Tour Red Wing this Summer Aboard Historic Trolleys

Red Wing, MN, March 31, 2009: Red Wing will welcome visitors this summer with Trolley Tours which will give tourists the lowdown on the city’s historic sites as well as a comfortable ride around the town. Tours will be offered daily from 11 am with last tour starting at 4 pm, May through October with stops available at the St. James Hotel, Sheldon Theatre, Goodhue County Historical Society, Red Wing Pottery, Barn Bluff and Bay Point Park Tickets and boarding will be available at the Red Wing Visitors Center located in the historic train depot near Levee Park. The cost for the trolley tours, which offer on and off privileges, are $10 per adult, $9 for youth and seniors and free for children five and under.

Visitors will want to be sure to stop at the St. James Hotel to take a historic tour of the 1875 hotel, a distinctive member of Historic Hotels of America. Stay for breakfast or lunch in the newly renovated Veranda Café or enjoy cocktails or dinner on the only patio in town with a view of the Mississippi. Also, be sure to cross Main Street to see the world’s largest boot now on display at the new Red Wing Shoe Museum, opening in June, 2009. The boot, constructed in 2005 to celebrate the Red Wing Shoe Company’s Centennial, is made of real leather hides, stands 16’ high, 20’ long, 7 ‘ wide and weighs 2,300 pounds. A person wearing the boot would stand 120’ or twelve stories tall.

Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River Red Wing is only an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities and Rochester, making it a great choice for a quick weekend getaway or leisurely vacation. Visitors can find wonderful treasures at great values at dozens of quaint, specialty gift and antique shops located in downtown and at nearby antique malls. Tours of Red Wing’s renowned pottery and stoneware factories are also popular. Those seeking outdoor adventure can ride along the Cannon Valley Trail, play golf, climb Barn Bluff, or hike, swim, boat, fish, or go birding along the river. Red Wing Golf Club and Mississippi National Golf Links are just minutes away and the Cannon Valley Trail, stretching from Red Wing to Cannon Falls, is one of the most popular trails in the state, providing miles of biking through some of the most beautiful terrain in Minnesota.

Several Red Wing hotels offer golf, trekking or spa packages for the summer. Golf packages at Mississippi National with rooms at either the St. James Hotel or Country Inn & Suites start at just under $100 per person for a guest room, breakfast and 18-36 holes of golf with cart. Package pricing is based on double occupancy and availability. Single rates are also available. Visit www.redwing.org to select the package that’s right for you.

Red Wing is also fortunate enough to have two nearby wineries – Falconer Vineyards and Cannon Valley Wineries. Locally grown grapes make delicious varieties of reds and whites and both wineries offer tours and tastings upon request. No visit to Red Wing is complete without a meal or stay at the elegant St. James Hotel. During the summer months, enjoy the lighter fare in the Veranda Café or linger over drinks or dinner on the Veranda Patio and enjoy the magnificent view of the river. The newly decorated guest rooms invite respite and tranquility after a day of shopping or touring. Many of the rooms have views of the river or whirlpool baths. To make reservations, visit www.st-james-hotel.com.

Red Wing is packed with festivals and events throughout the spring and summer. Some of the most popular are the 100-Mile Garage Sale May 1-3 Father’s Day Car Show June 21, Plein Air Arts Festival June 22-27, Girl’s Night Out Pajama Party at the St. James June 26, Red Wing Pottery Collectors Show July 9-11, Red Wing Arts Association Garden Tour July 12, the Prairie Island Indian Community Wacipi Celebration Powwow July 10-12 and River City Days July 31-August 2. Visitors to Red Wing in 2009 will discover the reasons the town received two prestigious honors last year. Red Wing was named one of the top 25 historic destinations in the world by National Geographic Traveler Magazine and was also cited as one of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations in the country by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. To learn more about festivals, special events or what the town of Red Wing can offer, contact 800-498-3444 or visit our website at www.redwing.org.

Contacts: Jean Freidl 651-493-3029, jeanfreidl@comcast.net

Kathy Silverthorn, Executive Director 651-385-5934, 800-498-3444, kathy@redwing.org

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