Back-to-School Shopping in Rochester: A Family Travel Guide

Late August has a rhythm of its own if you’re a parent: pool days are winding down, school supply lists are landing in your inbox, and somehow every kid needs new shoes at the exact same time. If your family’s Rochester trip lines up with back-to-school season, you’re in a good spot. Rochester has one real shopping hub that covers almost everything on the list, plus a downtown scene worth a stroll if you want something a little different.

Apache Mall: Your One-Stop Back-to-School Headquarters

Apache Mall, located at 1201 12th St SW, is southeastern Minnesota’s largest shopping center, and it’s built for exactly this kind of trip. The mall’s anchors: Scheels All Sports, Macy’s, JCPenney, and Barnes & Noble line up almost perfectly with a school supply list.

For shoes and gear: Scheels is the move for new sneakers, backpacks, and any fall sports equipment your kids need before the season kicks off. It’s also one of the mall’s anchor stores, so it’s easy to find and hard to miss.

For clothes: JCPenney and Macy’s cover the bulk of a back-to-school wardrobe, and both run seasonal sales this time of year. For older kids and teens, the mall also has American Eagle Outfitters and Hollister for clothing that actually gets approval from a middle or high schooler.

For books and supplies: Barnes & Noble is a genuinely useful stop beyond required reading, it’s an easy place to pick up notebooks, planners, and anything on a supply list that doubles as an actual bookstore browse for kids who like to read.

For the little extras: Bath & Body Works is popular for locker and backpack accessories, and Sephora inside JCPenney has become a real back-to-school stop for tweens and teens.

One practical note for families: Minnesota does not charge sales tax on clothing or shoes, which applies statewide, so back-to-school wardrobe shopping goes a little further here than in many other states.

Built-In Breaks for Younger Kids

If you’ve got younger children in tow, Apache Mall has a children’s play area near the Scheels entrance, a good pressure release valve mid-shopping trip. The mall is also home to SPARK, the Children’s Museum of Rochester, which makes for an easy add-on if you want to split the day between errands and something the kids will actually enjoy.

When it’s time to refuel, the mall has several sit-down options nearby, including HuHot Mongolian Grill and Applebee’s, so you can turn shopping into a full outing without needing to leave and find food elsewhere.

Downtown Rochester: A Different Kind of Shopping Trip

If you want to break up mall shopping with something more local, downtown Rochester’s Galleria at University Square is connected to the skyway and subway system, making it an easy, weather-proof walk from several downtown hotels. It leans more boutique than back-to-school, think Chico’s, Talbots, and the Nordic Shop but it’s a nice stop for a parent gift-to-self or a unique find, and Chocolaterie Stam is right there if the kids need a reward for good shopping behavior.

Making the Trip Easier With Where You Stay

A back-to-school shopping trip is inherently a logistics exercise bags, bins, tired kids so where you stay matters. Kahler Inn & Suites is set up to make the in-between parts easier. The mini suites give you separate sleeping and living space, which is useful when you need to sort shopping bags without it taking over the whole room, and several room types include a kitchenette for keeping snacks and drinks on hand between store runs.

The hotel’s amenities include an indoor pool, a good way to reward the kids after a long shopping day, plus complimentary daily breakfast so mornings don’t add another errand to the list. And the downtown location means you’re a short drive from Apache Mall and within walking distance of the Galleria and downtown Rochester’s skyway system if you want to shop without ever stepping outside.

Planning your family’s back-to-school trip to Rochester? Check current offers at Kahler Inn & Suites and book a stay built around getting the whole list checked off. runs.

Rochester’s Best Ice Cream and Dessert Stops for Kids

Traveling to Rochester with kids in tow? Sometimes the best family activity isn’t a ticketed attraction, it’s a scoop of ice cream on a warm afternoon. Rochester has a genuinely great lineup of local, family-run dessert spots, and most are just a short drive (or in a few cases, a short walk) from downtown. Here’s a guide to the sweetest, easiest, most budget-friendly stops in town, organized so you can pick based on what your kids are in the mood for.

Why Ice Cream Makes the Perfect Family Outing in Rochester

An ice cream run checks every box for traveling families: it’s inexpensive, it takes less than an hour, and it gives kids a reward to look forward to after a day of sightseeing or a long stretch at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Hospital or Gonda Building. If you’re staying at Kahler Inn & Suites, you’re already in a convenient spot — the hotel sits downtown near the underground concourse, so a few of the stops below are practically neighbors, while others are a quick, easy drive across town.

Flapdoodles Homemade Ice Cream — The Local Favorite

If your kids only have time for one stop, make it Flapdoodles. This hometown shop has been making ice cream on-site since 2011, and it shows — the flavors are inventive (think Cookie Monster and Zoo in the Goo alongside classic vanilla and chocolate) and the whole vibe is playful, with silly slogans and stories covering the walls. Flapdoodles has two locations, one on the north side and one on the south side of town, so wherever you’re headed that day, there’s likely a stop nearby. The north location has a drive-thru for quick treats between activities.

CherryBerry Yogurt Bar — Let the Kids Build Their Own

For families who want portion control (or just want the kids occupied for ten extra minutes), CherryBerry is the move. It’s a self-serve frozen yogurt bar with dozens of rotating flavors and toppings, and you pay by the ounce — meaning kids can build their own creation and you only pay for what they actually want. It’s an easy way to make dessert feel like an activity rather than just a stop.

Café Aquí — Ice Cream Plus a Coffee Fix for Parents

Café Aquí is a smart pick if you’re downtown and want something for the whole family. Alongside specialty coffee, it serves hand-dipped cones, milkshakes, and malts with rotating flavors. Parents get a real espresso drink, kids get their ice cream fix, and everyone’s happy without needing two separate stops.

Chocolaterie Stam — A Little bit of Italy for Kids Who Love Gelato

For a slightly more grown-up dessert experience that kids still love, Chocolaterie Stam serves gelato — Italian-style ice cream — in a rotating lineup of flavors, plus a large selection of handmade chocolates if anyone in the family has a sweet tooth beyond ice cream. It’s located in downtown Rochester, making it an easy add-on to a day spent exploring the area near the hotel.

Cold Stone Creamery — The Customizable Classic

Cold Stone is a reliable, familiar option with two locations in Rochester (north and south). The draw for kids is watching their ice cream get mixed right in front of them on a frozen granite stone, with mix-ins like candy, fruit, and cake pieces. It’s interactive, it’s fun to watch, and it’s a format most kids already know and love.

Dairy Queen — The Easy, Everywhere Option

Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one. With multiple locations around Rochester, Dairy Queen is the go-to for Blizzards, Dilly Bars, and soft-serve cones when you need something quick and kid-approved without much planning.

Tips for Making It an Easy Family Outing

Go mid-afternoon to avoid the after-dinner rush at the more popular spots like Flapdoodles.
Split up destinations by neighborhood — Café Aquí and Chocolaterie Stam are both downtown, so they pair well with a day spent near Mayo Clinic and the surrounding area, while Flapdoodles and Cold Stone’s locations are worth building into a driving day.
Ask about gluten-free and dairy-free options — several of these shops, including Flapdoodles and Café Aquí, offer flexibility for kids with dietary needs.

Make It Part of Your Rochester Stay

Kahler Inn & Suites is set up for exactly this kind of easy, low-key family visit. The hotel’s spacious suites include mini suites with two queen or two double beds, separate living areas, and kitchenettes, handy for storing a pint of Flapdoodles for later or keeping snacks on hand between outings. Families can also cool off in the indoor pool, and every stay includes complimentary daily breakfast, so mornings are one less thing to plan around.

The hotel’s downtown location puts you close to Rochester’s core attractions and an easy drive from ice cream stops across town, with direct underground access to Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Hospital for families balancing appointments with downtime. If you’d rather keep dessert on-site, check the dining page for what’s available at the hotel.

Planning a family trip to Rochester? See current offers at Kahler Inn & Suites and book a stay that makes room for both Mayo Clinic visits and ice cream runs.