Featured Image Photo Credit: Lavender Bluff Farm
Nature’s Best Kept Secrets
Begin with Holden Park, located on Silver Birch Lake. Seventy-five acres of woods and meadows wrap around more than two miles of easygoing trails. Kids can sprint straight to the playground while the adults claim a picnic table. The park brushes up against the Tiffany Wildlife Area, so it is common to spot cranes lifting off the marsh or white-tailed deer darting through the trees. Recent upgrades make staying a breeze: hot showers, a water-bottle filling station, and a level concrete pad near the bathhouse that meets ADA guidelines.
One gentle reminder: if you plan to pitch a tent longer than fourteen straight days or host a big gathering, touch base with the Land Conservation and Planning Department first.
Visiting Stockholm from May through October? Lavender Bluff Farm provides a uniquely immersive experience. Pick your own bundle of lavender from the fields to take home, or browse their selection of wellness and home items, ideal for gifts or a personal treat. With scenic views and fragrant fields, it’s a serene stop that delights all the senses. Plus, while in Stockholm, check out the Stockholm Village Park, which sits right on Lake Pepin, and offers beautiful views, water access, and is home to the annual Stockholm Art Fair.
Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area is another showstopper. Sheer limestone cliffs tower over the Mississippi River and Lake Pepin, sheltering rare plants and giving migrating raptors a perfect updraft. Keep an eye out for wildflowers like Sweet Cicely, Round-leaved Shinleaf, and Bare-stemmed Tick Trefoil, while eagles cruise the thermals, and you soak in one of the most iconic views anywhere in the county.
Hidden Highlights
Pepin County’s quiet roads are lined with history. Fans of “Little House on the Prairie” will feel a gentle thrill at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum. Inside, artifacts pull you back into Laura’s world of pioneering in the 1800’s. A short drive away from the Museum, you can step into a faithful re-creation of her family’s cabin in the Big Woods. The Wayside Cabin is open every day of the year for self-guided viewing, so arrive whenever the mood strikes and take your time.
A few miles down the road from the Laura museum, the Pepin Depot Museum tells yet another chapter. Once a bustling railroad stop, the restored depot now holds steamboat memorabilia and local treasures. Volunteers stand ready with stories about how trains and riverboats knitted the county together. Give them a moment, and they will probably uncover a fact you have never heard.
Unexpected Moments
Pepin County offers many unforgettable moments that you can share with your friends or family. One of these events is Arkansaw Creek Park Day, which is one of the largest annual events in Arkansas, Wisconsin. The event serves as a way for the community and visitors to celebrate the town’s heritage. This event offers fun opportunities kids would love, like making their own homemade boats and racing them. The event also offers Rubber Duck Racing, where the whole family can join in the fun.
Another unique spot that will create special memories for you and your family is The Corral Bar and Riverside Grill. The Bar and Grill offers a look into the 19th century in its Orton Room, where a 9-foot-high and 55-foot-long rare paper lithograph advertising the Great Anglo American Circus is displayed. The lithograph is believed to be the only billboard of the circus to survive. Stay for lunch and enjoy the beautiful view of the Chippewa River on a large outdoor deck.
Unique Local shops
From Memorial Day weekend through Halloween, you’ll find Country Stop in the town of Pepin open to the breeze, selling Wisconsin cheeses, award-winning meats, and handmade goods under the wide sky. Then wander over to The Rusty Peddler (open year-round), where vintage furniture mingles with garden art and one-of-a-kind creations made by local folks. Whether you’re hunting for a special find or just want to support local artists, this is definitely a stop you should make.
For those stopping in Stockholm with an eye for elegance, Indigo Swan is a must-visit. This charming gallery-style shop offers a carefully curated collection of handcrafted jewelry and fine art, featuring work from both local and international artists. Every piece tells a story, making it a perfect destination for shoppers seeking something truly unique.
When you’re in Pepin County, be sure to drop by Eau Galle Cheese in Durand. They’re famous for their prize-winning Italian-style cheeses such as Parmesan, Asiago, and Romano, plus you’ll discover Fontina and their smooth Formaggio available in the store. Part of the community fabric since 1945, when founder Leo Buhlman bought the business, Eau Galle Cheese represents both a cherished local tradition and a tasty glimpse into Durand’s past.
No matter if you come for the sweeping views, the echoes of history, the hush of the trails, or the thrill of discovering a perfect little shop, Pepin County hides a quiet surprise around nearly every bend. Pack your curiosity, hit the road, and let this river-kissed corner of Wisconsin show you its best secrets