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Are you planning a trip to Rochester, Minnesota? Don't make a plan without checking out the extensive outings available in this great city. Here are a few different ways you can spend your day during your visit to Rochester, Minnesota. Experience Local History After breakfast, take some time to explore and to learn about the life and history of a great family in Rochester at the Mayowood Mansion. This mansion, which was built all the way back in 1911, is a gigantic 38-room home where three generations of the Mayo family lived. The mansion features a rare collection of art, some fantastic flower gardens, and a massive number of antiques. Tours are available of this fantastic home. Next, learn about the history of Olmsted County at the History Center of Olmstead County, located at 1195 W. Circle Drive. There, you can see rare pictures, maps, diaries, and stories about the lives of the people of Rochester from as far back as the 1800s. Visit the Hadley Valley School House, a traditional one-room educational facility. You can also pay a visit to the George Stoppel Farmstead, which goes back to 1856. Spend a Day Downtown There's plenty to see and do in downtown Rochester. Start your day off right with a delicious breakfast at Tonic, a local fresh juice bar and restaurant located at 1217 Second St. SW that has received numerous accolades. Enjoy the breakfast hash, which comes packed with roasted potatoes, roasted red peppers, and delectable cheese and eggs, or choose from the variety of nutritious breakfasts. After a hearty meal, why not head over to the Rochester Art Center, where you can check out contemporary exhibits from well-known artists? Afterward, hop on a trolley tour that can take you down the vibrant city streets so you can see the architecture of the city. Finally, wrap up the day with a light ramen meal at Bleu Duck Kitchen, an American style hot spot at 14 Fourth St. SW. Enjoy Entertainment and Shopping Rochester is a great city for shopping and leisure, so make the most of it. Start your day at the Rochester Farmers Market — Downtown, where you can check out the fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and flowers. Take advantage of the delectable, renowned cinnamon rolls. The market is located at Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue Southeast by the Zumbro River. If you're downtown on a Thursday, you can take in the downtown summer festival as well. Afterward, treat your kids to play time at Rochester's new Air Insanity trampoline park, where you'll find trampoline features, basketball, dodge ball, and other activities. You can also go to Bounce World, which offers many inflatables to get them excited. If that's a bit too adventurous for you, then head over instead to Bowlocity for a fun session of laser tag and arcade games. After a late lunch, return downtown for evening shopping before heading out to a performance at the Rochester Civic Theater downtown, where there are theater, music and dance performances. There's so much to see and do in Rochester. Plan your day in advance to make the most of all the summertime events and activities in this exciting city. Image by Tony Asleson is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Rochester, Minnesota, is home to a broad range of unique pizza shops. Stop by any of these shops today for a tasty pizza to enjoy with family or friends. Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria Located at the corner of First Avenue and Fifth Street, Pasquale's Neighborhood Pizzeria specializes in authentic New York-style pizza in addition to other Italian cuisines. For your convenience, Pasquale's also offers online ordering. Available vegetable toppings include olives, mushrooms, yellow onions, diced tomatoes, basil, garlic, peppers, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, pepperoncini, broccoli, and spinach. Available meat toppings include pepperoni, Italian sausage, meatball, prosciutto, ham, and salami Calabrese. At Pasquale's, patrons have the option for a gluten-free crust. In addition to pizza, the menu at Pasquale's features calzones, salads, desserts, wine, and beer. Valentino's Valentino's is on Elton Hills Drive. It provides guests with tasty pizzas for carry-out, delivery, or dine-in. Additionally, guests have the option to place an order online. At Valentino's, patrons can choose from over 20 toppings for their pizza. Valentino's also creates specialty pizzas such as its bacon cheeseburger pizza and its famous Hawaiian pizza. In addition to pizza, Valentino's also offers pasta, salads, breads, and desserts. Mr. Pizza Open since 1963, Mr. Pizza is comfortably nestled on South Broadway in Rochester. Featuring an extensive pizza menu with a multitude of options for toppings, Mr. Pizza offers pizzas for dine-in, carry-out, or delivery. The pizza shop offers a gluten-free crust option. The list of pizza toppings at Mr. Pizza includes ground beef, salami, Italian sausage, American sausage, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, onions, green peppers, pineapples, mushrooms, black olives, green olives, tomatoes, sauerkraut, and jalapenos. A variety of specialty pizzas are available, such as a taco pizza and a barbecue chicken pizza. Toppers Pizza Toppers Pizza in Rochester is a no-nonsense pizzeria offering an eclectic mixture of pizza and other fares. For your convenience, Toppers provides an online ordering system as well as a delivery service. Featuring specialty pizzas such as nacho pizza, buffalo chicken pizza, mac 'n cheese pizza, and a smoky barbecue chicken pizza, Toppers is truly a pizza joint like no other. Guests have the option to build their own pizza from a variety of topping and crust options. In addition to pizza, the menu at Toppers includes breadsticks, wings, macaroni and cheese, pretzel bites, and desserts. Pi Wood-Fired Pizza Pi Wood-Fired Pizza, which opened in Rochester in 2009, creates handmade artisan pizzas that you won't find anywhere else. Pi features an open kitchen, so you can actually see the pizzas as they are prepared and baked. At Pi, you also have the option to place an order online. The menu at Pi includes appetizers, salads, pizza, specialty pizzas such as Greek pizza and the Italian Stallion pizza, and wood-fired sandwiches. Any of these unique pizza shops in Rochester, Minnesota, would be perfect for your next family dinner out. head over to one of them with family or friends and grab a slice or pick up a pizza today. Image by Stock Catalog is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

If you're visiting Rochester, Minnesota, or you're a local, you can find an abundance of family-friendly activities and attractions in the area for visitors of all ages. We've created this list of the five best family attractions near Rochester, MN. Rochester Trolley and Tour Company With the family in tow, you'll be able to tour Rochester from the comfort of a classic trolley. The Rochester Trolley and Tour Company provides a broad range of guided public tours in Rochester and the surrounding area. You can take a tour of historical sites in Rochester, a tour of the Old Order Amish Country, a wine and microbrewery tour, a scenic Mississippi River Valley tour, as well as special holiday tours. With a trolley tour, you and your family will be able to explore Rochester in a whole new way. Air Insanity Air Insanity is an indoor trampoline and adventure park in Rochester. Featuring more than 5,000 square feet of trampolines, Air Insanity is the place to be to let the kids burn off some serious energy. In addition to the trampolines, Air Insanity also offers an insane airbag, a warrior battle beam, a fidget ladder, insane dodgeball, slam dunk courts, a vault escape laser maze, an insanity nerf zone, a dedicated toddler zone, and a virtual reality zone. Minnesota Children's Museum Rochester The Minnesota Children's Museum Rochester opened in 1981 but moved to downtown St. Paul in 1995. Now with locations in both St. Paul and Rochester, the Minnesota Children's Museum hosts approximately 500,000 visitors per year. The museum prides itself on engaging children's learning through play and interactive activities. The museum features activities that encourage children's curiosity and play in a hands-on environment. The Minnesota Children's Museum Rochester showcases multiple rotating exhibits as well as a classroom with exciting new programs and activities weekly. Bowlocity Entertainment Center Bowlocity Entertainment Center in Rochester specializes in family fun for all ages. At Bowlocity Entertainment Center, guests can participate in laser tag, bowling, and classic arcade games. Bowlocity offers both traditional bowling as well as suite bowling. There's a sports bar available with a menu featuring a variety of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, salads, wraps, pizza, desserts, wine, and beer. Escape Rooms Escape Rooms are all the rage right now, so why not see if your family is up to the challenge? Both Escape Challenge and the Unraveled Escape Room in Rochester offer a variety of themed escape rooms that are suited for any family. Essentially, your group will be locked inside a room and you'll have to work together to find the hidden clues in order to escape the room. You'll have about an hour to discover the way out and conquer the challenge. Whether you'd prefer an educational or entertaining attraction for your next family outing, you can find it all in Rochester, Minnesota. Offering family fun for all ages, Rochester is a city you'll want to explore with your family and friends. Image by Eric Walters is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

With over 100 city parks that offer everything from natural areas to walking trails and total more than 3,500 acres, it's easy to get outside and enjoy all the natural beauty around Rochester, Minnesota. The next time you're interested in spending quality time in the great outdoors, check out some of these top options in Rochester's park system. Silver Lake Park Silver Lake Park is conveniently close to downtown Rochester. Yet, when you start walking on the paths in the park, you can find yourself in the middle of a forested area. The park has a variety of activities to enjoy, including horseshoe pits, baseball and softball fields, a skate park, football field, and a soccer field. You can rent one of the canoes or paddle boats to explore the lake, or you can try your hand at fishing from the shoreline. On hot days, the outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place to cool down. Quarry Hill Park Quarry Hill Park is a treasure in the Rochester community that offers an incredible variety of things to do. You can head out on more than 8 miles of hiking trails to explore the history and beauty of the area. Take a walk to the pond to view the ducks, turtles, frogs, and muskrats living around the water. The park also has two old quarries that are the ideal spot for hunting fossils. Don't forget to spend some time at the Quarry Hill Nature Center to see the live animals, indoor beehive, and exhibition hall. Allendale Park Allendale Park is a lovely area that offers something to enjoy during every season. When the weather is warm, head out to the park for the baseball and softball fields, tennis courts, and open play field. The park also has a nice playground with swings, slides, tunnels, and climbing pieces that are popular with children of many ages. In the winter, make sure you come back to Allendale Park to spend some time enjoying the outdoor hockey rink and warming house. Douglas State Trail The 12.5-mile Douglas State Trail is a multi-use rail trail that follows the abandoned Chicago Great Western Railway. The trail starts in Rochester, runs through the small town of Douglas, and ends at Pine Island. Along the way, it passes through scenic forests and rolling fields. The trail has a paved section for bicyclists and walkers and a natural surface area for horseback riders and snowmobiles. Foster Arend Park Foster Arend Park is a lovely spot that's one of the most popular places to cool down during summer. The park features a large lake that has a sandy beach, swimming area, and inflatable water park. The lake is also stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, rainbow trout, and white crappie for fishing. Additionally, you'll find sand volleyball, horseshoes, walking trails, a playground, open play field, and picnic shelters in the park. Whether you're looking to learn something new at a nature center or take a scenic bike ride on a trail, the park system in Rochester offers something for everyone to enjoy. Image by Ryan Claussen is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Rochester, Minnesota, offers vibrant shopping that includes everything from unique independent shops to large malls with some of the most popular nationwide stores. Whether you're treating yourself to a shopping day or looking to purchase something special for someone else, be sure to check out some of these fantastic shopping destinations. Shops at University Square Located in the heart of Rochester, the Shops at University Square has an excellent variety of dining and shopping opportunities. You can head to The Nordic Shop to find authentic Scandinavian clothing, jewelry, and home decor. If you're interested in picking up a new outfit, check out Talbots, Knight's Chamber Clothiers, or Chico's. Amaglyphe & Artpacks has a lovely selection of fine paper products, and Poppi Italian Leather offers some of the finest leather bags made exclusively in Italy. Dwell Local If you're searching for something unique, you're sure to find at Dwell Local. The boutique gift shop is located just north of downtown Rochester and offers a great selection of jewelry, clothing, soap, home decor items, and more from over 45 local makers. You can get a pillow with a picture of the Rochester skyline, hand towels with the outline of Minnesota on them, hand-poured soy candles, vintage-inspired lighting, and incredible necklaces made with recycled wine bottles, sea glass, and rocks from the shores of Minnesota lakes. Old Rooster Antiques Another great shopping destination in downtown Rochester is Old Rooster Antiques. No matter what you're shopping for, you're sure to find it here. The store works with 15 dealers to provide a large selection of collectibles and antiques. As you're browsing the aisles, you'll discover jewelry, glassware, pottery, china, stoneware, pictures, toys, tools, and more. If you're shopping for furniture, be sure to head down to the basement to see what the store has in stock. 99 Giggles Whether you need a gift for a friend, loved one, co-worker, or yourself, 99 Giggles is the place to go. Located in the subway level in Rochester, 99 Giggles is a fun store that has a great variety of unique gifts for everyone on your gift list. You can shop for apparel, jewelry, bath and body items, cosmetics, home decor, food, wine accessories, kitchen gadgets, gifts, cards, and more. The store also has a nice selection of seasonal decor to help you decorate with style throughout the year. Apache Mall As the largest enclosed shopping mall in the city, you know Apache Mall is sure to have exactly what you need. While you'll find plenty of national brands, such as Barnes & Noble, Forever 21, and H&M, you'll also discover numerous specialty stores. You can stop by 5th Grant Boutique to browse home decor items from some of the best makers in the area. Then, plan to spend some time at Northwoods Candy Emporium to marvel at hundreds of fresh candies and chocolates. Whether you're looking to browse a popular clothing store or check out a one-of-a-kind home decor store, you know you'll find exactly what you need when you hit these top shopping destinations in Rochester. Image by Gustavo Devito is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

The Easter holiday often means a big dinner with family, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have to cook. In the Rochester, Minnesota, area, there are several local restaurants that offer a wonderful brunch. Whether it's a buffet or a table service, the whole family can enjoy a great meal without having to cook or clean up. Here are some of the most amazing Easter brunches near Rochester, Minnesota. Forager Brewery The Forager Brewery serves brunch all day every day, and last year they hosted an all-you-can-eat buffet for Easter brunch. The spread included scrambled eggs, French toast, fresh fruit, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, and much more. Guests could enjoy coffee and specialty drinks from Fiddlehead coffee shop, and the bar served mimosas, Bloody Marys, and some of their house-brewed craft beers. The brewery has not announced if they will have the buffet this year, but keep an eye out and check their website to find out more as the holiday gets closer. Pescara Pescara is a seafood restaurant located in the DoubleTree by Hilton in Rochester. Guests can enjoy the delicious breakfast buffet any day of the week, and brunch is served late on Sundays. The buffet always has fresh scrambled eggs, Gouda hash browns, biscuits and gravy, pastries,  fresh fruit, and breakfast meats. Every Sunday, the chef comes up with a specialty egg dish. Call ahead to make sure they will have the buffet on Easter Sunday this year, and make a reservation if needed. Five West Five West offers a special weekend brunch menu with dishes that will satisfy whether you want breakfast or lunch. There are some unique offerings at Five West including the breakfast egg rolls that come filled with eggs, cheese, and veggies, or the famous Five West omelet with smoked pork belly, onion, pepper, mushrooms, and pepper jack cheese sauce. If you prefer lunch, there are a variety of sandwiches, pizza, soup and salad, and entrees such as fish tacos and maple bourbon fried chicken. Whistle Binkies Whistle Binkies is a popular restaurant in the Rochester area, and its Sunday brunch buffet always delivers. The choices range from hand-carved meat to eggs, pastries, and much more. If you like a good Bloody Mary, you can create your own at the Bloody Mary bar. The waitstaff is very friendly, and they do a great job of keeping the table clear and the water glasses full. If you have little ones, kids six and under can eat from the buffet for free. Whistle Binkies offers their Sunday brunch at both of its Rochester locations. Just check in before Easter to make sure the buffet is still open the same hours and offers the same menu on the holiday. All of these Rochester restaurants offer a fantastic Sunday brunch. Just make sure to call before the holiday to find out if you need reservations and to make sure that the hours and selections are the same. Image by Kurman Communications, Inc. is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Getting outside in the fresh air is good for you no matter what time of year it is. Even when the temperatures in Minnesota are still low, you can have some fun at the park. Since Rochester is home to over 100 different parks, here is a short list of some of the best and their features. Silver Lake Park Silver Lake Park is not far from downtown Rochester and features several walking paths. It also has one of the largest playgrounds in the city with both a preschool play area and an area for the big kids. One of the newer features of Silver Lake Park is a simulated street scape and the first bicycle playground in Minnesota. It sits between the swimming pool and the skate park and allows kids to navigate through simulated city streets on their bikes. This park also has a pool and a small lake, and you can rent a paddleboard, canoe, or kayak if you want to get out on the water. Field of Fun Field of Fun sits right next to Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial. This small park has lots of climbing apparatuses, slides, and swings for the kids. There is a separate area for toddlers and picnic tables if you want to pack a lunch. Cooke Park Cooke Park on 7th Street is a large park with everything you need for a day of outdoor fun. There is a baseball field, horseshoes, sand volleyball, and a softball field. Cooke Park has a paved trail for walking and running, a covered picnic area, and a large open field. The playground gives the kids a place to play if you want to take a break. Foster Arend Park Head to Foster Arend Park to play horseshoes, take a walk on the paved trail, or just enjoy the fresh air. This park has a lake with a public beach that's open for swimming in the summer months, and it's also a great fishing spot. Bring the kids to the playground, or pack a lunch and have a picnic. After you eat, you can all take a walk on the paved trail. Essex Park Essex Park is another popular spot for outdoor fun in Rochester. This park has a natural area to explore, both paved and unpaved walking trails, a playground, and a picnic shelter. If you want to bring your bow and arrows, there is even a spot to practice archery. Essex Park has a cross-country skiing trail for winter enthusiasts, and sand volleyball if you want to wait until the snow melts. Pack a lunch, and sit at one of the picnic tables to enjoy the fresh air while you eat, or bring the kids, and let them run and play at the playground. These are just a few of the many parks in the Rochester area. No matter which one you choose, you can get outside and play in the fresh air. Image by Mark Goebel is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

If you plan to visit Rochester, MN, any time soon, chances are you're looking to participate in some of the local events behind held. Luckily, we've listed four upcoming events below that we think you're going to love. Beer Dinner with Little Thistle Brewery In the mood for a cold brew and a fantastic meal? Check out Little Thistle Brewery's Beer Dinner. Hosted on a variety of dates including March 16th, you'll be served a five-course meal courtesy of Bleu Duck Kitchen along with five brews made right in Rochester. You'll get to learn about the brewing process and the amount of work that goes into crafting each of the beers provided. It's a unique experience not to be missed. Admission is $75 per person. The event is held at the Bleu Duck Kitchen on 4th Street in Rochester. Doors open at 6 p.m. Easter Cookie Decorating Class When winter finally makes its way out of the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins to move in. With it comes the Easter season which leads to plenty of baked goods and other sweet treats to commemorate the festivities. If you've always wanted to know how to create festive Easter cookies, you'll want to take part in an Easter Cookie Decorating Class by Julie Domaille. Held at Julie's Cookie Creations on Berkshire Road in Rochester, the class will educate you on the basics of decorating sugar cookies with step-by-step directions on baking the cookies, mixing royal icing, learning line work, and more. You'll decorate six festive cookies during the class, all of which can be taken home with you. Admission is $65. Multiple class dates are available, including on April 6th at 3 p.m. Trilogy Tour - Led Zeppelin - Pink Floyd & The Doors There's nothing quite like going out for the night to an awesome concert. If you're up for such an evening, you have to visit the Lanesboro Community Center on Saturday, March 30th. That's when the Trilogy Tour is making a stop in Lanesboro, a short distance from Rochester. During the show, you'll hear an amazing cover band perform renditions of songs from well-known rock groups Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Doors. It'll truly be a night to remember. Tickets start at $25 and doors open at 6:30 p.m. Note that you do need to be at least 21 years old in order to attend. 2019 Physics Force Show Entertainment comes in all forms, but who would've guessed physics would be the next big thing? As it turns out, people love it when you mix the subject everyone dreads with a great stage presence. That's essentially what the University of Minnesota's Physics Force show is. For May 2019, the show will run on the 8th and 9th and dazzle you with live fire, lightning, someone falling from a tower, a crushing barrel, and more. None of this sounds safe, of course. But thanks to physics, apparently, it is. Admission is free. The show runs for an hour, with initial showings beginning at 10 a.m. By checking out any of the events listed above, you'll be guaranteed a great time in Rochester and the surrounding area. Have fun, everybody! Image by Michael Hicks is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0