Sometimes the hustle and bustle of the city can get to be a lot. It’s during these times that the open road can be all you need to put your mind at rest. Pack the car, load up the kids, and set out on an adventure. The Minne-Roadtrip is the perfect experience you and your family needs to enjoy the beautiful scenery of southern Minnesota and learn about its rich history.
What is the Minne-Roadtrip?
The Minne-Roadtrip is a partnership between the towns of Northfield, Owatonna, and Faribault. Together they’ve created a weekend road trip that highlights each town’s unique history, activities, and landmarks. Nort Johnson, the director of Community Marketing for Faribault says that the collaboration between the three towns is a great example of communities coming together for the benefit of the entire region.
“Each organization is contributing to the efforts and funding without stipulation of individual exposure. Travelers don’t really care much about city or county borders. They want a great experience and are happy to make short drives to fill a weekend. Combined we have that.”
Keep reading for a few must-do activities in each town on the Minne-Roadtrip. You can visit minneroadtrip.com to further explore all the fun you can have over your weekend.
Visit Faribault
Make your first stop on the Minne-Roadtrip Faribault. As one of the most historic communities in Minnesota, you can easily spend the entire day visiting some of the state’s oldest institutions. Settled along the banks of the straight and Cannon Rivers, these two rivers played a vital role in the city’s early development. Today you can learn why people call Faribault, MN the “Athens of the West.”
Faribault Woolen Mill Co.
Here, fifth generation craftspeople take raw wool and create blankets, throws, scarves, and accessories of remarkable quality. The Faribault Woolen Mill endures as one of the last vertical woolen mills in America.
The Caves of Faribault
Next on your adventure, visit the Caves of Faribault. The caves are famous for producing America’s first Cave-aged blue cheese. In 1854 a German immigrant named Gottfried Fleckenstein began using the natural sandstone caves along the Straight River for brewing and storing beer. Today, the caves produce award winning cheese.
Visit Northfield
Located along the shores of the Cannon River and just south of Minneapolis, Northfield Minnesota is just a short drive away from Faribault. Whether you enjoy the arts, history, nature, or shopping, you’ll find multiple outlets for your curiosities.
Two New Breweries
Make a little time to relax on your road trip with a glass of beer. Northfield has two new local breweries. Tanzenwald Brewing Co. has a rustic taproom and features live music and a delicious menu. Imminent Brewing boasts a large outdoor patio and uses local ingredients.
Cowling Arboretum
Open year-round, the Cowling Arboretum is located at Carleton College. It’s the ideal place to run, ski, fish, or step out of your car for an afternoon hike. The 15-mile trail system has been raked by Runner’s Magazine as the top place to run in Minnesota.
Visit Owatonna
Round out your weekend roadtrip with a visit to Owatonna, MN. The region where Owatonna is located was historically used by Native Americans as a hunting area. Today you can enjoy everything from entertainment to museums on your next visit.
Historic Downtown
Take a stroll through the historic downtown district of Owatonna. Enjoy specialty shops, salons, jewelry, and clothing boutiques. The Walking Tour Guide Brochure takes you through some of the town’s historic landmarks.
Little Theatre of Owatonna
Treat yourself with a show at the Little Theatre of Owatonna on your Minne-Roadtrip. This historic theatre recently celebrated fifty years of producing plays in the town and bringing culture and entertainment to the community.
Plan Your Minne-Roadtrip
With all the things to do in these three communities, you’ll need more than one weekend to experience them all. No matter where you start, the Minne-Roadtrip was created to help people experience the beauty and history that the town in southern Minnesota have to offer. Start making your plans for your next adventure.
