by Madeline Kopiecki | Sep 15, 2023 | Featured, Photo Contest
In July and August, we invited you to submit your photos of the communities of the St. Croix Valley area. From stunning aerial vistas to scenic downtown shots, local photographers understood the assignment! Now, it’s time to determine our Readers’ Choice...
by Zoe Deal | Aug 1, 2023 | Featured
Hello, St. Croix Valley! After writing for this publication for the past two years, I’m excited to greet you as the new editor of St. Croix Valley Magazine. Growing up in Forest Lake, the Valley drew me like a moth to a flame. The river has defined the most important...
by Rachael Perron | Aug 1, 2023 | Noteworthy, Recipes
I don’t think anyone needs to be taught how to make a salad. It’s one of those things like toast or tea that no one needs a recipe for. Salad bars don’t come with instructions—a salad is just one of those dishes that we understand how to make at a visceral, intuitive...
by Zoe Deal | Aug 1, 2023 | Education, Featured, People
These area students are pursuing their passions and leading their peers. Each year, St. Croix Valley Magazine asks administrators and staff at local high schools to nominate students who are making an impact. These students stand out for academics, athletics and...
by Emily Gedde | Aug 1, 2023 | Featured, Giving Back, Outdoors
Meet the two organizations behind an all-new joint Riverway Volunteer Program. The St. Croix Valley and Riverway may be a treasure to the people who call it home, but did you know our backyard is home to a unit of the National Park Service? The St. Croix National...
by Zoe Deal | Aug 1, 2023 | Giving Back, Local Makers
Little village, big flavor. North Hudson may have fewer than 4,000 residents, but each year in late August, nearly 10,000 people make their way into the quaint village for an annual tradition: Pepper Fest. The three-day community festival is a celebration of North...
by Shelli Erck | Aug 1, 2023 | Landscape, Noteworthy, Shops
Autumn is a beautiful time of year, with the leaves changing colors and the crisp air providing a refreshing change. It is also the perfect time of year to get out and refresh your outdoor planters. Here are five tips that will help you create the perfect planter:...
by Rachael Johnson | Aug 1, 2023 | Book Club, Noteworthy
We can all stop feeling like our inability to focus is a character flaw. While writing Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention—and How to Think Deeply Again, author Johann Hari traveled the world, interviewed multiple scientists, doctors, sociologists and Silicon...
by Emily Gedde | Aug 1, 2023 | Book Club
Lake Elmo author Stephanie Landsem talks writing and pursuing your passions. In 2007, Lake Elmo resident Stephanie Landsem found herself at a crossroads. The stay-at-home mom was considering returning to the workforce when a conversation with her daughter changed...
by Zoe Deal | Aug 1, 2023 | Photo Contest
Award-winning image captures an autumn sunrise. Stillwater resident Todd Kockelman captured this image on an October morning on his way into work. “My first picture was at 6:55 a.m., and by 7:20 a.m., the colors really started coming alive. The ‘still’ water, the...
by Kristie Smith | Aug 1, 2023 | Featured, People, Restaurants
As summer’s hustle starts to slow, folks from around the region gather to nosh their way along the beautiful St. Croix River on a guided Hudson Food Walk. On a tour of art and culinary delights, the charm and history of the quaint river town of Hudson are on full...
by Zoe Deal | Aug 1, 2023 | Noteworthy, Outdoors
There’s a new way to enjoy the natural beauty of the St. Croix Valley. Belwin Conservancy’s newest trail system, Oxbow Trails, officially opened for public hiking in June. The idyllic 1.25-mile chipped trail in Afton takes visitors through wooded ridges, under shaded...
by Josie Smith | Aug 1, 2023 | Giving Back, Senior Living
Stillwater nonprofit helps older adults stay independent longer. “Each act of service is a thread that ties people, communities and lives together …” For more than 55 years, the folks behind Community Thread have been living out this belief. The Stillwater-based...
by Josie Smith | Aug 1, 2023 | Education, Outdoors
Picture, if you will, a vibrant, comforting place, filled with wonder. A place where the delightful sounds of children and farm animals play throughout the day. This charming farm-turned-preschool sits on 60 acres in West Lakeland Township. The gates at the Children’s...
by Madeline Kopiecki | Jul 27, 2023 | Featured, History, Restaurants, Shops
Local small businesses are hosting a historic Dance Here event. Main Street might be closed in downtown Stillwater, but businesses are still open! The Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the city of Stillwater along with Leo’s Grill & Malt...
