A big highlight for everyone was driving to Taylors Falls for a paddlewheel boat tour on the St Croix River. The drive from Stillwater was beautiful on winding country roads through farmland on the most gorgeous day! We arrived just in time to board the paddlewheel boat and the friendly staff even had a golf cart to help give my 93 year old grandmother a ride up and down the short but steep incline to the boat dock. The old fashioned paddlewheel boat was so cute and the scenery was so pretty on the St Croix River surrounded by steep rock cliffs. The kids loved exploring the boat and watching the paddle wheels. We listened to the guide narrate our tour and watched the scenery go by. It was such a pleasant and perfect day! We learned about the river’s logging history and historic log jam. We saw the rock formation on the side of the cliff in the shape of a cross where the St Croix River gets its name. We also saw the face of George Washington in the rocks! Above us, we watched osprey fly and dive from the sky into the river to catch fish and two bald eagles perched in a tree on the cliffs. The kids loved buying candy from the boat snack shop and taking a break sitting at the table with family. It was such a fun 45 minute boat ride on the river. It was the perfect way to show our out of town visitors the stunning natural beauty of the St Croix Valley, learn some local history, and enjoy a relaxing evening cruise on the river.
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours
*Tours are appropriate for all ages!
*Daily excursion of 45 or 80 minute tours available.
*Public Tours are offered 7 days a week from May to Mid-October. Check online at taylorsfallsboat.com to see times available.
*Book online for discounted tickets
*No need to print a paper ticket. Staff will scan your ticket on your mobile device or look up your reservation by name.
*A light jacket in the spring and fall is recommended.
*Bring cash for snack bar. Credit cards are accepted but may be unreliable with minimal service out on the river.
*Onboard snack bar serves beer, wine, lemonade, soda, water, coffee, candy, chips, and sandwiches. No outside food allowed. Personal water bottles are okay.
*Specialty cruises available including sundown cruise, twilight music cruise, wedding and private group excursions, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day excursions. See website for details.
Our onboard snack bar serves beer, wine, lemonade, soda, coffee, candy, chips, and sandwiches. Pre-order a River Rock Meal to add to your trip or grab a pizza or sandwich at our River Rock Patio before boarding the boat.
We do not allow outside food to be brought onboard, but if you have a personal water bottle you want to bring, that is okay.
Our onboard snack bar serves beer, wine, lemonade, soda, coffee, candy, chips, and sandwiches. Pre-order a River Rock Meal to add to your trip or grab a pizza or sandwich at our River Rock Patio before boarding the boat.
We do not allow outside food to be brought onboard, but if you have a personal water bottle you want to bring, that is okay.
Related Posts
*July 4th in Stillwater, Minnesota
*Historic Stillwater Trolley Tour & Dock Cafe
*Aurora Borealis: Photographing the Northern Lights in Minnesota
*River Rafting in Oboke Gorge, Japan
*More Minnesota related blog posts
*More adventure related blog posts
Our onboard snack bar serves beer, wine, lemonade, soda, coffee, candy, chips, and sandwiches. Pre-order a River Rock Meal to add to your trip or grab a pizza or sandwich at our River Rock Patio before boarding the boat.
We do not allow outside food to be brought onboard, but if you have a personal water bottle you want to bring, that is okay.
Our onboard snack bar serves beer, wine, lemonade, soda, coffee, candy, chips, and sandwiches. Pre-order a River Rock Meal to add to your trip or grab a pizza or sandwich at our River Rock Patio before boarding the boat.
We do not allow outside food to be brought onboard, but if you have a personal water bottle you want to bring, that is okay.
Shop Photography Prints
The kids loved exploring the riverboat and watching the paddle wheels:
The cross in the rocks where the St Croix River gets its name:
The face of George Washington:
A beautiful day on the St Croix River:
My son enjoying time with his Great Grandmother:
We watched an osprey dive into the river and catch a fish!
We saw bald eagles perched in a tree:
