LAND OF 1000 LAKES
Winter is the perfect time for a little getaway up north to relax, recreate and recharge. Rent a cozy cabin in the woods or on a lake, book a hotel suite with fireplace or find a cozy B&B. Slow down, sleep in, cuddle up with a cup of coffee or tea, or get outdoors and recharge. Honestly, all of us need to allow ourselves more time to unplug. Life gets crazy busy with full schedules. When was the last time you booked a getaway just to rest?
TWO-DAY WINTER GETAWAY
DAY 1:
Only 1.5 hours west of Duluth, 2.5 hours north of St. Cloud, 3.5 hours north of the Twin Cities, 3.5 hours northeast of Fargo and 4.5 hours north of Rochester. Check into lodging, unpack and get settled. Grab dinner at one of our favorites: Sammy’s Pizza, Forest Lake, Unwined Up North, Rapids Brewing Company
or Timberlake Restaurant. Catching live music at Rapids Brewing or at the Fraternal Order of Eagles is always fun, then heading to Zorbaz for late-night
DAY 2:
Enjoy a cozy morning in PJs cuddled up with a good book by the fireplace.
Grab breakfast in town at Dottie’s Hometown Café, Brewed Awakenings or Hotel
Rapids Bar + Bistro, which serves excellent crêpes. Stroll downtown through local boutiques, beautiful outdoor public art and the art galleries at MacRostie Art
Center. You will find over 2,000 miles of designated trails for cross-country skiing,
mountain biking, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. There are lots of outdoor winter
activities to enjoy.
Being in Minnesota’s nature has a way of calming and reconnecting your thoughts to what is important in your life. Doing this with friends and family can be a very spiritual experience, especially when the leaves are gone from the trees, the air is cool and crisp, and you take in the trees, the lakes and rivers, and the wildlife — listening to the leaves rustle as squirrels gather acorns or spotting deer crossing the woods. Listening to the birds chirp and watching the eagles soar and geese fly overhead.
Just 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids is Mount Itasca, which has downhill skiing, snowboarding terrain, snow-tubing and cross-country ski trails. It is open December until March each year (snow and weather dependent).
Once you have had a chance to get some up-north outdoor air in your lungs, you’ll be able to head back home with renewed vigor.
Take a rip on the Taconite State Trail. A ride along the Taconite State Trail will take you
on a ride through the history of iron-mining in northeastern Minnesota. Winding through the birch, aspen and pine forests of northern Minnesota, this natural-surface trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely, Minnesota.
EAT
Klockow Brewing,
Rapids Brewing Co.
Nopo Coffee Company
Timberlake
Hotel Rapids
Sammys Pizza
SHOP
Lake & Company
Bender’s Shoes
L&M Fleet Supply
PLAY
Reif Performing Arts Center
Fitness & Bala Med Spa
EVENTS
World of Winter 2025
January 10 - March 2
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KEEP EXPLORING
Grand Rapids, MN Tourism | Plan a Winter Getaway (visitgrandrapids.com)
