St. Joseph, MN, dubbed Joetown lives up to its motto of small-town warmth, big-city cool. Spend the day, or weekend, exploring for yourself just how cute and quaint Joetown is. Here are some fun ways to explore and get to know Joetown, MN.

Joetown is just 8 miles west of St. Cloud, MN, For a town of under 9,000 people, we were surprised to find fine- dining, boutiques, a cidery, a brewery, and arts & culture. Joetown is also part of the Lake Wobegon Bike Trail. 

Fun Ways to Explore Joetown

Head to Joetown and take in all they have to offer. We think you’ll enjoy spending some time!

Fuel up at The Local Blend

Start your day in Joetown with coffee or tea, baked goods, or a meal at The Local Blend with a focus on locally grown ingredients. They bake their goods in-house. You’ll also find locally produced arts and crafts displayed. They truly put the local in The Local Blend. 

The menu is quite creative and the food is more interesting than you imagine it would be. For instance, look at that veggie platter above! We loved that they have a number of plant-based options! This is the perfect spot to fuel up before finding some fun ways to explore Joetown.

Tour a Lettershop- Bruno Press 

Stop by and meet an old-school letterpress print shop run by Mary Bruno. She is a high-energy, positive force that runs the shop. She has cool art, cards, postcards, and more for sale in the shop. She’ll even let you run the letterpress! 

Tour Saint John’s Abbey 

Known as one of the top-ranking liberal arts colleges in the nation, St. John’s University is also known for its football program, often ranking in the top 25 in the country in the NCAA Division III. St. John’s Univesity is also known for its beautiful Saint John’s Abbey.

Saint John Abbey, designed by Marcel Breuer is the campus church as well as home to Benedictine Monks. The Abbey is steeped in history and tradition with stunning architecture. 

Self-guided tours are available but if you time your visit right you might be able to land a tour led by a monk. 

Tour Saint John’s Pottery Studio and Take Tea with a Master Potterer

Since you’re on the campus of Saint John’s campus, you must stop at Saint John’s Pottery. The pottery program is led by Artist-in-Residence, Richard Bresnahan , a Master Potterer and studied the craft under Nakazato Takashi in Japan. It’s an incredible story and the pottery program is quite distinguished. 

Pro Tip- plan to visit just before 3 pm to take tea with John. Sit around the irori tea table that was modeled in the style of a traditional Japanese hearth. Relax and take in the warmth of not only the tea but the hospitability and conversation. 

If you visit in the fall, you may have a chance to see the largest wood-fired kiln in North America, the Johanna Kiln get fired up. 

More Things to do on the campus of Saint John’s University

The campus of Saint John’s University (an all-boys campus) is stunning and steeped in history. Here are some more ideas if you have the time. Canoe Lake Sagatagan or hike to Stella Maris Chapel. 

Get to know the Abbey Arboretum in any season. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy visiting and getting some fresh air. 

Purchase some of the Saint John’s Maple Syrup that the campus is known for. 

Plan to visit the Saint Jon’s University Bookstore to purchase their famous Johnnie Bread! Johnnie students bake the rye flour bread with a recipe that dates back to the Benedictine monks who founded the school. Get there early- it sells out quickly!

Consider spending the night at a former college house, The Estates Bed & Breakfast dating back to 1901, which would put you within walking distance of most of what’s written in this post. 

Visit the College of Saint Benedict Campus (an all-girls campus) which is closely related to the college of St John’s. Visit the Whitby Gift Shop & Haehn Museum for gifts handmade by the Sisters. 

Sample Cider at Milk & Honey Ciders

Taste some Minnesota Cider yourself ciders made from American heirloom and cider apple varieties. 

You’ll drive past some of the apple trees on your way in. Grab a tasty cider from the taproom. You can sit under one of the covered patios or grab a picnic table. 

Enjoy a flight at Bad Habit Brewing

Once a former bank, the owners of Bad Habit Brewing have transformed the building into a very cool brewery space! Enjoy a flight of beer on their beautiful patio or inside the taproom. The beers are always changing and they host live music and food trucks. Visiting the taproom at Bad Habit is definitely one of the fun ways to explore Joetown.

Shop local at the downtown shops 

You’ll find adorable and unique shopping and restaurants in the downtown area of Joetown. You’ll find a mushroom shop, bakery, locally grown food co-op, thrift shop, outdoor shop, pottery shop, little car shop, home decor, and more. Shopping local is just one of the fun ways to explore Joetown!

Dining in Joetown

The food scene is quite diverse in Joetown. For a New Orleans-style menu head to Krewe  (vegan options available) and cool off with Jupiter Moon Ice Cream (with vegan options!). Grab an enormous sub with many local ingredients at Bo Didley’s Deli.

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