Location: Rochester
Top Things to do in Rochester
The 10 Best Things to Do in Rochester, United States
Rochester /ˈrɑːtʃɛstər/ is a census-designated place (CDP) in Thurston County, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1852, and the 2010 census recorded its population at 2,388. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 square kilometers), all of it land. Rochester Schools had 2095 students registered in 2011.
Restaurants in Rochester
1. Wolf Haven International
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Provides sanctuary for captive-born wolves, guided visits and educational programs about wildlife.
Reviewed By Chuck H - Spring, Texas
Wolf Haven provides a place for wolves that either were injured or formerly owned by humans who could no longer care for them or abused them. They also participate in the efforts to rebuild the species in North America. This was a superb educational experience good for anyone over the age of 7. The docents are excellent.
2. Great Wolf Lodge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 345 reviews
Reviewed By Jason L - Pacific NW
The Water Park was a ton of fun. If you're concerned about swimming abilities, life jackets of varying types and sizes are provided or you can bring your own. We chose to bring our own since we own them anyway. My 6 year old did not wear one but my 4 and 2 year olds each wore one.
A couple of noteworthy items:
1. The wave pool gets intense. The waves are strong and it gets crowded, so keep a close eye on your children. But the life guarding is top notch as well.
2. The kiddie pool area has 2 small slides. The smallest is basically a short, straight ramp into the water and your kids can sit with you and go down. My 2 year old thoroughly enjoyed it. The other is a bit taller and has a curve in the slide. Make sure your kids have good muscle control before attempting this or the curve will flip them over and they'll bonk their heads. My 2 year old hated it. My 4 year old loved this one. The rest of the kiddie pool area is full of fun splashing and spraying toys to play on.
3. There is a great fort-like structure with tons of dumping and falling water that leads to 2 slides that are of moderate ability level. My 6 year old loved these slides. I had on them too (I'm 35 haha).
4. The big slides are awesome and my 6 year old is tall enough to ride in the tubes with us and she enjoyed that thoroughly. Quick tip: Sit in the back of the tube and put your feet under your kid's bottom so they don't slip through the tube hole.
5. Snacks in the water park area are fun but pricey. I recommend having food in your room and making the short trek back to your room for a break when you're hungry.
6. Bring a water bottle into the park with you in your bag because you'll get surprisingly dehydrated in the high humidity and temperatures.
Have fun.
3. Lucky Eagle Casino
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By Timothy Y - Redwood City, California
I went in the morning and got there at 8:30am. Table games didn't open until 9am. One nice thing is they had a decent non-smoking section with slots and table games.
Casino is about 15-20 minute drive off highway 5.
Didn't win but dealers were friendly enough.
4. Mima Falls
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Anne K - Washington
The Mima Falls trail does go through some lovely old second-growth forest, but at least half the trail is in fairly recent re-plantings - the trees are from 2" to about 5". Not as lovely, but it's a good example of working forest. It's a nice, well-maintained trail and is easy to get to from Olympia. The problem is lack of adequate signage. The area was logged not too many years ago and it seems like the original trail was broken up with logging roads. I'd have expected that new signs would have been installed at that time, but no. So one comes out of a trail to find a road and no ready sign to point the way to the continuation of the trail. You have to hunt for either the trail or the sign. There are several "Y's" in the trail and a couple have signs pointing the way to various campgrounds or trails. Lacking on all of them is Mima Falls itself so you have to figure it out. Not too difficult until you get to the last one before the falls where you have the choice of Mima Falls Trail East (you were just on Mima Falls Trail West) or Mima Falls Tie. Not helpful. In spite of the sign thing, it's a nice hike with gentle inclines and makes for a very pleasant afternoon.
5. Dick's Brewing Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Catherine K - Centralia
Great place to stop in after work on Friday evenings for the locals. Lot's of gray hair and love that! It's only open Friday nights and some Saturday nights. No food, just good beer and wine and opportunity to see friends. They plan to open a place downtown, and hope they don't lose this friendly comfortable atmosphere. Most customers here don't want to go out to a bar-as this is nothing like one. Dick did a great job with his vision and his daughter Julie continues.
6. Rusty Wallace Racing Experience
Overall Ratings
4 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By David D - Surrey, Canada
This is an amazing way to experience what it is like in a real stock car. Definitely buy at least 10 laps as it takes a while to get comfortable in the car. Starting out with a ride with a professional driver is great as he shows you the track before you drive on your own.
7. Mill Lane Winery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 13 reviews
Award-winning, family run winery that prides itself on creating delicious, fresh-tasting wines from locally sourced produce. We also have a robust line of reds, whites and specialty wines.
Reviewed By Pamela R - Roy, Washington, United States
Pleasantly surprised as I drove down the driveway to the back of their home to find the hidden gem of Mill lane winery. The owners welcomed us with a happy smile and made us feel welcome immediately. We were seated and immediately served some of the best wine I have tasted in any place I have ever been for a wine tasting. They were remodeling their wine tasting room and everything was absolutely beautiful. The wines we tasted were explained in explicit detail and the appetizers on the new menu were very tasty and paired well with the wines that we tasted. I believe they had about 30 wines to choose from and believe it or not in that little gem of a winery in the back of that house all the wines are made right there in the winery. Their wine club is the best around Deana offers some very good deals and I can't wait to get my first wine club order in November. I would certainly recommend this experience to anyone who enjoys wine tasting. We are fortunate to live close enough and we look forward to going back and trying some of the other wines that we did not taste and have a glass of wine and relax in the warm and inviting atmosphere that is provided at Mill lane winery. Congratulations Dan and Deana on two years in business. I voted for you for best winery on KING 5 and I truly hope you make it.
8. Centralia Outlets
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Rehsinup19 - Kent, Washington
We enjoyed our stop here. There is a wide variety of stores here and some great prices. Make sure to visit both settings- one on the west side of I-5 and the east side of I-5.
9. Lael's Moon Garden
A garden showing the culmination of 40+ years of gardening experimentation. An area of flat, open ground was transformed by building mounds, creative stone work and plantings of oaks, sequoias, beeches, conifers and maples with smaller trees, shrubs and perennials. Tour our extensive display gardens with gravel pathways and a picnic area. Contemplate the redwoods and enjoy our local birds.
10. Central Glass Works
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By WeAlwaysWAnder - Olympia, Washington
A group of 4 women had a great time puffing their cheeks trying to blow glass ornaments - what a great time! The instructors were very helpful and the whole activity was really fun. I bought an activity here through living social or something like that for a group of 4 to each make 2 ornaments. It was a pretty good deal, but even without the special pricing I think regular price for this activity is worth it. They had many items on display for things you could make in other classes.... I would love to go back and make a glass pumpkin! For this class we each left with 2 ornaments that we can treasure for years to come or gift to someone who would enjoy them. Great fun!
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