I grew up in a city about 40 miles from Rochester. One frigid Sunday afternoon when I was about 16, football was over and it was too cold to go skating (indoor rink - ha!), so a car full of us headed to Rochester in search of something, well, different to do. After cruising the city, we ended up at St. Mary's hospital - connected to the Mayo Clinic. We found the underground tunnels that lead from one building to another and several wheelchairs. Wheelchairs + teenagers - supervision = wheelchair races. We must have spent an hour or more playing our new sport and we planned to do it again. We never did as teens but I know a few of us who could do it today with our own chairs! So this is how I know Mayo does offer wheelchairs and, as Jan said, someone to push to your appointment(s).

I've not been back to Rochester for about 10 yrs. when my father had his open heart surgery there. We stayed at the Best Western Apache which I think has changed to a Ramada. At that time, it was very nice but not real close to Mayo.

Billye, please make sure to bring warm clothing as it is bone chilling cold in MN in Dec. It takes forever for cars to warm up so allow extra travel time and if you can, park in lots that are somewhat enclosed. Also, make sure your car is tuned up well for the cold and have a good battery.

If you have heard all of this before, I apologize. But I don't want you stranded and frozen waiting for a tow truck to come to your rescue.

Oh, and Janster is probably the best person here to answer any question about Mayo since she's been going there herself for quite some time.

That's it for now - good luck in packing and don't get caught having wheelchair races in the tunnels!!!

nancy-h