Rochester (Minnesota)

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Rochester [1] is a city in the state of Minnesota that is home to the world famous Mayo Clinic [2]. It is about 80 miles (130km) SE of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Cold in the winter and warm, sometimes hot, in the summer. Population approaching 100,000, with more in the surrounding areas. The city hosts numerous out of town visitors coming for treatment at the Mayo Medical Center and has a well developed infrastructure to deal with its many visitors.

[edit] Get in

[edit] Air

  • Rochester International Airport (RST) [3]is located 10 miles south of Rochester along Highway 63. Due to the large number of visitors to the Mayo Clinic, there are more flights than in comparably-sized cities, approximately 15-20 per day. Northwest Airlines [4] has flights from Minneapolis/St. Paul and Detroit. American Airlines [5] offers direct service from Chicago O'Hare. Allegiant Air [6] offers twice-weekly flights from Las Vegas. There are several car-rental companies located at the airport. Taxis are relatively expensive, approximately $25 between downtown Rochester and the airport. Shuttle service is available, timed to meet each arrival. Some hotels also provide shuttle service. Make sure you fly into Rochester, MN not Rochester, NY!
  • Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) [7] is located approximately 90 minutes drive northwest of Rochester. A major airport, it has flights from most major cities around the world. Dominated by Northwest Airlines. Go Rochester Direct, offers shuttle service between MSP and Rochester.
  • When flying in to Rochester, it is worth checking flights into both airports. Flights in to and out of Rochester are typically slightly more expensive (about $50); however, as with all things related to airfares, this varies widely, and I've seen airfares anywhere from Rochester over twice as much to Rochester being cheaper.

[edit] Driving

  • The closest interstate to Rochester is I-90 running east and west across Minnesota. There are two exits from I-90 that will take you north into Rochester, US Highway 63 (when coming from the west) and US Highway 52 (Exit 218) (when coming from the east).
  • US Highway 14 runs east and west through Rochester, connecting Rochester with Winona and Owatonna.
  • US Highway 63 runs north and south through Rochester and is the main north-south thoroughfare through downtown Rochester, and connects Rochester with Lake City and south to Waterloo and connect you up with the Avenue of the Saints.
  • US Highway 52 also runs north and south through Rochester and is the main pipeline connecting Rochester with the Twin Cities and running south to the southeast corner of Minnesota and into Iowa.

[edit] Train

  • There is no train service into Rochester. The closest station is 45 minutes drive away in Winona. However, ground transportation between Rochester and Winona is available from GoCarefree Shuttle.

[edit] Bus

  • Jefferson Lines [8]. JL buses stop at the Sinclair gas station located at 205 6th St SW. If part of your trip involves travel on Greyhound [9], you can purchase your ticket on Greyhound's website, which will cover travel on both carriers.

[edit] Get around

  • Public bus system [10]: There is a public bus system, but it is likely not to be useful to the visitor. There is no bus service on Sundays or holidays, and during the rest of the week, they will stop running fairly early, generally the last routes end at 9 p.m. The main goal of the bus system is to serve the downtown area. Also, the bus system revolves around the Mayo Clinic schedule, so if the Clinic were to close early (Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve), the buses will also stop running early as well. The buses run generally on an hourly basis with half hour service during the rush hours. The bus system utilizes a wagon-wheel-spoke type of grid, with routes all ending up in the downtown area to make transfers. You can request a transfer pass from one bus to the next if you are getting on a bus to get to another part of the city. On Tuesdays, there is a Shopper's bus that will get you to some of the different shopping areas in Rochester.
  • If you are only going to the Clinic, you may not need a car as most hotels provide (free) shuttle service to the Clinic. However, most visitors will need a car to get around.

The central part of the city is arranged on a more-or-less standard grid. Streets run east-west and avenues run north-south. This divides the city into four quadrants, NW, NE, SE, SW. There are some named streets you might encounter.

  • The dividing line between east and west is Broadway (up to about 25th street north when things get weird).
  • The dividing line between north and south is Center Street.
  • Civic Center Drive runs east-west from highway 52 to downtown approximately at 5th street northwest.
  • West Circle Drive (also called CR 22) run north-south at the west edge of town.
  • There is also an East Circle Drive, but there are fewer businesses there. In case you're wondering, the two circle drives do not meet.

As is typical for suburbs, most of the newer residential development in the last fifteen years has largely abandoned the numbered grid system and gone to named curved streets. If you need to find these, there are free maps available in most hotels, the local phonebook has a city map, and of course many online map sites.

[edit][add listing] See

Sites of interest for touring

  • Tour of Mayo Clinic. [11] Both general tour and art tour. Both are very interesting. Also can pickup a brochure from any Help Desk for a self-guided tour.
  • Tour of Assisi Community Center. Call (507) 280-2180 ext 180 for information.
  • Mayowood Mansion [12]
  • Plummer House [13]

Museums

  • Art Center [14]
  • Olmsted County Historical Society [15]

Theatre and Art

  • Rochester Repertory Theatre [16] Local theater company
  • Jon Hassler Theater [17] Nationally recognized theater in the middle of nowhere.
  • Feast and Footlights Dinner Theatre. Fall only. (507) 288-4440 TODO: call and get 2007 schedule.
  • Mayo Civic Center (?)

Live Music

  • The Oak Center General Store [18] Live music Saturdays and Sundays, November - April
  • Blues Club down south
  • Many local bars have live music on weekends, main ones are Dunn's Brothers (north), Kathy's Pub

Comedy Club

  • Goonies

Movies

  • The 14-screen Chateau [19] is located on the NE side
  • The 12-screen Cinemagic [20] is located on the NW side.
  • The 14-screen Galaxy [21]is located on the south side in the Shoppes on Maine lifestyle center.

Current Events

  • The Post Bulletin's (the local newspaper) [22] list of upcoming events. The best source for looking for things to do.

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit] Parks

  • Quarry Hill Nature Center, 701 Silver Creek Road NE. Phone (507) 281-6114 [http://www.qhnc.org - lots of trails and parks to explore.
  • Oxbow Park and Zoo [23] - about 15 minutes drive NW of town, in Byron.
  • Chester Woods. About 20 minutes drive east of town.
  • Whitewater Park [24] - beautiful park about 45 minutes drive. Take highway 14 to St Charles, then North on Hwy 74. Located 3 miles south of Elba.
  • Carley State Park [25] - smaller park, but closer. Approximately 15 miles northeast of Rochester, or 4 miles south of Plainview on Wabasha County Road 4.

[edit] Other

  • Barnes and Nobles (Chateau Theatre) The historic Chateau theatre was remodeled into the best Barnes and Noble book store you will ever see. Its a must see in downtown Rochester.

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • The Apache Mall, located southwest of downtown, is the main (indoor) mall. Major department stores are Macy's, Herbergers, Sears, and J.C. Penneys. Also contains about 60 other smaller stores. However, there are not any stores here that you wouldn't see at any other mall.
  • For most of the unique and interesting stores, the downtown is your place to go. The The Galleria, which has been renamed The Shops at University Square is home to most of them, conveniently located just two blocks east of the Clinic. It is, unfortunately, rather small, only about a dozen stores, but well worth the visit if you want something different. The subway level also contains several unique stores, well work a walk down there if you're downtown. There are also some nearby at street level between The Galleria and downtown. There had been a food court located here, but due to the top two floors of the Galleria being converted to a university campus, this was eliminated.
  • Other small malls are Crossroads, located at 12th Street and South Broadway, Miracle Mile, located just northeast of the intersection of highway 52 and 2nd Street South. Second Street (just west of hwy 52) is starting to turn into a small but interesting shopping area.
  • Shoppes on Maine located at Highway 63 and 48th Street South, home to Super Target, Lowes, Dick's Sporting Goods, PetSmart, and numerous smaller tenets.
  • The area between 37th Street NW and 55th Street NW has three lifestyle shopping centers including Super Target, PetSmart, Best Buy, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Super Wal-Mart, Gander Mountain, and Buffalo Wild Wings.
  • Rochester also has the normal assortment of chain stores, such as Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, ShopKo, Home Depot, Menards, Fleet Farm, etc. located throughout the city.
  • There is a large shopping district located just north of the intersection of Highways 63 and 52, featuring ShopKo, Super Wal-Mart, Menards, Kohl's, Bed Bath & Beyond and some smaller stores.
  • The best place to buy Rochester souvenirs would be Eagle Drug in downtown Rochester as well as at the gift store in the Kahler hotel.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Grocery

  • Good Food Store, 1001 6th St NW. Rochester's primary source of organic food. Also includes a bulk food room for spices, flours, pasta, beans, etc. Also home to a vegan deli restaurant.
  • Hy-Vee Food Stores, three locations.
  • Just Rite foods - Excellent butcher, neighborhood style grocery with an excellent deli counter

Restaurants

Fine Dining -- the top

  • Chester's Kitchen and Bar. New American. [Downtown in Galleria/Shops at University Square.]
  • 300 First New American. [Three blocks north of downtown on 1st Ave.] Opened in March 2008 in place of Broadstreet Cafe [26]
  • Chardonnay. French. Located in an old Victorian house. Wine Spectator award of excellence wine list. [Four blocks West of downtown, along 2nd street SW.]
  • City Cafe Modern American. Voted Rochester's Best in 2006, 2007, 2008. [Downtown on 1st Ave.] [27]
  • Jaspers Alsatian [Alsace] food. [Downtown on 3rd street.]
  • Michael's Traditional American / Steaks. Local favorite. Go for the pictures of famous people on the wall who have eaten there. [Downtown.]
  • Avocado Caribbean restaurant, outside dining. [Just south of Apache Mall in Apache Shoppes.]
  • Prescott Bistro-style. Smaller but excellent wine list. [Crossroads shopping center.]
  • Sonte's Tapas. Extensive wine list, gourmet cheeses. [Downtown.]
  • Sushi Ito's Sushi. [Downtown.]

Casual Dining -- one level down

  • Westfire Grille American. [West side of town.]
  • Redwood Room American. Live music most days. Below Broadstreet Cafe / 300 First [Three blocks north of downtown on 1st Ave.]
  • The Metro Casual American. [In the Radisson downtown.]
  • Canadian Honker Traditional American, but Fresh fish Friday and Saturdays. Often has live music. [Across from St. Mary's]
  • Oak Room Good food, but you feel like you are eating in a hotel lobby. [In the Marriott downtown.]
  • Chains in town include Red Lobster (downtown), TGIF (a couple blocks north of St. Mary's), Outback (20 blocks south of downtown), Applebee's (one in the mall, one far north), Timberlodge (Minneapolis-based steakhouse chain) (north side of town).

Other Ethnic

  • Daube's Bakery, also serves sandwiches and quiche and such. [One branch in subway (lunch only), one branch west of downtown on Civic Center.]
  • Good Food Deli Vegan. [Hidden just north of Civic Center Drive.]
  • India Garden Indian. Open from 11 until 2:30 for lunch buffet, and then reopens from 5 to 9 for evening, but without the buffet. Consistently voted best in the "Indian/Other Asian" category in the Best of restaurant survey. [About 20 blocks north of downtown on Broadway.]
  • Pho Hoa Vietnamese. [North side.] Southeastern Minnesota has a sizable southeast Asian population, so Rochester does have Vietnamese grocery stores and restaurants, such as Pho Hoa. In addition to sit-down meals, bahn mi, inexpensive Vietnamese sandwiches on French bread, are usually available for takeout.
  • Sytje's Pannekoeken Dutch and American. Popular for weekend brunch. [One branch downtown, one branch south.]
  • Whistle Binkies British-style pub. Great beer selection, good bar good, OK regular food. [One location on the north side, one on the south side.]
  • Zorba's Greek. [West of downtown on 7th street NW]

Italian / Pizza

  • Victoria's A local restaurants which serves a wide variety of Italian foods, huge portions.
  • Olive Garden [North of St. Mary's.]
  • Billoti's also serves Italian-American food, and is very popular for pizza. [Downtown.]
  • Nick & Willie's has the most interesting toppings in town. Either "personal" size, or only take-and-bake for their larger size. [Three branches.]
  • Green Mill has deep-dish and stuffed pizza, in addition to a large menu of other items.
  • There are a huge number of other pizza places, too many to list here. Look in the phone book.

Mexican

  • Azteca [South of downtown]
  • Dos Amigos [5 blocks southeast of downtown, on the north side along highway 52.]
  • Fiesta Mexicana [North Broadway]
  • El Carambas Hole-in-the-wall type casual. [East side of town]
  • Rio Mex Open 24/7.
  • Carlos O'Kelly's Frontage road between 41st Street and 55th Street.

Chinese

  • Sit down: Hunan Garden (not to be confused with Hunan Wok across the street or Hunan on South Broadway), China Dynasty (south side) and Great China (north side)
  • Buffet: Sky Dragon, Kingdom Buffet, International Buffet
  • Takeout: China King, China One, China Star, Great China.
  • HuHot Mongolian barbecue

Sandwiches

  • City Market Gourmet sandwiches
  • Panera Non gourmet sandwiches
  • Erbert and Gerberts

Family / Informal

  • Roscoe's Barbeque has two locations in Rochester: A stand at 603 4th St. SE which only offers outdoor seating and is closed during the cold months, (507)285-0501. And a restaurant at 4180 18th Ave. NW which is open year-round, (507)281-4622.[28] Tasty BBQ, award-winning ribs, and home-made root beer.
  • Famous Dave's
  • John Hardy's
  • Newt's Voted best burgers in Rochester. Also see Beetles Bar and Brother's
  • Green Mill
  • Chipotle Fresh burritos. [Two locations, one in Crossroads, one near Target.]
  • Buffet places: Golden Corral and Old Country Buffet.
  • The normal chains: Perkin's, Baker's Square, Denny's, Culver's. The Ranch is a non-chain similar to these.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings

Coffee / Cafes

  • Dunn Brothers Local Minneapolis-based chain. Also serves food. [2 Locations. One in the TJ Maxx Plaza and another on Elton hills drive.]
  • Caribou Several locations, including one in the Mayo Subway system.
  • Starbucks

Late Night. Rochester doesn't quite roll up the sidewalk at 9 PM, but it can feel that way at times. Below are some places that are open late, "late" here being defined at past 10 PM. [Hours may change.]

  • 24 hours: Denny's and Perkins (American), Rico Mex (Mexican). And don't forget Hy-Vee (grocery store) and Wal-mart, also open 24 hours.
  • Redwood Room: 11 PM weekdays, midnight weekends
  • Wendy's : 1 AM (drive-through only)
  • Greenmill
  • Baker's Square

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • King's Crossing Bar& Grill: 915 21st Ave SE, Phone (507) 289-1690
  • Sand Trap: 3342 19th St. NW, Phone (507)536-7768
  • Kathy's 300 South Broadway

[edit][add listing] Sleep

Due to the large number of visitors to the Mayo clinic, and their unique needs, there is a wide range of sleeping arrangements to fit almost any budget or need, from low-end to high-end, from short-term to long-term, from standard hotel rooms, to rooms with kitchenettes, to fully furnished apartments. While there are some hotels spread-out through-out the city, most of the hotels are grouped downtown (by the clinic), along SW second street (by Saint Mary's), and along South Broadway (where most of the cheaper, non-chain ones are located).

Below are only a sample of the available hotels. Most of the cheaper, non-chain hotels are not listed.

[edit] Mayo Clinic

Many of the downtown hotels are connected to the clinic, and to the rest of downtown, via a network of above-ground enclosed skyways and below-group passages (called subways). This is very useful in the winter!

  • Holiday Inn Express, 220 South Broadway, Phone: +1 507 252-8200, [29]. Note that the Holiday Inn Express is downtown and is fancier than the Holiday Inn. However, starting December 2006, they have been involved in a labor dispute after the new owners fired all the union workers and hired non-union ones. If this matters to you, avoid this place.
  • Kahler Grand Hotel, 20 SW Second Avenue Rochester, MN 55902, Phone: +1 507 280-6200, Fax: +1 507 285-2701, [30]
  • Kahler Inn & Suites, 9 Third Avenue Northwest, Rochester, MN 55901, Phone: +1 507 285-9200, Reservations: +1 800 533-1655, Fax: +1 507 282-4478, [31]
  • Marriott Rochester Mayo Clinic Area, 101 First Avenue SW, Phone: +1 507 280-6000, Fax: +1 507 280-8531, [32].
  • "'Oakwood Broadway Tower'", 15 1st Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904, Phone: "+1 507" 424-4200, Fax: "+1 507 424-4201, [33] High-end long-term stays. Currently also allowing shorter term stays, reviews have been very positive.
  • Radisson. Considered by most to be the best.

[edit] Downtown

  • Residence Inn by Marriott Rochester Mayo Clinic Area, 441 West Center St NW, +1 507 292-1400, Toll-free: +1 877 623-7775, Fax: Phone: +1 507 536-5020, [34].
  • Best Western Soldiers Field Tower and Suites, 401 6th Street SW, Phone: +1 507 288-2677, Toll-free: +1 800 366-2067, Fax: +1 507 282-2042, [35].

[edit] By Saint Mary's

  • Courtyard Rochester St. Mary, 161 13th Ave, Phone: +1 507 536-0040, Toll-free: +1 800 504-1035, Fax: +1 507 536-0050, [36].
  • SpringHill Suites Rochester Mayo Clinic Area/St. Mary's, 1125 2nd Street SW, Phone: +1 507 281-5455, Toll-free: +1 800 678-9894, Fax: +1 507 285-9641, [37].
  • Staybridge Suites, 1211 Second St. Sw, +1 507 289-6600, [38].

[edit] South Broadway

  • Holiday Inn, 1630 South Broadway, Phone: +1 507 288-1844, [39].
  • Hampton Inn, 1755 South Broadway, Phone: +1 507 287-9050, [40].

[edit] Other locations

  • Microtel Inn, 4210 Hwy 52 North, West Frontage Road, Phone: +1 507 286-8780 Cheap rates for Mayo patients. Free shuttles to Mayo,free long distance, free breakfast and free internet. [41]
  • Motel 6, 2107 West Frontage Road, Phone: +1 507 282-6625, Fax: +1 507 280-7987, [42].
  • Rochester Microtel Inn & Suites, 4210 Hwy 52 North, v+1 507 286-8780, Fax: +1 507 286-8885, [43].

[edit] Get out

  • Minneapolis / Saint Paul
  • Cute cities on the Mississippi River : Winona, Lake City, Red Wing
  • The National Eagle Center in Wabasha (also on the river) [44]. Recently (Spring 2007) renovated
  • Spam Museum [45] Yes, really. Hormel is headquarted in Austin, MN, about 45 drive from Rochester. For an experience you can't get anywhere else, give this one a try.
  • Forestville / Mystery Cave [46]
  • Niagara Cave [47]
  • Lanesboro [48] When there, check out the fish hatchery. Also near the Bluff Country.

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