Fountain City, WI Dock Installed

It's been a long summer with high water this year preventing a lot of small communities from being able to put in their docks for boat commuters. This has had a huge impact on their local businesses because they rely on all us boaters to stop and shop. We just learned that Fountain City,WI has just put in their dock that is located right in the center of town. The season here in the Upper Mississippi River Valley is starting to wind down with the start of schools coming but there is still a lot of great weather to be enjoyed in September and early October. Fountain City is one of our favorite cruise stops so we encourage all boaters to take advantage of this opportunity and stop by, it's an easy walk to town to enjoy restaurants like the Wingdam Saloon and Grill and the Golden Frog Restaurant. According to the news report Fountain City officials are looking into putting in a piling system which would make installing a dock easier no matter what the Mississippi River levels reach up to. They plan to seek a grant to help pay for it but the officials realize it is something that has to be done to help keep the local businesses going because they rely heavily on our boating adventures.
There is still time to take that boating adventure and head to Fountain City,WI, check out the links to the restaurants to get an idea of what they are all about.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise to and explore more destinations and provide adventures, information and resources.

Trip to Old Man River

After we discovered that cruising north up the Mississippi River wasn't a good idea we decided to cruise south to one of our favorite cruise stops and went to McGregor IA, and stopped at the Old Man River Restaraunt and Brewery. They are famous for their micro brews and we needed to fill our growlers. The food is great and well worth the trip.  We had our gowlers filled with our favorites, Dunkel and Weizen, and this time we were able to sample the Helles brand which is a light wheat beer, it was very good. We ordered a growler of Helles also and we discovered the brewery had changed it's logo. It is now known as BackPocket Brewery instead of the original name Einfach.

Einfach Beer was originally created by Old Man River and titled APPRECIATE SIMPLICITY. The story they had printed on their growlers told about the Brewery stived to provide Iowa with a simple, yet incedibly enjoyable world-class beer. They focus on German  lagers, they brew a beer you would need to fly to Munich to equal. Einfach was brewed locally on the Iowa shore of the Mississippi River so you are ensured the freshest German beer possible.

We discovered that Old Man River had to change it's brand name from it's famous Einfach Bier to Backpocket Bier because of some copyright issues from someone else already using that brand name. The best and most important part of it all is that their beer is still very high quality and great tasting.

The story behind Backpocket Bier goes; The truth is, you can tell a lot about a man by what he keeps in his back pocket; a useful pocketknife, a lucky coin, a worn out photo from an old love that has never died. Whatever it is, even if it wound up there by accident, there's a story behind it. A story that probably won't come out until you're in the right place, talking to the right people, with the right beer in hand. German-inspired and hand-crafted right here in Iowa, there's a Backpocket Beer perfect for every person, every occasion and most importantly, every story.
The next time you are cruising on the Mississippi River be sure to stop at McGregor,IA and visit the Old Man River Restaraunt and Brewery, you won't be disappointed.

Cruise to Old Man River, McGregor,IA

It was another beautiful day here in the Upper Mississippi River Valley to cruise to one of our favorite bar and grills. We cruised the river to one of our cruise stops, McGregor,IA. There is a nice marina here that offers parking for just about any size boat. If you come in a boat under 30 feet you can park in their free docks and it is a short walk to town. If your boat is over 30 feet long then pull up to the main gas dock and they will direct you to a boat slip for a small fee. Today we went to our favorite bar and grill called Old Man River Restaurant and Brewery. It is only a couple of blocks from the marina. The atmosphere is wonderful and they also offer screened-in outdoor seating. They are also a micro brewery and offer some very delicious micro beers. Some of the unique flavors are called: Helles, Pils, Marzen, Dunkel, Weizen, and their own Old Man River Root Beer. You can check their web site from the link we provided to see what the beers are made of. They do offer a sampler tray for $3.50 to try them all.

Today Troy had their  Weizen and Dunkel beers. The Weizen was a wheat beer that was a little sweet and extremely good even a non-beer drinker like  Beth liked it. The Dunkel was a dark beer and was extremely good, not too bitter and very smooth. They offer the opportunity to take these beers with you in the form of a jug called the Growler, it's about a 1/2 gallon,  or you can get a 5 gallon keg.

The Growlers are $13.00 and refills are only $10.00. We bought a Growler of both Weizen and Dunkel, Troy couldn't decide which one he wanted so we got both. With other flavors to try yet,  we will definitely be back to enjoy those and we will keep everyone informed. You can also join their mug club for $25.00 and you get a $1.00 off each beer purchased with your mug.

The mug remains at the bar.

For dinner Troy had their Ribeye steak special, it was smothered in green and yellow peppers, mushrooms, onion,and provolone cheese, with sides of hashbrowns and fresh green beans, Troy was in heaven it was very delicious and mouth watering good. Beth had the Grilled Chicken Focaccia with a salad and it was very delicious. After stuffing ourselves we walked back to the marina with a growler in each hand and enjoyed the sun set into the Mississippi River Valley. A couple of glasses from the growlers a--n--d GOODNIGHT.

Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise and explore more cruise stops and provide more information,adventures, and resources. Please Don't Move Firewood and Help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.

Short Cruise to Hungry Point, Trempealeau,WI

It was a beautiful afternoon but the forecast was calling for hot, humid and strong storms. So we decided to take a short adventure to one of our favorite bar and grills, Hungry Point in Trempealeau. The river activity was quiet when we started out heading north, we were the only one's to lock through the Lock and Dam #7. Hungry Point has some great sandwiches to offer for lunch and they are unique in having their own sweet potato fries. They have plenty of outdoor tables with umbrellas and a screened in porch giving you a perfect view of the Mississippi River Valley. Today we opted to eat indoors in air conditioning because of the high humidity and no breeze at all. Their indoor dining has large windows so you can still enjoy the view of the river. After a wonderful lunch we cruised back south through Lock and Dam #7 and headed down the Mississippi River toward Genoa,WI which is where Lock and Dam #8 is located.The great thing about the Mississippi River Valley there is always something going on, as we passed Crater Island the inlet was full of all kinds of boats, from houseboats to ski boats to flat-bottom fishing boats. A little further south we came upon a group of Pelicans sitting on a wingdam and you could hear the echo throughout the river valley as the fought over a fish( mine,mine,mine,mine).

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 Hitchhikers. 

Prairie Du Chien Marinas

A cruise stop, Prairie Du Chien,WI, has two marinas to choose from and they can be a little difficult to find. They are not on the main channel, they are off in small sloughs. There is the Winneshiek Marina and Bait Shop and The Prairie Du Chien Marina. Here's how to find them: When from the north heading southbound as soon as you can see the big Mississippi River bridge that connects Wisconsin and Iowa you need to pay close attention to the red buoys because the river channel splits in two, an east and west channel, it is marked by a buoy that is red and green,

you want to go into the east(left) channel and follow that channel and look to the left and see a grain elevator named PEAVEY, it will be on the right-side shoreline and kind of make a U turn up that channel and you see a sign pointing to which marina you want.

If coming from the south heading northbound, you will see a sign indicating a NO WAKE ZONE for McGregor,IA, you want to stay to the right(east side) of the channel until you come up on the marinas sign. To get to the Winneshiek Marina go straight past the parked barges to the left of the peninsula and look for small buoys that marks a channel that takes you straight to the marina.

 Winneshiek Marina(608-326-2888) has a lot to offer they have plenty of boat docks to accommodate any size boat that comes in their marina and they also have gas, a bar and grill, restrooms, coop laundry, a room for cleaning fish, a Mississippi River mermaid, and a bait shop. If you are planning on going to one of the events in the area many times there is someone willing to offer a shuttle service to the event but be sure to call ahead and make reservations for your boat parking.
The Praire Du Chien Marina(608-326-8032) is located to the far east after you see the sign for the two marinas stay to the right and go around the grain elevator on your right and follow the eastern shoreline through a long slough and it dead ends at the marina. This marina is located closer to the events that take place on Saint Feriole's Island. You could even walk to the events but it would be a long one and they will sometimes  have someone come and offer a shuttle service. They have a shop for repairs, gas and some other supplies.
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 Hitchhikers.

Cruise to Fountain City,WI

It was a beautiful Sunday as we cruised north through 3 lock and dams(7,6,5A) without waiting for a single commercial barge. We made it to Pool 5 which hosts one of our cruise stops, Fountain City,WI. It was mid afternoon when we arrived so we decided to stop at a local bar and grill called, Wingdam Saloon and Grill. There is a nice dock approx. 80ft. long to park at.

We tied up and went inside for a break and some air conditioning. When you park at the dock you walk under a railroad bridge then up a small street to the main street which is State Hwy 35 and the entrance. The atmosphere was nice and the service was great. For lunch we had burgers, one called the Boatyard Meltdown, which is like a patty melt, and the other was called the Wood Splitter, which had bacon, onion rings, cheddar cheese and mushrooms.

Fountain City is a nice small town with other bar and grills also which gives us reason to return and close to the dock you park at is a convenience store called Kwik Trip that you can walk to if you need some supplies. After lunch we cruised around the area, it was very busy with a lot of boats enjoying skiing, tubing, and relaxing at sandbars. We noticed there were a lot of nice sandbars available for large boats but you would want to claim one early in the day. After a brief stay we had to cruise for home it takes a couple of hours by houseboat, a little less by ski boat.

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 Hitchhikers.

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.

Our Cruise to Lansing,IA

Another beautiful day for a cruise down the Mississippi River and this time we made it to Lansing,Ia. Along the way just south of Brownsville,MN and before Genoa,WI we observed several large gatherings of pelicans perched on wingdams. They must be gathering to head south for the winter. There were also a large amount of seagulls also. It was a bird watchers paradise to watch some of the pelicans take flight and soar along the river's edge, land in the water, and scoop up a small fish. We locked through Lock and Dam #8 and watched a commercial barge filled with coal park to get unloaded at Genoa,WI's Dairyland Power Plant. It takes a good captain to maneuver such a large vessel with a heavy load to get perfectly aligned alongside the dock.
We arrived at Lansing,IA and pulled into the Lansing Marina which offers gas and dock slips for overnight stays, pumpouts, and some supplies. It has a long dock to park at so you can walk to town but it is about a 1/2 mile walk. Further south down the river there is a concrete levy that you can tie up to and it places you right at the edge of town. At the southern most edge of town is S&S Rentals that offers houseboat rentals, pontoons and fishing boats and they also have a full service marina with marine repair. We parked at the River's Edge Bar and Restaurant docks to have lunch and we walked to town from there. It is only a few blocks to town where you can shop at the famous Horsfalls and Lansing Variety stores that have over 1 million different kinds of items to shop for and there is also Bartels Hardware and Service that has antiques as well as hardware items. There are several restaurants to choose from to get a bite to eat. We had dinner at TJ Hunter's Pub and Grub, the food was great, also is the Safe House Saloon and Milty's Restaurant,Bar and Lodging. If you want to spend the night the Scenic Valley Motel offers boat parking, and there is the Historic Thorton House which is located a few blocks off of Main St. Lansing's festival is called Lansing Fish Days and always takes place the 2nd weekeknd in August, it features music, rides and entertainment for everyone.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we take you to another cruise destination and provide more information.

99 Steps to the Beer

It started out as a cruise to Lansing,IA but an unexpected turn of events took place and we ended up at a new stop called "The Top of the Rock". We borrowed a friend's pontoon boat for the day and we were cruising along coming up on the Lock and Dam #9 which is by Genoa,WI and we ran out of gas. The gauge still read full so apparently it doesn't work. We paddled our way to shore and luckily we were only an 1/8 of a mile from the nearest gas station. We bought a gas can and filled the tank several times until full and then restarted our cruise when we noticed a commercial barge locking through the dam and this can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. So we decided to had back home and when we got to Brownsville,MN we noticed a small dock with a boat and decided to investigate and noticed steps going straight up from the river. We made the journey up 99 steps to the street where we found a bar and grill called "The Top of the Rock". It is a very nice place and the food was good and the beer is cold. The bar has spectacular views of the Mississippi River Valley, they also have outdoor seating and a different featured DJ every night.
Brownsville,MN is also home to a place called "Wildcat Park" which offers camping of all types, and has a long sandbar for many boats to park and enjoy the activities.
A little north of Brownsville,MN on the east side of the Mississippi River is one of the largest sandbars in the area that everyone calls Crater Island. On a beautiful weekend day you will see up to as many as 50 boats parked at the sandbar in a small bay area. This is a popular spot for many large houseboats because the water is deep enough and the sandbar is large enough to set up camp for the whole family to enjoy. Another popular sandbar is a little more north and on the west side of the Mississippi River everyone calls Coney Island. This sandbar is popular for houseboats too because the water is deep enough and it is a great spot for boaters who like to come and set up tents and campout. The top of the sandbar is fairly level making it an ideal spot. There are many other sandbars in the area but require a little more caution when approaching.
Come follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise to another Mississippi River Cruise Stop and provide more information.

GRUMPY OLD MEN; Wabasha,MN

Remember the movie "Grumpy Old Men" and the sequel "Grumpier Old Men". Wabasha,MN is the featured city in the movie based on a story by a young man that had a grandfather that lived there and thought it was the perfect setting. Wabasha,MN is the oldest city on the Upper Mississippi River Valley. We cruised into Wabasha and found the Wabasha Marina. We then went under the Interstate Bridge and found the famous restaurant called Slippery's, which offers free boat docking and wonderful outdoor dining. We then went up the river further and into a small bay where the Mississippi Parkside Marina is located. We also discovered you can rent a houseboat from Great River Houseboats which has boats for anyone with or without any boating experience to drive. There are several parks on the Mississippi River that offer camping and nice beaches.
We decided to park at the Wabasha Marina and walk to see some of their historic buildings and shops. We came upon a hotel and restaurant called, The Historic Anderson House, it is the oldest operating hotel in the state of Minnesota. Out in front of the hotel they were offering Carriage Rides for about $10.00 a person and you called the American Inn at 651-565-5366 for reservations. We continued into downtown and found places like, Jewels on the River, The Old Triangle Pub, the Vinifera Restaurant, the Wabasha Treasure Chest, and the National Eagle Center.
Wabasha is a beautiful city to visit with plenty to offer the whole family from their own unique bowling alley, Riverboat Lanes, to a quiet night under the bridge in the Heritage Park for a free concert put on by the River Junctions Arts Council.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we take you to another Mississippi River Cruise stop and provide more information.

A Floating Bar?

Just to prove that cruising the Mississippi River is never boring we cruised to a unique floating bar just below Lock and Dam #5A called the DAM SALOON. If coming from the south you would follow the channel to the right past the Winona Municipal Harbor(Dick's Marine) and it will be on the right. If coming from the north follow the channel to the left and just past the town of Fountain City is Lock and Dam #5A, you have to lock through it and come immediately to your left across the channel.
Anything goes or not goes; clothes,shoes or none of the above, everything is welcome at the Dam Saloon even the wildlife living there. Stop in and have a drink and the wildlife tours are free. Just ask about Beavers?
Held every year is their famous Bikini Contest(check website for exact dates). They also have other contests going on to participate in. Don't forget to ask about joining the RAT CLUB, it comes with a special drink.
The Dam Saloon has a lot of history, so stop in and listen to the river tales from the past to the present. The Dam Saloon years ago was a Mississippi River Float and still offers some great fishing for a small fee and allows overnight stays for free, if you stop and the bar is closed just call the number on the door and the owner will be there in 15 minutes or less to open, no one goes away thirsty from the Dam Saloon.
The Dam Saloon does not have a grill but is one of our favorite places to stop and get refreshed so follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we continue to take you to new exciting places, cruise stops and provide information.

Mississippi River Cruise Stop; Lake City,MN

Houseboating Excursions cruised the Mississippi River to the beautiful lake called Lake Pepin. We pulled into the Lake City Marina in Lake City,MN. This area offers some of the greatest boating in the Midwest, there are boats of all kinds. Lake Pepin is approximately 3 miles wide and 21 miles long. The one thing you will notice is the large amount of sailboats. On a beautiful, light windy day the lake is full of people sailboating, it is a spectacular sight to see. Lake City,MN is considered the "Pearl of the Mississippi" and is the birthplace of waterskiing. Lake City,MN has 2 marinas that offer overnight docking and refueling, Lake City Marina in the center of town and on the north end is Hansen's Harbor. They are both close enough to the city to walk and enjoy some shopping and their many restaurants such as the Nosh Restaurant, Chickadee Cottage Cafe, and Skyline on Pepin. For some evening live entertainment the Old Bank Bar is also close.
Lake City,MN has several different ways to enjoy the beauty of Lake Pepin by offering a modern day paddlewheel boat called the "Pearl of the Lake Paddleboat". It also offers tours on a 40-foot Taiwanese Sailing Yacht or take a houseboat cruise offered by Great River Houseboats.
Lake City,MN has many events going on during the boating season such as their 100-mile garage sale on the first weekend in May and Water Ski Days on the last weekend in June and many more for the whole family to enjoy.
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