Tips on What To Do while at Mayo Clinic Rochester

@savinggrace16 Hi! I’m so happy to see you received your referral to Mayo Clinic!! That didn’t take too long at all! Congratulations!!

Ok, how long will you be in Rochester? Are you in a hotel downtown? Some of the hotels have great restaurants attached. Or if you’re west of the Clinic, Canadian Honker is a fun restaurant...try the coconut cake!!

Rochester has a wonderful subway/skyway system linking most of the clinic to the downtown area and surrounding hotels, businesses.
There are a ton of restaurants, coffee bistros, stores and little shops attached to and inside the subway at the Clinic or surrounding it from the outside. Victoria’s Italian Restaurant, Cameo at the Castle, Pasquale’s Pizza, Chester’s...are some favorites.
From the Gonda building...pretty much in the center of the Mayo campus, (I’m sure that’s on your schedule somewhere) you can take the walkway to the University Square shopping mall where there are a plethora of little restaurants in the food service court, or take the escalator up and go to the University Square Mall.

If the weather is nice, just go outside. You won’t get lost! The campus is front and center to the heart of Rochester. And all the buildings are linked together. There are gorgeous grounds around the campus to walk around with blossoming spring flowers. Little shops line the streets perpendicular to the clinic. The Peace park is getting a re-do so I’m not sure it’s open yet but you’ll find a ton of places to explore along the tree lined streets.

Branching out a little, you’ll find pretty parks with fountains, or old churches with glorious flower gardens.

Do you need any information regarding your appointments? Where to go? You’ll find the clinic is marked clearly with signage and no shortage of volunteers with blue jackets to answer any questions or give directions. It’s truly a place of hope!! I know you’ll feel it when you walk the grand foyers and feel the strength behind the Mayo name!

Best wishes to you this week on your testing! Hopefully you’ll find the answers you need. Lori

@loribmt thanks so much for the response! So far, I'm only scheduled for two days in Rochester, but I am sure I will know more about what my schedule looks like after my evaluation with the cardiologist tomorrow. I'm so nervous, but am glad to be at a place that will give me the best chance at figuring out what is going on! I'll pop back on this thread to let you know how it goes!

Good luck tomorrow!! Honestly, you can NOT be in a better place! You’ll be much more at ease once you meet your doctor and the staff. The doctors at Mayo are all so approachable and you never feel rushed through an appointment.
If you end up with more appointments you’ll be amazed with the speed and efficiency of the clinic in making the arrangements. They’re truly the Gold Standard for health care.

Is your first appointment at the lab by any chance? If so, go 1/2 hour early to be on the safe side as it’s a popular place. 😉

SavingGrace, You may be interested in these related discussions as you plan your visit.
- Tips for your first Mayo Clinic visit and tests/appt schedules: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-for-first-dr-visit-and-testsappt-schedules/
- Food while at Mayo Clinic https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/food-while-at-mayo-clinic-rochester/
- Lodging in Rochester when visiting Mayo Clinic MN https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/lodging/
- Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/your-tips-on-how-to-get-off-to-the-best-start-with-a-new-specialist/
- Tips for your first Mayo Clinic visit and tests/appt schedules https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-for-first-dr-visit-and-testsappt-schedules/

I think you may have had your first appointment today. Please share your tips for others who are preparing to go to Mayo Clinic. What do you wish you had known? What are you glad you did to prepare?

@savinggrace16 I am to hear you are set with all your appointments. Rochester has a diverse selection of cuisines. Stop by the Concierge desk in the Lobby level of the Mayo building while you are here and our team will be happy to give you a list of all the restaurants in the area. In the meantime, download this app; https://www.experiencerochestermn.com/planning-tools/rochester-app/
It's a great tool for exploring Rochester.

Our very favorite place to eat while at Mayo was the Canadian Honker, right across the street from the St. Mary’s campus. If you are on a special diet, they are extremely accommodating!

If you walking around the Mayo Clinic downtown area between 4:45 - 5:15, you will be able to hear the sound of the carillon. The Carillon is located in the tower on the Plummer Building. It is a real unique experience to be in the Mayo Clinic Annenberg Plaza during this nightly 'concert'.
The schedule changes, so if interested, be sure to check on the time. You can actually hear it anywhere downtown.

Yes! Canadian Honker was great! Highly recommend! Very friendly also!

I had an apppointment(s) in Rochester recently, and here's what I did to pass the time in between them, I enjoyed myself:

Bought a pair of comfortable shoes
Enjoyed a Dairy Queen treat
Had a big burger at Newt's
Sat in the park outside the Mayo building (it's summer!)
Enjoyed an ice tea from the Grand Kahler's Starbucks

Good morning......thanks for your list. I just want to add one item.....the Art Tour. We were there for 30 days a couple of years ago. We decided to visit every floor in the Gonda Building and become acquainted with the art and artists who created it. With 19 floors it took some time. We also sat in chairs on the floor that lets you view the peregrine falcons and their activities.

On Wednesday evenings at about 6 pm, there is a meditation group led by one of the pulmonary surgeons. You don't need any prior experience. I think it is on the floor overlooking the Chihuly sculptures right in the corner.
Enjoy,
Chris