Stockholm

Tiny Wisconsin village on Lake Pepin, founded by Swedish immigrants and set along the Great River Road.

Stockholm is a tiny village on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River, perched on the shore of Lake Pepin — a 30-mile-long natural widening of the river that is one of the most beautiful stretches of the Upper Mississippi. Highway 35, the Great River Road and Wisconsin's only National Scenic Byway, passes right through.

Founded in 1851 by Swedish immigrant farmers, Stockholm today has a population of barely a hundred, but its charm draws visitors from across the region. The village's rural period architecture has been well preserved, and a small community of artists and craftspeople has set up galleries and studios alongside independent shops and cafes. The Stockholm Village Park sits right on the lakeshore, with a 700-foot pier reaching out into the river.

Less than a mile from the village museum, Maiden Rock Bluff rises 300 feet above the water. The bluff and surrounding 200 acres were permanently protected in 2004, offering public access to some of the finest views on the Great River. The surrounding countryside features the Big Woods and sprawling farmland made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

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Eating Out

Stockholm's food options are small but sincere. A handful of cafes and shops serve the visitors who stop along the Great River Road, with an emphasis on homemade food and local produce.

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Things to Do

Stockholm punches well above its weight for a village of a hundred people. The Great River Road runs right through, bringing cyclists and road-trippers who stop for the views over Lake Pepin, the galleries clustered along Main Street, and the short hike up to Maiden Rock Bluff. Most visitors spend a few hours; those who linger a day or two find a surprising amount here.

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When to Go

Stockholm is at its best from May through October, when the Great River Road is busy with cyclists and road-trippers and the galleries are open. Summers are warm, with long bright evenings ideal for sitting on the pier watching the river.

The Stockholm Art Fair in August is the biggest event of the year, drawing a crowd to this otherwise quiet village. Fall colours on the bluffs are excellent in late September and October — the drive along Highway 35 during peak foliage is outstanding. Winters are cold and snowy; Lake Pepin freezes solid and ice fishing operations appear, but most businesses close until spring.