Best Local Secrets
Every city has a few spots that are prized by locals but that, while not exactly hidden, might be easy to miss if you are a visitor. As a 167-year-old river town on a million-year-old island in the Mississippi River, Winona has this in spades, and you could explore endlessly to discover the special places that make us unique. But since you might only have a few days instead of a few decades (for now), we wanted to share with you a handful of favorite local treasures. Want more? Stop by our Winona Visitor Center to talk with a Winona expert about all the wonders waiting here for you to discover.
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GARVIN HEIGHTS PARK Some 540 feet above the city is a
park with a sweeping view of the Mississippi River Valley like you won’t find anywhere else. Flanked by hardwood forests, an old oak savanna and a restored goat prairie, the park can be reached via a winding road or a hike up a maintained trail from the bottom of the bluff.
HISTORIC WAGON BRIDGE Built in 1917, this hidden concrete bridge spans a backwater channel of the Mississippi River between Latsch Island and Aghaming Park and it is a local favorite for strolling, birdwatching, and taking stunning photos. While you’re there, check out Winona’s picturesque boathouse community that rims Latsch Island and cool off with a swim on the Latsch Island beach. PRINCESS WENONAH STATUE In the Dakota Indian language, Wenonah means “first born daughter,” and in our gorgeous Windom Park is a statue immortalizing “Princess Wenonah,” daughter of Dakota Chief Wapasha and the namesake of our fare city. The statue stands in the center of an exquisite fountain with spraying pelicans and turtles and it is rimmed by bright flowerbeds and a pretty gazebo. LAKE WINONA BANDSHELL Lake Park, which rings East
and West Lake Winona, has been the darling of outdoor places to play in Winona for more than a century, but the park’s allure isn’t merely its grassy expanses, playgrounds and bike trails. In the center of the park stands a 100-year-old bandshell that still today hosts concerts and events. Fun fact: East and West Lake Winona used to be the main channel of the Mississippi River, making Winona literally an island in the river.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN WALKING TOUR Milling and lumber trade made Winona a wealthy port city 150 years ago, and evidence of that grandeur can be appreciated throughout our beautifully preserved Victorian downtown. Grab a historic walking tour map from the Visitor Center or the Winona County History Center and stroll the magnificent architecture our forefathers blessed the city with.
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