Minnesota/Wisconsin lodging help

[cpditty]

Looking to take a trip down the Mississippi from Prescott to La Crosse, Winona Area. Are there any places to stay that have docks or any marina's around that i could find a transient slip. Any Idea's?

Thanks

 

[Half Off]

We stayed at this place a few years back. Not to bad if memory serves me correctly.

Best Western Midway Hotel
1835 Rose Street
La Crosse, WI 54603 US

 

[mjmiron]

Great Place in La Crosse:

The Bikini Yacht Club, nice set up

Manager: Kathy Jostad
541 Park Plaza Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601
Mississippi Riv. Mi. 697 RDB
608-785-4691
jostadk@skipperliner.com

Lake Pepin:
One of the best restaurants around, Harbor Bar
N673 825th St
Hager City, WI 54014
(715) 792-2417
Can't remmeber the name of the marina right in front of the restaurant but it is also quite nice.

 

[SCFinch]

This will reflect the Red Wing to La Crosse options, by far not a complete guide, just some of the places that I have been. If you are looking for transient slips, there are lots of opportunities, in Winona there are 2 marinas, Dicks Marina and Winona Yacht Club. You can also park on the levee right downtown (no power if you needed it, I think it is legal, we did it last year with no issues). In Trempealeau you can stay at Sunset Bay Marina, not sure about lodging off of the boat there, and in La Crosse the Best Western does have slips, or there are several marinas. North Bay does have transient slips available, I am sure some of the others can accommodate as well (have never checked). Most of the hotels have shuttles that may be able to pick you up if you set it up in advance. I set up a Google Earth places file if you want it to see where these places are and compare your options. Further up the river from Winona the next marina that may have transients is in Alma (not sure about the hotel situation, maybe a bed and breakfast). From there it is a run up to Wabasha with 2 marinas there, Parkside and Wabasha Marina. Next in Line is Lake City with 2 options, Hansons Harbor(not sure about transients) and Lake City Marina. Red Wing has a few options with Treasure Island Casino and a few others that I have not stayed at. (It has been a few years but Treasure Island used to give you chips when you paid for your slip to spend in the casino...) That is about as much as I can accurately give you. Google maps and Google Earth can be very helpful as well. Beginning of August we did a Trempealeau, Winona, Wabasha weekend and stayed at some of the places I mentioned. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[SCFinch]

Mark-
Unfortunately the Bikini Yacht Club is now a ghost town, it was a great place but most of the operations have moved up to North Bay Marina now. Huck Finns is a nice Restaurant and they do have an outdoor deck overlooking the marina.

 

[175BR4.3]

In Winona, the only "free" place is the Levee right on the main channel. Its a no wake zone, and a nice place to tie up for the night. It's a right downtown. The other 2 marinas, are private slips, and as far as i know dont have any rentable overnight slips.

 

[cpditty]

Thank you for some great idea's. Mark I agree we were at the Harbor bar just a couple of weekends ago. It's a great place and the best jerk chicken around. It sounds like thee best western is the place for me, we will see if I can get a spot when the leaves are changing.

 

[boughtabouy]

I got married on the river with the reception at the Bikini Yacht Club. Sorry to hear it's gone to hell in the last 15 years.

Slippery's in Wabasha has pretty good food, and might have some dock space available. You'll have to ask them.

 

[mjmiron]

Too bad to hear about the Bikini Club I had many a fun evening there years back.

Another great place is the Harbor View Cafe (Pepin, WI) if you want one of the top ten best meals of your life.
Transient slips right in front of the restaurant at Dan's Marina 715-442-4900

 

[Stray Cat]

We stayed at this place a few years back. Not to bad if memory serves me correctly.

Best Western Midway Hotel
1835 Rose Street
La Crosse, WI 54603 US

Watch for shallow water in their slips in late season, and the ducks like to set (crap) on their slips too. Otherwise they often have decent entertainment on weekends. Estaban's is a good Italian (pizza) restraunt within walking distance from there.