MISSISSIPPI RIVER BLUFF COUNTRY

The southeastern corner of the state, bordered by the mighty Mississippi to the east, has some of the loveliest terrain in Minnesota: river valleys, rolling hills, woods, and wildflowers in season, and one charming small town after the other, including some of the oldest towns in the state, most with many intact historic buildings and landmarks. Unlike more northern reaches, which were leveled and redesigned during the last ice age, the bluff country mostly escaped the glacial ravages and kept instead a variable terrain that includes 500-foot limestone bluffs and deep valleys. The climate here is slightly different, too, warmer and with more rainfall, leading to vegetation not seen elsewhere in the state, including black walnut trees. The region is also home to Minnesota’s only poisonous snakes, the timber rattlesnake and the massasauga, which reside mostly in the bluffs themselves or in the swampy areas close to the river. But these snakes are as timid of humans as we are of them and are slow to strike.

Bike trails abound, many of which are paved and can be used for cross-country skiing in the winter months. As you travel westward from the river, clusters of tight-knit Amish communities stand in contrast to the sophistication of cities like Rochester and the tasteful attraction of SPAM in Austin.

GUIDANCE Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce (651-437-6775; hastingsmn.org), 314 Vermillion Street, Hastings.

Red Wing Convention and Visitor Bureau (651-385-5934; redwing.org), 420 Levee Street, Red Wing.

Wabasha/Kellogg Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor Bureau (651-565-4158 or 1-800-565-4158; wabashamn.org), 122 Main Street W., Wabasha.

Visit Winona (507-452-2278; visitwinona.com), 924 Huff Street, Winona. Offers extensive lodging and activity information for the Winona area.

Rochester Convention and Visitor Bureau (507-288-4331; experiencerochestermn.org), 30 Civic Center Drive SE, Suite 200, Rochester.

Northfield Convention and Visitor Bureau (1-800-658-2548; visitingnorthfield.com), 19 Bridge Square, Northfield.

Lanesboro Chamber of Commerce (507-467-2696; lanesboro.com), 100 Milwaukee Road, Lanesboro.

GETTING THERE By air: Regional commercial airlines, primarily Delta Air Lines and its SkyWest subsidiary, serve the city of Rochester. Taxis and rental cars are available from Rochester International Airport (507-282-2328; flyrst.com), at 7600 Helgerson Drive SW in Rochester.

By car: US 52 leads south from the Twin Cities into Rochester and connects south of Rochester with I-90, which heads west to Austin or east to Wisconsin. Visitors to Northfield can use MN 19 from US 52. To visit the towns closest to the Mississippi River area, US 61 travels south along the river until it merges with I-90.

By rail: AMTRAK (1-800-872-7245; amtrak.com) has stops in Red Wing and Winona, crossing through from either Minneapolis–St. Paul or Chicago. Local stations include the Red Wing Station, 420 Levee Street, Red Wing, and the Winona Station, 65 E. Mark Street, Winona.

GETTING AROUND Having a vehicle is a necessity when traveling around the Mississippi River bluffs region.

WHEN TO COME The summer months are the most popular time to visit the river bluffs area, although fall foliage continues to draw larger numbers as well. Rochester benefits from the Mayo Clinic’s presence to bring in people year-round.

MEDICAL EMERGENCY Call 911.

Regina Medical Center (651-404-1000; allinahealth.org/regina-hospital), 1175 Nininger Road, Hastings.

Mayo Clinic Red Wing (651-267-5000; mayoclinichealthsystem.org), 701 Hewitt Boulevard, Red Wing.

St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center (651-565-4531; healthcare.ascension.org), 1200 5th Grant Boulevard W., Wabasha.

Winona Health (507-454-3650; winonahealth.org), 855 Mankato Avenue, Winona.

Northfield Hospital (507-646-1000; northfieldhospital.org), 2000 North Avenue, Northfield.

THE SCANDINAVIAN INN

Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus (507-266-7067; mayoclinic.org), 201 W. Center Street, Rochester.

Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Mary’s Campus (507-255-5123; mayoclinic.org), 1216 2nd Street SW, Rochester. The second of two Mayo Clinic hospitals.