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Thomas Simonsen Minnesota and Wisconsin Real Estate

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July
23

Saint Paul Home - Things to Do

Saint Paul homes are right in reach of the Mighty Mississippi, one of the most important and historic rivers in the United States. Our real estate agents are adept at finding you the perfect home so you can enjoy everything the river has to offer – it's a truly astonishing local feature.

There's more than one way to enjoy the Mississippi, of course, but most people get started with a classic pastime: A paddleboat journey. Many different iconic crafts have navigated the Mississippi, from steamships to indigenous canoes, but a paddleboat stands out for pure enjoyment.

You'll find plenty of paddleboat vendors in the Saint Paul area. Some of them are seasonal, while others run year round. It's always best to choose an experienced crew with excellent online reviews.  If you're going on your first paddleboat ride on the Mississippi, you just can't go wrong with the Betsy Northrup paddleboat. Of all the ships that still ply the river, it's one of the most beloved.

Come Aboard a Riverboat for an Unforgettable Time on the Mississippi

Although Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, the headwaters of the Mississippi make for a remarkable riverboat experience like nothing else out there.

It's no surprise, then, that you'll find at least four major paddleboat providers out on the water throughout most of the calendar year.

They include all of these fantastic options:

  • Padelford Riverboats
    Based in St. Paul, Padelford – not a typo – is the home of the original Betsy Northrup. It offers a wide range of excursions including sightseeing, dinner cruises, and even school field trips. Its fleet of four ships includes the Betsy and Anson Northrup, both of which have a capacity of 300 guests. These two boats, in particular, can be joined together for king-sized party cruises.

  • Paradise Charter Cruises
    Paradise Charter Cruises offers the traditional paddleboat experience many people flip for, but you can also opt for opulence with a full-scale yacht cruise. With five vessels to choose from, you can see the Mississippi River or head out on nearby Lake Minnetonka. On the traditional paddleboat known as the Minneapolis Queen, you'll explore the historic Waterfront area.

  • St. Croix Boat and Packet Co.
    The Mississippi is the famous river that gets top billing, but there are many other opportunities out in Minnesota – such as the Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers. As the name suggests, this charter company operates mainly on the St. Croix and has a fleet of six vessels: Five paddleboats and one luxury yacht. The super-large Avalon paddleboat can seat up to 675 passengers.

  • Lake Itasca Tours
    The Chester Charles II is the one and only riverboat attached to Lake Itasca Tours, but it has the spirit of a ship many times its size! Seating 141 passengers, it makes its home at the Port of Douglas Lodge out in Itasca State Park. You can visit the park and then jump on for your tour: You'll get to experience ten picturesque miles of Minnesota wilderness over two hours.

When you choose Counselor Realty to help you reach your St. Paul real estate goals, you'll be cruising all the way to your Twin Cities dream home. Our experienced, trustworthy team will give you personalized advice and the highest quality of service.

Contact us today to find out more about living in Saint Paul.



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Agency License Information: Counselor Realty, Inc. is licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin; Counselor Realty, Inc. of Alexandria is licensed in Minnesota; Counselor Realty Detroit Lakes, LLC is licensed in Minnesota; Counselor Realty of Rochester is licensed in Minnesota; Counselor Realty of Victoria, LLC is licensed in Minnesota; Counselor Realty of Brainerd is licensed in Minnesota.

Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 03/06/2026. The listing information on this page last changed on 03/06/2026. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Delta Media Group MLS (last updated Fri 03/06/2026 3:09:18 AM EST) or RMLS-MN MLS (last updated Fri 03/06/2026 12:02:34 AM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Counselor Realty may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved.



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