Slippery's in Wabasha ,MN

As we cruised south out of the Lake Pepin area following the Mississippi River we came to a No Wake Zone that indicated we were in Wabasha,MN. We pulled into a bar and grill called Slippery's. They have a very nice long dock that is easy to tie up to and can accommodate any size boat. This is the restaurant that is featured in the movie Grumpy Old Men series. You can even get your picture taken on a Grumpy Old Men bench.

They do offer outside seating so you can enjoy the river view while dining or just relaxing. They also have a display for all you motorheads of old time outboard motors, and don't forget to(if open)  have a seat at the outdoor bar with the canoe above your head.

Inside you can read the story about how Slippery's got started and  the story that inspired the making of the movie.
Wabasha also has two marinas to park your boat and spend some time. If your looking to rent a houseboat from this area the Wabasha Marina has the business, Great River Houseboats, that rents houseboats so you can easily enjoy Lake Pepin from the water side. If you decide to stay at the marina on Friday nights, under the large bridge that you can see,  near downtown, there is free music concerts that tend toward acoustic and melodic rather than heavy bands.

Just south of the restaurant you will come upon the National Eagle Center. The center has a nice dock to park at and you can walk up to the center and see the five eagles they have up close. Check their web site for more information.  Located next to the center is a beautiful waterfall that offers a great place for family photos.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise and explore more destinations and provide more information, adventures and resources. Please Don't Move Firewood and Help Stop Aquatic Invaders.

Cruise to Pickle Factory

The weather cooperated with us and we took a cruise on the Mississippi River to Lake Pepin. This is a very beautiful area that pictures can't do justice, you have to see the area to really appreciate the beauty of the bluffs on both sides of you as you cruise through the lake. On Lake Pepin is one of our cruise stops, Lake City,MN.  Our adventure to Lake Pepin took us to a wonderful bar and grill called the Pickle Factory. I put in a link to their web site for more information. They are located in a small town called Pepin,WI. They do have a nice dock to park at depending on the size of your boat. If the dock is full or your boat is too big just find a nearby sandbar to park at and you can call the Pickle Factory, 715-442-4400, and give them your location and they will come pick you up with their pontoon boat. They have outdoor seating to enjoy lunch or dinner while you enjoy the view of Lake Pepin. For lunch we would highly recommend having their Wisconsin Cheese Steak sandwich, not to be confused with the philly cheese steak(yuk!),  Wisconsin cheese is the best!.
When cruising the lake, on the Wisconsin side,  watch for a huge rock levy, it surrounds a small marina called Dan's Pepin Marina, they are on the south side of it. Also located next door to the Pickle Factory is a small art studio and greenhouse called Smith Bros. Landing, they have  glass and metal studios and some of the metal art work is pretty cool and bizarre.

For you web enthusiasts the Pickle Factory also offers free wireless internet.
Please continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we continue to cruise  and provide more information about the Upper Mississippi River Valley. And please take the pledge to not move firewood and stop aquatic invaders.

4th of July Party

The 4th of July was a very wet one here at Houseboating Excursions, it rained on and off all day long. But we were not going to let that ruin our party. We had many friends and family show up and we made the best of it. We had plenty of food and drinks for all and plenty of umbrellas. The men of the party came up with a brilliant idea and got a 10x20ft. tent cover for the top patio on the houseboat. We called it our 4th of July Circus Event.  
It worked out very well, it gave us more space to take cover from the rain. We also put together some umbrellas to help cover the bow area and some took shelter inside the houseboat.
The city of La Crosse had their annual Riverfest going on at Riverside Park that featured food tents, beer tent, different events, and a north and south stage featuring different musicians and bands. Everyone chose to stay at the houseboat and as luck came our way the rain stopped at the right time and we were able to enjoy the Skyrocker,s fireworks show. We can see and hear them from our houseboat parked in the marina at Pettibone Boat Club.
Come follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we continue to explore more  cruise stops and provide more information about the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Please take the pledge to Don't Move Firewood and Stop Aquatic Invaders. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.