Lanesboro, Minn. named one of America's Prettiest Towns

Photo by Mulad

​We've already told you to check out Lanesboro on a perfect summer weekend, but now America is catching on to our little gem near Rochester. We named Lanesboro the Best Day Trip in our "Best of" issue last year.

Lanesboro's also been named on the America's Prettiest Towns list in Forbes magazine. So why does Lanesboro have such national appeal?

Forbes interviewed painter John Vander Stelt:

"Understated and self-assured, this Southeast Minnesota burg is a busy stop along the 60-mile-long Root River bike trail. The limestone bluffs, unpretentious shops and river bottoms offer visual delights."

Want some more detail? Here is what we had to say about Lanesboro:

Lanesboro sits deep in the valley of southeast Minnesota's Root River, in the heart of Minnesota's scenic bluff country. The town's population is less than 800, but on busy summer weekends it can double with visitors, drawn to Lanesboro's quaint main street and the breathtaking 60-mile Root River bike trail that cuts right through town. You can also spend the day canoeing, kayaking, fishing, or tubing on the Root River. If you aren't into the outdoors, take in a performance at the Commonweal Theatre, or browse the shops that line the main drag, where you won't find a single chain store.