Simply Stillwater

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Mama Maria's recently moved to this location after occupying a place in a strip mall for years. Unfortunately, the other place was smaller and cozier. Also, as with most restaurants when they become popular, the food quality has gone down slightly and the prices have increased a bit. They do not accept reservations but you can call ahead and be put on their waiting list (I would HIGHLY recommend you do so, especially on weekends).

This is a great place to meet up with friends. The food is nothing fancy, yet delicious and filling. I also think it's a fine place to take the family. They offer a children's menu and a little chaos will fit right in.

I often eat here for lunch. I usually order a lunch special that includes a sandwich (usually a capicolla & mozzarella or BBQ beef, with their homemade BBQ sauce) and a trip to their salad bar for less than $10. Of course, if I am feeling particularly naughty, I will indulge in one of their famous malts, black raspberry. Yum!!!

Brine's is also a meat market and they are famous for Bud's Chili and their brats.

On Sundays, they offer an Early Bird Brunch. It is served from 8am-12pm and costs $8.95/adults or $3.95/children under 10. The brunch features Brine's double smoked bacon, ham, pork links, country fries, eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs, Belgian waffles with fruit toppings, bagels and cream cheese, fresh fruit, assorted pastries, and salad bar. Are you hungry, yet?! :)

Housed in historis Isaac Staples sawmill, Mill Antiques hosts over 80 dealers who fill the 20,000-square-foot-space with period jewelry, furniture, reproduction hardware, premiere collectibles, vintage clothing and fine glassware. The sawmill is one of the most historic and interesting structures in town, recognizable by its 80-foot smokestack.

Midtown Antiques houses 22,000-square-feet of quality antiques and collectibles. Known for its large stock of furniture, advertising collectibles and jewelry. Midtown Antiques offers treasures from 75 different dealers.

Other antique stores include More Antiques, Mulberry Point Antiques, Stillwater Antiques, River City Antiques, Country Charm Antiques and American Gothic Antiques.

The Minnesota Zephyr has five dining cars carefully restored to their original splendor. Each car is different in design and color.

This exciting adventure and romantic 3 1/4 hour journey boards in Stillwater and travels along the river, streams, and woodland bluffs of the beautiful St. Croix River Valley.

Included with the fare is an elegant five-course white linen dinner. While dining, the Zephyr Cabaret entertains you with hits of the 40's and 50's.

Some GREAT places to cross-country ski and snowshoe! Call to find out prices and current conditions. My personal favorite is Lake Elmo.

Flights are especially romantic at sunrise and sunset (I've seen more than one proposal popped this way!). Also, a popular time to go aloft is during autumn when the leaves are changing colors.

Another nice perk? Aamodt's Apple Farm also has an onsite vineyard. Feel free to sample a glass of wine from the St. Croix River Valley!

The St. Croix River is one of the finest smallmouth bass fisheries in the world.

Of course, let's not forget about ice fishing!

Basic instruction for all ages begins at $30. A day pass is $5.

See the many beautifully restored homes, historic buildings and steepled churches. Hear the history and re-live the folklore of this feisty old lumberjack community.

This tour is a great way to begin your stay in Stillwater. It will give you an overview of the town and help you plan your weekend away. (Bob is the owner. If you meet him, make sure to tell him that Monica, the flight attendant, sent you! Thanks:)

The Chef's Gallery cooking school (also a cookware and tableware store) offers year-round classes with local and regional chefs.

The Maple Island Building is home to a variety of shops, including a hardware store, Northern Vineyards Winery, Valley Booksellers, and the River Market Co-op. However, back in 1938, this building was the site where Dairy Queen's ice cream products were developed. The patent was later sold to the Kohler Company in St. Paul.

Visit the Antique Radio Company where they repair and sell restored radios.

On Second Street you'll find the secret garden of wedding specialist Cindi Sinclair at Camrose Hill and River Rats clothing. Cindi offers garden-related classes at her farm as well as designing and floral work. She is often featured in home and wedding publications.

Stroll downtown, there is sure to be a shop to please! Visit www.stillwatertraveler.com for more information and to find out which new shops have taken up residence.

Their staff is friendly, helpful, and knowledgable. They have over 150,000 books in stock. They purchase books anywhere in North America or Europe. They also carry a large selection of matted and framed maps, prints, and manuscript leaves.

Their affiliated store, Loome Theological Booksellers (320 N Fourth St.), is the largest North American specialist in theology, philosophy, and religious history, with a stock of over 250,000 volumes!

www.loomebooks.com

Also, lots of garage sales in the area on Saturday!

Check the local papers (Stillwater Gazette, Hudson Star-Observer, Tri-County Advertiser) for listings.

Camping in tents and RVs is permitted and the camping facilities are top-notch. I'm not sure about the fee. Admission to the park is $5, I believe. You can also buy passes for longer amounts of time. We always bought a yearly pass.

During the summer, activities abound. There are volleyball courts, hiking trails and paved bike (inline skate - hilly) paths. The playground equipment is new and divided equally between the tots and the older children. The highlight, though, is the swimming area. It is unique!

It is a man-made lake, well, sort of. It is difficult to explain. The water is chemically-treated much like a swimming pool and drained at the end of the season. It is more like a lake in regards to the size, shape, and texture (sand). Concession stands, bathroom (changing) rooms, and showers are available. Lifeguards are on duty.

This is a FAVORITE place of mine! I spent many summers here with my babysitting charges. We would pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the sunshine! People are VERY friendly, too.

The second park is Interstate Park. It straddles the St. Croix River, which in turn divides the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. On the Minnesota side is the town of Taylors Falls. On the Wisconsin side is the town of St. Croix Falls.

I often go here alone to meditate and enjoy some peace and quiet. I pack a picnic lunch and climb to some out-of-the-way boulder and bask in the sun.

Hiking is a favorite activity here and so was cliffdiving up until a few years ago when it was banned. The river itself is home to paddlewheels, canoes, kayaks, and small fishing boats. Camping is allowed with a permit.

Near this park, is Fawn-doe-rosa (sp?) It is a great place to take the little ones. It is a petting zoo. The animals are in their natural habits, some are in cages. I am not fond of zoos due to the whole animal cruelty issue but this zoo is different. The animals housed are abandoned pets, injured animals or animals that for one reason or another cannot survive in the wild. Those injured, once healed, are released back into the wild.