Pine City, MN Road Trips

Pine City is your quintessential, American small-town but it surprisingly offers a lot for its size. The rural feel of the community has diminished some giving way to exurbia pushing outward from the Twin Cities. That said, Pine City has held true to its sense of place and community and doesn't at all feel swallowed up by its large metropolitan neighbors to the south. Pine City rests easily in the shadow of Minneapolis-St. Paul, close enough for a quick side trip, distant enough to enjoy a more tranquil existence. Pine City is like an image that lingers in the American consciousness: An oak-lined courthouse square. Gazebos and band shells. One-chair barber shops. The town café, gossip for breakfast and meatloaf for lunch. It's small-town life as it was and as it remains. The city's politics are split between liberal and conservative with a slight historical advantage to the liberals. Carhartt is a popular brand worn by local, middle-aged men and it's not uncommon to see fishing hooks attached to many of their hat bills. Another article of clothing commonly seen on men and women is green plaid flannels, a modern style nod to the lumberjack heritage of the town. The typical Pine Citian says "You bet" in place of "yes". Yet, this is a place that mixes the true 'Up North' with a surprising level of sophistication; after all, it's an arts community. While it's the biggest city around it for miles — from North Branch to Cloquet, and from Mora to Rice Lake, Wisconsin (a very large geographic area) — it's not a pious place and the people aren't pretentious.

Pine City is an arts community and it is evident from its award-winning music program in its schools to its quality Heritage Players theater productions. Other things to see in the community include: 1 Dist. 69 Rural School Museum, 7th Street SW, ☏ +1 320 216-7636. Learn how school was over 100 years ago in this restored, one-room schoolhouse that was relocated to near downtown Pine City. It is operated as a museum by the Pine County Historical Society. 2 Iconic Voyageur Statue (François), 600 1st Avenue NW, ☏ +1 320 629-2575. This is the America's largest redwood chainsaw carving. Makes a great photo spot. 3 Snake River Fur Post, 12551 Voyageur Ln (1.5 miles west of I-35 at exit 169 (Pine County Hwy. 7)), ☏ +1 320 629-6356. Memorial Day-Labor Day: M Th-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Open only by appointment the rest of the year. A historic fur trading post from the early 1800s. $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $5 children 6-17, free for children 5 and under. (updated Apr 2018) 4 Sokol Camp, 19201 Woodland Acres S, ☏ +1 651 222-6448. 5 Stoffel Family Memorabilia Museum, 10527 Emerald Road, ☏ +1 320 629-3219. Veterans Monuments. Located throughout town. Woodpecker Ridge Park is home to a Gulf War memorial. World War I and II monuments are located outside of the Pine Government Center, downtown. And, look for them at the library, cemeteries, etc.

Pine City is filled with plenty of activities for people of all ages. 1 Pine Center for the Arts, 265 5th Street SE, ☏ +1 320 629-4924. Take a class or browse the gallery. The arts are for everyone. 2 Flea Market, Pine County Fairgrounds, ☏ +1 320 629-6924. Head to the flea market on Wednesdays (in season) to find treasures like vintage goods, fresh produce and more!. (updated Feb 2024) 3 Chengwatana State Forest (approx. 10 miles east of Pine City on County Road 10). Excellent sightseeing, plenty of wildlife. 4 City Beach and Skate Park, West Side Park (at 6th Avenue SW and 13th Street SW), ☏ +1 320 629-2575. Show off your new pair of board shorts or that rockin' henna tramp stamp. If you want to see and be seen, this is where you need to be. Join a beach volleyball match, toss the Friz, or just keep your shades down and get your creep on; this beach is your oyster, shuck it. The horseshoe pits are well-manicured and chances are you'll have them all to yourselves unless it's Monday night. The beach is home to some of the City's most beautiful sunsets. Free. 5 Anderson's Rock Creek Relics and Corn Maze, Five miles south on Old Highway 61. Noon-6PM daily. Since 2010, Mr. Anderson has tilled his land and broken his back so city folk can spend an afternoon getting lost amid acres of America’s favorite crop. Presidents, Senators and Congressmen get in for free. Sep-Oct $5, (under 5, free. (updated Feb 2024) 6 Peaceful Pines Pumpkin Patch, 13650 Government Rd, ☏ +1 320 591-0007, [email protected]. Sep 28-Oct 27: F 3PM-dusk, Sa 11AM-6PM, Su 11AM-4PM.

Like to eat out? There is a diverse culinary scene here as well with several ethnic options and restaurants that are BIPOC- and women-owned. With over 30 places to eat throughout Pine City, this place has some of the most restaurants per capita of anywhere in Minnesota. The freeway interchanges are home to many popular chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway and Pizza Hut/WingStreet. In addition to those, the city contains restaurants and cafes you wouldn't likely find in other similar sized cities: 1 More Than Sprouts, 245 5th Street SE, ☏ +1 320 629-3470. Health foods, organic menu and items, with gluten-free and vegan options. (updated May 2016) 2 New China, 150 Main Street S, ☏ +1 320 629-6365. Full Chinese menu, no MSG. 3 Lotus Thai Cuisine, 610 8th Avenue SW, ☏ +1 320 629-4989. M-Sa 11AM-9PM. One of the few Thai restaurants in Greater Minnesota, and according to Heavy Table it could be put up against any of them in the Twin Cities. (updated Aug 2022) 4 Don Julio's Mexican Restaurant Bar & Grill (Don Julio's), 1120 Hillside Ave SW, ☏ +1 320 629-4840. One of six locations of Don Julio's. Excellent fajitas, salsa and other Mexican food! (updated Aug 2022) 5 Maxwell's Southern BBQ & Fresh Meats (https://maxwellssouthernbbq.com/), 515 8th Ave SE, ☏ +1 320 629-0063. Tu-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM, M closed. Black-owned business. (updated Aug 2022) Keziah's Kitchen (Located in: Pokegama Shores RV Resort), 10762 Lakeview Shore Dr., Ste A, ☏ +1 320 465-2220. W-Su 11AM-9PM. American and Thai.

1 Village Bar, 245 3rd Avenue SE, ☏ +1 320 629-1066. Pine City's first and finest watering hole. Try the "Village Idiot". If in town on a Saturday, the gringo tacos are amaze-balls! 2 Froggy's, 209 5th St SE, ☏ +1 320 629-9917. Local favorite with deejay keeping a lively dance floor weekends. Try "The Froggy Burger". (updated Aug 2022) 3 American Legion, 525 Main St N, ☏ +1 320 629-2021. Locally referred to as "The Wrinkle Room". 4 The Garage, 755 Main St S, ☏ +1 320 629-8108. Great rooftop patio during warm months. (updated Aug 2022) 5 Three Twenty Brewing Co., 135 5th Street SE, ☏ +1 320 322-1237, [email protected]. Th 4PM-10PM, F 3PM-10PM, Sa noon-10PM. A craft brewery and taproom. (updated Dec 2017) Boondoggle Winery, 31575 Saint Croix Road, ☏ +1 320 629-7497. Red, fruit and white wines. (Temporarily Closed - 2024) 17 Northern Hollow Winery, 6916 Canary Rd, Grasston, ☏ +1 320 266-8691, [email protected]. F 1PM-7PM, Sa Su 11AM-5PM. (updated Jun 2015) 6 Cabina Caffe, 455 Main St S, ☏ +1 320 629-5982. Unique 'Up North' feel, serving a wide selection of coffee drinks and smoothies as well as bakery items. (updated Aug 2022)

This town, with all it offers, is in desperate need of a hotel. 7 Snake River Campground, Snake River Campground Road (east on County Road 8 (St. Croix Road) to Snake River Campground Road), ☏ +1 218 583-2125. Campsites consist of a cleared area, fire ring and table. In addition, vault toilets, garbage cans and drinking water are available. All sites are on a first-come, first-served basis. Individual site $12. 8 Pokegama Lake Campground, 12965 Lake Line Road, ☏ +1 320 629-7393. 9 Pokegama Lake RV Park, 19193 Island Resort Road, ☏ +1 320 629-6552. RV Park has a 9-hole golf course (Par 3) and a large heated swimming pool, among many other amenities. 10 Scrapbooking in the Pines Retreat Center, 415 2nd Avenue SE, ☏ +1 320 629-9960. Retreat in this perfect place to get away well-suited for scrapbooking (of course) but also stamping, quilting, gaming, and crafting.

Pine City is served by Jefferson Lines with a stop at Speedway near Exit 171. Also, other cities served by Arrowhead Transit can take that bus service into the community. Route 285 out of the Twin Cities only goes as far north as Forest Lake and a transfer to the Heartland Express and then Arrowhead Transit is a logistical tribulation. Best bet is Jefferson Lines, but it's kind of spendy. Interstate 35 links Pine City with Duluth to the north and the Twin Cities to the south. Pine City is about an hour drive north of downtown Minneapolis and of downtown St. Paul. A driver approaching Pine City on I-35 from the Twin Cities will be rewarded by a spectacular view of native pines and thick groves of trees. After a period of relatively flat and urbane scenery, the view is a treat, especially during peak fall colors. Exit 169 is the recommended exit for most downtown attractions. Coming from Duluth, Pine City looks like the first major city with the newly expanding freeway interchange at Exit 171, with the Pine County courthouse visible to passersby. Either way you come, take the I-35 Business Loop through Pine City. Or, you can get to Pine City on the St. Croix Scenic Byway, which is also Old US Highway 61. There are EV-charging stations at Family Pathways, 800 Main Street S., two fast-charging ports and a Level 2 charger, as well as at Robinson Park in the town square. Rush City Regional Airport (KROS), 7.5 miles south of Pine City. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP IATA). Most travelers will arrive this way via Terminal 1-Lindbergh.

Arrowhead Transit. Offers free fares for seniors and cheap fares for all. Driving is probably the best option for getting around Pine City. The city generally does not have any traffic problems, although it can get congested before and after school hours. Pine County Highway 61 runs north-south and the Snake River runs east-west dividing the city into quadrants as such. The majority of the city is laid out in a grid based on the Snake River shoreline, dividing the city into north and south. Main Street/County 61 is considered to be the dividing line between east and west.

Pine City is perhaps one of the safest and most benign communities that you will ever visit -with non-existent levels of violent crime and a warm and welcoming atmosphere that is exciting and refreshing. The most significant threat to public safety comes from the high level of deer that are native to the surrounding forests. It is not uncommon to have a nighttime drive interrupted by a shocking jolt of adrenaline due to these impish mammals suddenly appearing on the side of darkened road. Constant vigilance is strongly suggested during the night in order to avoid a costly accident. 2 Pine County Sheriff's Office, 635 Northridge Dr. NW, Suite 100, ☏ +1 320 629-8380, 911 (for emergencies), fax: +1 320 629-8392. Fire Department, ☏ +1 320 629-7405 (Non-emergency), 911 (For emergencies). Poison Center, ☏ +1-800-222-1222. Essentia Health, 705 Lundorff Dr, Sandstone (A 20-minute drive north on I-35.), ☏ +1 320 245-5600. (updated Aug 2022) 3 Welia Health - Pine City Clinic, 1425 Main Street N, ☏ +1 320 629-7505. Contract something at Froggy's Friday night? This clinic will have the remedy (for the disease, not your reputation). (updated Aug 2022)