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My mom, my sisters, and I just had the perfect Stillwater girls’ weekend — and it started with a surprise at my own front door. (Click here to watch the surprise).

My mom and sisters traveled in from all over the country, and all I’d been told was to pack a weekend bag. I had no idea where we were headed until we pulled up to the Rivertown Inn Bed & Breakfast in Stillwater, MN, a gorgeous home built by a lumber baron in the 1800s. The inn has a book theme running through it — every room is named after and decorated in honor of a famous author, which they knew I’d LOVE, since reading and writing are my two favorite things (after faith and family). The home is beautiful inside and out, and just steps from downtown.

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Exploring Downtown Stillwater

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From our B&B, we walked down to the historic Lift Bridge, built in 1931 and one of only three working lift bridges left in the country. Standing on it, you are in between two states — one side of the St. Croix River is Minnesota, the other is Wisconsin.

We spent the afternoon wandering the quaint main street, with stores selling clothes, antiques, art, and books. My favorite was a store dedicated entirely to local Minnesota-made goods. Perhaps you’ll find my books in that shop one day soon?

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A Trolley Tour Full of History

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If you visit Stillwater, do not skip the Stillwater Trolley tour. Our driver, who also owns the company, was an absolute encyclopedia of local history. Did you know Stillwater is actually known as the “Birthplace of Minnesota”? He pointed out a hotel built to resemble George Washington’s Mount Vernon (pictured above), along with a home built by Abraham Lincoln’s cousin.

We capped off the day with dinner on the river, watching the moon rise, and a slow, happy walk back to the B&B.

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Coffee, Stairs, and Historic Homes

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The next morning started right: coffee, a river walk, and a climb up the famous Stillwater Stairs to a stunning overlook. There are honestly so many staircases around this town that I suggested we rename it “Stair-water.” We wandered the neighborhood, completely charmed by all the beautifully restored historic homes.

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Museums, Libraries, and Teddy Bears

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From there, we toured Minnesota’s oldest standing courthouse, built in 1870 — now a free museum, complete with the original jail cell still inside. Just down the road, we stopped at the Carnegie Library, built in 1902 with funding from Andrew Carnegie himself. (I hope to visit EVERY Carnegie library in Minnesota!)

I had to stop at Teddy Bear Park — perfect for kids, and for anyone who’s still a kid at heart.

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We made a stop at Ascension Episcopal Church to admire their stunning Tiffany stained glass windows. The staff was so friendly, sharing all kinds of interesting things about Stillwater’s history.

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Marine on St. Croix

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We drove about 10 miles north to Marine on St. Croix, a tiny, impossibly charming town. It’s one of the oldest towns in Minnesota, founded in 1839 as the site of the state’s very first commercial sawmill. Walking around, it genuinely feels frozen in time — well-preserved buildings, a historic general store, and a whole lot of small-town character packed into just a few blocks. We grabbed lunch, took a leisurely walk, and stopped by a beautiful local winery before heading back to Stillwater.

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Minnehaha Falls and Mall of America

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On our last day, before heading to the airport, we made two final stops. First: Minnehaha Falls, a gorgeous 53-foot waterfall in Minneapolis. Then, because two of my sisters had never been, we stopped at the Mall of America. You really can’t come to Minnesota without experiencing MOA at least once.

We had the best girls’ weekend in Stillwater (and beyond). Have you been? If so, what was your favorite part?

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Here’s a recap video:

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Interested in more Travel Itineraries?

Here’s a peek at our trip to South Haven, Michigan – an absolute favorite of ours!

And here’s a look at my visit to Boston!

Thinking about heading to Minnesota’s North Shore? Read this first!

Here are some ideas for a fun day in Jordan, Minnesota.

Interested in Red Wing, Minnesota? Check this out!