Ok, let's try this again.
At this point, there are 2 possibilities for extended trips on the JULIA BELLE SWAIN this summer, both round trips:
LaCrosse Wisconsin to Wabasha Minnesota
LaCrosse to Dubuque Iowa
The rough itineraries:
LaCrosse/Wabasha
Day 1 LaCrosse to Winona 28 miles and 2 locks There's a new Mississippi River Museum in town.
Day 2 Winona to Wabasha 37 miles and 3 locks This day would include my absolute favorite scenic stretch of the river, the 8 miles between Winona and Fountain City Wisconsin
Day 3 all day in Wabasha They opened a National Bald Eagle Museum and Observatory a couple of years ago. Its right on the river's edge. They usually have 3 eagles to view up close who are recovering from injuries or who otherwise can't be in the wild. So even though summer isn't bald eagle season, there would be some to see. Its a very interesting place. The Anderson Hotel and Cat House would be another attraction, not sure what else they do there.
Day 4 Wabash to Winona 37 miles and 3 locks Winona also is the home of Watkins Products, the Winona State Historical Society, and a beautiful walking/biking area around Lake Winona. There used to be a stained glass factory to visit, and there is a beautiful Catholic church which you see in AQ postcards. Winona is also the home of Capt. Richard Butch Dick Karnath, former QUEENS pilot.
Day 5 Winona to LaCrosse 28 miles and 2 locks
LaCrosse/Dubuque
Day 1 - LaCrosse to Prairie du Chien 60 miles and 2 locks Villa Louis is nearby in Riverside Park. If its the right day, Pete's Hamburgers might be open uptown.
Day 2 - Prairie to Dubuque 56 miles and 2 locks
Day 3 - all day in Dubuque We'd dock near the wonderful Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, which by itself could take the whole day. Other attractions include Ham House Museum and the 4th Street elevator (incline) If we were really really nice, maybe we could convince David and Jonathan Tschiggfrie to join us for an evening of slides and river memories...
Day 4 - Dubuque to Prairie 56 miles and 2 locks
Day 5 - Prairie to LaCrosse 60 miles and 2 locks
All meals are included. To give you a ballpark price, it isn't the new Yankee Stadium rates we're dealing with here: its about $100 a day per person for the boat and another $50 or so per for the hotel. So the total would be roughly $150 per day per person, or $750 for the trip.
As I've mentioned earlier, there's plenty to do in LaCrosse: the Murphy Library, Granddad Bluff, the City Brewery(Old Style) tour, the little river museum in Riverside Park, the ISLAND GIRL and LACROSSE QUEEN for harbor trips, etc. We could have a pretrip gathering the night prior and/or a posttrip one after...
The schedule probably won't be finalized until March, but until then, if you are interested, I'd suggest you look at the website Julia Belle Swain and send a comment to Tina, the general manager, to indicate your interest. It won't hurt in convincing ownership to schedule a longer trip. I mentioned Stillwater, but it didn't seem like a possibility this year, but maybe if others mentioned it...
At this point, there are 2 possibilities for extended trips on the JULIA BELLE SWAIN this summer, both round trips:
LaCrosse Wisconsin to Wabasha Minnesota
LaCrosse to Dubuque Iowa
The rough itineraries:
LaCrosse/Wabasha
Day 1 LaCrosse to Winona 28 miles and 2 locks There's a new Mississippi River Museum in town.
Day 2 Winona to Wabasha 37 miles and 3 locks This day would include my absolute favorite scenic stretch of the river, the 8 miles between Winona and Fountain City Wisconsin
Day 3 all day in Wabasha They opened a National Bald Eagle Museum and Observatory a couple of years ago. Its right on the river's edge. They usually have 3 eagles to view up close who are recovering from injuries or who otherwise can't be in the wild. So even though summer isn't bald eagle season, there would be some to see. Its a very interesting place. The Anderson Hotel and Cat House would be another attraction, not sure what else they do there.
Day 4 Wabash to Winona 37 miles and 3 locks Winona also is the home of Watkins Products, the Winona State Historical Society, and a beautiful walking/biking area around Lake Winona. There used to be a stained glass factory to visit, and there is a beautiful Catholic church which you see in AQ postcards. Winona is also the home of Capt. Richard Butch Dick Karnath, former QUEENS pilot.
Day 5 Winona to LaCrosse 28 miles and 2 locks
LaCrosse/Dubuque
Day 1 - LaCrosse to Prairie du Chien 60 miles and 2 locks Villa Louis is nearby in Riverside Park. If its the right day, Pete's Hamburgers might be open uptown.
Day 2 - Prairie to Dubuque 56 miles and 2 locks
Day 3 - all day in Dubuque We'd dock near the wonderful Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, which by itself could take the whole day. Other attractions include Ham House Museum and the 4th Street elevator (incline) If we were really really nice, maybe we could convince David and Jonathan Tschiggfrie to join us for an evening of slides and river memories...
Day 4 - Dubuque to Prairie 56 miles and 2 locks
Day 5 - Prairie to LaCrosse 60 miles and 2 locks
All meals are included. To give you a ballpark price, it isn't the new Yankee Stadium rates we're dealing with here: its about $100 a day per person for the boat and another $50 or so per for the hotel. So the total would be roughly $150 per day per person, or $750 for the trip.
As I've mentioned earlier, there's plenty to do in LaCrosse: the Murphy Library, Granddad Bluff, the City Brewery(Old Style) tour, the little river museum in Riverside Park, the ISLAND GIRL and LACROSSE QUEEN for harbor trips, etc. We could have a pretrip gathering the night prior and/or a posttrip one after...
The schedule probably won't be finalized until March, but until then, if you are interested, I'd suggest you look at the website Julia Belle Swain and send a comment to Tina, the general manager, to indicate your interest. It won't hurt in convincing ownership to schedule a longer trip. I mentioned Stillwater, but it didn't seem like a possibility this year, but maybe if others mentioned it...
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