Winona, Minnesota sits in one of the most dramatic landscapes in the entire Midwest — and most people drive right through it on Highway 61 without stopping. If you're staying at Camp Everyday, you're already in the perfect position to explore everything this region has to offer.
Bluff Country Hiking
The bluffs around Winona are genuinely world-class for hiking. Garvin Heights City Park offers one of the most accessible bluff hikes in the region, with panoramic views of the city, river, and surrounding valleys from nearly 600 feet above the Mississippi. John Latsch State Park, just 12 miles north on Highway 61, has a more challenging trail to three summits — Charity, Hope, and Faith — rewarding hikers with sweeping river views. Great River Bluffs State Park in nearby Winona County is another highlight, with prairie bluff overlooks and quiet oak savanna trails.
Paddling the Mississippi
The Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge runs through this stretch of the river, creating a vast network of backwater channels, oxbow lakes, and sloughs perfect for canoe and kayak exploration. Several outfitters in the area rent equipment and can suggest routes suited to all skill levels. The water is calmer in the backwaters than on the main channel, and wildlife sightings — eagles, herons, otters, and white-tailed deer — are almost guaranteed.
Downtown Winona
Winona's downtown is a genuinely charming small-city experience. The city has the highest concentration of stained-glass windows in the United States, thanks to its wealthy lumber-era past, and the Watkins Museum and Heritage Center tells the story well. For food, the Acoustic Café is a local institution for live music and coffee, while the Jefferson Pub and Grill is the go-to for a casual dinner with river views.
Winona State University and the Arts Scene
Winona State University brings a lively arts and culture calendar to the city. The regional theaters and galleries host rotating shows throughout the warm season. The Great River Shakespeare Festival runs from late June into August and is considered one of the best regional Shakespeare festivals in the Midwest — an unexpected cultural treasure in a town of 27,000.
Local Farms and Markets
Saturday mornings from May through October, the Winona Farmers Market fills the downtown riverfront with local produce, honey, baked goods, and crafts. The Hiawatha Valley region is rich in small farms, orchards, and u-pick berry patches — ask us at the campground and we'll point you to our favorites.
A Day Trip to La Crosse
Just 26 miles south on the Wisconsin side of the river, La Crosse is worth a half-day. Grandad Bluff Park offers another iconic overlook, and the city's Riverfest and farmers market are worth timing your trip around if they're running during your stay.
The Winona area rewards slow travel — the kind where you leave the car at the campsite and let the bluffs and river set the pace.
Plan Your Stay
Ready to experience the bluffs for yourself? Book your site at Camp Everyday Winona.
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