Rochester is noteworthy for being one of the largest cities in Minnesota and it also just so happens to be one of our favorite towns in the Midwest. The city has a little something for everyone – making it a perfect destination for your next family vacation. Rochester has numerous world-class historical museums to spend hours exploring, plenty of diverse dining options to keep you fueled up, a lively nightlife scene featuring many bars and lounges, and a vibrant and welcoming community of residents that are just about as friendly as they come. Located in Southwest Minnesota, Rochester is a city with beautiful architecture, a bustling downtown district, several iconic landmarks, and a thriving arts and entertainment scene. Blending modern flair with historic charm, Rochester is home to a wealth of attractions that are sure to keep you and your family busy and entertained. Nearby are natural wonders that are practically begging you to come out and explore. Join Viewcation as we take a look at some of the best sights and attractions that can be found in and around Rochester, Minnesota – a city that’s earned it’s nickname Med City for being the home of the prestigious Mayo Clinic.
Rochester’s Colorful Art Scene
For all of you art aficionados out there, Rochester is a great place to view and appreciate some of the finest artwork that the Midwest has to offer. Start by checking out the Rochester Art Center, which overlooks the Zumbro River. There you will find a contemporary art scene that comes alive through several high-quality exhibition spaces and programs. Inside the building’s distinct, towering zinc-plated walls, you’ll discover an expansive collection of photography, paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media pieces. Make sure you check out the arched ‘Circumcenter’ sculpture that greets you in front of the building. The sculpture is basically a modern-day wishing well that takes typed messages and translates them into braile. It then takes those messages and turns them into musical notes. Really, it’s one of a kind attraction and a sight to behold. One of Rochester’s best and most unique art destinations can be found in front of the former Rochester Armory. This building, which is run by Threshold Arts, features castle-like turrets and an impressive red-brick exterior. Patients and their companions visiting the Mayo Clinic medical campus are given numerous opportunities to view art within it’s many buildings of historical significance. Guests can take a self-guided tour or an hour-long guided tour which shows off the works of Dale Chihuly within the Gonda Building. Not far away from the Mayo Clinic campus is the ARTWalk. Along this route, visitors can see dozens of public art installations throughout the downtown area. Everything from sculptures to murals and even painted geese can be seen along the walk. The Charles E. Gagnon Museum and Sculpture Garden is Rochester’s first private museum. It’s located inside the home of the famed sculptor. Visitors can view a vast collection featuring bronze sculptures, including a model of the Peace Fountain that can be found Downtown over at Peace Plaza Park. If you have pint-sized art lovers in your party, pay a visit to the Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester. This family-friendly museum features fun, interactive exhibits like the Hands-on-Health and Amazing ANTics displays. Kids can even experience what it’s like to be a Paleontologist over at the Dino Dig exhibit. If you’ve been enjoying this video so far, show us a little support by giving this video a like and subscribing to the Viewcation channel.
Downtown Peace Plaza
Adjacent to Mayo Clinic is the Downtown Peace Plaza. This fantastic pedestrian-friendly plaza features top-notch dining options, numerous shops and galleries, and a few peaceful outdoor seating areas. This destination does a great job at encapsulating the culture of care and consideration that the Rochester locals are famous for cultivating. Several engaging events are held at the plaza throughout the year including SolcialICE – a lighted ice bar which is open throughout March, Thursdays Downtown – a community block party that’s held weekly from July to September, Dogs Downtown – a fun and engaging fair geared towards four-legged friends and their companions that’s held in September, and Here Comes Santa Claus – a Christmas-themed event where little ones can meet Mr and Mrs. Clause while taking part in festive games and enjoying Holiday treats and crafts. The Plaza is also home to a large web of underground walkways and skywalks that help protect guests from the elements.
Quarry Hill Nature Center
This is one of our favorite family-friendly destinations in the greater Rochester area. The Quarry Hill Nature Center is an excellent place to take the family for hiking excurisions and other hands-on learning activities. Best of all, the nature center is free to visit! Guests can get up close and personal with live animals over at the exploration hall. There is also a raptor room where you can learn all about birds of prey. Bee lovers will love getting to see a working honey beehive that the center maintains, while fans of avian critters will find the bird center engrossing. The center also hosts activities like art classes, fossil hunting demonstrations, and animal meet-and-greet sessions. During the winter months, visitors can go on guided underground cave tours, candle-lit hiking expeditions, and pond ice explorations. Throughout the year, the center also offers hiking trails, nature photography and bird watching opportunities, and cross-country skiing.
Rochester Farmers Market
Every Saturday, rain or shine, Rochester’s Farmer’s market comes alive over at Graham Park. Here you’ll find an impressive variety of fresh and locally farmed produce, mouth-wateringly scrumptious baked goods, and one-of-a-kind handmade crafts. Vendors also sell things such as honey, dairy products, meats and cheeses, preserves, soaps, and woven goods. The market also routinely features things like live music, yoga classes, chess, and fresh-baked wood-fire oven pizzas. As a rule, every product offered at the market must be sourced within a 50-mile radius. During the Summer months, the markets open outdoors from 7:30 am to noon. During the wintertime, the market moves indoors and is open from 9am to noon.
Rochester’s Growing Brewery Scene
The Midwest has long been an epicenter of craft breweries. As such, Minnesotans are fantastic beermakers! Not surprisingly, Rochester is home to a myriad of unique and specialty breweries and taprooms. Each brewery caters to a different set of tastes and aesthetics. So it shouldn’t be hard to find one that fits your discerning palette. Forager Brewery is a family-friendly brewery and restaurant that prides itself in using locally foraged ingredients like herbs, flowers, spices, and even wild mushrooms. They are welcoming and inviting to visitors and offer free tours of their facilities. The Tap House offers up classic American cuisine like burgers, donuts, and Tex-Mex-style tacos. They also offer their guests an extensive array of craft beers on tap. Up on their roof-top lounge, you can see breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The Thirsty Belgian is a warm and cozy establishment with Belgian-inspired brews and savory comfort foods. Patrons are also treated with entertainment such as classic video games and science-fiction film nights. LTS Brewing Company is a dog-friendly brewery that has an inviting heated outdoor tasting and dining area. They offer craft beers and sodas that are sure to be hit with guests of all ages and tastes.
Mayowood Mansion
One of the best things to do when visiting Rochester is touring this 38-room, 23,000 sq ft. former place of residence of the esteemed Mayo Family, founders of Mayo Clinic. The Mayowood Mansion draws strong comparisons to some of the most renowned American estates, such as the Baltimore House and Hurst Castle. A tour of the mansion starts over at the Olmsted History Center where you’ll watch a short intro film and get to stroll through several informative exhibits. From tehre, you can hop aboard a trolley that will take you to the mansion itself. Once there, you can enjoy the collection of artifacts spread out throughout the 3,300-acre estate. The grounds also feature a botanical garden, tea house, and a Grand Terrace that overlooks the Zumbro River. During the winter months, the mansion is decorated with holiday décors such as lights, trees, and garlands.
Bowlocity
This 34,000 sq ft. party space features 24 bowling lanes, laser tag, an enormous arcade, and several virtual reality games such as Beat Saber. Bowlocity is a stellar place to take the family when the weather takes a turn for the worse or when the hot summer heat gets too much to handle. After spending a few hours out on the lanes, fuel up over at the onsite sport’s bar where you can enjoy American fare items like pizza, apps, burgers, and fries.
Soldiers Field Park
Located near Downtown, this park is home to the city’s most beloved children’s playground area as well as a public golf course, several paved walking paths, a public pool, and Soldiers Field’s Veterans Memorial. The memorial is considered to be a sacred place where visitors can pay their respect to those that have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country and community members. It also honors all those that have served their nation in the armed forces from the 1700s to today. The Memorial’s centerpiece is a monolith featuring the names of more than 3,000 veterans who died in combat. The memorial is open day or night, 365 days a year.
So what do you think? Are you ready to come out and visit the great city of Rochester, Minnesota? If you’ve already been before, what are some of your favorite attractions, restaurants, museums, or parks in the area? Let us know in the comments. Before you go, take a moment to show us a little support by giving this video a like and subscribing to the Viewcation channel. Tap the bell to turn on notifications. That way, you can keep up with all of our latest and upcoming videos as soon as they are posted. As always, thanks for watching, and Happy Travels!