Next week we'll be traveling from Chicago to Minneapolis. We'll be staying two nights at the Millennium downtown. We have one more night to plan, and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas of anywhere we could stop and visit on our way back to Chicago? I have preliminarily booked a room in Rochester, but not sure how much there is to do in that area.

Finally, I've been to Minneapolis a few times but haven't spent much time downtown. Any restaurant recommendations for our two nights there? Any recommendations on things to do in the area?

Thank you!

Stillwater's always worth a stop. The river, bookstores, restaurants--what's not to like? Seriously, great ambiance....

Nothing at all to do in Rochester (Home of the Mayo Clinic) or in that area. Try a stop at the Wisconsin Dells on the way back.

HI-What type of restaurants are you interested in? Budget? Do you need to be able to walk? Stillwater is a great suggestion for a place to stop--particularly if you like antiques.

My vote would go to Madison, particularly if you want somewhere on the way back to Chicago to stop. I've been to Minneapolis many, many times--sister lives there, daughter went to school in Northfield, MN--from Chicago. The Dells are pretty tacky, though they can be fun. Also usually crowded in summer, and I think overpriced for what you get. Stillwater is nice, but really in the Minneapolis metro area. Madison is about 4-5 hours back towards Chicago (or about 2.5 FROM Chicago), has great shopping, nice B&Bs (or try the well-regarded Edgewater Hotel, on Lake Mendota), a world-class farmer's market in the summer, and lots of nice restaurants.

I second the Madison idea. It is a great small city with good strolling on State Street and ethnic eats. It is also a good 1/2 way stop.
In Minneapolis;
outdoor dining:
Brit's Pub or the Zinc Bar on Nicollet Mall
Black Forest Inn on (25th & Nicollet??)
Uptown: Chino Latino; young, noisy, spicy food, tendy, fun!
More Upscale:
french fare at Vincent's
steak at Manny's
20.21 restaurant by Wolfgang Puck at the Walker Art Center
(I had an excellent meal there last summer) and you could stroll the Walker and outdoor sculpture garden before or after your meal
Enjoy Mpls!!

Rochester is very close to Minneapolis, and not really on the way to Chicago. If you want to stay in the Minneapolis area, Stillwater is nice. there are also the wisconsin Dells about halfway. They are corny, but the scenery is neat and if there are children involved they will love it.

My husband loves Peter's Grill. It is like a small diner; they have nightly dinner specials that he says are great.

If you are interested in a scenic route towards Madison from Minneapolis, & bypassing the heavy Wisc dells traffic on I-90/94. You can take Hwy 61, along the Mississippi, in MN from Red Wing down to Winona, & there are Eagle watching spots along the way. Then catch I-90 south of Winona & head over to LaCrosse, WI. Then catch Hwy 35 going south out of LaCrosse along the Mississippi on the Wisc side. Bluffs & river towns along that route. Then at Prarie Du Chien catch hwy 18/151 going East to Madison. On that road, you will pass Blue Mounds & you can stop & see Cave of the Mounds if interested.

Ah yes. I second Chino Latino in Uptown Mpls. My favorite! We also like Kinkaids and the St Paul Grill.
We live in Madison but our 3 kids went to school in St Paul. Madison would be a great stop over. Horrible road construction between Menominee and Eau Claire or there abouts. Took son #3 over an hour to get through it this wknd. Madison would be a great stopover. It is 4.5 hrs from mpls. and another 2.5 -3 to OHare
There is lots to do here. don't bother with Rochester. I like the other poster's suggestion of driving down along the river too, but that takes quite awhile. Stillwater is great fun. But I don't know if it's worth an overnite and a whole day. lots of antique shops and a few interesting little shops. Tons of B&B's. There is a fabulous little restaurant we ate lunch at, I don't remember the name. Very small and limited menu that was featured on Food network TV. I think they might specialize in catering. Someone might know the name. They usually have a few pasta dishes and other interesting things. might seat 20 people... great place to go. I have lots of advice on Madison if you want suggestions.

Oh! The I-94 construction!!
We have a cabin in Menomonie and I took an earlier exit this weekend...my DH spent 1 1/2 hours crawling along the interstate. Exit in Menomonie, go south on Hwy. 25 and go right on Old Hwy. 12 heading west. In Knapp take a left on "Q" and you will pop back out on 94. If coming from the west take the Knapp "Q" exit, head north (left) on "Q" into Knapp, take a right on Hwy. 12 into Menomonie and a left on Hwy. 25 in Menomonie will get you back on the interstate past the construction. Good luck!!

I have changed our reservation from Rochester to Madison. I don't know why I didn't think of this since we do like to visit state capitol buildings...

Thanks to AuntAnnie for the hints about avoiding traffic. I'll make sure to print that out.

k, would love suggestions on Madison (although perhaps this should move to the WI forum??)

With regard to Minneapolis, a friend of mine has recommended Jensen's Supper Club in Eagan. Does anyone second that recommendation?

Thanks!

We love our many trips to Minneapolis and the reccomendations from everyone are good. We also like Madison. Uou can't go wrong with both cities. I haven't been to Jensen's in ages but we did like it when we went there several years ago - don't know how it is now. We also enjoy brunch at the Nicollet Island Inn. Mpls. is a great city and one of our favorite places to go for exercise is to walk around Lake Harriet. Such a pretty Area and lots of people all around. Also have done Lake of the Isles and it is nice too. Yes, do go to Sebastian Joes. We also love to go to Convention Grill at 44th & France Ave (think this is Edina) and have their hamburgers and fries. YUM!! Another hamburger place we enjoy is the 58 Club over by lake Nokomis - think it is on Cedar Ave. I also 2nd the advice to go down Hwy 61 along the river and then go across to LaCrosse. I think you can take I-90 all the way to Madison if you want to speed up the trip from that area. Have a great time.

k,
Are you thinking of either Marx or Savories in Stillwater? Both do catering and both are relatively small inside although Savories is more European bistro and Marx would probably have more of the pasta you spoke of. Either could have been featured on the Food Network as well. PamT

Oh my God-please don't bother driving out to Eagan-there are too many great restaurants in downtown Mpls. If you like the "supper club" idea--go to Nye's Polonaise Room-across the Hennepin Ave Bridge-great food, fun piano bar-yummy au gratin potatoes. Another fabulous downtown restaurant is 112 Eatery-voted best new restaurant and it is! Also, a fun place downtown is Ike's-great tenderloin steak sandwiches. Sitting outside at Brit's Cafe (mentioned above) is fun-they have the best fish n/chips (IMHO). They're close to your hotel-you could walk. If you do go to Stillwater-sit outside at the Dock Cafe for a cocktail (or whatever)-great view of the Mississippi River.

jbass,
You're not going to get a great view of the Mississippi River from the Dock Cafe because Stillwater isn't on the Mississippi - last I knew it's still on the St. Croix River

Good catch Pam -- thanks. I have Mississippi on the mind.

Just wanted to post a quick trip report from last week's trip.

First of all, traffic from Chicago to Minneapolis was horrid!! I think we flew to Hawaii in less time.

We stayed two nights at the Millennium Minneapolis on Nicolett Mall. Our room was on the smoking floor, and although I understand that most of the rooms have been remodeled, ours was not one of them. But it was a good room, especially since it was comp!

Our first night we ate at Jensen's Supper Club in Eagan at the suggestion of a friend of mine. It was good, though probably not worth the trip from downtown.

Our second day was spent at the Mall of America (morning) with lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express, and then a visit to the Mill Museum. Dinner was at Market Barbeque, which we had visited on our last visit four years ago.

Our third day found us leaving Minneapolis and driving to Madison, WI (at the suggestion of a fellow Fodorite) via US 61 (Great River Road). Nice scenic drive that took most of the day.

We stayed at a chain hotel on the outskirts of town, and had dinner at Delaney's Charcoal Steaks, which was a nice experience. I had Chicken Oscar, which is one of my favorite meals.

On our last day, we visited Madison's State Street Mall and toured the Capital. We have toured quite a few Capitals, and this tour was one of the best; our guide was very knowledgeable and interesting.

Then back in the car for the drive back to the Chicago 'burbs (with a stop at Lou Malnati's in Naperville, yum!)

Thanks again for the input!