The Root River’s 80 miles offer excellent canoeing, and the paved Root River Trail is one of Minnesota’s most popular biking spots. With 42 mostly easy miles along an abandoned railway line, the trail runs from Fountain to Houston, passing through the lovely river town of Lanesboro. It's home to the Commonweal Theatre, art galleries, antique shops and charming B&Bs. Grab a bite at Pedal Pushers Café, Clara’s Eatery or Juniper’s Restaurant, a locally brewed beer at Sylvan, and a scoop at Another Time Ice Cream Parlor. 

The Root River Trail connects with the 18-mile Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail. Bikers are known to stop at the Aroma Pie Shoppe in Whalan for a sweet treat. The trails wind through the heart of southeast Minnesota’s Amish community, so horse-drawn buggies are common sights on local roads. Harmony and Lanesboro are home to several shops selling Amish crafts and baked goods, and farmstead tours offer a glimpse into this distinct, peaceful culture. 

Harmony is also home to Niagara Cave, which has a 60-foot waterfall, stalactites, stalagmites, and various fossils. Its guided tours are both wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly. They're offered daily throughout the summer and on weekends in spring and fall. 

Every winter, there is great cross-country skiing in most of the region's state parks and along the Root River and Harmony-Preston Valley trails. The hardwood bluffs also show some of the state's most dramatic fall colors.   

In nearby Preston, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park offers tours of Minnesota's longest cave. It's accessed via underground paths and chambers with stalactites, stalagmites and iridescent underground pools. Above ground, tours of Historic Forestville, a restored 1800s village complete with costumed interpreters, are also available.  

Trout fishing is popular here; Outdoor Life Magazine named the area one of the top 10 trout waters in the Midwest. The crystalline waters of Beaver Creek Valley State Park, near Caledonia, are home to brown and native brook trout swimming between hardwood-covered bluffs that rise as much as 250 feet above the creek. To the north are Whitewater and Carley state parks, on different forks of the Whitewater River near Altura. 

Lake City is located on the shores of Lake Pepin, the widest spot of the Mississippi River. Surrounded by bluffs, parks, and a historic downtown, it's one of the best birding locations in the state — the "warbler capital" due to its prime location on the Mississippi River Flyway — and the birthplace of water skiing. 

There are many ways to get out on the water in Lake City. At the popular marina, you can charter a sailboat; rent a boat, kayak, or paddleboard; or take a 90-minute cruise on the Pearl of the Lake paddleboat. 

Find burgers at Old Bank Bar and Grill or authentic Mexican fare at Fiesta Jalisco, which features recipes from the owner’s great-grandmother. Reserve a spot for a multi-course high tea experience in the garden at Chickadee Cottage Café, dine by the water at Kelly’s Lake House, grab a pizza at Big Bear Pizzeria and Deli, or pack a picnic from Marien’s Deli for the beach.  

At nearby Frontenac State Park, enjoy views of Lake Pepin as you hike along the wooded slopes. The park has an all-terrain, electric-powered wheelchair that can be used on designated trails. These chairs can help visitors explore areas of the state parks in new ways, often on trails unsuitable for regular wheelchairs.