Home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, Rochester is Minnesota's third largest city behind Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Offering many of the same urban amenities as the Twin Cities, Rochester also provides a small town feel in the form of city-wide celebrations and a welcoming community. Mixing natural spaces with a bustling downtown district, the city has a rich history that can still be seen today. Popular things to do here include touring the historic Mayowood Mansion, admiring multicultural art at the Rochester Art Center, and exploring the environment at the Quarry Hill Nature Center. Whether you are looking for a Minnesota city experience or a respite in nature not far from the urban landscape, Rochester has a wide range of attractions worth visiting and a sprawling network of bike trails that leads you right to them.
1. Rochester Art Center
Situated along the banks of the Zumbro River, the Rochester Art Center contains a vast collection of multicultural, multimedia artworks that connects visitors to the world around them. Operating since 1946, the Rochester Art Center has occupied its eye-catching riverside location since 2004, and while it is impressive enough to view from the outside, the true cultural insights are found within.
Featuring an ever-rotating display of various media and artworks from emerging and nationally recognized artists, the center makes it easy to engage with something new on each visit. It also offers many community programs, such as kid's dance parties, adult Creative Development Series, and summer youth camps, giving everyone in Rochester a chance to discover themselves through art.
2. Editor's ChoiceSoldiers Field Veterans Memorial
Constructed to honor all southeast Minnesotans who gave their life in battle, the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial also stands as a tribute to all citizens who have stepped up to support their country. The memorial features visual illustrations of every military combat from the Revolutionary to the Gulf War. Its centerpiece is the Wall of Remembrance, a large granite monolith inscribed with the names of more than 3,000 patriots who lost their life in battle. You can visit the memorial any time, including at night, when the names and figures depicted glow under the lights.
3. Downtown Peace Plaza
If you are looking for a shopping and dining experience in Rochester, the Peace Plaza is a great place to start. Neighboring the Mayo Clinic, the Peace Plaza is a pedestrian friendly public space that lends quick access to everything the downtown area has to offer. With fashionable boutiques, first-class restaurants, and a great civic assembly space, the plaza emanates the welcoming atmosphere found throughout Rochester.
A sprawling network of skywalks and underground walkways stems from the Peace Plaza and spreads throughout the downtown area, providing a climate-controlled way to travel as you peruse the various shops and restaurants.
4. Plummer House
Originally home to Dr. Stanley Plummer and his wife Daisy, the Plummer House is another cultural attraction of Rochester that can be directly tied to the nearby Mayo Clinic. Serving as a founder and innovator for the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Plummer worked closely with the architects who began construction of his home in 1917. A full century later, this historic home and estate has been meticulously preserved and is open for the public to get a glimpse of the past. Visitors to the Plummer House are free to explore the manicured grounds and gardens during sunlight hours, and guided tours of the Tudor mansion take place on Wednesdays throughout June, July, and August.
5. Bike Trails
A fuel-efficient and friendly way to see the city, the many different bike trails found throughout Rochester provide endless avenues of enjoyment. Connecting users to natural spaces like Silver Lake and the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial, and including a scenic downtown waterfront route that puts pedestrians in proximity to the Rochester Art Center and various shopping outlets, the bike trails in Rochester allow a choose-your-own-adventure kind of day. While most of the trails are separate from the roadways, a few use bike lanes and sidewalks to arrive at different destinations. Along the way, you can expect to pass by commuters heading to work, wildlife that shares the urban landscape, and many other members of the community who enjoy the pace of muscle-powered transportation.
6. Thursdays on First & 3rd
While any day of the week is a good time to check out Rochester's thriving shopping and dining scene, Thursdays during the summer are even more lively than usual. That's because throughout the months of June, July, and August, the city of Rochester hosts the Thursdays on First & 3rd Summer Market and Music Festival. Featuring more than 100 craft and food vendors plus a soundtrack of live music, Thursdays on First & 3rd can accurately be described as a weekly celebration of fine weather and a welcoming community. Every week is different thanks to the ever-changing lineup of live performances and special events.
7. Quarry Hill Nature Center
Within the 329 acres of the Quarry Hill Nature Center, you can expect to find eight miles of hiking trails, a children's pond, a limestone fossil quarry, and historic sandstone caves to explore. The Quarry Hill Nature Center doesn't just provide a backdrop to connect with these natural features, it also provides education about the environment. Within the actual brick and mortar nature center itself are informational exhibits and live animals, and the center also offers naturalist programs. It is open throughout the year, and during the winter months, the hiking trails easily convert to snowshoe and cross-country ski routes, making year-round exploration fun and easy.
8. Mayo Civic Center
Offering more than 200,000 square feet of space to enjoy, the Mayo Civic Center is one of the largest event centers in southern Minnesota. Hosting local and international musical acts, semi-pro and exhibition sporting events, as well as numerous conferences, business meetings, and conventions, the Mayo Civic Center has established itself as a vital part of the Rochester community. A 2017 expansion added a second-floor grand ballroom and an architecturally pleasing facade on Civic Street. While there is a long list of shows and performances to choose from, a simple way to enjoy this venue is just sitting on the riverfront terrace that overlooks the scenic Zumbro River.
9. Douglas State Trail
Operated by the Minnesota DNR, the Douglas State Trail is a 12.5-mile pathway that connects Rochester with the northern city of Pine Island and takes users through the small town of Douglas, for which the trail is named. It features both a paved trail and adjacent natural surface trail. With the exception of snowmobiles in winter, the Douglas State Trail prohibits motorized vehicles, allowing plenty of room for hikers, bikers, inline skaters, and horseback riders to explore the scenic environment. Serving once as the passageway for the Chicago Great Western Railway, the Douglas State Trail not only provides an accessible, even grade that everyone can explore, but it is a great example of how Rail to Trail conversions greatly benefit the community.
10. History Center of Olmsted County, Mayowood Mansion
Serving as a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the people, places, and stories that have made Olmsted County what it is today, the History Center of Olmsted County provides opportunities for locals and tourists to learn about the community's progress over the years. Featuring rotating exhibits and a handful of preserved historic buildings, the center also hosts youth camps, lecture series, and family-friendly movies under the stars throughout the summer. No history lesson on Rochester and the surrounding Olmsted County would be complete, however, without mentioning the Mayo Clinic, which was founded in Rochester and has developed a reputation.
In conjunction with the Mayo Clinic, the History Center of Olmsted County helps provide access to the historic Mayowood Mansion, the former residence of the Mayo Clinic co-founder, Charles H. Mayo. During the holiday season, special Christmas Tours are available and generally sell out quickly. Whenever you choose to reserve your guided tour of this historic estate, be prepared to take a step back into history as you explore the home of a man whose influence still shapes Olmsted County today.
Here are a few more ideas for what to do in the area: Top 10 things to do in Jacksonville NC
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