Sculpture of a woman with long hair in front of blue skies and behind a bush of yellow flowers.
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Art Trails & River Tales

Art Trails & River Tales

$65.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

One trip is required per group.

* "PDF Instant Download" means the trip will be sent by email as a PDF document, and not by mail (the email is sent immediately after completing your purchase)

WHAT TO EXPECT

With riverside bluffs, artistic oddities, and charming small towns, this photo-friendly adventure through southeastern Minnesota is packed with stories waiting to be discovered.

Trip Highlights

  • Quirky roadside sculpture parks
  • Hidden geological wonders
  • Bluff trails with amazing views
  • Riverside ruins & trails

AVAILABLE TO DEPART

Days of the week: Tuesday through Sunday

Seasons: Any time of year

Not recommended: Mondays, Holidays

PLEASE NOTE

Note that some trails may not be maintained or plowed during heavy snowfall.

Forested mountain overlooking blue lakes.
Quirky colorful sculpture in a forest.
Wide waterfall with green trees above and rocks below.
Colourful flights of beer on a wooden table at a brewery.
Two people saying cheers with their iced coffees.

Itinerary

STOP 1

Start your day with sweeping river views and a quirky roadside stop that’s part art gallery, part photo op. The drive time to the second stop is 10 minutes.

STOP 2

Find your next favorite coffee with a flight of four, then set out on a scenic walk past a stunning waterfall and the quiet remains of a once-bustling mill. The drive time to the third stop is 15 minutes.

STOP 3

Choose your own adventure: discover a hidden geological marvel deep in the woods or wander through an outdoor art display that defies expectations. The drive time to the fourth stop is 20 minutes.

STOP 4

This riverside town has all the charm and just the right amount of spooky. And if you're not ready to call it a day, you can carry on across state lines.

Region

Art_Trails_River_Tales.png

Can depart from

Minneapolis, MN Area, St. Paul, MN Area, Rochester, MN Area

Before you go

What You'll Need to Bring

  • Camera
  • Cash
  • Water
  • Road Trip Snacks
  • Walking Shoes
  • "Love lock" (optional)
  • Frisbees for disc golf (optional)

Additional Details

  • Kid-Friendly
  • Dog-Friendly

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We're here to help!

Please see the approximate round-trip driving distances for Minnesota below. Please note this just includes driving distances and not time spent at stops.

From St. Paul, MN:

2 hours and 5 minutes / 99 miles

From Minneapolis, MN:

2 hours and 25 minutes / 117 miles

From Rochester, MN:

2 hours and 45 minutes / 143 miles

*We recommend booking an overnight hotel if the driving distance is greater than 4 hours round-trip.

This itinerary is best done from Tuesday - Sunday anytime throughout the year.

We do not recommend traveling on Mondays or holidays. Note that some trails may not be maintained or plowed during heavy snowfall.

We recommend departing between 9:00 - 9:30 am if you’re coming from Minneapolis/St. Paul. The later you leave, the less time you’ll have to explore all of the stops.

This trip is somewhat pet-friendly! At each stop, there is an outdoor option that allows dogs, but please note that most of our eatery and shop options only allow dogs on outdoor patios.

We recommend bringing 2 - 5 people on your surprise road trip adventure.

First Stop: No fee

Second Stop: No fee

Third Stop: No fee

Fourth Stop: No fee

*Please note: gas, tolls, and food may be additional costs at your own expense.

After booking your trip, we'll send you a confirmation email with a few recommended accommodation options.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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Denise S
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
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Fun Day of Surprises!

My husband was a skeptic "This is a crazy idea!" but by the end of the day he agreed this was a really fun experience. I don't want to give any details away, but we were sent to some really fun and amazing places that we never would have gone to on our own. The packaging of our trip details was super cute. A sturdy folder contained the envelopes that you opened to find out where to go next that were tied up in a bow. The first envelope gives you helpful advice before you go including how much time you should allocate for the day and at each stop. There's also a card to scan in case there were any last minute changes to the itinerary. Also, on our trip, all the stops were free which makes for a fun and economical day. All in all, I highly recommend doing on of these "mystery" day trips!

This is so great to hear, thank you for your review! :) We're so happy you enjoyed your day of exploring; this is such a fun and unique road trip!

A
Anonymous
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
Rate how active the trip was:
Not very active
Very active
Rate how accessible the trip was:
Not very accessible
Very accessible
Rate how 'unique' the stops were:
Not really
Yes, very unique!
So scenic and quirky!

I really enjoyed the scenic drives and fun outdoor art on this trip! It was an easy adventure from the city although I would have loved to spend more time at the final stop. Definitely would do an overnight next time!

Yay we're so glad to hear this! Thank you for leaving a review!

N
Nicole
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
Rate how active the trip was:
Not very active
Very active
Rate how accessible the trip was:
Not very accessible
Very accessible
Rate how 'unique' the stops were:
Not really
Yes, very unique!
The best day

Took my two kids (9 and 6) on this adventure and we had the best time. They took turns opening the envelopes and the excitement alone was enough for me to recommend this ten times over. The stops were fun and the food options were great. Highly recommend

We love to hear this! So glad you and your kids had a great day out exploring :) Thank you for your review!

B
Brandy D.
Overall, how would you rate this trip?:
I would not recommend this trip
Excellent! I would definitely recommend this trip
Rate how active the trip was:
Not very active
Very active
Rate how accessible the trip was:
Not very accessible
Very accessible
Rate how 'unique' the stops were:
Not really
Yes, very unique!
Splendid Saturday

The mix of trails and art was such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday with the family. Everyone had a great time and it was the perfect mini adventure to explore new parts of the state … but only an hour away from home!

We're so happy you enjoyed your road trip with your family! :) Thank you for leaving a review!