I too recommend the Root River trail. We got onto it in Lanesboro last weekend, and rode ~ 4 mi. down to Whalen to have some pie at the "famed" Aroma Pie Shoppe (yum). It's a beautiful, very gently rolling, paved trail (one of the rails-to-trails conversions). Crosses a few really cute old bridges, from which you see plenty people enjoying the river via tubes & canoes. Here's some detailed info; I guess the whole trail is 42 miles long.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_tra...oot_river.html

Right on the trail in Lanesboro there's a nice little coffee/ice cream/sandwich shop, with shaded outdoor seating. They make a really good Cubano coffee there.