Lanesboro and Amish Country
A 60-minute drive southeast of Rochester lands you in Lanesboro, an artistic community home to theater troupes, musicians, and visual artists. You’ll also find several antique shops and independent boutiques. Nearby Harmony is home to a thriving Amish community, and local stores sell Amish handcrafted furniture, baskets, quilts, and leather goods.
Root River and Root River Trail
Within an hour east of Rochester is the Mississippi River’s Bluff Country. You can glide in a canoe down the 80-mile Root River or bike the Root River Trail, whose path runs for 42 miles along a disused railway line. There are 30 miles of blacktop for biking in the warmer months and for cross-country skiing in winter.
Silver Lake Park
Just 10 minutes from the center of Rochester, you can fish, rent a paddleboat, or cruise with a friend on a tandem bike around Silver Lake. Rental bikes and strollers are available. Around the 1.8-mile loop are picnic areas, an outdoor pool, and a skate park.