As winter settles into Rochester, it gets a bit harder to stay outside and have fun for any length of time. The temperature drops, snow starts falling, and suddenly, the cozy, warm indoors seem much more appealing. Activities like long hikes, fishing trips, and outdoor dining are put on hold.
But being indoors a lot can start to get boring if you don’t plan out what you want to do. To give you some ideas of how to entertain yourself during this cold Minnesota winter, we came up with a list of seven ways to have fun indoors in Rochester.
See a Play at Rochester Civic Theatre
Spend a classy night out on the town with a visit to the Rochester Civic Theatre. This Rochester institution hosts notable musicals and plays throughout the year featuring local talent. During winter, it also features holiday-themed productions like “The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol.”
Buy tickets in advance, or if you’re a theater buff and know you’ll be visiting multiple times, you should get the relatively affordable season tickets.
Tour the Mayowood Historic Home
Use the cold weather as an excuse to tour the majestic Mayowood Historic Home and explore the halls of this palatial home. The house sits on what was originally a 3,300-acre estate outside Rochester. As you might guess by the name, Dr. Charles H. Mayo, founder of the now-world-famous Mayo Clinic, established the home and estate.
The historic home itself was completed in 1911 and includes 38 rooms. It was eventually added to the National Register of Historic Places to aid in its preservation. The local history center runs tours throughout the home to give visitors context for Mayowood’s history and founding.
Check the Mayowood Historic Home website for more information, as tour dates and times may vary. Public tours last approximately one hour. If you want to book a specific group tour, you should call ahead.
Shop at Apache Mall
Winter is the perfect season to get all your shopping done. Whether you’ve been putting off refreshing your wardrobe, getting some new beauty products, or buying some well-deserved treats for yourself, Apache Mall provides a one-stop shop, so you can take care of all these tasks in one warm, indoor destination.
From sports shops to cosmetics stores and budget-friendly retailers to upscale boutiques, as well as jewelry stores, lingerie stores, and salons, Apache Mall has everything you could ever need. After a tiring day of shopping, you can swing by one of the many dining establishments in the mall, choosing between casual chain restaurants or more upscale fare, and recharge with a nice meal before heading home.
Stay Fit at Roca Climbing & Fitness
Being indoors all the time can make staying fit and keeping up with an exercise routine more of a challenge. However, there are still many fun ways you can stay active and keep in shape while avoiding venturing out into a Minnesota winter. Head over to Roca Climbing & Fitness to discover how.
This spot is the area’s only indoor climbing gym. No worries if you don’t know how to climb or have never tried it; the gym offers classes for beginners and newcomers. If climbing is not for you, you can take advantage of the gym’s many yoga classes to stay flexible and centered.
Practice Self-Care at Healing Touch Spa
Winter can do a number on your skin, hair, and muscles, while also making you feel a little down. Give yourself a confidence, beauty, and health boost by visiting the Healing Touch Spa. You can even book a full-day “spa-cation” to get a whole course of treatments, or book the Friend’s Playdate package to enjoy your spa day with company.
Choose from a variety of treatments, including body wraps, massages, stress release, scrubs, facials, and waxes. The spa also offers specialized touches, such as aromatherapy and hot stone therapy, for clients who are interested in more alternative treatments.
The spa is located at the Hilton Hotel Rochester, and it provides the perfect warm, healing getaway from the cold winter days.
Plan a Game Day at Bowlocity Entertainment Center
Have a fun night with friends or family (or both) at the Bowlocity Entertainment Center. See who can get the most strikes in this massive 34,000-foot space featuring 24 lanes. If bowling isn’t your thing, the center offers many more options to choose from.
Check out the huge arcade with a total of 45 games that include a VR game and a laser maze called Lazer Frenzy. You could also bring the kids, who will absolutely fall in love with the multi-level laser tag arena and will easily spend hours playing there. Meanwhile, the parents can grab a drink and a snack at the sports bar.
If you want to spend a whole fun day indoors, this massive games and entertainment complex in Rochester, Minnesota, is a great choice.
Join the Fun at Unraveled Escape Rooms
Escape rooms have become all the rage over the last few years, and Unraveled Escape Rooms capitalized on this trend to create some of the best rooms in the state. The goal is for a group of people locked in a room to use hints and clues to figure out how to escape.
Gather a group of friends and do something different by solving the puzzles at Unraveled. It has three themed rooms: Escape From Alcatraz, Spirits of the Asylum, and CSI: Rochester. Each room in Unraveled Escape Rooms can accommodate groups of between four and 10 people. All bookings must be made in advance, so reserve your spot ahead of time. We want to make sure our customers make the most of their time indoors during our charming yet cold Rochester winters. Do you have a great idea for ways to have fun indoors in Rochester that we missed? If so, contact us at Tom Kadlec Kia to let us know, as we would love to include it in next year’s list.
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