Some of Minnesota [1]’s most scenic towns and best state parks are tucked away along this wild border river, so a drive through the valley is an engaging mix of natural scenery and country life.
Stillwater [2], with its well-preserved downtown, elegant bed-and-breakfasts, and famous shopping, is by far the best known of the river towns, but it’s really the smaller time-warped villages like Marine on St. Croix [3] to the north and Afton [4] to the south that give the valley its special character.
They all get quite crowded on summer weekends and hotel prices can nearly double, so plan a weekday visit if you can.
People who are particular about paddling will want to dip their oars in the upper stretches of the St. Croix at St. Croix State Park [5] or cinch up their spray skirts for some of the state’s best white-water action on the St. Louis River at Jay Cooke State Park [6] and the Kettle River at Banning State Park [7].
The Best of the St. Croix Valley [8]Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/the-lower-st-croix/stillwater
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/the-lower-st-croix/north-the-falls/marine-st-croix
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/the-lower-st-croix/afton
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/the-upper-st-croix/st-croix-state-park
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/north-duluth/jay-cooke-state-park
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/north-duluth/banning-state-park
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/best-the-st-croix-valley
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/the-upper-st-croix/interstate-state-park
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/minnesota/st-croix-valley/north-duluth/north-west-company-fur-post