Traveling from Twin Cities MN to Prairie Du Chien, WI

In a couple of weeks My husband %26amp; I will be traveling from the Twin Cities MN south to the Prairie Du Chien, WI area for a two night getaway. We are from Chicago and will be visiting family in MN the first part of the week and then taking a few nights for some much needed R%26amp;R the second half of the week.

Could anyone tell me, which side of The Great River Road is best. I see it splits up as you go South. I am interested in scenery, restaurants, and would like to explore interesting/quaint towns, etc.

Thank you!

Traveling from Twin Cities MN to Prairie Du Chien, WI

Well, I%26#39;m from Minnesota, so I%26#39;m partial to my side of the river. I think the drive is beautiful, taking you through Hastings, Red Wing, Wabasha -- not to mention plenty of smaller towns.

I%26#39;m not an expert on places to explore in these towns -- most I%26#39;ve done is stop for lunch on the way to La Crosse, WI to visit friends. We usually stop in Lake City to read up about the merging of the two rivers and how the giant lake (Pepin) was formed. Nice views from the big piers.

I would suggest you post this in the Minnesota forum, where people from that area can give you detailed advice.

Traveling from Twin Cities MN to Prairie Du Chien, WI

As someone who commuted down the Mississippi to go to school in LaCrosse, I agree that the views from Hwy 61 on the MN side are better- at least til you hit LaCrosse. Then, take the bridge at LaCresent (right in the city of LaCresent- not the I-90 bridge to WI) into downtown LaCrosse, hang a right on Hwy 35 and finish your trip!

There are some great places in downtown LaCrosse to eat (Fayze%26#39;s, Bodega Brew Pub) a great food co-op with restaurant upstairs (on 5th street between Cass and Jay Sts, I think).

If you have time, try a visit to St. Rose Convent on teh Viterbo University Campus (the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have been praying there continuously for over a hundred years), Grandad Bluff (at teh end of Main Street has great views is teh weather is good, the Sisters of Guadelupe Shrine south of the city along the way to PdC is also an interesting visit.