Looking for a dream-worthy winter getaway? There’s one in southwest Wisconsin that connects cozy lodging with a vineyard, winery, and some little-city amenities.
Welcome to Hawks View. These cozy cottages, lodges, and suites are settled atop a bluff, and all take advantage of some soaring Midwest sights; in particular, the five cottages boast a “hawk’s eye view” of the border-straddling river valley below.
Photos Courtesy of Hawks View Cottages
Nearby, Seven Hawks Vineyards makes all its wine from hardy, estate-grown grapes. Advertised as one of the Upper Midwest’s largest vineyards—and deeply tied to the region—its goal is to bottle “symphonies of dynamic weather and shifting seasons.”
For those craving some action, the city of Winona, 15 minutes away, makes for a handy southeast Minnesota hub, with an art museum, a film festival, and plenty more in store.
But let’s start by focusing on Hawks View itself. You’ll find it along the scenic Great River Road, or Highway 35, which hews to the Mississippi River and channels visitors during summer and fall especially. At Hawks View, the five two-story, one-bedroom cottages were crafted high up on a steep, wooded bluff that overlooks historic Fountain City, Wisconsin, as well as the Mississippi River. Each cottage is named for some type of raptor: cooper’s hawk, falcon, goshawk, to name a few—including the wheelchair-accessible Marsh Hawk Cottage.
In addition to the cottages, the Blackhawk four-bedroom lodge and the Osprey two-bedroom lodge are both just a mile north of downtown and overlook Seven Hawks Vineyards as well as the river valley. There are also two one-bedroom studio suites, also situated above the Seven Hawks Vineyards tasting room in downtown Fountain City.
This means that, by staying with Hawks View, you’ll also find ample opportunity to get to know the vineyards. They’re planted with almost 17,000 northern hybrid grape vines, and all of Seven Hawks’ grapes are hand-pruned, hand-tended, and hand-harvested. These award-winning wines are waiting for visitors to taste when they visit the cottages, lodges, or suites. And when they visit the tasting room, wine samplings are always free of charge. The tasting room and wine bar here are in an 1870s-era renovated gem, one of many fine old buildings in historic Fountain City. Stop in any time for a last-minute purchase of your favorite wine, or get comfortable on the open-air deck or patio. And next to the tasting room, the historic Monarch Public House also offers not only delicious food but also an eclectic, cozy, and captivating ambiance that hopes to transport you to another world.
Meanwhile, in Winona, you’ll find some more culture and other goings-on. The Frozen River Film Festival takes place Feb. 4-11, featuring documentaries about environmental issues, adventure travel, sports, culture, and other topics. The Minnesota Marine Art Museum, upriver from Winona, features a world-class showcase of contemporary exhibits and historic artworks inspired by water. Winona provides other fun winter activities: Try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing on Winona’s many trails, or head to the city’s ice park for some adventurous ice climbing.
