Just north of Forest Lake, jump off 35W on Highway 8 and head west. Välkommen till Lindström! Lindstrom was founded in the 1850s by Swedish settlers. Anyone with Scandinavian roots knows the importance of coffee to the culture, so it’s only fitting that the water tower in Lindstrom would be fashioned as a coffee pot. The water tower has welcomed visitors since 1902 and is one of the most photographed water towers in the state. It was decommissioned in 1990, but rumor has it that some evenings you can see steam rising from its spout as it brews the last pot of the day.
Stop into the Holiday Stationstore in Lindstrom, grab some donuts and your own cup of coffee, then head across the street to take your road trip photos by the coffee pot water tower.
Want to learn more about Swedish history in Minnesota? Head out of town on highway 8 to Interstate Park in Taylors Falls, where $2 million in lottery proceeds have recently helped improve the Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail. Enjoy a day hike and some of the most beautiful views of the St. Croix River Valley.