TAYLORS FALLS, Minn. — Communities built around water celebrate the summer, especially in Minnesota... when it always seems too short.
But in tonight's KARE in the Air, we fly above a riverside community that loves fall so much, it's in their name.
The spot that would become Taylors Falls was first established in 1838. when steamboats were beginning to make their way up the St. Croix River. Like many river towns in Minnesota and Wisconsin, it served as a hub to acquire supplies and materials for logging camps and inland communities established by Swedish immigrants.
Taylors Falls was named for Jesse Taylor, an early settler and politician, and the town was incorporated in 1858.
These days, Taylors Falls parlays its beauty into a burgeoning tourist trade, especially when the temps drop and the leaves turn. Among the businesses nestled downtown and on the water are scenic boat tours, some of which have been family-owned since 1906.
You can hike the breathtaking trails at Interstate State Park, rent a kayak or canoe and paddle the St. Croix, ride the Alpine Slide at Wild Mountain, or wander the eclectic grounds of the Franconia Sculpture Park, which is just a stone's throw from downtown.
Visitors to Taylors Falls are known to wander Bench Street, scoping out the shops and stopping to grab a bite at a plethora of bars and eateries, including The Drive-In... a joint that's been serving dogs, burgers, malt and homemade root beer since 1956.
And speaking of history - there's a classic white building looking down on the town that happens to be the oldest existing public schoolhouse in Minnesota.