Goin' To The (Frozen) Lake: Frank & Chris In Wabasha (Day 2)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The WCCO winter roadtrip around the state is coming to an end, but not before another day of fun south of the cities. Frank and Chris spent the day in Wabasha, about a two-hour drive along the Mississippi River.

Reads Landing

Reads Landing is just a few miles up the river from Wabasha. Founded in the mid-1800s, it used to be home to 27 hotels and 21 saloons.

One of the great places to stop for a drink and some food when you're in town is Reads Landing Brewing Company. The building has been here since 1870, first as a dry goods store. Business boomed when this town was one of the main points of commerce in Minnesota. It's booming again now because of their beer. One of the coolest parts about this place is that you can sit here; eat, drink and watch eagles right out the window.

Just up the hill from Reads Landing Brewing is the Wabasha County Historical Society. It's the oldest brick schoolhouse in the state of Minnesota. Wabasha County was one of nine original counties when President James Polk named the Minnesota Territory in 1849.

Minnesota became a state just 9 years later in 1858. Reads Landing was once considered as a possibility for the state capitol. The museum is open from May to October if you're planning a spring or summer trip.

Grumpy Old Men Ice Fishing

There will be a lot of people in Wabasha the next couple days for the Grumpy Old Men Festival. One of the main parts of the movie: Ice fishing. So Frank and Chris grabbed their buckets and gave it a shot today.

Unlike Amelia and Rosie in Walker last week, Frank and Chris were out on the ice facing the elements, like real Minnesotans should.

So did anything bite? Watch the video above to find out!

National Eagle Center and Turning Waters Bed & Breakfast

Frank and Chris started the day at the National Eagle Center with friend and colleague John Hines from WCCO Radio. The Eagle Center itself is a wonderful place to visit with the whole family. There are a lot of interactive exhibits, and three rehabilitated eagles actually live there.

If you're looking for a place to stay in town, check out Turning Waters Bed and Breakfast. It's an easy walk to everything, and the owners -- Brenda and Ford -- couldn't be nicer. They're currently working on their next project: opening a brewery.

Bed, breakfast and beer: Sounds like a winning combination!

Polar Plunge

Not only did Frank and Chris get to see the beauty of the Mississippi River in Wabasha, they actually spent some time in the river!

The big deal at Grumpy Old Men Festival is the polar plunge on Saturday. Luckily, the kind folks in town decided they'd do a preview with Frank and Chris Friday.

It takes place right outside Slippery's Tavern, and let's just say, it took a little while for the two to get the nerve up.