Taking a drive with your honey or a day trip with your crew is always sweeter when the journey complements the destination. A 75-minute drive to Lake City offers the best of both. When the bluff terrain replaces the city clamor, you're well on your way to the "birthplace of waterskiing." Lake Pepin offers myriad options for fishing, boating, hiking, and gaming. For the golfer, Hale Irwin's the Jewel Golf Club presents one of the most unusual and diverse courses in the state. If you can afford the $86 greens fee (with cart), the juice is unquestionably worth the squeeze on this varied track. Some holes offer a links-course vibe, while others have the feel of a northern Minnesota fairway. When your round, hike, fishing, or skiing is concluded, the Dining at the Jewel restaurant is an earnest culinary experience of appetizers, sandwiches, steaks, and fish. If you finish early or start late, the Chickadee Cottage is a great breakfast and lunch spot.