Complete Guide to the St. Croix Valley (11 Best Things to Do)

The St. Croix Valley is located right on the border of Minnesota & Wisconsin, about one hour northeast of the Twin Cities. The Valley primarily consists of Taylor's Falls in Minnesota and St. Croix Falls in Wisconsin, as well as other surrounding communities. Separated by just the St. Croix River, these adorable towns have so much to do that we highly recommend taking a weekend to really explore the area along the St. Croix River. From wineries to cute boutiques and even hiking trails, there's something for everyone.

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, we recommend Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates.
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Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you!

We always use Expedia's easy to use platform for hotels.

To keep cell service while traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Get Your Guide also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for any international or domestic travels.

Getting to the St. Croix Valley & Where to Stay

Getting to St. Croix Falls is easy, just hop in the car and head to either Taylors Falls or St. Croix Falls. Because they're so close to each other, there really isn't any difference in which side you choose to stay on other than the technicality of the state you'll be in. Below, I've listed some of our personal favorite stays in the area :

• Cozy Family Vacation Home - this simple yet modern home is one of the coziest options in Taylors Falls, and it's Nordic style makes it the perfect place to enjoy a hot chocolate and book or play a board game with the family
• Riverside Scandinavian Home - another Scandinavian inspired home, this is another great option in Taylors Falls for a weekend stay
• The Trailhouse - a modern country home with thoughtful touches, they have lots of space and rooms for lounging, also located in Taylors Falls
• Historic Home in St. Croix Falls - this historic home in St. Croix Falls has all the antiques inside to match the exterior, but with lots of windows and sunlight - plus it has 6 beds for the whole family
  
• Big Rock Creek - located in St. Croix Falls, this property has multiple rentals onsite - like these glamping tents or these cozy cabins - so that you can choose what kind of adventure best fits your needs​

Our Favorite Tours near Stillwater : 
- Murder Mystery Experience
- Ghost Walking Tour

11 Best Things to Do in the St. Croix Valley

1. Scenic Boat Tour
This 45-80 minute ride (depending on water level) takes you down and back up the St. Croix River with a guided narration telling about the area and history. It's a beautiful way to experience the views of both sides of the river.

2. Go Mini Golfing
Adventure Falls Mini Golf in downtown Taylor's Falls has 18 holes and is located right at the drive-in restaurant, making it a perfect stop on a nice day!
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3. Head Out on a Hike
Explore one of the many local parks and head out hiking! Our favorites are the William O'Brian State Park, Interstate State Park, St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Heritage Park also has a great overlook of the river! Each of these parks has multiple trails in it that you can choose to hike.

4. Visit a Waterpark (Or Go Skiing)
Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls has multiple fun options for the family depending on the season, think waterparks, alpines slides, go karts, skiing and snow tubing!

5. ​Go Shopping
Both Taylor's Falls and St. Croix Falls have quite a few local boutique and antique stores, I recommend walking the main streets of both towns and exploring whichever ones you want!

​6. ​Explore the Outskirts
There are tons of small towns and cities in the St. Croix area, and we highly recommend checking them out! There's Franconia and the local Artwalk, Schafer, Scandia, Marine on St. Croix, or Stillwater - all are adorable places to explore!

7. Winery Tour
There are so many wineries in the St. Croix area, and although our favorite is the Dancing Dragonfly Winery, if you have a designated driver you can make a full day trip out of it.
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8. ​Rent a Canoe or Kayak
Taylor's Falls Canoe Rental offers canoe and kayak rentals, they even have one way trips to Osceola!

9. Meet the Deer
Over at Fawn Doe Rosa Wildlife Educational Park you can get up close with animals like deer, elk, donkeys, ponies, and other farm animals! Admission is $11.50 per adult.

10. Visit the Folsom House
The Folsom House is a historic, 19th century home turned museum. You can find all original furnishings, and admission is free! It's a great way to see how homes used to look in the area and learn more about local history.

11. Try the Local Food
One of our favorite ways to explore a new city is to try some local things to eat! Some of our favorites in Taylors Falls are the Juneberry Cafe (focusing on local ingredients with vegetarian options), the Drive In Restaurant (a local drive in operating since 1956) and Schoony's Malt Shop & Pizzeria (for malts and pizzas, of course). In St. Croix Falls we love Valley Sweets (for ice cream and sweet tooths) and Be Wild Burgers (a local walk up burger joint).

Watch our Minnesota Adventures here!

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​Other Minnesota Blog Posts :
-> 9 Best Winter Things to Do in Duluth
-> 9 Best Things to Do in Nisswa
-> 9 Best Things to Do in Ely

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