Rochester, MN is a vibrant city full of art, parks, shopping, dining, and breweries. It’s a wonderful place to live or visit. However, if you’re looking to leave Rochester for the day, here are some of the best day trips!
3 Best Day Trips to Take From Rochester, MN
1. Rochester Trolley & Tour Co Trolley Wine Tours
If you’re over 21 and appreciate wine, the Rochester Trolley & Tour Co’s Trolley Wine Tours are a great idea. There are several different wine trails that stop at wineries and offer beautiful views. For the Great River Road “North” Wine Trail Tour, the trolley leaves from Rochester at 10 a.m. and returns at 6 p.m. On this tour, you’ll visit three wineries, pass the beautiful Lake Pepin, and drive on the Great River Road National Scenic Byway.
The Great River Road “South” Wine Trail Tour also stops at three wineries and departs at 10 a.m. and returns at 6 p.m. In this tour, you’ll take the Great River Road National Scenic Byway, which was ranked as the “most scenic drive in America” in 2012, eat lunch at the Elmaro Vineyard and Winery, and see the Gavin Heights Scenic Overlook.
While on the wine tours, be sure to drink responsibly and with moderation. Do not drink and drive.
2. Spirit Mountain
Spirit Mountain in Duluth is a great place for skiing, snow tubing, fat biking, and snowboarding in the winter. The mountain offers 22 runs for people of all skill levels, and the longest run is 5400 feet long! There’s a chalet at the top of the mountain and another at the bottom.
If you enjoy camping, Spirit Mountain has 73 campsites with fire pits, picnic tables, and electricity as well as the option for walk-in tenting. There are several mountain biking trails which offer incredible views of Lake Superior and the St. Louis Bay and the mountain is great for hiking.
The Spirit Mountain Adventure Park is open year-round and offers great views and thrilling rides. The Timber Twister, an alpine coaster, follows a 3200-foot track that cuts through the forest and races down the mountain. The Timber Flyer Zipline is 700 feet long and you can ride single or double on a bench-style seat while the skiing chair lifts offer rides in the summer so you can see the beautiful scenery. There’s also disc golf, mini-golf, and the Jumping Pillow!
3. Forestville / Mystery Cave State Park
This park offers 17 miles of hiking trails, 15 miles of horseback trails, campgrounds, a wooded landscape, and blue-ribbon trout streams. It’s great for picnicking, walking, and observing plant and animal life. Historic Forestville, a living history village site, offers tours on the weekends and during the summer.
The park also has the Mystery Cave, the state’s longest known cave, which offers daily tours in the summer and tours on the weekends from mid-April through October. You can see stalactites, stalagmites, underground pools, and flowstone in these interconnecting passages. Rustic tours, wild caving tours, and accessible tours with modern lighting and walkways are available.
Visit Rochester Mazda for a great selection of new vehicles and Mazda Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. Our team will help you navigate through the available options so you can make the best choice for your lifestyle.
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