Pepin, Wisconsin

Best known as the birthplace of Little House on the Prairie author Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pepin is a pretty town on the banks of the Mississippi River, which serves as the border from Minnesota. You can, of course, learn more about Wilder's life at the replica of the famous Little House in the Big Woods which serves as a museum.

By the mid-17th century, the French had begun to send expeditions into Wisconsin via the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence River. King Louis XIII of France is believed to have granted a huge piece of land in the Upper Mississippi River Valley to two brothers, Etienne Pepin de la Fond and Guillaume dit Tranchemontagne. But Pepin is also just a hop, skip, and jump from Tiffany Bottoms, Prairie State Natural Area, and Nelson-Trevino Bottoms, each excellent place for hiking, canoeing, and birdwatching. Or stick around town for the Pepin Public Beach, the Depot Museum that taps into the city's railroad history, and the sailing school and marina. There are great views of the water from the Buena Vista Park Overlook, as well as a nearby wine trail and the local Villa Bellezza Winery.

Location: Pepin County, Wisconsin, United States

Website: https://www.visitpepin.com/things-to-do/

Distance from Minnesota: 238 miles

Travel time: 4 hours 10 minutes

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