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Great places for a picnic

Here are some of the best spots in Minnesota, all with a view of water.

On a beautiful summer day, there are few places that aren't good for a picnic.

A patch of grass, a plump sandwich, the warmth of sun on skin — this is what we look forward to all winter.

But some picnic spots are so great a picnicker might want to while away a whole afternoon there. Here are some of the best, along with good places to pick up a box lunch on the way. If you want the lunch ready when you get there, call a day in advance or early in the morning.

Duluth/Skyline Parkway and the Rose Garden: No town has more great picnic spots than Duluth. For one thing, nearly every part of town has a view; for another, it's often 20 degrees cooler than the rest of the state, thanks to fresh breezes off Lake Superior.

The best views are found off Skyline Parkway, which stretches 25 miles across the brow of Duluth, on a natural terrace that once was the beach of Glacial Lake Duluth. At the west end, picnickers can sit atop the rock outcroppings of Bardon's Peak and admire the view of St. Louis Bay. Farther east, they can eat on the rock edges of Enger Park, watching boats approach the Aerial Lift Bridge. There's a gazebo nearby, in case of rain.

Down on the lake, the Rose Garden is one of the loveliest spots along the Lakewalk. To reach downtown and the Rose Garden, take the Lake Avenue exit of Interstate 35. To reach the western end of Skyline Parkway and Bardon's Peak, take the Midway Road exit off Interstate 35 and drive south to the trailhead.

Savories, which used to be across from the Rose Garden, now does mainly catering from the lower level of the Edgewater Waterpark Hotel at 2400 London Road. However, if you call 24 hours in advance you still can get their delicious box lunches, a deluxe with sandwich, a salad and a dessert bar, $8.99, or executive, $10.99, which includes a gourmet sandwich. The menu is at www.savoriescatering.com; call 218-728-6036.

Stillwater/Pioneer Park and Lowell Park: Stillwater is a popular place to hang out on summer days, thanks to its free concerts, river cruises, shopping and general festive atmosphere.

For a view, take a picnic up Second Street to Pioneer Park, which has a spectacular view of downtown, the river valley and the lift bridge; for people-watching, just plop down along the river in Lowell Park.

On Main Street downtown, pick up lunch at the River Market Community Co-op at 221 N. Main St., next to Northern Vineyards. Its deli section sells pre-made or made-to-order sandwiches, $5-$8, as well as spreads, baguettes, fresh cut-up fruit and such desserts as tiramisu, custard fruit tarts and brownies. It has a patio out back, and it's open daily, 651-439-0366.

Taylors Falls/Interstate State Park: There are picnic tables in Interstate State Park, but it's more fun to find a perch on the rocky bluff and watch the paddlewheelers go by.

Try Angle Rock, on a sharp bend where the world's largest logjam — stopped river traffic for six weeks in 1886. Today, admission is free to the state parks on both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the St. Croix River.

On the way, pick up a box lunch at Eichten's Market & Bistro, in Center City off U.S. 8. It offers a half sandwich — as well as chips, fresh fruit and a homemade cookie, $6.95. It's open daily, 651-257-1566.

In downtown Taylors Falls, Rocky River Bakery makes sandwiches, $4, and also will pack soups. Of course, it has a large selection of cookies and pastries. It's open until 4 p.m. every day except Tuesday, 651-465-7655.

Red Wing/Bay Point Park and Barn Bluff: There's even more river traffic around Red Wing — barges, cruisers, fishing boats, even the Mississippi Queen on occasion. One of the best places to see it is from Bay Point Park, which juts into a deep elbow of the Mississippi just west of downtown. Boathouses bob in the marina alongside it, and Barn Bluff rises across the water, on the other side of downtown.

On the way, pick up a lunch at Smokey Row Cafe, where owner Ruth Raich puts sandwiches on her famous breads — perhaps a turkey-Swiss on cranberry-walnut. The cafe, on Old West Main Street next to Pottery Place, sells a box lunch of sandwich, chips, fresh fruit and cookie for $7.95. It's open until 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and until 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 651-388-6025.

The other great view in Red Wing comes from the top of Barn Bluff, renowned since the first French explorer traversed the Mississippi.

From downtown, East Fifth Street leads straight to its foot; take the main path along the shady north side of the bluff to the grassy slope that faces downtown.

For this picnic, stop at Lily's Coffee House downtown, 419 W. Third St. Sandwiches include egg salad and the zesty Italiano, with pepperoni, ham, provolone and onions on homemade foccacia; box lunches ($6.50-$6.95) include a sandwich, chips and carrots. It's open until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, until 4:30 p.m. Saturday and until 3 p.m. Sunday, 651-388-8797.

Last updated on August 14, 2008