Stillwater runs deep and I did too

I jogged from Minnesota to Wisconsin last week, which was not nearly as impressive as the town from which I launched my little jaunt.

Stillwater, the birthplace of Minnesota, lies just across the Wisconsin border. A river town, it’s full of history, wit and ice cream.

How could you not love a town that has two bookstores and three ice cream shops right on its main drag?

I loved the variety of shops and restaurants, and I appreciated their names even more. You can get a salty snack at Nacho Mamas, work it off at the Pole Barn, and cool down with a stiff drink at the Long GoodBye.

Owing to its proximity and excellent taste, the town also has a Packer bar.

I took an early morning walk across the historic lift bridge that spans the St. Croix River, then returned a little while later for a run.

I really enjoyed both, and I got a kick out of crossing the Wisconsin border on foot.

I’d noticed a park named after Elmore Lowell, which caught my eye because we were staying at the Lowell Hotel. So I asked about Elmore at the front desk.

“Look behind you,” they said.

There was a framed article about the man on the wall. I treated myself to a little more Elmore Lowell research when I got back up to my room, because I like to read about people who’ve made a difference in this old world.

Elmore seemed like exactly that, a kind and intelligent entrepreneur.

Overall, I spent less that 20 hours in Stillwater but I had a great time and can’t wait to go back.