I-90 sights (Rochester, Winona, Fairmont: live, moving, farm)

[Gxl35]

Hi all,

I'm moving from the East Coast to the West Coast and I'm driving cross country on a road trip in May. Is there anything interesting along I-90 in Minnesota that I should stop and check out?
I've never been to Minnesota, and it'd be a shame to drive right past something really interesting, whether it be natural, cultural, local or historical. I wouldn't mind going off the highway a little ways, considering its worth it.

Thanks!

[fromupthere]

I'm sure there's more but the only one I can think of that is close to I90 is the Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, MN. I don't know too much of the area otherwise except the eastern side of the state has some beautiful scenery. Not sure of spots to stop though as I've never done that. I hope more people are more helpful.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Gxl35

Hi all,

I'm moving from the East Coast to the West Coast and I'm driving cross country on a road trip in May. Is there anything interesting along I-90 in Minnesota that I should stop and check out?

Is there anything interesting on I-90 going through southern Minnesota? Maybe the Spam Museum?

SPAM Museum | SPAM.com

[golfgal]

The area around LaCrosse, WI is beautiful, after that, no there is nothing to see off I-90 until you hit the Black Hills in SD . That stretch through MN is flat, open and anything you would want to see you can see just driving down the road, like corn fields, etc.

[fromupthere]

I personally don't find it as dreadfully boring as described by some. I've driven through other states that are much less interesting. And if you've never been through this part of the country, it'll probably be neat to see no matter what.

[MplsTodd]

Rochester is worth checking out, if only to see how massive the Mayo Clinic is. Winona is a little north of I-90 but has a nice setting between the Mississippi River and Lake Winona, a few interesting older buildings downtown, plus Sugar Loaf Mountain (?) overlooking the town.

Otherwise, I-90 is pretty much farm fields. The Mississippi River Road (Hwy 61) is much more interesting.

[DannyBanany]

There used to be a Starbucks in Blue Earth that I liked to stop at but on my last trip to the Twin Cities it had closed. Maybe it was in Fairmont... can't remember for sure. Best macchiato I ever had. There's also the Golden Spike marker and then the "Welcome to MN" signs are pretty cool too. Other than that, just lots of wind farms and corn (frozen corn).

[Ben Around]

If your destination is the West Coast, why not take I-94 instead of I-90 across MN? That way, you'd be going thru the Twin Cities--Lots to see and do. Of course you'd miss the Black Hills on 94, but you would go right by Theodore Roosevelt National Park on 94, which is beautiful.

[newcastle]

I used to drive i-90 and sometimes i-94 back and forth ebtween seattle and minnesota when I lived in Seattle. There is nothing exciting along i-90 in minnesota. I can't rememember if the Pipestone National Monument is off i-90 or hwy 23 in Minnesota.

The Black Hills area is the next ineresting thing. All you will see for many, many miles are signs for Wall Drug. Everyone has to go once out of curiosity.

Mt. Rushmore is worth the visit in Rapid City and so is Devil's Tower in Wyoming, and then Little Big Horn National Monument and Custard Battfield is interesting if you are into history.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by newcastle

I used to drive i-90 and sometimes i-94 back and forth ebtween seattle and minnesota when I lived in Seattle. There is nothing exciting along i-90 in minnesota. I can't rememember if the Pipestone National Monument is off i-90 or hwy 23 in Minnesota.

The Black Hills area is the next ineresting thing. All you will see for many, many miles are signs for Wall Drug. Everyone has to go once out of curiosity.

Mt. Rushmore is worth the visit in Rapid City and so is Devil's Tower in Wyoming, and then Little Big Horn National Monument and Custard Battfield is interesting if you are into history.

Pipestone is on 23, but not too far north of 90.