Rochester Minnesota Travel Guide
Southeast MN Attractions from the Mayo Clinic to the Mystery Caves
Where is Rochester, Minnesota? Rochester is located in southeastern Minnesota, in Olmsted County, about 80 miles southeast of the Twin Cities. It's located on the south fork of the Zumbro River. With a population of about 94,000, Rochester is the third largest city in Minnesota (slightly larger than Duluth) and the largest city outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.
What's special about Rochester? Rochester is a charming, cosmopolitan city area that seems to spring up up of nowhere in the middle of the Minnesota countryside This is thanks to the famous Mayo Clinic, which attracts patients from all over the world, including many heads of state. Money Magazine regularly rates Rochester as one of the best places to live in the United States.
What attractions are in Rochester?
- Mayo Clinic tours. 200 First St. S.WThe Mayo Clinic is a great place to visit for medical and architecture buffs. The general tour starts with a 20 minute historical film about the clinic, followed by an hour and a half walking tour. Visitors can also enjoy an hour long art and architecture tour that features the Plummer Building, a historically significant part of the clinic and the Rochester skyline that is topped by a tower with a 56-bell carillon. All tours are free. For more information, call (507) 538-0440.
- Mayowood Mansion. 1195 West Circle Drive SW. This 38-room mansion was the home of three generations of the Mayo Family-- the folks who started the clinic. Antique lovers will be fascinated by the huge collection of German, French, Spanish, English, and American antiques. The mansion is surrounded by majestic gardens that include a man-made lake, ponds, and a tea house. Tours are $12 for adults and $6 for children. For more information, call 507-282-9447.
- Quarry Hill Nature Center and Quarry Hill Park. 701 Silver Creek Road N.E. This sprawling park offers 270 acres of trails, a fishing pond, sandstone caves, and a fossil bed. The nature center displays the hundreds and plants and animals that are found in the park., including a 1,700 pound fish tank and an indoor beehive. 507-281-6114.
- Forestville Mystery Cave State Park. 21899 County Road 118, Preston. Located about 30 miles southeast of Rochester, this Minnesota State Park is quite the day trip-- it features a historic village and the longest cave in Minnesota that is open to the public. The Minnesota Historical Society has restored remnants of the pioneer village of Forestville, which thrived in the mid 1800s, and visitors can take a tour for $5. Underneath, you can tour 12 miles of passages, stalagmites, and stalactites in the Mystery Caves. Tours are $9 for adults and $6 for children. For more information, call 507-937-3251.
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