Many people dream of the beach, white sands and sitting on a lounge chair with an umbrella drink in hand. While that does sound excellent, it isn’t exactly realistic for a Midwest couple who only has a short amount of time to plan a mini vaca.
A little getaway spot that is not far from home and that holds immeasurable value to me is Winona, Minn. That’s right, it might not be the ocean, but it is the state of 10,000 lakes.
Winona is known as “bluff country” and “island city” and those descriptions would catch the eye of any tourist. I may have been a visitor to the college town this past Memorial Day weekend, but I used to be a resident, student and reporter in the area.
Winona is where I first pursued my journalism degree, where I was offered my first newspaper reporter job and where I turned 21 years old. I think it goes without saying that I did a lot of growing up while living there.
I still remember working as a part-time reporter for the Winona Daily News and covering as many events as the editor at the time could possibly allow. I would also do clerical work, the police blotter and I would write profile stories about locals.
To be honest, I thought there was no way I would be offered the position, as I only had some reporting experience from working at the Cardinal Chronicle in high school. So when I was given the opportunity I hit the ground running. I responded to my first house fire and covered ice fishing stories and a plethora of 5K runs.
Most importantly, and I didn’t realize how important at the time, I learned how to file a correction and take phone calls from not so happy people because let’s face it that happens in any job. Mistakes happen.
Sometimes I will re-read my articles from that time in my life and focus on how much I’ve improved and grown.
OK. Back to the trip. What made it even more exciting? My fiancé, Adam and I met in Winona three years ago this month, and we haven’t been back since I graduated from college. I was ecstatic to do everything the town has to offer along with seeing an old friend. I didn’t even mind the four-hour road trip.
After checking into the hotel, the very first stop was to Zaza’s Pub and Pizzeria, though the pub was the focus rather than the latter. This spot on campus isn’t just any other pub to Adam and I, it is a sacred ground if you will. It is where we met.
I’m not going to get all mushy, but let’s just say Adam had our waitress all teary-eyed and “Awe-ing,” after telling her our story.
Rather than bore you with romance details, here are some of the things I highly recommend visitors of Winona go do — drive up to Garvin Heights and walk to the look-out which overlooks the whole town, the Mississippi River and you can even see Wisconsin. Go kayaking or paddle boarding on the lake, hike up to the Sugar Loaf, grab a brewsky at Island City Brewing Company or sip some wine at Garvin Heights Winery.
Catch music at any of the local coffee shops, and last but not least, eat dinner at Zaza’s Pub, you might meet some pretty interesting people along the way. Winona will truly always be a memorable place.
Contact Kayla Langmaid
at klangmaid@newtondailynews.com