Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours. Photo: Amy Frischmon
Take your pick for an end-of-summer St. Croix River cruise.
Enjoy the views of the majestic St Croix River. Our area is spoiled for choice when it comes to cruises. Whether it’s a regular trip up and down the river, or a themed cruise, there is something for everyone.
Taylors Falls: Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours
“Taylors Falls is a quaint, small village,” vice president of Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours Amy Frischmon says. “It’s less 30 minutes north of Stillwater and you feel like you’re a world away.”
The company hosts daily boat tours and offers dinner cruises on Friday and Saturday. They are especially excited for their annual Elvis cruise on September 13. Award-winning Elvis impersonator Steve Marcio serenades the audience in a theater-style seating arrangement.
Frischmon recommends arriving an hour early to find parking. While there are a few spots near the company’s tour stand and on nearby Bench Street, she recommends parking near downtown and walking around the area before heading to the boat tour. The town has installed a beautiful walkway that goes underneath Highway 8 that allows people to walk safely from the downtown area toward the boat tour stand.
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours
651.465.6315
Facebook: Taylor’s Falls Scenic Boat Tours
Instagram: @taylorsfallsboat
Stillwater: St. Croix Boat & Packet Co.
St. Croix Boat & Packet Company has daily lunch and dinner cruises until October 20. If you’re in the mood for a different sort of cruise, the company is excited about its Brews Cruise on August 16 and September 20. The 2.5-hour cruise features live music and beer from Lift Bridge Brewing paired with local and imported cheeses.
“Included in the ticket we usually have a fiesta buffet and a souvenir glass,” Lauren Crepeau, event manager, says. Guests are encouraged to arrive 45 minutes before departure to allow for time to find parking.
St. Croix Boat & Packet Co.
651.430.1234
Instagram: @stillwaterriverboats
Hudson: St. Croix River Cruises
“We have a lot going on in August,” the owner of St. Croix River Cruises Kathy Jarvis says. The cruise line is known for its weekly Sunday brunch cruises. Also increasing in popularity are their Friday evening Italian dinner cruises, catered by the Afton House Inn, which is also run by the Jarvis family.
“We make everything from scratch,” Jarvis says. “Our chef does homemade lasagna and chicken alfredo. It’s a nice evening. It can be a romantic night out, or even take the kids. They love it.”
The company is also proud of its annual Vineyards of the Croix Cruise. This year’s wine tasting and gourmet dinner event is on September 13.
“Wine vendors come onboard and we have tastings from all over,” Jarvis says. “There’s probably somewhere between 40 and 50 different wines.”
Another highlight is Oktoberfest on October 19 which features live music, beer tasting and hammerschlagen. “You get one swing and you have to get it flush with the wood,” says Jarvis. The catch is they have to use the back of the hammerhead.
Fall Cruises begin September 21 and last through October. Boarding is on 98 Walnut Street in Hudson.
St. Croix River Cruises
651.436.8883
Facebook: Afton Hudson Cruise Lines
