What Are the 15 Best Stillwater Activities?

Stillwater Mn is one of Minnesota’s most charming and quaint small towns. It lies South of the Twin Cities of St Paul and Minneapolis and is close to MSP Airport and Mall of America.

Though a small town, it certainly offers a year-round destination for some of the best things to do in Stillwater Mn.

From walking trails and picking apples at orchards to food tours, gondola rides, and wine tasting at the most choice vineyards, you will experience some of the loveliest things to do in Stillwater Mn.

It is very often referred to as the birthplace of Minnesota, as the territorial convention was held here in 1848.

With endless things to do in Stillwater mn, you will have something to do at any time of the year. It would be superb if you chose the summer season to go for a perfect nature walk or a boat ride on the St.Croix River.

Winters are perfect for skiing as many ski slopes open during winter. Finally, choose the autumn season to go for some of the gorgeous drives. So, prepare to learn about some of the Best Things to Do in Stillwater Mn?

15 Wonderful Things to Do in Stillwater Mn

The following are the 15 wonderful things to do in Stillwater Mn to keep you mesmerized in the most happening place in America.

1. Walk on The Lift Bridge – An Historical Place In Stillwater

The historic bridge is one of the most iconic constructions in the history of Stillwater, Mn. Walking on the historic Stillwater lift bridge is one of the best things to do in Stillwater, mn.

Some of you may not wish to include historic marvels on the list of ‘things to do in Stillwater mn’; however, once you know the bridge’s history, you may want to rethink your stance. It is one of the few constructions in America that resembles that of Harrington and Waddell.

The Stillwater Lift bridge is a ten-span bridge that connects a 4.7-mile loop trail around St Croix and Stillwater. In addition, the bridge joined Minnesota State Highway 36 and Wisconsin Highway 64.

Nearly 18000 vehicles were crossing the bridge daily. However, after the opening of the new St. Croix Crossing bridge, the Stillwater is being used for another purpose altogether.

The authorities sought to preserve the newly renovated historic lift bridge, which walkers and bicycle riders can use. With beautiful views of the river and limestone bluffs, beer gardens, and restaurants, you will love to take a leisurely afternoon walk or ride a rented bicycle.

2. Visit The Warden’s House Museum

The Warden’s House Museum was once home to the Territorial Prison Warden in Minnesota. Nearly 13 prison wardens used a historical building constructed in 1853 until it shifted its base in the early 1900s.

The house now belongs to the Historical Society of Washington County. The public could view the museum in June 1941. Visitors to the museum would love to go back in time and experience this unique lumber town.

One of the things to do in Stillwater Mn would be to take just a short walk north on the main street to reach the museum to view the exclusive exhibits that showcase the history behind the Civil War, Old Stillwater Prison, and the Lumber industry.

3. Enjoy A Day at the Children’s Park

One of the most popular attractions in Stillwater, Minnesota, is a Park called the TeddyBear. It is a wonderful place for the children of this beautiful town. It is a small park and a fantastic location to spend the day with your kids.

The Teddy Bear Park is just a few kilometres away from the main street, and you will find many unique shops, too. A yummy ice cream shop is a striking example of one such splendid shop. All well-known places to eat are conveniently a short distance away too.

The following are the beautiful activities that your kids can enjoy at the Park:

1. Climbing areas – It is designed to resemble a tree.
2. Picnic Benches for wonderful lunch with family.
3. An area exclusively to play in Sand
4. A high rock that is similar to a cliff.
5. Beautiful slides

Visiting the Teddy Bear Park is considered one of the most fun things in Stillwater mn. Enjoy a day of an outing at this splendid place where guests will be stunned to be welcomed by a large granite Teddy bear nearly 10 feet tall.

4. Go Apple-Picking at The Aamodt’s Apple Orchards

The Aamodt Apple Orchard is a family-run farm that began nearly 65 years ago.

The farm’s original owners were firm believers in American history. Thor shared a similar vision with his wife Lucille and wanted to fulfil their lifelong dream of building an Apple Orchard.

Nonetheless, the farm has the same charm and beauty as it has since its early days. Picking apples has a beautiful appeal to it as you can feel being transported back in time. Many buildings on the farm stay true to age-old periods.

So, take a break from your everyday activities to go apple-picking at the Aamodts and enjoy one of the most fun-filled things to do in Stillwater, mn.

5. Tour Downtown Stillwater on a BierCycle Bike

If you wish to experience Stillwater mn in a non-conventional way, you should try to explore the town on the BierCycle bike. A multi-pedal bicycle offered by BierCycle Adventures can accommodate ten pedalers and three non-pedalers.

It is considered one of the different things to do in Stillwater, mn. The bicycle company offers all sorts of tours of the downtown Stillwater area.

The tour guide would lead the rides and share information about the town when needed. An exciting feature of the bicycle is its misting system, which allows bikers to maintain a cool temperature during summer.

6. Hike On The Trail – Brown Creek

Hiking on the Trail called Brown’s Creek is among the most popular things in Stillwater, mn. The creek is visited by nearly thousands of visitors each year.

Formerly a railway bed of the line that travels to Soo, the trail now runs more than 15 miles. The trail reaches the city of St Paul, starting from Pine Point.

It is also a recreational gem of Stillwater, mn, and the East Metropolitan Area of Minnesota’s twin cities that can be used to take a walk, run, bike, horseback ride, and rollerblade skating.

7. Take a Tour Of The Lift Bridge Brewing Company

The Lift Bridge Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in the historic town of Stillwater. It was founded in 2008 by homebrewers Dan Schwarz, Brad Glynn, Jim Peirson, and Trevor Conk.

The five friends came together for a joint venture after selling their first beer keg in September 2008. It is now known for several flagship beers, such as Hop Dish IPA and the Farm Girl Saison.

Visitors curious to know the many ways to brew the perfect beer would find taking a tour of the Lift Bridge Brewing Company one of the best things to do in Stillwater mn.

And why not? It has the state’s oldest operating taproom and is Minnesota’s seventh-largest craft brewery.

8. Go on a Historic Trolley Tour of Stillwater

Stillwater Trolley Company has been offering tours around the city since 1989. At present, they provide 45-minute tours every day.

The Historic Trolley tour of Stillwater on the Stillwater Trolley is one of the best things to do in Stillwater mn. Visitors can listen to the town’s history during the tour and learn many facts.

Passengers are taken to different iconic places in the town to help them to witness the transformation of this humble lumber town into one of the country’s most picturesque towns.

The Trolley tour is a beautiful tourist attraction as it takes place on the hills of Stillwater. Visitors would love to view the old Victorian mansions dating back to 1850 and 1915. The company organizes kayak tours as well.

9. Shop and Dine at the Historic Main Street

The historic Main street is a great place to learn all about the history of Stillwater. The vibe and the energy are spectacular on Main street, and shopping on Main street is one of the exciting things to do in Stillwater Mn.

As one of the most iconic entries on the National Historic Register, Main Street has nearly 100 shops and restaurants. 

To begin an incredible adventure while visiting Stillwater, you must explore Main Street first. You would love the pretty sights of trendy restaurants, lovely boutiques, and beautiful accommodations. There are also plenty of antique shops if you are keen on antiques.

10. Take a Romantic Gondola Ride on the Downtown River

To have a Venetian-like experience in Stillwater, you must take a relaxing cruise through the beautiful downtown area. The tour company, Gondola Romantica, offers boat rides on authentic gondolas similar to the ones found in Venice.

Will it not be one of the most romantic things to do in Stillwater mn, with your loved one to ride on the gondola?

Several packages, such as daytime cruises or moonlit evening cruises, are available to visitors.

So, the next time you want to propose to your girlfriend, the best place to do so would be on a Gondola. It will be a guaranteed success as the beauty and the charm will make your partner willingly accept your proposal!

11. Enjoy a Yacht Cruise aboard Lady Chateau

The Lady Chateau is a famous charter yacht in the midwest Stillwater, Mn. It cruises along the historic and the most beautiful St. Croix River.

A luxurious 1.5 million dollar cruise liner is known for stunning art, leather furnishing, and warm teak interiors. Passengers would love to be aboard and enjoy the richness offered on the cruise.

Although Lady Chateau can accommodate nearly seventy guests, it limits to only twenty or thirty at a time. However, a small group is welcome if you have to enjoy the lovely amenities offered here.

A buffet, bar area, and a top deck with comfortable seating to view the scenic st. Croix river, the Lady Chateau Cruise is simply one of the best things to do in Stillwater Mn

12. Enjoy Wine Tasting Tour at Saint Croix Vineyards

Known to have the best-tasting wines in Minnesota for more than twenty years, the Saint Croix Vineyards invites tourists and locals alike to explore their vineyards and taste their wines on grand wine-tasting tours.

Saint Croix Vineyards has invented some of the best wines in the history of Minnesota.

Visitors can take walks around the vines, relax, enjoy a family picnic, or listen to delightful music. An exciting aspect of Saint Croix Vineyards is the process of making wine. Tours are arranged to view the process and understand the wine-making business.

You can participate in the wine-tasting event conducted in their special room, a renovated hundred-year-old barn and one of the most famous historic structures in Saint Croix Vineyards.

Wine experts, Wine Enthusiasts, or Wine lovers would love to indulge a day at Saint Croix Vineyards as this is one of the most iconic things to do in Stillwater, mn.

13. Relish a Lovely Lunch on a Cruise Right on the River Boats in Stillwater

Cruises are offered daily to visitors to Stillwater by a River Boat Company in Stillwater. Riding on the paddlewheel boats is the ideal thing to do in Stillwater mn, to create long-lasting memories.

Visitors can either choose a lunch or a dinner cruise. Private Tours are available daily and can accommodate 25 to 575 guests. The season usually lasts from May through October each year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlWFkiVv9DU

It is a lovely way to view the scenic st. Croix river and drink its beauty while enjoying gourmet food aboard the cruise boat. Over the weekend, visitors would love to listen to some pretty dixie music.

14. Take a Breath-Taking Drive down the St Croix Scenic Byway

Over 200 scenic byways across America, and nearly 22 exist in Minnesota. For example, the St Croix Scenic byway runs through Stillwater, mn.

A sensational aspect of the St Croix Scenic Byway is that the 124-mile route follows the St Croix National Scenic River. As a result, it often comes quite close to the riverbanks and sometimes veers upwards to beautiful views from the surrounding cliffs.

Moreover, one part of the land that holds the byway was the historical connection between the Mississippi River, the Croix river, and Lake Superior. So, the St Croix River Valley has lovely views on the byway.

So, when you drive down Main Street in Stillwater, you are in one section of the byway. As you continue north, you will witness the spectacular Taylors Falls, known for hiking, biking, live music, water parks, excellent shopping, and dining.

15. Go on a Guided Walking Tour through the Historic Town

Stillwater has so much history that it is difficult not to acknowledge that it is Minnesota’s birthplace. If you wish to satisfy your desire to know more about Stillwater’s history, you should consider a self-guided historical tour.

To make things easier for you, the Washington County Historical Society, Stillwater city, and Lens Flare Stillwater have brought out an app that gives relevant information regarding the historic streets and the historic architecture.

Taking a walking tour of the city is one of the most unique and historical things to do in Stillwater, mn. As you tour around the place, the app on your phone will be able to display short stories and related videos or photos of the location that you are visiting.

Key Takeaway

As one of the ‘top 5 midwest towns to visit now’, Stillwater, mn, is regarded as one of the prettiest towns in America. And there are many reasons for this being so. Stillwater is a charming and beloved getaway destination to enjoy in any season.

The historic streets of downtown Stillwater and the beauty of the st. Croix river valley is enough for people to flock to this beautiful small town.

Furthermore, there are many places to stay in Stillwater; the best is the historic Water Street Inn. So the next time you think of a great place to get away in Minnesota, consider Stillwater. Minnesota is also famous for some of its best National Parks.

You would love the sight of beautiful riverboats and splendid gondolas. You can explore the historic main street or take a hot air balloon ride over the St Croix River Valley.

There are many things to do in Stillwater mn, for anyone who is not only adventurous but enjoys the quietness and solitude. Stillwater, Minnesota, is not only a small town for all seasons but a town for all kinds of people.

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FAQs

1. How can I spend a day in Stillwater MN?

Ans. One can visit the following destinations:

• Stillwater Lift Bridge.
• Saint Croix Vineyards.
• Teddy Bear Park.
• Washington County Historic Courthouse.
• Brown’s Creek Trail. Biking Trails.
• Warden’s House Museum.
• Lift Bridge Brewing Company.
• Lowell Park.

2. What is Stillwater MN famous for?

Ans. Stillwater MN is famous for its Lumber Industry. 

3. Does Stillwater MN experience snowfall?

Ans. The snow period lasts for 3 months. From the month of November to February Stillwater MN experiences snowfall. 

Last Updated on June 11, 2023 by somya909