We’re celebrating National Travel & Tourism Week May 4th – 10th by highlighting some fun things to do in Rochester during the best time of year for a visit—summer!
If you’re coming to town in June, July or August, here’s what to expect:
Forecast:
- Summer is the sunniest time of year, with clear to partly cloudy skies around 63% of the time.
- Average high temps range from the upper 70s to around 80.
- Around four inches of rain per month.
Things to Do
1. Enjoy an outdoor event
Rochester hosts many special events in June, July, and August to keep you busy. Check out Thursdays Downtown, a summer market and music festival. Also, don’t miss our city’s free Sunday night Riverside Music Series concerts for five weeks in July and August.
2. Take to the water
Summer recreation in Minnesota revolves around water, whether we’re gliding over it, splashing in it, or casting a fishing pole into it. For a quintessential on-the-water experience with your family or friends, enjoy a paddleboat ride around Silver Lake, or journey down the Zumbro River in a canoe or kayak. If swimming is more your style, take a dip at Foster Arend Park‘s lake, and then soak up the summer sun on the sandy beach.
3. Enjoy our woods and wildlife
Rochester’s natural beauty and tranquility are on full display at Quarry Hill Nature Center, where you can hike more than eight miles of trails, borrow binoculars in the Nature Center and go bird-watching, or amble around a pond that’s home to ducks, muskrats, turtles, and frogs. Kids under 15 can also bring a simple fishing rod and fish in the pond without a license. Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo, located 13 miles west of downtown Rochester, is another popular destination for hiking, picnicking, and observing more than 30 species of wild animals native to Minnesota, including otters, bears, and wolves.
4. Dine on a patio
Treat yourself and your crew to dinner or a cocktail on one of Rochester’s stylish outdoor patios. Don’t miss the Tap House, which is located on Historic Third Street and is known for its 50 beers on tap as well as its rooftop seating with a large fireplace and heaters for chilly evenings.
5. Take your fun indoors
When you need a break from the sun (or it’s a rainy day), there’s plenty to keep you busy indoors, too. Check out the newest installation at the Rochester Art Center. If you’re traveling with kids, experience some hands-on fun at the Minnesota Children’s Museum Rochester or jump around at Air Insanity trampoline park.
Thanks for visiting Rochester, Minnesota! Check out experiencerochestermn.com for more ideas. You can find a daily calendar of things to do here.
All photo credits to Experience Rochester MN.
