Contrary to its name, there are actually no waterfalls in Taylors Falls. BUT Taylors Falls is a quaint town with cute shops, riverboats, unique hikes, and wineries. At just under 1 hour from Minneapolis, it makes for a great girls’ trip from the big city. Here’s how to spend one weekend in Taylors Falls.
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How to get to Taylors Falls?
If traveling from outside of Minnesota or Wisconsin, it would be best to fly into Minneapolis and rent a car. From here, you will then have a short 1-hour drive into Taylors Falls. If you are looking for more of a road trip, you could also fly into Duluth and check out this unique city on Lake Superior. After checking out Duluth for a weekend, you could make the 2 hour drive to Taylors Falls!
When is the best time to visit?
Minnesota has wild weather. From 90’s in the summer to -20’s in the winter. Unless you are hoping to go skiing or snow tubing, the best time to visit Taylors Falls is between June-early October. The summers typically bring perfect temperatures that are great for hiking and spending time outdoors. If traveling in September, you will be left in awe of the vibrant Fall Colors.
Where to stay in Taylors Falls
Taylors Falls is small and the choices of hotels are very limited. During our weekend in Taylors Falls, we ended up staying down the road (actually in St. Croix Falls) at the Holiday Inn Express. It was a great affordable option that was clean and included free breakfast!
If wanting to stay right in Taylors Falls you could check out the smaller boutique hotels or home rentals.
3-Day Taylors Falls Girls Trip Itinerary
Taylors Falls quickly became one of my favorite getaways in the midwest! From the quaint downtown to the scenic hikes, there are so many things to do in Taylors Falls!
Here’s the ultimate 3-day Taylor Falls itinerary!
Day 1 in Taylors Falls
Morning
Start your weekend by heading to Interstate State Park for some amazing views and hiking. It’s actually Wisconsin’s oldest state park that dates back to 1900! Here you will find amazing views of the St. Croix river, miles of hiking trails, and unique glacial potholes along the way!
If you only have time for one hike, I reccommend checking out the Glacial Pothole and Ice Age Trail. It’s only 1.7 miles long, but is pretty rocky and isn’t marked the best. Along the way, you’ll pass by many different glacial potholes of differing sizes and depths and then get epic views of the river.
Interstate State Park is also a hub for rock climbing. Vertical Endeavors offers private and group climbing lessons at the park!
Afternoon:
Head down the street to the historic Taylors Falls Drive-In restaurant. There is a large outdoor patio where you can order your juicy burger and the famous root beer or you can stay in your car and order the ol’ fashioned way!
After lunch, get a little competitive with a game of mini golf located right behind the diner!
Evening:
End your night with a quintessential Riverboat Ride down the St. Croix River. During the summer months, there is a 45-minute daily tour at 5 pm and sunset and twilight rides on select nights. During your narrated ride, you’ll learn about the history of the river and the rock formations along the way.
You can then grab dinner at the on-site restaurant, The River Rock Patio.
Looking for a good way to track your Minnesota State Park Adventures? Check out My Nature Book’s Adventure Planning Journal!! So much fun!
Day 2 in Taylors Falls
Morning:
Head to Juneberry Cafe for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The cafe is also located right on Taylors Falls main street so it’s the perfect time to check out some of the local shops. You’ll be able to check out a large bead store, antique shop, and other cute shops!
Afternoon:
We did have a baby tagging along on this girl’s weekend, but even without kids, Fawn-de-Rosa is a must-stop while spending one weekend in Taylors Falls.
Fawn-De-Rosa is a large family-owned Deer Park with a goal of animal care, awareness, and education. While you walk around the park, you will get to feed the free roaming deer, learn about the Elk’s antler’s life cycle, and see and feed the goats and other animals! It’s very affordable at just over 10 dollars per adult.
Evening:
There are surprisingly several wineries to choose from in Taylors Falls and St. Croix Falls. We ended up at Dancing Dragonfly Winery and it was beautiful! Every Saturday at 3 pm, they have tours of the vineyard that include a barrel tasting. If visiting on a different day or time, you can try out a tasting with paired food samples.
Take your wine and food samples on the large outdoor patio and enjoy the expansive views of the beautiful vineyard. They also host special events such as yoga in the vineyard and art shows on select days throughout the year, so be sure to check their website for these events!
Day 3 in Taylors Falls
Morning:
This is a very unique stop that you just have to see for yourself. Located on 50 acres, the Franconia Sculpture Park features over 100 different sculptures. You can spend the next hour or two wandering around and reading about each unique piece of art. There is a small gift shop and restrooms on-site. It’s a donation only that you can leave via cash or online.
Afternoon:
After admiring the art, head over to have an adventure at Wild Mountain Park. Here you can choose between the waterpark, lazy river, Go-karts, and the alpine slide (or all of the above if feelign extra ambitous). You can get access to all of the attarctions (from 11am-6pm) for only 39 dollars!
There is also a full service bar and restaurant on-site so no need to leave when you get hungry!
Evening:
End you girl’s weekend in Taylors Falls with one last sunset hike and dinner picnic at Interstate State Park.
Other Things to do in Taylors Falls
- Rent a Kayak or Canoe: You can rent either at Taylors Falls Canoe and Kayak Rental. They offer one way trips down the river with a shuttle back, or local rentals to explore on your own .
- Ride the Oscelola Train: There are several different options to choose from depending on the day and season…and even a fun pizza train!
- Wild Mountain Winery: Another winery to check out! They also have glamping tents to rent overlooking the vineyard!
Where to eat in Taylors Falls?
- The Goat Saloon: The local dive bar and restaurant featuring delicious food, a varitey of beers and drinks, and amazing daily specials (including the $5 Wednesday Burger!)
- Juneberry Cafe: A cute counter-service cafe serving simple breakfast and lunch sandwiches!
- River Rock Patio: A fun patio with epic views of the St. Croix River
- The Drive-In: A quintessential stop while in TAylors FAlls. You can eat either on the patio or order right in your car! Be sure to try the famous root beer!
- Tangled Up in Blue: If looking for a bit of a fancier restaurant, Tangled up offers tasty steaks and seafood options.
3-day Taylors Falls Weekend Trip Itinerary Recap:
- Day 1: Interstate State Park, The Drive-in, Mini-Golf, Riverboat Ride
- Day 2: Juneberry Cafe, Fawn-de-rosa, Dancing Dragonfly Winery
- Day 3: Franconia Sculpture Garden, Wild Mountain Park, or a sunset hike and dinner picnic.
Keep Reading::: Check out more Midwest Weekend Getaways to add to your list!
One Weekend In Taylors Falls Isn’t Enough
As you can see, there are so many things to do in Taylors Falls that one weekend would never be enough to see it all. You can customize your 3-day Taylors Falls itinerary based on what interests you. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of entertaining activities to create your own fun-filled, jam-packed adventure weekend in Taylors Falls.
What else would you add to this “One Weekend in Taylors Falls” Itinerary?
Tip! Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more USA weekend getaways and dog-friendly adventures!
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