Bring your equipment and spend a weekend Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing Sledding or Snowmobiling at Frontenac St. Park just north of Lake City and Hok-Si-La Park just north of town.  Groomed Ski and Snowmobile trails at Frontenac connect to hundreds of miles of country trails. Snowshoe at Frontenac or Hok-Si-La park or Sled the quarter mile long Sledding Hill at Frontenac.

Check snow conditions at Frontenac at 651-345-3401 or Hok-Si-La at 651-345-3855

Mention this Blog and receive a $15 discount on your room rate.

Ask about our Winter Backpack “Hot Lunch” for your outdoor adventures.

Stay at the Red Gables Inn during the Soar With the Eagles weekend Celebration at the National Eagle Center (NEC) and receive a $15 discount on your room rate per night.  The National Eagle Center is just 15 miles from the Red Gables Inn.  Soar With The Eagles Celebration is 3 days of fun, food and unique learning experiences with Birds of Prey, a Wildlife Humorist, Owl and waterfowl presentations, Eagle Banding and much more.  See the event schedule at www.nationaleaglecenter.org.  Don’t forget your binoculars and cameras!

Eagles have arrived in our area and viewing opportunities abound from Covill Park just south of Red Wing, MN to Frontenac State Park and Hok-Si-La Park just north of Lake City, MN. Continue south along highway 61 to numerous stop points along the route to Read’s Landing where you will see great concentrations of eagles in the trees and on ice flows. Go on into Wabasha and visit the National Eagle Center where two Bald and a Golden Eagle reside inside the complex. A viewing platform has scopes and binoculars available outside. Cross the river at Wabasha and go downriver on Wisconsin Highway 35 to Alma and stop at Wings Over Alma located on the right and just south of the lock and dam. Dress for the weather, bring your binoculars and camera for an exciting trip for bird watching. Mention this blog when making your reservations at the Red Gables Inn and you will receive a $15 discount on your room rate!

A dozen vintage villages surrounding Lake Pepin in SE Minnesota and SW Wisconsin will hold their Annual 100 Mile Garage Sale on May 2,3,&4. Rain or Shine, hundreds of sales will offer visitors ongoing opportunities to find incredible deals, some squeals, and possible thrills of excitement. Restaurants and Retailers will encourage everyone to stop by as well.

Relax after a hard day shopping on the Red Gables Inn wrap around porch. Or, take a leisurely ride on The Pearl of the Lake, Paddlewheel boat for the evening.

Contact the Red Gables Inn and reserve your room for an incredibly exciting weekend. Mention this Blog and receive a 10% discount per room night!

Possibly the Best Birding Opportunities during Spring Migration (Late April through May) are available at Frontenac State Park and Hok-Si-La Park located just north of Lake City.  Peak viewing for warblers is Mid-May and you will see them “dripping” from the trees at Hok-Si-La Park.  A Lake City Area Birding Map and Brochure directs visitors to the best viewing areas around the entire Lake Pepin area.  Brochures are available at the Red Gables Inn and by mail.

Make your reservations for a Birding Weekend May 9-11, 2008 at the Red Gables Inn and mention this Blog and receive a $15 discount on your room per night.

Ask about arranging for a Birding Guide during your stay!

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A special event that includes a walking map to view 9 Porches at various historic homes located in the beautiful community of Lake City, MN. The Red Gables Inn is included in this tour. Visitors will enjoy the old fashioned activities one enjoyed in a bygone era. Live Entertainment and a Chocolate Buffet are included with your ticket price.

Call the Red Gables Inn for your room and purchase your ticket for this special event.

During the evening, enjoy a cruise on The Pearl of the Lake Paddlewheel Boat.

MARCH BRINGS MUSIC AND THE BEGINNING OF SPRING MIGRATION ON THE MISSISSIPPI FLYWAY!.

BIRDING IS ABUNDANT!
Bald Eagles are soaring and display on ice edges from Red Wing to Winona and the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi and Lake Pepin shoreline.  Common Mergansers and other duck species are abundant along the open water.  Our Lake City Area Birding Brochure and Map will direct you to all the best birding locations.

The National Eagle Center houses 3 resident Bald Eagles and provides binoculars and scopes for viewing.  Wings Over Alma has opened a new Wildlife Viewing Deck below Lock and Dam #4.

MUSIC FILLS THE AIR!

SUNDAY, MARCH 25

CURTIS & LORETTA-Oak Center General Store at Oak Center - Tickets $15

Exquisite harmonies, moving and incisive songwriting feeding conscience, hrt and your love chakra, acountic maiinstays Curtis and Loretty play the kind of music tht earned them the nonor of being named the “Best Acoustic Performers of the Twin Cities” by City Pages.  They play a huge array of stringed insruments including Celtic Hrp, mandocelloo, mandolin, guitar, cloaw-hammer culcimer, banjo, and ukulele.  Curtis and Loretta “represent one of the purest and most accessible pleasures in Celtic or Folk music.”  A memorable evening is in store.

SATURDAY, MARCH 31

BOILED IN LEAD - OAK CENTER GENERAL STORE - OAK CENTER - TICKETS $15

Onion Magazine says that this Minneapolis (and Ely) five-some is”…the prime purveyor of a style of Celtic music infused with punk-rock attitude, developing over the years a hard-driving combination of Irish folk with heavy rock and elements of styles from all over the world….one of the best bands Minnesota has ever produced.”  Dean Magraw on guitar, Todd Menton on guitar and vocals.  David on fiddle, Drew Miller on bass and vocals and Robin Anders on hand drums……….All we can say, get your tickets early for this one.

Call for reservations at (507) 753-2080 and make your weekend complete at the Red Gables Inn 888-345-2605

1.  “When Irish Eyes are Singin” at the Historic Sheldon Theatre in nearby Red Wing -

Friday, March 16 at 7:00 PM - Saturday, March 17 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM Tickets $12 adult

The Red Wing Singers will perform a variety of favorites -THe group that wooed sold-out audiences last year with “Give Me That Old Time Religion” performance returns with a production to warm the cockles of Irish Hearts.

Reserve your tickets at The Sheldon at 1-800-899-5759

OR CALL THE RED GABLES INN FOR YOUR ST. PATRICK’S WEEKEND CELEBRATION AND WE’LL DO THE REST!

2.  BARRA at Oak Center General Store - Oak Center - Friday, March 16 at 8:00 PM
Minnesota’s best loved Ceili band. Come ready to hear some of the best Irish traditionals and dance an Irish jig or 2. With Deborah Martin on fiddle and hurdy gurdy. John McCormich on Accordion, Amy Shaw on Irish Flute, and Paul Garding on Guitar, octave mandolin, and vocals. Authentic traditional Irish tunes, some 100’s of years old. Come have a good time St. Patrick, would approve. Tickets $15 adult
Call (507) 753-2080 for tickets
OR CONTACT THE RED GABLES INN FOR YOUR ST. PATRICK’S WEEKEND CELEBRATION AND WE’LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST!

Call the Red Gables Inn for an exciting St. Patrick’s Weekend 888-345-2605

Soar With The Eagles Weekend is March 10-11, 2007!

Eagle viewing from the outdoor deck with scopes and binoculars.

Visit resident eagles, Harriet, Angel and Columbia - feeding events begin at 1:00

National Audubon Society, and Upper Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Refuge speakers

Paddleboat ride on the Mississippi to get close up views of Bald Eagles

Reserve your room at the Red Gables Inn for this special weekend and come enjoy the fun.