Podcast: Great River Road Days 1-4

Welcome to the inaugural Midwest Wanderer podcast! As we traveled the Great River Road from the Mississippi River headwaters in northern Minnesota to the Quad Cities, we summed up our daily activities each night in a podcast. We turned the first two recordings into videos while we traveled and posted them on Facebook. But that required late nights, and after two nights of five or fewer hours of sleep, we decided to record and wait until we got home to publish them. So here we are, with the first four days of our Quad Cities adventures. Rather than videos, we’re presenting them in podcast format.  

Thank you to Visit Bemidji and Visit Greater St. Cloud for hosting us on this segment of the Midwest Wanderer Great River Road adventure. This article may contain an affiliate link. For information on affiliate links, please review our Privacy Policy.

Day 1: Traveling to Bemidji

We begin the Midwest Wanderer Great River Road adventure at the Lindbergh House in Little Falls, Minnesota. We stopped there on the way up because it wouldn’t be open on the day we passed through traveling down the Great River Road. Our final destination for the day was Bemidji, Minnesota, “the first city on the Mississippi.”
Accommodations Nights 1 and 2: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Bemidji, Minnesota Check rates and reviews on TripAdvisor

Great River Road Day 1 - to Bemidji
Top: Paul Bunyan and Babe at the Bemidji Visitor Center; Bottom: Left, Charles Lindbergh house; Right, Walleye tacos and cheese curds from Bar 209

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Day 2: Mississippi River Headwaters back to Bemidji

On Day 2 we drove to Lake Itasca State Park, where the Mississippi River begins, and walked across the river. After exploring more of the state park, we drove the winding Great River Road back to Bemidji, crossing back-and-forth over the river dozens of times.

Great River Road Day 2
Top: Mississippi River Headwaters in Itasca State Park; Bottom: Left, Fire tower in Itasca State Park; Right, One of many Mississippi River crossings along the Great River Road
Lake Bemidji
View of Lake Bemidji at sunset from the Country Inn & Suites
Brigids Pub
Irish food from Brigid’s Pub in Bemidji

Day 3: Bemidji to St. Cloud

Starting our day with the Bemidji sculpture walk, we then continued on the Great River Road to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, then went on to St. Cloud, Minnesota, and a St. Cloud ROX baseball game.
Accommodations Night 3: Best Western Plus Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, Minnesota Check rates and reviews on TripAdvisor

Great River Road Day 3
Top: Left, Carriage used in the Wizard of Oz at the Judy Garland Museum; Right, One of many sculptures in downtown Bemidji. Bottom: Left, St. Cloud ROX Northwoods League collegiate baseball; Right, Suite in the Best Western Plus Kelly Inn, St. Cloud

Day 4: St. Cloud and St. Joseph

From the gorgeous Munsinger and Clemens Gardens to St. John’s University in St. Joseph, and back to St. Cloud for Summertime by George, our day was packed.
Accommodations Night 4: The Estates Bed & Breakfast, St. Joseph, Minnesota Check rates and reviews on TripAdvisor

St Cloud Architecture
Some of the St. Cloud Architecture, dating back to the late 19th century and early 20th century
Great River Road Day 4
Top: Donuts at Dutch Maid Bakery; Bottom: Munsinger Gardens
Anton's
Anton’s St. Cloud. Left: Geese look into the window hoping for a treat; Right: Top, Anton;’s seating; Bottom: Pan-fired walleye
St. John's University
St. John’s University. Top: Bible Gallery; Bottom: Left, Pottery; Right, Playing the musical saw
Summertime by George
Summertime by George, a weekly summer event at George Lake in St. Cloud, Minnesota
Great River Road Day 4 St Joseph Minnesota
Top: The Estate Bed and Breakfast; Bottom: Flight of beer from Bad Habit Brewing,. St. Joseph, Minnesota

More of the Midwest Wanderer Great River Road adventure coming!

Stay tuned for Days 5 through 8 of the Midwest Wanderer Great River Road adventure.

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Great River Road Days 1-4

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