Located in southeast Minnesota, Winona is nestled in scenic bluff country along the Mississippi River. Known for its picturesque vistas, abundant parks, historic sites, and stunning architecture, the city is a natural oasis highlighted by an extraordinary history. The city’s downtown features 11 monumental blocks devoted to its architectural distinction from stone and stained glass masterpieces to remarkable basilica structures.
1. Minnesota Marine Art Museum
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) examines the historic and ongoing human relationship with water through consequential and educational visual arts experiences and exhibitions. A nonprofit education center and art museum, MMAM’s initial collection consisted of a massive accumulation of traditional marine paintings and a large number of folk artworks by Leo and Marilyn Smith. The collection has expanded throughout the years to include a variety of artworks from American and European masters such as Turner, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, O’Keeffe, and Cassatt. Today, there are more than ten historical and contemporary exhibits on display. They define what marine art is and push the boundaries of what marine art can be.
800 Riverview Drive, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-474-6626
2. Garvin Heights
Situated high in the sky atop a towering bluff, Garvin Heights is a stunning overlook surrounded by beautiful, verdant, oak savanna and a restored goat prairie boasting scenic views from Mount Trempealeau to Lake Pepin. On the clearest of days visitors can see over 30 miles of the sprawling city of Winona and Mississippi River Valley. To reach the lookout, visitors will have to drive, bike, or hike up the bluff for a mile and a half. The latter is done via a well-maintained, but winding trail that climbs up the bluff side, reaches a flight of stairs, and ends with a dirt path that curves along the edge of the bluff.
3. Lake Park
Lake Park is a charming city park surrounding the lovely and serene Lake Winona. It’s most prominent feature is a five-mile long blacktop trail that runs along the city’s south side and circles both areas of the lake. The route provides some truly extraordinary views of the Park as well as the surrounding neighborhoods and bluffs. Visitors can walk, bike, or in-line skate on the trail. Lake Park is also home to Veteran’s Memorial Park, a tranquil beach with boat dock, playgrounds, a winter skating rink, sport fields, a Frisbee golf course, picnic areas, a band shell, and a rose garden with adjacent gazebo. Visitors are allowed to kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard, and fish on Lake Winona.
W Lake Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-457-8258
4. Great River Bluffs State Park
Nestled in the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest, Great Bluffs State Park is a quiet, remote park roughly 20 minutes southeast of Winona where U.S. Highway 61 and Interstate 90 connect. Located in Minnesota’s bluff country, it features scenic bluff top views of the majestic Mississippi River valley offering. It is also home to a hardwood forest, side-hill prairies, pine plantations, and old fields. The park is home to an abundance of rare and diverse plant and wildlife. It is popular for hiking, bird watching, and camping during the warmer months. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular during the colder months.
121 7th Place E, Suite 360, St. Paul, MN, Phone: 651-556-8465
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5. U.S. Highway 61
U.S. Highway 61, commonly referred to as blues highway, is a sprawling scenic highway traveling through the heart of the United States. It spans 1,300 miles from New Orleans in the south to the bustling Twin Cities in the north, and on to the legendary Great Lakes ending at the Canadian border. Historically it served as more than just a road, it was an escape route for black Americans fleeing the rural south to establish new lives in cities like Memphis, St. Louis, and Chicago. It’s equally influential to blues history; several famous blues singers lived along its bordering communities and wrote songs about traveling it. Bob Dylan, Willie Dixon, and Artie White among them.
6. Winona County Historical Society
Founded in 1935, the Winona County Historical Society is dedicated to preserving the rich history of Winona. This is done through three museums. The main museum, the Winona County History Center, is the home of their headquarters, various interactive exhibits, and the Laird Lucas Library and Archives. Visitors can see what it was like during the Victorian era and pioneer days at the Historic Bunnell House. Originally built for fur-trader Willard Bunnell, it’s an exquisite example of Rural Gothic Architecture. Guests explore the home with costumed guides encouraging them to participate in activities notable to the Victorian and Pioneer days. The Rural Heritage Museum is their latest addition it boasts several exhibits on rural life in Winona.
160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-454-2723
7. Pickwick Mill
The Pickwick Mill is a historic gristmill built by Wilson Davis and Thomas Grant from 1856 to 1858. Situated on the banks of Big Trout Creek, it is one of the oldest mills of its kind in southeast Minnesota and was the first commercial mill west of the Mississippi River. Powered by a 20-foot water wheel, the six-story mill boasts a timber frame and was made using locally quarried limestone. Most of the original machinery is still intact and operable. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Pickwick Mill is now a museum showcasing its history through its exhibitions.
24813 County Rd 7, Winona, MN 55987, Phone: 507-457-0499
8. Sugar Loaf
Arguably the most distinguishing landmark in Winona, Sugar Loaf is a towering bluff uniquely capped by a rock pinnacle situated along the Mississippi River. Created by quarrying in the late 19th century, the bluff rises above the junction of State Highway 43 and U.S. Highway 61. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bluff, including its pinnacle, stands at nearly 585 feet above Lake Winona. Visitors flock to Sugar Loaf for its incredible hiking trails and magnificent scenic vistas of the lake, river valley, and magnificent city.
Corner of Highway 61 and Highway 43, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-452-0735
9. Polish Cultural Institute and Museum
Housed in a historic three-story building originally constructed in 1890, the Polish Cultural Institute and Museum is a cultural complex devoted to the preservation of Winona’s Kashubian Polish heritage. The museum is located on the first floor and contains several exhibits showcasing the life of Polish immigrants in Winona and the neighboring cities. There is also a gift shop adjacent to the museum where visitors can purchase clothing, music, books, and other imported artifacts from Poland. The cultural institute includes two nearby buildings, the Schultz House, a heritage house, and the Annex, an event hall featuring a 165-foot tall mural depicting the lives of Polish immigrants and the contributions the made to the city.
102 Liberty Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-454-3431
10. Island City Brewing Company
Island City Brewing Company is located adjacent to Levee Park, in downtown Winona. Housed in a former train transfer station, the 5,000-square-foot building was divided equally between the 15-barrel system brewhouse and the taproom. Showcasing its original red brick, the brewery has an old-world charm highlighted by a rustic, earthy décor. The taproom provides a mixture of beer hall tables, lounge chairs, couches, and traditional bar seating. They have eight select taproom tastings available, Docksider – a double IPA, High Forest – a red lager, and cellar bear – a blackberry saison among them. Tasting options change regularly, but many remain on tap for purchase.
65 East Front Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-474-2739
11. Garvin Heights Vineyard
Garvin Heights Vineyard is comprised of four acres of vineyards, a nearly 1,400-square-foot winery building with matching sized wine production cellar, and an almost 2,250-square-foot event center and production area. Currently, the vineyard produces more than 20 different wines from over 20 different grape varieties. A majority of them only feature one type of North American grape variety, La Crescent, Frontenac, Edelweiss, Sabrevois, and Marquette to name a few. The pastoral-style tasting room has an expansive outdoor patio overlooking the vineyard and the sprawling woodlands beyond. Tastings are available whenever the winery is open; guests can choose from a selection of more than a dozen of their current wines.
2255 Garvin Heights Road, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-474-9463
12. John A. Latsch State Park
Located a little over 10 miles northwest of Winona, John A. Latsch State Park is a nearly 1,700-acre state park located along the Mississippi River. The park is made up of three steep bluffs that rise 500 feet above the river, Mount Hope, Mount Faith, and Mount Charity. Riverview Trailhead is the only marked pathway that travels through the park. It is made up of 592 wooden steps that climb for a half-mile, ending at the Mount Charity Overlook. Once there, trekkers be rewarded with scenic views of the Mississippi River, surrounding bluffs, floodplain forests, oak forests, and prairies.
U.S. Highway 61, Minnesota City, MN, Phone: 507-312-2300
13. Winona Visitor’s Center
The Winona Visitor’s Center is located at the bottom of Garvin Heights Park at the intersection of Highway 14/61 and Huff Street. Housed in an adorable brick building along the Mississippi River, the visitor center provides guests with important information about Winona. Their well-trained, knowledgeable, and friendly staff are available to offer counsel to visitors on all things Winona. Aside from their professional staff, the visitor center also provides several maps and brochures of the city to assist visitors in finding everything from a good cup of Joe to a thrilling river adventure. The center also features a small gift shop selling Minnesota and Winona souvenirs and apparel.
924 Huff Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-452-2278
14. Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka
The oldest Catholic Church in Winona, Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka is home to the Catholic Parish of St. John Nepomucene. Though the congregation dates back to 1871, the church wasn’t designed until 1893-94, and constructed in the winter of 1895. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Basilica boasts a Polish-Cathedral style. Its original structure featured a great golden dome, intricate stained glass windows, marble pillars, and a massive marble alter. Due to several unfortunate events throughout the years including a fire, the Basilica has been renovated several times. Currently it presents a red-brick edifice with white domes and towers, it still remains a striking structure in the city’s skyline.
625 E. 4th Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-452-5430
15. Winona County Courthouse
Originally constructed in 1889, the Winona County Courthouse has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970 due to its local significance in the categories of government/politics, art, and architecture. Designed by renowned architect Charles G. Maybury, the courthouse has a Richardsonian Romanesque style with touches from the Victorian era. The latter can be seen in the contrast between the sandstone buffs and brownstone trim, as well as its twin towers and carvings. The exterior is equally impressive with French stained glass windows, carved red-oak woodwork, copper flashings, soaring 16-foot ceilings, and carved wood-mantled and tile fireplaces.
171 W 3rd Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-547-6310
16. Latsch Island - Aghaming Park and Preserve
Latsch Island-Aghaming Park and Preserve is located directly across from downtown Winona using the Main Channel Bridge. It is home to an unconventional community of homes that float, and the city’s marina. Located on a thin section of wild bottomland, Aghaming Park has 1,950 acres of some of the nation’s best preserved floodplain forest. Visitors are encouraged to don their long pants and hiking boots for day trekking through this incredible park. It’s an ideal place for bird watching. Back on the Island visitors can spend the day sunbathing on Latsch Island Beach, or paddling downstream to explore some of the channels inlets.
924 Huff Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-457-8258
17. Westgate Bowl
Bowl to your heart’s content at Westgate Bowl, the ultimate destination for cosmic bowling in Winona. Founded in 1961, Westgate Bowl features 16 bowling lanes, dancing lights, fog machines, glow-in-the-dark bowling lanes, and even surround sound music – all of which makes for an entertaining bowling experience. Great for kids and grown-ups alike, Westgate Bowl also offers party packages for special events like birthdays or sporting event watch parties thanks to huge, state-of-the-art TVs within the bowling alley. Westgate Bowl is also attached to the Wellington’s Pub and Grill, which dishes up mouthwatering American fare like succulent smoked ribs, ultra-juicy burgers, and their famous award-winning chili.
1429 West Service Drive, Winona, Minnesota, Phone: 507-454-1111
18. Bloedow Bakery
Bloedow Bakery is a legendary donut shop and bakery located in a quaint white-brick building in downtown Winona. Originally opened in 1924 by Ernest Bloedow and his wife, Mary, the bakery was passed down through the family until Hugh and Mary Polus purchased it in 2004. Though Hugh wasn’t a blood relative, he was family. He worked as a baker there since he was 15 years old. A neighborhood spot, Bloedow’s still uses the same great recipes from nearly a century ago for their exceptional menu of donuts, pastries, rye breads, and homemade loafs. Their displays feature the classics like glazed donuts and sprinkled cookies, but they also serve baked treats like maple-bacon long johns and Bavarian cream-filled donuts.
451 East Broadway, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-452-3682
19. Blue Heron Coffee House
Blue Heron Coffee House is a charming corner café with a beautiful brick façade, and a classic yet modern interior. Vintage checkered tiled flooring is complemented with powder blue walls adorned with black, oversized menu chalkboards, and varying styles and colors of handcrafted wood tables and chairs. The coffee house also features a breakfast bar equipped with high-back bar stools as well as a quaint reading nook featuring a plush, patterned Chesterfield-style chair surrounded by large bookshelves. Known for their avocation of bio-diversity and sustainability they use locally sourced, seasonal ingredients whenever possible. This commitment to the environment and community means their diverse, made-from-scratch menu changes frequently. Customers can expect a variety of breakfast items, soups, salads, and sandwiches.
162 W 2nd Sreet, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-452-7020
20. Acoustic Cafe
Open since 1993, Acoustic Café is known for its award-winning service, great coffee, delicious food, and warm, welcoming, community-centered atmosphere. Housed in a beautiful red-brick building in the heart of downtown Winona, the café boasts an urban chicness with a rustic edge. Large, arched floor-to-ceiling glass windows bathe the eatery in natural light by day while funky and ornate light fixtures create a romantic, underground vibe at night. Design features include gorgeous hardwood floors, and stone and wood tables with chairs. Beautiful artworks adorn its honey-hued brick walls. Menu selections include house roasted coffee, espresso, a variety of smoothies, hot hoagies, salads, and soups, as well as home-made muffins, cookies, and honey-cracked wheat bread.
77 Lafayette, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-453-0394
21. Bub’s Brewing Co Eatery & Saloon
Housed in a stately, late 19th century building, Bub’s Brewing Co Eatery & Saloon is located in downtown Winona. Named after the historic Peter Bub Brewery, the second brewery to ever open in Winona County in 1862, the Brewing Co. Eatery & Saloon is dedicated to carrying on its predecessors legacy. They offer an extensive list of name brand draft and bottled beers, wines, and a few of their own home-brewed craft beers including Bub’s Amber Red, Bub’s Black Forest Ale, and Bub’s Golden. Each of their brews can be paired with their menu of Brewhaus burgers, chicken sandwiches, specialty sandwiches, wraps, and select entrees like their Steak & Shrimp Combo.
64 E 4th Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-457-3121
22. Blooming Grounds Coffee House
Nestled in the heart of downtown Winona, the Blooming Grounds Coffee House is a charming corner café serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Boasting a modern décor of exposed brick, hardwood floors, teak wood furniture, plush booths, giant-sized chalkboard menus, and Kitschy decorations, the coffee house provides visitors a cozy, warm atmosphere. They provide an extensive menu of coffee, tea, blended drinks, and smoothies, as well as craft beer and wine. Serving classic American cuisine with a twist for lunch and dinner, menu selections include, Panini’s, wraps, large fresh salads, homemade soup, and pizzas. For breakfast they offer a small menu of jumbo muffins, bagels, scones, quiches, and a gourmet breakfast burrito.
50 E 3rd Street, Winona, MN, Phone: 507-474-6770
What is Winona, Minnesota known for? What to do. What are the top attractions to visit in Winona, Minnesota?
The top attractions to visit in Winona, Minnesota according to local experts are:
- Minnesota Marine Art Museum
- Garvin Heights
- Lake Park
- Great River Bluffs State Park
- U.S. Highway 61
- Winona County Historical Society
- Pickwick Mill
- Sugar Loaf
- Polish Cultural Institute and Museum
- Island City Brewing Company
- Garvin Heights Vineyard
- John A. Latsch State Park
- Winona Visitor’s Center
- Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka
- Winona County Courthouse
- Latsch Island - Aghaming Park and Preserve
- Westgate Bowl
- Bloedow Bakery
- Blue Heron Coffee House
- Acoustic Cafe
- Bub’s Brewing Co Eatery & Saloon
- Blooming Grounds Coffee House
Attraction Spotlight: Minnesota Marine Art Museum
Located in Winona, Minnesota, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum is dedicated to exploring the relationship between humans and water. Through various pieces of art and exhibitions, visitors can leave the Minnesota Art Museum with a new insight into how humans have historically maintained a relationship with water.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum opened on July 27, 2006 with the intent to provide people with an insight into the relationship between humans and water. The Minnesota Marine Art Museum opened in Winona, Minnesota so Winona could have a facility dedicated to the arts. This was part of the initiative to bring more of a concentration of arts and culture into Winona’s educational system and general community.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum started with a small collection of marine paintings and folk art that was largely contributed by Leo and Marilyn Smith, who are regional artists. As the Minnesota Marine Art Museum began to become more popular and expand, their comprehensive art collection also began to expand. Today, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum has a combination of permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as a diverse amount of educational programs.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum has a comprehensive permanent art collection that can be viewed entirely on the Museum’s online archives.
Traditional Marine Art shows some of the earliest paintings and prints that showcase boats and people venturing on water. One of the highlighted pieces of art in this collection is Edward William Cooke’s a Dutch Poon, Running for the Port of Harlingen, is Driven in a Heavy Squall Outside the South Pier Head.
Hudson River School & Luminism features art that showcases the romanticism and relationship between landscapes and light of the Hudson River School and Luminism art movements. While visitors ill catch some small boats featured in these paintings, majority of the paintings in this collection showcase nature’s purest form in regards to land and water, with minimal interaction with humans. A highlighted oil in this collection is Thomas Cole’s A View of Boston.
Impressionism and Post-Impressionism displays a wide variety of paintings that showcase a variety of perspectives on the human relationship with water. Many popular and famous artists are featured within this exhibit, such as Claude Monet.
Realism is one of the smaller exhibitions at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. The paintings within this permanent attraction show the purest forms of the relationship between humans and water. Art works showcase fishermen working alongside and in the water, as well as people enjoying the ocean as a recreational activity.
Modern provides a more colorful and abstract take on the relationship between humans and water. Marsden Hartley’s Autumn Cascade is one of the most popular paintings in the Modern exhibit.
Contemporary shows every perspective of the relationship between humans and water, as well as the relationship between humans and marine life. A combination of realistic and abstract paintings and illustrations come together to provide visitors with a comprehensive collection that explores the Minnesota Marine Art Museum’s mission in-depth.
Like most renowned art museums, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum hosts a variety of special attractions throughout the year. For an updated list of special attractions, head over to the Minnesota Marine Art Museum’s website.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum has a wide variety of educational opportunities for a variety of ages. The Museum’s educational opportunities include specialized tours, school programs, extensive resources for teachers, classes, family activities, workshops, and even a special program for people who have memory loss.
One of the most renowned educational opportunities at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum is SPARK. SPARK is a program for people who have memory loss. Through SPARK, participants enhance their quality of life through special activities that integrate art with mental stimulation, communication, and engagement.
Back to: Best Things to do in Minnesota
800 Riverview Dr, Winona, MN 55987, Phone: 507-474-6626
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More Ideas: Alexander Mansion Bed and Breakfast
Nestled among the scenic bluffs of downtown Winona, MN, the Alexander Mansion Bed and Breakfast is a luxurious turn-of-the-century Victorian mansion that offers charming bed and breakfast accommodations and gracious hospitality. Built in circa-1886 and once home to Winona’s elite, the villa has been lovingly restored to its former glory and celebrates the grand lifestyle of a bygone era.
Blending elegant style with modern-day comforts, the bed and breakfast inn features well-appointed and tastefully decorated guest suites with period antiques, fireplaces, private bathrooms and upscale amenities. A gourmet breakfast is served every morning by candlelight in the antiques-filled dining room and features fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and business amenities such as workstations and complimentary wireless Internet for available. Other facilities include a charming tea room and elegant lounge, a large verandah and beautiful gardens, and a free shuttle to the Inn from the marina and the train station. The Alexander Mansion Bed and Breakfast is ideally situated for a quiet, relaxing getaway or for exploring the Winona, and is a short walk to Lake Winona and an 18-mile drive to Great River Bluffs State Park.
Guest Accommodations
The Alexander Mansion Bed and Breakfast feature five beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, each of which is individually decorated with period antiques, plush beds, elegant sitting areas with fireplaces (upgraded suites), and en-suite bathrooms with soaking tubs and walk-in showers. Modern amenities in each room include air-conditioning, flat-screen televisions with cable channels, CD/radios, alarm clocks, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards, and complimentary wireless Internet.
The DC Alexander Suite Bedroom is a deluxe suite with a Renaissance Revival canopied king-sized bed in luxury Frette linens, and an en-suite bathroom with an original soaking tub with shower, fluffy towels, bathrobes and J. R. Watkins Natural Apothecary personal products. A sunroom has a window seat overlooking the beautiful gardens, an antique fireplace, and deluxe guest services include an evening turn-down service and daily housekeeping.
The Maude King Alexander Suite features an antique canopied queen-sized bed in luxury Frette linens, and an en-suite bathroom with an original soaking tub with shower, fluffy towels, bathrobes and J. R. Watkins Natural Apothecary personal products. An inviting Victorian sitting area has comfy armchairs and a hand-carved period fireplace.
Martha’s Room is exquisitely decorated with a full-size antique canopied feather bed in luxury Frette linens, and an en-suite bathroom with an original soaking tub, fluffy towels, bathrobes and J. R. Watkins Natural Apothecary personal products. The room has a comfortable sitting area with a window seat and garden views, and in-room amenities in this room include a ceiling fan and air-conditioning, antique toys and dolls, and complimentary wireless Internet.
Mary’s room is a simple and elegant east-facing room with a queen-sized bed dressed in luxury Frette linens, and an en-suite bathroom with a shower, fluffy towels, bathrobes and J. R. Watkins Natural Apothecary personal products. The room has a comfortable sitting area, and in-room such as air-conditioning, and complimentary wireless Internet.
Named for Judge Thomas Wilson, the builder of the mansion in 1886, the Judge Thomas Wilson Suite is a sunny cottage-style suite located on the lower level of the bed and breakfast inn. The room features a queen size bed dressed in luxury Frette linens, and an en-suite bathroom with a claw foot tub and shower, fluffy towels, bathrobes and J. R. Watkins Natural Apothecary personal products. Large enough for a long-term stay, the suite has a fully equipped kitchen with a blender, microwave, stove, microwave, and refrigerator/freezer. A spacious living room offers a comfortable queen sofa sleeper for additional guests and a storage area for skis and other outdoor equipment.
Dining
A complimentary gourmet breakfast is served in the elegant dining room every morning, as well as in the private parlor, where there is a secluded enclave for two. Prepared with fresh and locally sourced ingredients from regional farms and producers, breakfast includes fruit juice and beverages of choice, fresh fruit, sweet bread, scones, or muffins, savory egg dishes such as quiches and vegetable frittatas. There are also delicious choices such as creamy vanilla ice cream sundaes.
Amenities and Recreation
Deluxe amenities at the Alexander Mansion Bed and Breakfast include a gourmet breakfast served in the dining parlor every morning, complimentary bottled spring water, coffee, teas, hot chocolate, cold beverages, and snacks throughout the day, and a welcome wine social in the evening. Guest amenities include an evening turn-down service, personalized concierge services, a complimentary pick-up at Winona marina and Amtrak station, and complimentary wireless Internet around the property.
274 E Broadway St, Winona, MN 55987, Phone: 507-474-4224
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