MEA weekend is very special in Minnesota. The third Thursday and Friday in October are always the Minnesota Education Association's convention which means a four day weekend to all families with children in Minnesota schools. Our family has almost always used this as a travel weekend as it is off season for many vacation areas. This year we had to stay in town but my husband took off work anyway and I put my real estate business on hold and we spent a family day enjoying the fall colors along the river in Stillwater, Minnesota.
Okay Stillwater, Minnesota is not exactly a resort town but a great place to get away from it all. Since moving to Ham Lake we don't get into Stillwater on a weekly basis as we did when we were minutes away in North St. Paul. Yes, we used to walk the streets and check out the eclectic shops for antiques and treasures almost every weekend. The kids liked looking at the old stuff in the buildings that were once sawmills and department stores. We loved to ride the trolley when the line ran along the St. Croix river from the train station in north to the end of line near Brine's and The Freighthouse. It was fun to watch the lift bridge stop for all the cars to let a boat through to head up or down the river. Some days we would just go up to watch all the people dressed up for the dinner train ride on the Minnesota Zephyr's afternoon run. It was like a treasure hunt for long lost memories. 
As we strolled down memory lane...I mean Stillwater's main drag, my teens were disappointed to hear that the Minnesota Zephyr would no longer be running after December 2008. They had so many memories of that train. The first is more from my memory than theirs as it was when our oldest at 2 years old, decked out in his best pinstriped Oskosh bibs and train hat, met a real engineer and was taken to see the cab of the Zephyr. The boys remember the summer box lunch ride and the midnight ride on the "Hogwarts Express" when the sixth Harry Potter book was released. The train will stay as a stationary restaurant by the depot and not run the rails as it had in the past.
Though the red tour trolley was still there, Stillwater's yellow and green trolleys that used to run the tracks behind the shops along the river were gone. I think they had been dismantled after one of the last floods.
One of our last visits was at the time of the floods. The waterfront restaurant near the boat docks was flooded out and had to be rebuilt. It has been completely rebuilt now. There was a new walkway along the river tracks and wall to prevent future flooding. The lift bridge was saved from demolition and repaired over the past few years as well.
Here is the rest of the photo tour of our beautiful October day in Stillwater, Minnesota. A wonderful relaxing memory-filled getaway within the Twin Cities!
The Sawmill Antique Shop located on the north end of town across from the train depot is one of our favorite antique shops. The building features three stories of antiques from a variety of vendors. Also in the building is a hotdog/ice cream stand and an art shop for filled with beautiful paintings, photography and sculptures by local artists.
Want to learn the history of Stillwater, Minnesota? Take the trolley tour through town!
Another view of the Minnesota Zephyr and its dining cars. Note the beautiful fall colors on the bluffs that overlook the St. Croix River behind the train.
Stillwater is a popular place to dock your boat for summer fun along the St. Croix River. Not all the boats on the river have been prepared for winter.
Several boat owners are hoping to get in one last river excursion in before the snow flies. Across the river is a view of our neighboring state to the east, Wisconsin.
Here is a boat being removed from the river to be shrinkwrapped to protect it from the winter elements.
And one final shot of the Stillwater Aerial Lift Bridge from the north. We were hoping to see it lift but the boat was forced to turn and head down river instead.
If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.
Copyright 2008 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet, Homebuyers Success Packet or sign up for Listingbook Twin Cities Home Search. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota..JPG)
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Copyright 2010 Teri Eckholm http://www.terieckholm.com/
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Goodness, Teri, Your photos are just stunning--I felt as if I were there. How nice to get away and spend the weekend with your family--and making more memories!
Wow Teri, what a great blog. I have not been to Minnesota but I know I would love it. Beautiful pictures. Sounds like a great time with your family and in a wonderful place.
Teri, photographs tell the story so well....they have no need of words....just sharing the experience. Thanks for the experience....the photos are wonderful and the experience good!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
My Partner and I took the train back in 1998 but the pictures were lost in the Hard Drive Crash of August 2005.
As much as we liked Minneapolis and St. Paul (the Mall and the Zoo were awesome), I think we liked Stillwater and the St. Croix River even better, although each has something to offer.
Although relatively a small zoo, it still ranks in our Top 10. And the Mall is simply unbeatable; the aquarium underneath the mall ranks in our Top 10 as well.
Teri- sounds like a great time, and I love your photos. The way you wrote this and had the photos I could feel like I was there, thanks.
Hey Teri,
Stillwater is Wonderful! I was sorry to hear about the Zephyr, we need to get there to ride it before it is done. Thanks for the heads up, Laurie
There has always been something about trolleys that tug at me to get on! Beautiful area Teri!
You have done a wonderful job giving us a feeling for Stillwater -- what a beautiful town -- I love the train. I hope the weekend is successful.
Carole--It was not a whole weekend...we were in Stillwater for the day. But on Saturday after visiting St. Croix Falls, WI, we ended up driving through Stillwater again on our way to North St. Paul. Glad you enjoyed seeing what we love in our area!
Pat--Just like every other state, Minnesota has some favorite places for locals and visitors alike. Stillwater is one of those areas that everyone loves! Glad you enjoyed! :)
Jeanean--I am glad you enjoyed the tour!
Russell--So you came all the way from San Diego to ride the Minnesota Zephyr? Very cool! Stillwater draws people from all over the US. I like MOA but we only go there once or twice a year as there is better pricing on things in the smaller malls. I haven't been to the MN Zoo for almost a decade. We love the smaller and free zoo in St. Paul, Como Park Zoo. I have been to San Diego only one time and it was for a convention. Didn't have time to see the zoo or much of anything else either...will have to go again to sightsee!
Kathy--It is a beautiful area and easy to write about. So many wonderful homes in this area too!
Laurie--I was pleasantly surprised to hear the train will remain parked and open as a restaurant...you can eat at tables inside...it just will be stationary rather than moving down the tracks. So no need to rush if you can't get a reservation before December 31!
Kris--You would have loved the green and yellow trolleys that ran on train tracks through the town. the kids got to ring the bell at the street crossings and everything...Though the red ones are more "Mr. Rogers" like. :)
Joan--Thank you! I am so glad that you enjoyed seeing the photos of Stillwater!
Teri-you made me want to visit. Your photos are beautiful and it is easy to see why your family enjoyed the day.
What a beautiful tour Teri! Thanks for taking us with you and sharing your beautiful photos!
Teri ... gorgeous pics ... and congrats on the gold star! pippa
Wonderful photos Teri! Your blog looks great btw: i liked how you seperated your listings in your left sidebar to that of your regular posts on your blog. Looks very professional We'll have to start keeping a closer eye on you now! Keep up the great work and we look forward to more great posts like this from you.
Note to AR: sigh... if only there were international localism categories. (end hint)
Hi Teri, Thanks for the wonderful post! It looks like it was a beautiful day to walk around town. I have family that lives across the river in Hudson, WI. Your photos have truly captured the beauty of Stillwater!
Beautiful job! What a nice place to visit in your pictures.
Beautiful pictures...i was just in minnesota for the first time in july, and surprised by the beauty of the state. Would have like to have seen more, but didn't have the time.
Terri I love seeing the pictures of Stillwater! Being a fellow Minnesota who has lived in Arizona since 1985 I don't get a chance to enjoy the Minnesota beauty. I sure did today. Make me want to come and visit soon. Anna Banana www.thephoenixrealestategal.com
Those are very great pictures! it sounds like you had a great time!
Teri, Beautiful! The color pops on every photo!
Debi
We were married 34 years ago in Minneapolis on October 19. Every year we check in with relatives who still live there to see if the leaves are on the trees. Ours were gone the year we got married so no wedding photos with the Fall colors for us!
Your post was great to see and we both enjoyed taking in the Fall photos you posted.
Thanks from San Diego!
I am a fulltime Realtor with Coldwell Banker and work mostly with Buyers. I offer a 30% referral fee so if you know of anyone wanting to purchase a piece of sunshine out here in San Diego this winter please send them my way. I will treat them how midwesterners like to be treated~
Gina Youngren
Teri I didn't even read the post - I was enjoying the pictures so much. You sure have a lot of scenic photo ops in MN. I just went back and read the post - cool! Art
Teri - Wow, what a beautiful post and visit to Stillwater. It sure brought back many memories for me. When we lived in St, Paul and Mpls. we used to visit Stillwater regularly for shopping, hanging out, brunch and so on with our kids. We always had such a good time and it is such a quaint town. I expect things have changed a bit as this was almost 20 years ago. Thanks for a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Jeff
Great photos. It looks like a nice day.
Teri, these photos are an excellent representation of Stillwater!!!
Teri, I just learned from you how to get a localism featured listing. Your photos are amazing. I lived in Stillwater Minnesota for a year and its a beautiful community
Beautiful photos just begins to describe your blog here. This carries me way back in time, riding the trains through the foot hills and the downtown trollies running every hour on the half hour. The boats comming through the pass in early fall. Oh I could go on and on.
Those are really some great photos. I have done some various photography of the town for client I was working for. I remember that was on a three mega pixel camera! a few years ago obviously and they didnt look half that good. Thanks for the great post about the beauties of MN. See we are not just a fly over state!
Beautiful pictures. Lovely story. I love to go to towns that they have preserved or brought back. Thanks for sharing a very nice story.
Best,
Sandy Reid
Teri -
Visited Stillwater MN with my wife, Sue, this past summer. We spent a few days with our close friends Mary and Dave Johnson of Lake Elmo and their family, and we spent the afternoon there.
Usually, when we visit The Cities, we spend most of our time on the MPLS side - rarely do we venture to St. Paul or point east. So glad we spent time in this beautiful Midwestern Town!
We love visiting MN from here in Chicago. It seems so novel to us that when you wave "Hi!" to someone, they actually wave back - without extending one of their fingers in the process, if you know what I mean.
Glad you got to relax - now, can we can convince the MN Association of Realtors to have a mandatory Four-Day Weekend for Real Estate Transactions at least once each year?
BTW . . . coming to Chicago this year, perhaps for Christmas Shopping. Let us know - we'll treat you like royalty!
DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
TRIVIA DEPT. - You know, there actually was a late-1970's rock band named Stillwater, although most of the players were from Georgia. Not to be confused with the fictitious band from the movie "Almost Famous," these guys did have great regional and college radio station hit - "Mindbender." With this info, can you impress your friends at parties?
You Betcha!
Beautiful pictures. Brings back many memories of my childhood in MN. I have relatives that live in and around Stillwater. And as I was reading the comment someone made about liking the zoo, I was planning on mentioning Como Park. I see you beat me to it! A trip to Como Park was an annual ritual with my grandma for many years!
Teri: This is a great way to showcase your community... Congratulations on your featured post
Great !!! very nice photogaphs ,, I have also desire to visit in these places.
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brianna
<a href="http://www.widecircles.com" rel="dofollow" rel="nofollow">http://www.widecircles.com</a>
Teri,
What a lovely and inviting place to live! I would love to explore your area! Thank you for the picture tour!
Caren
Terri,
Your photos are exemplary to say the least. I can almost smell and feel the crisp autumn air.
Terri,
Your photos are exemplary--I can almost smell and feel that crisp autumn air.
Teri,
It is absolutely beautiful there. Nazareth has trolleys, too, but only run them for special events like Nazareth Days. Thanks for the tour.
Brigita
I went to school in River Falls and celebrated college graduation at the "Inn" in Stillwater. My Mom is a former antiques teacher and loved it....though even then, she often would get it confused (now at 87 she has an excuse) and called it Quiet Meadow.....and we still do !
I felt like I was right there beside you as you took the pictures. I was waiting to see that bridge lift too. Great pictures!
Thank you Teri for your vivid photos of Stillwater. I went to college in Mankato, MN and dated a guy whose family had a cabin on the St. Croix and a houseboat. I still remember how wonderful it was to be on the river and travel to a restaraunt for a Friday night dinner. It's a gorgeous part of our country that holds a special place in my heart. Thanks for the memories!
Seeing these pictures makes me miss Minnesota! I grew up in White Bear Lake and enjoyed the change of seasons. Stillwater is a quaint little river town that is worth visiting. Enjoyed your post :)
Stillwater is great - I have not been there yet this Fall(& probably will not make it this year) so thanks for the photo tour.
Teri I love everything about this post. You have done an amazing job with your photos and description of what sounds like an awesome place to be.
TERI, Congrats on your featured localism post. It is sad that the Zephyr won't be running after December. Your pictures of it are gorgeous. In the 12 years that we have lived in Texas I have NEVER seen a passenger train. Now freight trains are everywhere.
Cindy--Stillwater is a great place to visit...Plan to come someday!
Sally--Glad you could tag along...not as warm as your shoreline photos though! :)
Pippa--Thank you very much. I appreciate your kudos!
Castellum--You made it to my "other" blog I see. I like the way that it keeps the listings out front and not in a widget. Thanks for visiting both posts!
Emily--Both sides of the St. Croix are beautiful! We were in St Croix Falls, WI to take photos on Saturday for another project.
Lisa&Robert--Thanks for stopping by and seeing how beautiful Stillwater, MN is!
Amy--There is amazing beauty throughout MN...come back and visit again soon!
Anna--It is a wonderful area...glad you were able to visit again through the pictures.
Patt--It was a great day!
Debi--Thanks...I was very pleased at how they turned out too.
Gina--We were married in March...Snow in the photos! Fall is a wonderful time of year for a Minnesota wedding. It was my first choice but all the halls were booked so we moved up the date and spent the money on a longer honeymoon! I love San Diego...visited once years ago. It too is a beautiful area.
Art--Glad you enjoyed the photos and the post...no matter what order. :)
Jeff--The river has a flood wall now but most other things are the same....some of the antique shops have closed but new ones seem to open in their place. Always lots of visitors and fun people watching. Still wonderful. We have been going since I was in high school (longer than 20 years) and I don't think it has changed too much. :) I have to admit I am overwhelmed by how many people from outside MN know and love Stillwater!
Benjamin--It was a wonderful day!
Kristina--Stillwater is almost as pretty as White Bear Lake don't you think?
Robert--Stillwater was a great place to photograph...an easy subject with so many things to see and do.
Charles--I think most people love the idea of riding on a passenger train...such a simpler way of travel. Glad to bring back a memory or two for you.
Wow--Definitely not a fly over state! And we are not always covered with snow either as people can see from these photos!
Sandy--Stillwater is full of historical buildings but feels new in so many ways too. One of those cool places to hang out in.
Dean--I have been born and raised in MN and have always preferred the east side of the river to the west side (or St. Paul to Mpls) Funny most Twin Citians do have a preference! That aside all seem to like Stillwater...And White Bear Lake too. Just cool places to hang out. I used to work in Edina and Plymouth. Coworkers showed me many cool spots on the other side too. As for Chicago, we are planning a visit next summer...will have to keep in touch on that.
Marisa--We too had a family picnic every summer in Como Park. It was me that mentioned it as a favorite over the MN Zoo. Beautiful park and conservatory...still is a wonderful place. I will have to take the camera over there soon too. :)
Roland--Stillwater is easy to showcase...Thanks!
Brianna--Glad that you enjoyed!
Caren--It is a lovely area...come anytime! :)
Diane--Thank you...I really appreciate that you enjoyed the photos!
Brigita--Trolleys and trains are so much fun. The kids loved the green and yellow trolley that ran on tracks in the late 1990's. (sigh)
Sally&David--Quiet Meadow is a good description too...more of a valley though! :) Gotta love moms don't cha?
Lizette--They must have new rules about when it can go up and down on weekdays. We were so disappointed as it is cool when it goes up!
I'm from Minnesota and I've been on that train. Your pictures are amazing. You have truly captured the essence of Minnesota living. That's what I'm trying to encourage my brokers to do. Become the expert in their farm area and blog about it daily. If only they could take photos like yours.
Stillwater was always a cool place. And oddly, my Dad used to be with the MEA. I lived in St. Paul and Mpls for 6 years... dated a girl from Stillwater... not Stillwater State.
;^ )
Sharon--I did a post on WBL last week with fall photos too. Glad I could stir up some good memories for you!
Former Minnesotan--I graduated from Mankato State too! That is another wonderful town on the river. I loved the drive. Whenever we passed the Green Giant sign we knew we were getting close to college. Glad you enjoyed the tour! :)
Kathleen--We hadn't been back for a couple of years...a few changes but much is the same. Glad you enjoyed the pics!
Bill--It really is...I have always felt this way about the Stillwater area but from the comments coming in from all over the US, I am not alone. If you ever have a chance to visit, it would be well worth it. Thanks for the kudos on the pics.
Marchel--I just told my son at dinner that we will still be able to eat inside the stationary train as a restaurant. He was still not happy that the train will be parked but at least it will not be gone. Too many of these experiences have been taken away from us. Thanks for the congrats...I appreciate it.
Mark--Recommendations to your brokers...a good camera, good editing software and take lots of shots! Have fun telling the story and know your subject. I am glad I was able to bring a bit of MN to life for you.
Lane--MEA is a great little vacation time for all of us Minnesotans...And although it is called Stillwater State it is located in Bayport. ;)
Hi Teri - I love all these beautiful pictures of your area, and your narrative really painted a wonderful picture of your area - thanks for sharing your home with us!
Ann
Ann--Thank you so much for visiting...Glad you enjoyed the photos!
Hi Teri - Love the pictures...When I was little I lived in Stillwater, Oklahoma, didn't realize there was a Stillwater in Minnesota
Sandra--I didn't know there was a Stillwater, OK either...Sounds like a pretty place!