This Walkable Stretch Of Shops And Restaurants In Small-Town Minnesota Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination

Stillwater’s historic Main St. district is lined with blocks and blocks of locally-owned shops, restaurants, and businesses, making it one of the most walkable towns in Minnesota. This, of course, also makes downtown Stillwater an ideal destination for a day trip of shopping and dining.

Stillwater is one of the oldest - and, in some respects, the oldest - towns in Minnesota.

Its Main St. historic district consists of beautifully maintained buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Several blocks of Main St. in downtown Stillwater are lined with boutiques, antique stores, food shops, restaurants, bars, and other businesses.

If you start your day trip in the morning, pick up an extra burst of energy with a coffee or tea from The Daily Grind Espresso Cafe, which has been slinging its wares for more than a quarter century.

If you need more than a cuppa joe to fuel your day, try the Main Cafe for a classic, main street-style breakfast.

The Valley Bookseller, an independent bookshop that sells a wide range of new books (and can order what they don’t have in stock) is connected to The Daily Grind. So, it’s a good spot to start shopping.

Walking Main St., you’ll find shops that sell everything from clothes and jewelry to furniture and olive oil.

The area’s many antique shops boast wide varieties of merchandise, as well.

Grab an ice cream treat or quick snack at Leo’s Grill and Malt Shop, a Stillwater institution.

Find lunch and a beverage at any one of several restaurants, like Brian’s Bar and Grill.

Looking for something a little more upscale? Check out LoLo American Kitchen and Craft Bar.

End your day with a craft cocktail at The Velveteen, a speakeasy tucked into the lower level of a historic warehouse building just off of Main St.

Whether you take our suggestions or choose your own adventure, we’re sure you won’t be disappointed with a day trip to Stillwater’s historic Main St. - and will agree that it’s one of the most walkable towns in Minnesota. Consider visiting Stillwater in the fall, when the St. Croix River valley is bedecked in foliage

Have you had a chance to shop and/or eat in downtown Stillwater? What other towns in Minnesota boast walkable shopping districts?