red Wing
A Day in Historic Red Wing
Historical Society Web Site
9:30 a.m.
Arrive in Red Wing. Beautiful scenery begins to take shape as we begin our descent into the Upper Mississippi Valley of Southeast Minnesota. Our first stop will be at the Historic Depot in Levee Park for a brief break. This landmark which is on the National Register of Historic Places is also home to the Red Wings Visitor Center. Here we will be joined by your knowledgeable step-on guide for a narrated tour of Red Wing. The tour will take us past Victorian homes, historic buildings and landmarks, spectacular bluff top vistas and beautiful riverside parks.
11:30 a.m.
Time for a scrumptious lunch at the Historic St. James Hotel. Enjoy lunch in the splendor of this beautifully restored Victorian landmark. A brief tour of the hotel will follow.
1:00 p.m.
Just minutes from the St. James, we arrive at America's first municipally-owned performing arts theater, the Sheldon Theatre. We will have a chance to tour this richly restored historic landmark.
2:15 p.m.
A trip through Red Wing's unique past awaits us as we arrive at the Goodhue County Historical Society. Well known as one of Minnesota's finest museums, the Society traces rich history including Red Wing Shoes, Pottery, Native American heritage and Red Wing's important position as the once largest wheat market in the world.
3:15 p.m.
It's off to Historic Pottery Place Mall. Located in the Pottery District, this building once housed the Union Stoneware Company which made Red Wing known the world over for its stoneware and pottery. Now home to unique specialty shops, antique malls and restaurants, Historic Pottery Place Mall has something for all tastes. Just across the street from the Historic Pottery Place Mall is Red Wing Pottery Salesroom. Here you can see skilled potters make salt glazed pottery the way it was made in the late 1800s.
4:30 p.m.
Depart Red Wing.
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Great River Road Fall Color Drive
The Great River Road is a scenic by-way that stretches from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. From the bluffs of the river valley area, some of the most spectacular views of the Mississippi River can be viewed along the Great River Road to Red Wing. From mid October to early November is the perfect time to see the fall colors at their peak.
9 a.m.
The journey to Red Wing begins in Alma, Wisconsin. This historic village on the Great River Road (Wisconsin Hwy 35), is the resting place for hundreds of Tundra Swans arriving in mid October. The snow white swans are traveling from the Arctic Circle area enroute to their final destination, the East Coast near Chesapeake Bay. The Tundra Swans are not the only waterfowl that call Rieck's Lake home; Canadian geese, mallards and egrets are also in the spotlight.
10 a.m.
Follow Hwy 35 to Hwy 25 and cross the Mississippi River into Minnesota. It's worth the extra time to backtrack to Kellogg, Minnesota, home of LARK Toys. Groups can tour the antique toy museum, take a ride on the hand-carved wooden carousel and stroll through the many rooms of hand-crafted toys.
11:30 a.m.
During the drive to Red Wing stop along the Great River Road at Pepin Height's Orchard in Lake City. Arrive in Red Wing for lunch at anyone of Red Wing's fine restaurants including the historic St. James Hotel.
12:30 p.m.
After lunch stroll downtown to admire the beautiful hanging flower baskets. Over 350 baskets adorn Red Wing from Spring to mid October. Downtown specialty shops highlight the area's Scandinavian heritage and rustic spirit of adventure with the Uffda Shop and the St. James shops, just to name a few! Visit our new Red Wing Shoe Store & Museum. View the world's largest boot size 638 1/2 D inside the front of the store, then up to the museum or shop for Red Wing Shoes and other items.
afternoon
In the heart of downtown Red Wing is the 1904 T.B. Sheldon Theatre. The theatre offers matinee and evening performances of some of the finest local and regional musical and theater performers. Take in a show at the Sheldon Theatre and stay for a tour of the grand 'jewel box', which includes a historical multi-media presentation.
If more waterfowl is on your agenda a Red Wing City Tour is the ticket to more eagle watching. By late November Colvill Park is the winter resting place for hundreds of Bald Eagles. The eagles nest and fish in the open waterways of the Mississippi River from November to early March.
6 p.m.
Time for dinner at one of Red Wing's unique dining areas.
Evening
Enjoy a good night's rest at one of our comfortable lodging facilities.
On Your Way...Mall of America Tour
Mall of America Web Site
This itinerary can be useful as an option for groups who overnight in Red Wing. This is the perfect side trip for a day's activities. This tour will cover just less than 85 miles of some of the most scenic country this area has to offer!
Afternoon
Arrive in Red Wing, to shop at our many retail stores or visits historic sites.
6 p.m.
Time for dinner at one of Red Wing's unique dining areas. From fast food to fine cuisine, we can arrange for a dining experience sure to please your most discriminating tour guest.
Evening
Take in a performance at the historic Sheldon Theatre.
Lodging
Enjoy a good night's rest at one of our comfortable lodging facilities.
Day two
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast.
8:30 a.m.
Board the bus for Mall of America.
9:15 a.m.
Arrive at Mall of America, shop, dine and play at America's largest mall.
Afternoon
Board bus...on your way!
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast in Red Wing.
8:30 a.m.
Load the bus and depart Red Wing, cross the Mississippi River in to Wisconsin and see the beauty that our neighbor to the east has to offer.
9:15 a.m.
The first stop in our tour along the Great River Road is Stockholm, where artists near and far display their work in village shops and galleries.
10:30 a.m.
Pepin is the second village on our Great River Road tour. Pepin is home to gift and antique shops for those nostalgic of the past, and is home to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Wayside Memorial.
Noon
Next we come to Nelson, famous for its Nelson Cheese Factory, where you can see cheese being made and even have a taste of an old-fashioned style ice cream cone.
12:45 p.m.
Crossing the bridge back into Minnesota we arrive in Wabasha, setting of the film "Grumpy Old Men." Wabasha is also home to the the National Eagle Center on the Mississippi River. Visit 5 resident eagles on site.
2:30 p.m.
Backtracking south in Minnesota we arrive in Kellogg. The tiny village of Kellogg is home to several manufactures including Bouquet Enterprises with its factory outlet store, and L.A.R.K. Toys. At L.A.R.K. Toys see the world's largest hand carved carousel, and browse through the unique display of toys and gifts for children and the young at heart.
3:45 p.m.
Board the bus for the return trip north to Red Wing, traveling on one of the country's most scenic highways, with the Mississippi on the right and majestic bluffs to the left. During the drive you'll pass through Reads Landing, Lake City and Frontenac. Along the way, look for bald eagles during the winter months and enjoy the untouched beauty of the river valley throughout the year.
4:30 p.m.
Arrive in Red Wing.
7 a.m.
Depart Red Wing motel for breakfast.
8:00 a.m.
Our first stop will be at the Historic Depot in Levee Park. This landmark, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is also home to the Red Wings Visitor Center. Here you will be joined by your knowledgeable step-on guide for a narrated tour of Red Wing. The tour will take us past Victorian homes, historic buildings and landmarks, spectacular bluff top vistas and beautiful riverside parks.
9:30 a.m.
A trip through Red Wing's unique past awaits us as we arrive at the Goodhue County Historical Society. Well known as one of Minnesota's finest museums, the society traces rich history including Red Wing Shoes, Pottery, Native American heritage and Red Wings important position as the once largest wheat market in the world.
10:15 a.m.
Time to get off the motorcoach for a chance to explore downtown Red Wing. Over 350 flower baskets adorn Red Wing from Spring to mid October. Downtown specialty shops highlight the area's Scandinavian heritage and rustic spirit of adventure with the Uffda Shop, the St. James Shops and Red Wing Shoe Store and Museum just to name a few! Lunch is on your own and there are plenty of choices to choose from. From coffee houses to lunch buffets, Red Wing's six downtown restaurants have a little something for everyone.
1:00 p.m.
Just minutes from the St. James, we arrive at America's first municipally owned performing arts theater, the Sheldon Theatre. We will have a chance to tour this historic landmark.
2:15 p.m.
Watch pottery being made at the Red Wing Stoneware Company. Enjoy local artisans creating beautiful pottery in the tradition of Red WingÅs famous Union Stoneware Company.
3:15 p.m.
Time to enjoy some shopping at the Historic Pottery Place Mall. The building which once was home to the Union Stoneware Company, now houses many unique specialty shops and outlet stores. Find that special gift or Red Wing souvenir.
4:30 p.m.
Depart from Red Wing.