Activities and Attractions in Lanesboro, Minnesota- Things to do on your vacation!
We have the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people here at Stone Mill Hotel & Suites! Guests arrive from all over to vacation in Lanesboro. Also known as the bed and breakfast capital of Minnesota, charming Lanesboro is a community that offers a diverse array of activities and attractions. One of the first things our first-time guests ask, is “What is there to do around here?” Well, where do we start? Here is a guide to help you get started when you come to visit…
Many people who choose to spend their time in Lanesboro have a love for the great outdoors. The Root River offers a destination where people can relax, explore, and enjoy some of their favorite outdoor activities! These outdoor adventures can include fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and even tubing on the river. The Little River General Store, Root River Outfitters, and River Rats Outfitters conveniently offer rentals for all your river sporting needs. Root River Rod Co can also supply some of your fishing needs as well.
Lanesboro offers an abundance of fun things to do outside! The Root River State Trail offers another opportunity for you to enjoy the outdoors. This bike path is considered the “King” of all the bikes trails of Minnesota! Leave your bicycles at home or bring them with, your choice! You can rent bikes in town or just take a stroll on an abandoned railroad bed. Lanesboro is nestled in the heart of bluff country and is centrally located on the Root River bike trail. Bike west to the communities of Fountain, Preston and Harmony. Traveling to the east of Lanesboro, you will visit the towns of Whalan, Peterson, Rushford and Houston.
If you enjoy the game of golf, you can catch a round right here in town at Lanesboro Golf Club. This wonderful 9-hole public course opened in 1929. It is located at the top of the hill, right off the main road. Just outside of Lanesboro, you will find the River Bend Golf Course at the Old Barn Resort. This 18-hole course has been voted bluff country’s best, and has an unrivaled beautiful natural setting! If you want to catch a round with the kids, head over to Gator Greens Mini Golf in Whalan- just 4 miles east of Lanesboro.
When visiting gorgeous bluff country, you may want to plan a stop at Avian Acres. Bird lovers of all ages are welcome! They are located just outside of Lanesboro on a historic Scandinavian farm. Experience the serenity of a rural setting while enjoying the antics of colorful songbirds feasting at busy feeders. In the renovated century old barn, you’ll discover a unique general store atmosphere filled with an awesome array of backyard birding products.
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center is located just outside of Lanesboro. Nestled amid the hardwood forests and river bluffs of southeastern Minnesota, Eagle Bluff offers hiking, birding, and geocaching. Challenge yourself atop their high ropes course, join them for a class or explore their 11 miles of trails in the great outdoors!
Aside from having an abundance of outdoor recreational activities, Lanesboro is a charming community alive with arts and history. The Lanesboro Historical Museum has a collection of artifacts and pictures that date back to the late 1800’s. Local artists and jewelers display their creations in shops and galleries here in town. There is no movie theater here, but we can offer a better place to catch a show…the theatre! Since 1989, Lanesboro has been home to the Commonweal Theatre Company, a professional ensemble dedicated to celebrating the human condition through actor-based storytelling. Guests of Stone Mill Suites receive discount theatre tickets at $10 off per person, what a deal! Also in town is the St. Mane Theatre which the Lanesboro Art Council re-opened in 1984. If you are fortunate enough to experience a show, both venues offer incredible performances from actors and artists from all over the country.
Take a tour! Experience a culture rich in history and landscape of natural beauty here in Amish country. You can enjoy the charm of Lanesboro with an Old Order Amish tour, visit a cold-water fish hatchery, or explore an amazing cave. Tours are a great educational way to spend time on your visit, and learn something new!
Bluffscape Amish Tours depart daily from Stone Mill Hotel & Suites at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., except Sunday. Step back in time while you visit farms, shops and interact with the Amish community. Amish Backroads Tour is also available to rent on CD, at the Stone Mill Gift Shop & Clothing. This pleasantly narrated and informative audio CD is a tour you can take at your own pace in your very own automobile.
Niagara Cave is rated one of the top caves in the United States! It has also been voted “Best Family Destination.” Located in Harmony, you will find an underground waterfall, fossils and more. Take a mystery cave tour at Forestville Mystery Cave Park. Explore the world of Mystery Cave with its stalactites, stalagmites, and underground pools. Park naturalists provide tours of the cave throughout the summer and on weekends in the spring and fall. For all of you fish enthusiasts, the State Fish Hatchery is open all year round! It is one of five Minnesota DNR cold-water trout hatcheries and gates open Monday through Friday, 7am- 3:30 p.m.
Lanesboro is popularly recognized as the bed and breakfast capitol of Minnesota! Located in the heart of bluff country, we are a small community that has much to offer with comfortable and friendly lodging. With fantastic shopping, galleries and wonderful places to dine, it is no wonder that tiny Lanesboro pulls in tourists from all over the world. In fact, Lanesboro was voted one of USA Today’s top 10 Best Midwestern Small Towns in 2017! Explore the streets of our quaint historic town and grab a bite to eat. Not sure where to dine? Check out our updated blog on where to eat in Lanesboro! We look forward to your visit!
