Attending Feel the Beat? Things You’ll Want to Know

First thing to note is that Rochester, Minnesota, is not Rochester, New York. Yes, they both experience cold winters and plenty of snowfall, and both cities are located near a lake (Lake Ontario is just a wee bit larger than Silver Lake in Minnesota!), but only Rochester, Minnesota, has Mayo Clinic. Don’t let the same name get in the way of your travel plans!                                                   Picture courtesy of townmapsusa.com

Weather November in Rochester will be chilly, so don’t forget to bring your winter jacket! It doesn’t normally snow in early November, but temperatures can be around 30 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Be prepared for any type of weather!

Where to stay Rochester has a range of accommodations to choose from. For those guests who don’t have a car, staying downtown is recommended. However, many hotels located outside of the downtown area also provide bus service to the Mayo Clinic. Here’s a list of accommodations in the area.

The Mayo Clinic subway is not actually a subway

Contrary to popular belief, the subway in Rochester is not actually for trains. Instead, the underground pedestrian subway connects patients, employees and guests to different Mayo Clinic buildings throughout the downtown area. This is a must for the cold Minnesota winters! The walkways are clearly marked and make it easy to get place to place without ever having to step outside. Scattered throughout the subway are a variety of shops, restaurants, and even clothing stores.   You can also use the skyway that connects to other buildings in the downtown core.

Parking There are a few parking options around Mayo Clinic. Metered street parking is always an option, but be sure to carry change to feed the meters. Meters also have time limits, so check them carefully. There are also many parking garages located throughout Rochester. For more information, visit here.

Things to See and Do Take a tour of Mayo Clinic. Tours are available Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. for patients and visitors. In addition to the regular tours, Mayo also offers an art tour daily at 1:30 p.m. Over the years, Mayo has been the recipient of many spectacular pieces of art, and you won’t want to miss seeing these pieces.   Check out the old theater that was turned into a Barnes and Noble bookshop located in Peace Plaza on First Avenue, just north of Second Street Southwest. The second floor is a great spot to grab a cup of coffee while you browse your favorite titles. It is absolutely worth a peek!

Picture courtesy of BN.com

Stop by for a tour of Mayowood Mansion, the historic home designed and built by Dr. Charles Mayo, one of Mayo Clinic’s founders. Christmas tours of the mansion decorated for the holidays begin Nov. 7. The Rochester Trolley and Tour Company also offer scenic tours of Rochester’s historical and popular sites.

Explore the Mall of America, one of the largest shopping malls in the U.S. The mall is located only one hour away from Rochester and is home to over 500 stores. It even has its own theme park and aquarium.

Take a stroll down Rochester’s Historic Third Street Southwest, between Broadway and First Avenue; visit the Rochester Art Center, which is also located downtown, just south of the Mayo Civic Center; or get in the spirit of winter by taking in a Rochester Ice Hawks junior hockey league game. Don’t forget to check out a few of the local restaurants.   No matter how you’re looking to spend your free time, Rochester has something to offer. See you in November!

The Todd and Karen Wanek Family Program for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a collaborative network of specialists bonded by the vision of delaying or preventing heart failure for individuals affected by congenital heart defects including HLHS. The specialized team is addressing the various aspects of these defects by using research and clinical strategies ranging from basic science, to diagnostic imaging to regenerative therapies.