Springtime in Rochester, Minnesota

The weather is warming up, and the kids are almost done with school, which means one thing- spring and summer have arrived here in Rochester, Minnesota!  Rochester is home to many fun outdoor activities for you and your family. Take a look at our list of our favorite warm-weaher activities in the Rochester area.

-Quarry Hill Nature Center: The nature center has a little something for everybody, whether you want to hike, bike, or learn something new. You can hike or bike the beautiful 320 acres that cover the old quarry, Rochester State Hospital cemetery, and a scenic pond.  Once you are done exploring the outdoors, stop by the nature center, which features interactive displays and live animals.

-Douglas Trail: Hit the trails this spring! The Douglas Trail is a paved path to walk, bike, or run alongside picturesque views. This trail runs through the city and out into the country for a variety of atmosphere. If you are looking for some outdoor exercise, the Douglas Trail is a great option!

-Maple Valley Golf & Country Club: If you love to golf, this is definitely a course worth checking out. This golf course offers a beautiful scenic tour of the grounds and many challenging holes. Tip: Unless you don’t mind walking the hills, you might want to rent a golf cart for this one.

-Silver Lake: Pack up a picnic, and take the family out for an enjoyable afternoon at Silver Lake!  Pick your favorite spot and enjoy your picnic while taking in the beautiful scenery.  Afterword, take a walk around the lake or feed the ducks. You can also rent paddle boats to explore the lake a bit closer.

-Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial: The beautiful outdoor memorial opened in 2000 in remembrance of all American veterans from Southwest Minnesota who have helped protect America’s freedom. Here you can learn about the veterans in the area. Take a moment to recognize the men and women of the armed forced at this beautiful memorial.

Whichever of these activities you plan to do, you are sure to have a great day spending time with friends or family in the great outdoors. Of course, if you are looking for a new vehicle to get you around the outdoors this summer, you can always come test drive a few cars at Kuehn Motor Company!

What is your favorite outdoor activity to do in the Rochester area?

Best Vehicles For Families

Starting a family is a very exciting time in life- nearly everything changes. Parents swap shopping bags for diaper bags, and special nights out for sensational nights in. It’s also probably time to swap your sporty convertible parked in the garage for a more family-friendly car.

Here at Kuehn Motors, we sell top-of-the-line pre-owned vehicles. Included in our extensive inventory from three locations, we boast many family-friendly vehicles. Whether you need to tote around one, two or seven kids, we have the vehicle for you! Here are just a few of our family vehicle options currently in our inventory:

1. This 2007 Chevrolet Suburban LT is available at our Austin location. The vehicle seats up to nine people and comes with many luxuries, including AM/FM radio, a MP3 capable CD player, OnStar capability, DVD player, power seats and Sirius XM capability. With 4-wheel drive, this will be the perfect vehicle to get you and your family safely where you need to go during Minnesota winters!

2. The 2014 Chrysler Town & Country Touring is the ultimate family vehicle. This minivan comes jam-packed with features that both you and your kids will love. These features include Bluetooth, two wireless headphones, Sirius XM radio, an entertainment system with DVD player, wireless streaming, and six speakers. In addition to huge entertainment value, the vehicle also has many noteworthy safety features, including a ParkView rear camera, dual driver and passenger airbags, electronic stability control, and traction control. With only 27,401 miles on this vehicle, this is a deal that your family cannot pass up!

3. 3. This beautiful, bright red 2013 Dodge Journey SXT would make a great addition to your family! It is located at our Rochester location, and at only 32,884 miles, it is practically brand new! This vehicle has three rows of seating so it can easily take you and your whole family wherever you need to go. Standard all-wheel drive means you and your family will be safe in any driving condition. Other features on this vehicle include remote keyless entry, audio jack input, a 4.3” inch touch screen, dual climate control, and power windows- just a few of the many great features that come with this vehicle!

If your family is outgrowing your current vehicle, stop by one of our convenient locations and take a look at some of our family vehicle options. One of our friendly salespeople will be happy to find exactly what you’re looking for at a great price for you and your growing family.

Spring Cleaning For Your Car

Spring is in the air! While it doesn’t feel like spring yet, it is never a bad time to give your car’s interior a little “spring cleaning”.  After the long winter, your car will thank you.  Follow these tips to ensure you give your car the cleaning it deserves:

Get the trash out. To start off your cleaning, grab a trash bag and throw out all trash and unnecessary items you don’t need anymore.  Simply removing the extra clutter in your car will make a world of difference in your car’s appearance. Now, you have a better idea of where the

real work needs to be done.

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. Grab your vacuum hose, and get to work.  Make sure to vacuum out underneath floor mats and in the creases.  You’ll be amazed at how much dirt and debris finds their way into the small crevices of your vehicle!

Scrub away. Go to your local automotive store or supermarket and buy a bottle of automotive upholstery and carpet cleaner and heavy duty scrubbing brush.  Wipe down the carpet and anything cloth covered.  You may need to repeat this step a few times to make sure everything is cleaned well.

The floormats want your attention too! Since you will need to take out the floor mats to vaccuum, give them a good wash, too.  Since they are removable, floor mats are much simpler to clean than the upholstery of your car. Use a garden hose to spray away dirt and debris, or your bathtub (in case it is still a bit too cold for outdoor water.)

Wash the windows. When cleaning the inside of your windows, make sure to use a cleaner specially intended for car windows. Using a home cleaner that contains ammonia will increase fog on your windshield.  After cleaning the insides of your windows, you will notice how much less your windows will fog up when driving.

And to finish up….While you’re cleaning up, its always good to check up on other important areas of your vehicle, such as oil level, tire pressure, and washer fluid levels. After completing all of these tasks, you might just feel like you have a brand new car!

Tips For Safe Driving In Snow

Here in Minnesota, it is essential to know how to drive in the snow.  In Rochester, Minnesota, the average snowfall each year 48 inches. Take a look at these tips to make sure that you will be able to drive safely in during the winter months this year:

• Be prepared. Make sure your tires have at least 6/32-inch of tread.  Having bald tires will make your car slip much more often. Traction on your tires is essential for safe winter driving.  Also, be sure to check your antifreeze level, and make sure that your defroster is working properly.  In addition, equip your car with a ice scraper, snow shovel, and flashlight, and a some non perishable food in the case you get stranded.

• Don’t follow the car in front of you too closely.  While the road might seem fine to you, there may be a patch of black ice you don’t see.  Putting enough room between you and the next car will allow you some room in case you start slipping, or if any other issues occur.  The recommended distance for winter driving is about four car lengths

• Don’t slam on the brakes.  When your car starts slipping on ice, your first reaction may be to slam on the brakes.  Don’t do this.  Slamming on the brakes removes the traction between the ground and your wheels and you will not be able to control your car.  Once you feel your car slipping, instead of braking, ease up on the gas and steer towards the direction of safety.

• Drive slowly.  The most common error in winter driving may be driving too fast.  Driving too fast may will reduce your reaction time if a problem occurs, such as ice or the car in front of you braking.  In addition, it takes your ten times longer to brake on ice than regular pavement.  

• Most importantly, give yourself more time to arrive at your destination.  If it normally takes you fifteen minute to get to work, during the winter months, give yourself at least twenty-five minutes to arrive.  Before driving, make sure your windows are completely clear of ice.  Once your start driving, take your time and look ahead of you in traffic.

Following these tips will help keep you safe during the winter months- drive safely and arrive safely!

It’s Time For a New Car -- Where Do I Start?

When it is time to buy a new vehicle, there are a lot of options. You can scour Craigslist ads and other marketplace sites for hours, browse the classified ads and set up meetings to test drive vehicles, or you can make it a one-stop-shop at Kuehn Motors.

According to DMV.org, there are many advantages to purchasing a vehicle from a dealership and not a private party.

- Dealers must adhere to very stringent operating and selling procedures, meaning you are less likely to end up with a lemon.

- Dealers can provide warranties on vehicles, even used.

- Dealers can offer financing options.

- Dealers can be easily contacted if there are any problems with the vehicle.

- Dealerships will usually help you with your state DMV’s titling and registration process.

- You have the choice of a variety of cars in one location.

- And many more...

With something as important as a vehicle purchase, you want to keep the guessing game out of the equation. Your vehicle gets you to work on time in the morning, transports your children to school and activities, and brings your family on the summer road trip you’ve been waiting for.

Kuehn Motors is one of Southern Minnesota’s largest dealerships, with three convenient locations in Rochester, Austin and Spring Valley. Along with our wide selection of preowned cars, trucks, vans and commercial vehicles, we offer a complete service department and full body shop to take care of all your vehicle needs.

Whether your family is growing, your car is a lemon, or it’s just time for an upgrade -- when it’s time for a new car, stop into Kuehn Motors and let us help you!

5 Best Day Trips from Rochester

Getting a little stir crazy? Need to get on the road and explore before we hunker down for winter? Even if you don’t have the budget for a week-long vacation, you can still get away! Kuehn Motors has a list of favorite destinations that are only a car ride away!

Emma Krumbee’s Apple Orchard
507 East South Street
Belle Plaine, MN 56011
Distance from Rochester: 1 hour, 45 minutes northwest.

Although it’s only a seasonal attraction, it’s one of our fall favorites! Open mid-August through October, Emma Krumbee’s Apple Orchard is packed with tons of family fun! The orchard features farm animals, Emma’s Mountain Slide, a wagon ride, U-Pick apples, pumpkins and berries and a Scarecrow Festival! While you are there, make sure to check out the General Store and Restaurant!


Lark Toys
63604 170th Ave
Kellogg, MN 55945
Distance from Rochester: 45 minutes northeast.

One of our family favorites! Lark Toys is unique, fun, and perfect for chilly days! With over 20,000 sq. ft. to explore, it’s sure to keep you busy for a whole day! Lark Toys is one of the largest family owned and operated specialty toy stores in the nation. The store is divided into different specialty sections and boasts an indoor carousel During the warmer months, you can check out Lark’s outdoor mini golf course, too!


Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Blvd
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Distance from Rochester: 1 hour, 15 minutes north.

Another great year-round attraction, the Minnesota Zoo is truly a Minnesota gem! Almost 3,000 animals call this zoo their home in the outdoor and indoor exhibits. Children and parents alike can learn about how Minnesota farms operate and develop a sense of community in the popular Wells Fargo Family Farm. There is always something fun and interesting to see and learn at the zoo -- a great trip for all ages!


Mystery Cave State Park
21071 County 118
Preston, MN 55965
Distance from Rochester: 55 minutes south.

Love exploring? Head south in the summer months (and some fall dates!) and check out a guided tour of Minnesota’s longest known cave. The cave is a sight to behold at any age, featuring stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, and beautiful underground pools, and a maze of interconnecting passages. Sound dangerous? It’s not -- modern lighting and walkways make the tours accessible to just about anyone!


Brown County Historical Society
2 North Broadway
New Ulm, MN 56073
Distance from Rochester: 1 hour, 53 minutes west.

More of a history buff? The Brown County Historical Society in New Ulm features exhibits including Century Farms, early settlement, The Art of Wanda Gag and award winning U.S.- Dakota War of 1862. The research library is one of the best in the state, boasting extensive family records and business and history files.