Consider Grand Rapids, MN for Your Next Girlfriend Getaway
A Wide Variety of Lodging
Grand Rapids is a perfect up north destination for a girlfriend getaway primarily because it is a small rural charming community that offers amenities of a much larger community. That goes for the wide variety of places to stay. Because Grand Rapids is a ‘going to the lake’ vacation destination, there is a wide variety of lodging from in town Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, Motels, and Air BnB’s. Staying in town gives you the opportunity to be close to shops, salons and spas, and places to eat and drink. The in town Hotels and Motels offer amenities like onsite bars, restaurants, a hot tub, a pool, and continental breakfast. Bed and Breakfasts provide charming places to stay with hosts that live on site; where you get a home cooked breakfast, and inside secrets like where to eat, where to shop, and behind the scenes not to miss attractions.
And then there are resorts and vacation rental properties that are located on area lakes. These properties have lodge rooms, cabins, and condos and villas. Many of the available cabins, condos and villas offer kitchens, and places to gather together; both indoors and outdoors. And let’s be honest, the main reason girls get together is to gather together. These types of lodging opportunities give you multiple bedrooms for sleeping. Most resorts and vacation rentals in the Grand Rapids area have updated properties that have full kitchens with dishwashers, wifi, streaming TV opportunities,, and many other . Many of these properties are located on the lake or have lake views. You can also select from a variety of Grand Rapids Hotels/Motels that are conveniently located in town and close to restaurants, spa services, theater, night life, and walking/biking trails. Our quaint and charming Bed & Breakfast or Air B&B’s downtown which are also close to town to trails, shops, area lakes and places to eat & drink.
At our local Spa Service Providers in town. True North Salon is located within Historic Central School Marketplace in the center of downtown. They offer facials, manicures and pedicures, hair services (cuts, blowouts, styling, etc), and make-up services. They are an exclusive Aveda salon. Salon Brad which offers full-service hair and waxing services. Center Spa MN offers laser hair reduction & skin resurfacing, dermablading, Botox, fillers, chemical peels, micropen, massage, body scrubs, manis, pedis, facials and skincare. Muah Salon and Spa is a boutique beauty salon & spa specialized in eyelash services, color trends, hair extensions, teeth whiting and more. Elements Salon and Spa offers salon services like hair extensions, blow outs, and spa services like facials, massage, and lash extensions. The newest spa in Grand Rapids is Solace Spa which is a full-service day spa offering a range of services including advanced skincare, waxing, signature massages and float therapy.
Boutique Shops, Vintage Finds & Art Galleries
There are several fun places to shop in the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area. Downtown Grand Rapids offers locally owned and operated boutique style shops that offer gift, home decor, jewelry, clothing, shoes, art, vintage, repurposed, and more. And then there are locally owned stores that offer unique and one of a kind shopping experiences that are located in Grand Rapids, Coleraine and Bovey. And then there are the big box stores that are located on the south end of town as well. Discover the wide variety of Places to Shop in the Grand Rapids, Minnesota Area.
Discover New Sips & Bites
While you are on a Spring Girlfriend Getaway in Grand Rapids, MN, you have to check out the locally owned craft breweries, winery, MN Wine Bar, and other locally owned bars and restaurants. From the craft breweries: Klockow Brewing Co and Rapids Brewing Co, to the winery: Smoke on the Water located in Coleraine, the MN Wine Bar, Unwined Up North, and to the awesome places the locals go: Sammy’s Pizza, Forest Lake Restaurant, Timberlake Lodge Restaurant, Pickled Loon, and Florio’s. There are SO many places to eat & drink in the Grand Rapids, MN area! Check out all of the options: Places to Eat & Drink in the Grand Rapids, Minnesota Area.
Start planning your next Girlfriend Getaway now, and we hope that you consider coming together in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. This charming small town offers a wide variety of things to do, outdoor recreation, and live music and performances to entertain you and your girlfriends.
The Chippewa National Forest is a wonderful place to enjoy spring hiking. In the Chippewa National Forest, there are 298 miles of non-motorized trails to hike, and there is no better way to see the Chippewa Forest than on foot. Highlighted for you are four of the trails located in the Chippewa National Forest that are perfect locations for spring hiking. The Chippewa National Forest has several locations that are perfect for day hiking. Learn more about additional places toHike in the Chippewa National Forest.
In 1907, Sam Simpson’s crew built the first tote roads and trails in the Cut Foot Sioux area. Today, this system makes up the 13-mile Simpson Creek Trail. Enjoy rolling topography through pines and along glacial eskers, with overlooks onto Cut Foot Sioux Lake and journeys into the cedar swamp.
The Simpson Creek Trail system winds through towering pines, around a great walleye fishing lake, and into the rich history of the Cut Foot Sioux area. Enjoy the beautiful drive on the Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway where the Simpson Creek Trail is located.
Directions: Access is at the Cut Foot Sioux Visitor Center or Eagle Nest Road (FR 2198) 23 miles northwest on the Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway.
The remote and stunning Suomi Hills has nineteen miles of hiking, biking, and ski trails and is part of a semi-primitive nonmotorized area. The rolling topography offers mountain bike trails for intermediate and advanced cyclists.
The Suomi Hills Recreation Area is named for the small Finnish community of Suomi, Minn., situated on the northern edge of the Suomi Recreation Area located near Grave Lake, Minn. The area was logged from 1905 to 1910, with people settling in the area about 1916. The Day Lake Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp, a prisoner of war camp during World War II, is located on the north end of Suomi Hills.
Directions: Access the Suomi Hills area 26 miles north of Grand Rapids on Highway 38, Avenue of the Pines National Scenic Byway.
Learn why this northeast corner of the Forest is called the Edge of the Wilderness. Check out interpretive displays and area information. Hike the short trail to the fishing pier and picnic area or enjoy a program at the Center or amphitheater.
You can rent kayaks to paddle around on Ranier Lake or bring your fishing pole and fish from the fishing pier.
The flat terrain dirt path makes for an easy hike. Perfect for families with young children. Kids of all ages love learning about the native wildlife, trees, plants, and flowers that are on display at the Discovery Center.
Directions: Take Hwy 38, Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway, 44 miles north out of Grand Rapids to the north of Marcell, Minnesota.
The park has 10+ miles of easy/moderate hiking trails. The best trail for visitors to hike is Chase Point Trail. It is known for the stunning views of Coon and Sandwick Lake. As you hike along look for bald eagles, loons, jays, woodpeckers, and a variety of songbirds.
During your spring hike at Scenic State Park check out the interpretive signage and historic Civilian Conservation Corps Camp sites. The signage gives information about the history and landscape of Scenic State Park
Rentals such as boats, canoes, paddleboards, and kayaks are available at the park office.
Directions: Take Scenic Hwy 7 for 10 miles then turn onto Scenic Hwy 75 for 33 miles.
Additional Resources For Spring Vacation To The Grand Rapids, MN Area
Hiking is just one of the great outdoor recreation activities that you can do while on a Spring Vacation to the Grand Rapids, MN area. Visit Grand Rapids created a website full of wonderful resources that include: places to stay, things to do, outdoor recreation, and events for you to learn more about the Grand Rapids, MN area. This charming small town offers a wide variety of things to do like touring historic sites and beautiful art, enjoy live music and theater performances, and explore a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Learn more below.
This spring head north to Grand Rapids for a perfect MN Spring weekend getaway. After a long winter, we all tend to seek getaways where we can explore new trails, find fun places to eat & drink, stroll in historic downtowns, be entertained at new locations, and discover beautiful art. Grand Rapids is a place where you will find cozy lodging to relax, reconnect together with loved one’s and recharge your soul in Minnesota’s nature this spring. Continue reading to find Top 5 Spring Things To Do in Grand Rapids, Minnesota below. Learn More about a Spring Getaway to Grand Rapids.
Cozy Lodging
One of the important tasks on lining up the perfect MN spring weekend getaway is to find cozy lodging. You will find a wide variety of overnight lodging options that are perfect for everyone’s needs. You will find in town Hotels and Motels that offer on site restaurants, pools and hot tubs, and close to the trails. There are two charming and historic Bed & Breakfasts where the hosts provide a home cooked breakfast. And then there are several Minnesota Lake Resorts and Vacation Home Rentals where you can rent a cabin or house with a stunning view of one of the 1,400 area lakes. And many of the lodging properties are dog friendly. The choice is yours to relax, reconnect and recharge. Find Cozy Lodging.
1. Outdoor Trails
One of the things people typically like to do on vacation is sight see. On this perfect MN spring weekend getaway getting outside in Minnesota’s nature is just that. In the Grand Rapids, MN area there are over 2,000 miles of trails. This means in the spring it is the place to come to experience all of the sights and sounds of the forest coming alive. Being outdoors in the spring is a wonderful thing. The smells of fresh grass and soil. The sound of birds chirping, squirrels rustling across the forest floor, and the occasional deer dotting around the pines and hardwoods. The forest allows you to get a fresh perspective and allows you to refocus on what is important in life. Hiking Trails to consider: Lost Forty, Suomi Hills, Joyce Estates and Simpson Creek. Mountain Biking Trails: Tioga Recreation Area and Legion Trail. Discover new Outdoor Recreation opportunities.
2. Boating, Fishing & Paddling
Anther top thing that people like to do on vacation is to be on the water in the spring. In the Grand Rapids, MN area there are over 1,400 area lakes. There is something very special about being on the water in the spring. The mighty Missisippi River flows right through downtown. Paddling the river is a vacation bucket list item. Paddle Hoppers offers guided paddles, paddle rental equipment, and you can launch right from their location on the Mississippi River. When the area lakes open up in the spring, many people visit the Grand Rapids area to fish for panfish. On a sunny day in the spring it is a wonderful time to be on the water to boat and paddle. Learn more aboutFishing,Boating & Paddle.
3. Fun Places To Eat & Drink
Once you have worked up a healthy appetite on the trails, you will find a variety of local establishments to eat and drink. There are two craft breweries that are locally owned and operated, and a wine bar that sells Minnesota wine, craft beer, and serves fresh homemade food. Then there are the places that the locals go for their favorites like wild rice soup, hot and fresh popovers, perfectly grilled steak, juicy bar burgers, and chef inspired menu items. Find fun places to Eat & Drink.
4. Historic Sites and Beautiful Local Art
While on the perfect MN spring weekend getaway, one of the fun ways to make new memories is to discover historic sites and view beautiful local art. Downtown Grand Rapids is a wonderful place to stroll to shop at boutique style shops, view beautiful public art like the murals, sculptures, and bronze statues. The charming and historic buildings are full of character and stories. Another great place to learn about Minnesota history is at the Itasca County Historical Society Museum is located downtown and a stone’s throw away from the Mississippi River. The Judy Garland Museum is a place where you can relive the years of the talented Judy Garland, who was born in Grand Rapids. In the same building is the Children’s Discovery Museum that has child friendly exhibits that kids interact and engage with. Take the self-guided tour of Grand Rapids Art and Historic Sites. Find Grand Rapids Area Attractions.
5. Be Entertained
While spending a Spring Weekend Getaway in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, you will want to check out the Reif Center performance schedule. The Reif Center is a hidden gem that is located in Minnesota’s nature. There are over 40 performances that take place in one of the two state of the art theaters at the Reif Center. Enjoy Broadway style performances, concerts, comedian shows and more. Additional places to be entertained are the area craft breweries, winery, area bars and restaurants. In addition to the live music, there are weekly art events, bingo and meat raffles. Find More Details on our Events Calendar.
Start Planning Your Spring Getaway
There is no time like the present to start planning your spring getaway to Grand Rapids, Minnesota area. Visit Grand Rapids website offers a wide variety of details on Places to Stay, Things To Do, Outdoor Recreation, and Events. In addition to this, the Grand Rapids Visitor Guide includes details that highlight cozy places to stay, fun places to eat, drink & shop, area attractions, outdoor trails, and annual premiere events.
The Gentleman Forager took us Spring Foraging in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in the spring of 2024. A couple of us were fortunate to be able to learn the wisdom of Mike Kempenich, aka the Gentleman Forager. We met at the Timberlake Lodge lobby where Mike and his team were staying. Mike had scouted the day before in several public forest locations around Grand Rapids. Good maps will ensure locations of public land where you can forage for personal use. We all had good hiking shoes, tall socks, long light weight pants, multiple layers, and rain gear. On this day, it did light rain, so it was good we were prepared to be out in the forest in the spring variable weather. We also brought Nichole Denver, Thousand Lakes Productions, photographer/videographer to record our day of foraging. Spring in northern Minnesota is variable dependent on weather and temperature, which can occur early April to late May. We were foraging during the middle of May.
There are several different places to forage around Grand Rapids, Minnesota. There is the Chippewa National Forest, UPM Blandin Forest, George Washington State Forest, and Itasca tax forfeit public forest. Make sure to use the maps of each to ensure that you are indeed on public land. Before foraging in Minnesota, ensure you can positively identify edible plants and mushrooms, understand local regulations (like no commercial harvesting), and practice responsible harvesting, leaving enough for wildlife and future growth. Do some research and possibly make copies of images and descriptions to have while you are foraging.
Grand Rapids is surrounded by over 1M publicly accessible forest acres that have prime opportunities for foraging in the spring, summer and fall. Foraging in the Chippewa National Forest, especially for berries and mushrooms, is generally permitted for personal use, but it’s crucial to be aware of potential regulations and safety, including wildlife, and to leave no trace while you are out in any forest area. In the springtime of the year all these public forest areas offer a variety of wild edible items, including fiddleheads and edible mushrooms like black morels (Morchella importuna), oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), and pheasant back mushrooms (Dryad’s saddle).
Here are locations to search for black morels around Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Look for stands of quaking aspen, tulip poplar, and black cherry trees, as well as areas with ash, poplar, and apple trees, especially if they are dying or decaying. Black morels are often found in areas that have been recently disturbed, such as campgrounds, trails, or burned areas. To find fiddlehead ferns in Northern Minnesota, look for them in low-lying, moist areas near water sources like marshes, creeks, and riverbanks, especially in hardwood forests with rich soil and some shade. Pheasant back mushrooms are a type of bracket fungus that are commonly found growing on dead and decaying hardwood trees, particularly elms. They are also known to grow on the lower trunks of living hardwood trees. Look for oyster mushrooms growing in shelf-like clusters on the trunks or fallen logs of hardwoods, especially elm, cottonwood, alder, and oak, from late spring through September.
On this day that we foraged with Mike, we found Black Morels, oyster mushrooms, and fiddleheads. It was a little late for fiddleheads, which tend to be best early spring. It was a great day to be out in the forests to breathe in the fresh air, listen and watch the northern songbirds, and search for fresh wild edibles. We were out for several hours mid-morning until early afternoon. We had contacted local chefs at Timberlake Restaurant and Rapids Brewing Company before we headed out to see if they would fix us some menu items with the wild edibles we would pick. Our first stop was Rapids Brewing for a late lunch. They fixed us black morels on their wood fired pizza dough with fresh toppings of mozzarella, crushed tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a brush of honey sauce on the dough edges. We paired the wood fired pizza with hazy IPA. And then at Timberlake Restaurant the chef was already set up for their Wednesday night pasta (where the Chef makes each pasta as each person orders). Timberlake’s Chef created an amazing black morel pasta in a light cream sauce that was rich and satisfying flavor. We paired this pasta with a house red wine.
Maybe you are not sure of yourself yet to go into the public forest and forage by yourself? This is your opportunity to purchase a ticket to the Black Morel Hootenanny scheduled for May 16-18, 2025 in Grand Rapids. Mike Kempenich (the Gentleman Forager) and his team of certified foragers will give you resources and teach you proper foraging techniques, then you will go on a guided forage (in pre-scouted areas) in public forest around Grand Rapids, then you will return back to wild edible cooking classes, and can purchase items in the foragers marketplace, and the entire weekend Rapids Brewing (host site) will provide exclusive black morel menu items from small bites to full meal menu items. There will be live music on their stage Friday and Saturday night. Friday night Mike will do an exclusive meet and greet with foragers, and all attendees will receive exclusive locally made food items in their welcome bags as a gift from Visit Grand Rapids.
PURCHASE TICKETS to the Black Morel Hootenanny – which will be the largest black morel festival in Minnesota!
To learn more about Mike Kempenich, the Gentleman Forager, the most interesting man in the woods, check his website out and upcoming classes and festivals: https://www.gentlemanforager.com/`
This article is the ultimate travel guide for Grand Rapids, MN, a unique place to vacation where you can relax, recreate, and reconnect together with loved one’s. This guide is to help you make the most of your vacation. This small town offers a great mix of ways to relax and untap, outdoor recreation, unique area attractions, beautiful art to discover, and new flavors to savor. The splendor of the outdoors is enhanced by the indoor places like the wide variety of unique lodging options. You will find in town accommodations like Hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts, and Air BnB’s that are conveniently located near shops, restaurants and craft breweries, and in town trails. Then there are Family Resorts and Vacation Rentals that are located on beautiful area lakes. There are hotel rooms, cabins and home rentals. There is something to meet everyone’s overnight lodging needs. Discover more about Grand Rapids through this Ultimate Travel Guide…
Top Things To Do
For an ultimate travel guide to Grand Rapids, MN, there are several things to do to get on your “To Do List in Grand Rapids”. A few area attractions to explore are:
Judy Garland & Children’s Discovery Museum
Forest History Center
Itasca County Historical Society & Escape Room
Old Central School
Thunder Alley & Big Thunder Mini Golf
Mann’s Cinema 8
Grand Rapids Area Library & Music Park
Grand Rapids Parks & Playgrounds
And then there are the area attractions that are located outside of Grand Rapids:
Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center in Marcell
Blueberry Bowl in Deer River
If you are looking for art, culture and performances in Grand Rapids, visit:
MacRostie Art Center & Giinawind Creative Space at MacRostie
Reif Performing Arts Center performance and live music concerts
Self-guided art and history tour in downtown Grand Rapids
And then there are the art, culture and performances outside of Grand Rapids:
The Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork
Logger and Wannigan on the river exhibit in Bigfork
Lumberjack statute in Bigfork
Mosquito Statute in Effie
Big Muskie Statute in Deer River
Big Goose Statute in Squaw Lake
Big Black Bear Statute in Northome
Top Activities
If you are an adventure seeker, then the Grand Rapids, MN area is the perfect place to vacation. Surrounding Grand Rapids is over 1M publicly accessible forest acres that have 2,000 miles of trails and 1,140 area lakes. This are is known as the outdoor mecca of the north. Whatever type of outdoor recreation activities you like to do or want to try, you can do them here:
ATV/OHV trail riding
Biking
Boating
Cross Country Skiing
Downhill Skiing
Hiking
Fishing
Mountain Biking
Paddling
Snowshoeing
Snowmobiling
Swimming
Skating
There are year-round activities to do here. Every season offers unique outdoor recreation opportunities to enjoy in Minnesota’s nature. The Chippewa National Forest, Scenic State Park, Suomi Trail, Laurentian Divide Park, Legion Trail, Tioga Recreation and Mt Itasca are a few of the places that you can do these outdoor activities.
What Makes the Grand Rapids, MN Area Unique
One of the main reasons that Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a unique area and often time is called a hidden gem is because of the surrounding nature. With over 1M publicly accessible acres of forest land that has 2,000 miles of trails and 1,140 area lakes. The trails are well groomed and maintained, and these lakes have excellent quality and clarity that are some of the cleanest in the nation.
People who live, work and play here say that they are here primarily because of the surrounding nature, outdoor recreation trails, lakes and rivers. This provides for a good work life balance. Being in nature reduces stress, provides healthy activity, and allows for a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
The people who vacation here, and have second homes here all share a similar value for the surrounding outdoors, trails, lakes and rivers as well. But, they also come here for the unique area attractions, art & cultural experiences, live music and performances, and the welcoming community.
In recent years, the Grand Rapids area has had a boom of new businesses, restaurants, craft breweries, and new lodging properties. There are several new restaurants and retail businesses that are planned to open soon. The community is also working on creating new events and festivals year-round. There are several new events scheduled for 2025 and 2026. People want to live where there is new things happening, new offerings, and growth. People want to vacation to try new opportunities as well.
Post COVID people are seeking the small, off the beaten path locations that have a wide variety of opportunities from relaxation, recreation, new sips and bites to try, live music and performances, and reconnecting with family and friends. Grand Rapids is that place where you can get a little bit of the best while on vacation: relax by the lake, recreate on the trails, take in new entertainment, enjoy beautiful art, discover interesting history, savor new flavors, and reconnect together in Minnesota’s nature.
If you need more travel guide information for the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area the Visit Grand Rapids website has a lot of information from places to stay, things to do, places to eat & drink, outdoor recreation, places to shop, and upcoming events, live music and performances.
Get outdoors into Minnesota’ s nature this spring where you can experience the uniqueness of the forests awakening from a long winters nap. Whether you are looking for a place to just relax, reconnect with loved one’s and recharge or you are looking for adventure, the choice is yours in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Enjoy an abundance of outdoor recreation on over 2,000 miles of trails to ATV, bike, hike, and mountain bike, and 1,140 area lakes to boat, fish, and paddle this spring. Welcome to Grand Rapids in the spring.
City of Grand Rapids Parks and Trails
Spring is the perfect time to get outdoors in the City of Grand Rapids. There is over 200 acres of parks and open space lands, and nearly 50 miles of city trails for your recreational pleasure. Throughout the City, park facilities offer a wide variety of recreational uses including: softball and baseball fields, soccer fields, playground equipment, pavilions, picnic areas, basketball courts, horseshoe courts, tennis courts, outdoor hockey and skating facilities, water access, fishing piers, and lighted ski trails. Learn More HERE.
Get Outdoors Into The Chippewa National Forest
Grand Rapids, Minnesota is surrounded by the over 1 million publicly accessible forest acres partially due to public lands in the Chippewa National Forest, and other public designated forest land through Itasca County, U.S. Forest Service and the State of Minnesota. The Chippewa is a National Forest located in north central Minnesota, United States, in the counties of Itasca, Cass and Beltrami. The forest covers 667,094 acres, and there are over 1,300 lakes, 923 miles of rivers and streams and 400,000 acres of wetlands. The Forest has more lakes and wetlands than any other National Forest in the nation. Three of the top ten largest lakes in size within the State of Minnesota are located within the forest, these are Cass Lake, Leech Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish. Approximately 44% of the Forest’s land is within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. Wikipedia Referenced for this section. Learn More HERE.
Discover the Lost Forty
Within the Chippewa National Forest is a hidden hiking trail that is starting to gain national bucket list recognition called the Lost Forty. The 144 acres was originally mapped as part of Coddington Lake in the late 1800’s. As a result, the Lost Forty area was never logged. It contains some of the oldest forest in the state, with some trees more than 350 years old. Less than two percent of Minnesota’s total forested land today is such old growth forest. This nature area is perfect for hiking with all ages because it is only a one mile self-guided trail that winds itself around tall white and red pine trees and mixed hardwoods ranging in age of 20-350 years old. There is also a picnic area, portable restroom, and historic markers located in the parking area. You can also park along the forest service road. Learn More HERE.
Seek Adventure in the Tioga Recreation Area
Tioga Recreation Area is a premier outdoor adventure destination located in Cohasset, which is only a 10-minute drive from downtown Grand Rapids. This 500 mixed hardwood and pine forest acres is located on two of the region’s most unique lakes, Tioga and Pokegama. Tioga features 25 multi-level miles of world-class mountain bike trails. There is a skills course called Pathfinder Playground that was created for entry level to black diamond level skills development. Tioga is a multi-use recreation area where there is something for all ages and outdoor enthusiasts. Across the road is a sandy beach with designated swim area (no lifeguard on duty) located on Pokegama Lake that includes amenities such as: covered pavilions, portable restrooms, picnic tables, fenced playground area, a fishing pier, and a walking and bike trail that connects with the City of Grand Rapids trail system. Tioga Pit is a great place to fish from shore, paddle and freshwater dive. Ardent Bicycles and Paddle Hoppers rent bikes and paddle equipment to use at Tioga Recreation Area. Learn More HERE.
Enjoy Walking Across the Mississippi and Exploring at Music Park
Located in the downtown business district is Library Music Park where you can make music while you stroll. The interactive music displays was created in honor of community member Randy McCarty. The Mississippi River runs along the banks of the Grand Rapids Area Library, which makes the library a very scenic place to sit, read a book, catch up on the news, and to just listen and watch nature along the river. Along this section of the Mississippi is a fishing pier, and the library lends fishing rod, reel and tackle to those interested in fishing on the Mississippi. Children will enjoy the story book along the trail as well. This trail leads to the Mississippi River Walking Bridge that was created to safely cross the river via walking and biking. There are a couple of benches and beautiful art sculptures located along the trail as well. When you cross the bridge there is an Angel of Hope statue and additional public art statue created in part with the Grand Rapids Art & Culture Commission and the Grand Rapids Arts organization. The City of Grand Rapids, Minnesota has invested in several beautification and cultural experience projects. The Itasca County Historical Society is located one block west of Library Park and serves as an interpretive center on the Great River Road. You will want to stop in to view their River Room exhibit. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is proud to be a Great River Road community where the mighty Mississippi flows right through historic downtown. While downtown take the self-guided Grand Rapids Art and Historic Site Tour. Learn More HERE.
Find a Wide Variety of Places to Stay
Visit Grand Rapids represents over 34 lodging properties in the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area that are Hotels/Motels, Bed and Breakfasts, Minnesota Resorts, Air B&B’s and Vacation Rental properties. The wide diversity of overnight lodging will give you many options on places to stay this spring in northern Minnesota. Get outdoors this spring to be among Minnesota’s forests, trails, lakes, rivers, and bike paths at these lodging properties. Whatever amenities you are looking for in lodging, you will find it at one of the Grand Rapids Lodging Properties. Whether you are looking for dog friendly, onsite restaurant, close to trails, located on a lake, full kitchen, multi-bedroom and bathrooms, and much more. Find Places to Stay in Grand Rapids, Minnesota HERE.
Savor New Flavors
One of the best things about a Spring Getaway is trying new places to eat & drink. Grand Rapids, Minnesota boosts fun places to eat & drink like locally owned craft breweries, wood fired oven cuisine, the best pizza in northern Minnesota, the place where all the locals go, the best bar burgers in town, and homemade from scratch popovers and wild rice soup. So, when you have worked up an appetite while being outdoors this spring in the Grand Rapids, MN area, you will be sure to find a great place to eat & drink. Find Places To Eat & Drink HERE.
Other Spring Things to do in Grand Rapids
In case you come to Grand Rapids, Minnesota on a cold or rainy day where outdoor recreation isn’t appealing. That is OK…there are other things to do in the spring in Grand Rapids. The splendor of the outdoors is enhanced by the cozy lodging, boutique style shops, fun places to eat & drink, historic sites, cultural experiences, beautiful public art, live theater performances, music, and events. Grand Rapids may be a small town in northern Minnesota, but it boosts amenities of a much larger town. The Reif Center, MacRostie Art Center, Forest History Center, Itasca County Historical Museum and Escape Room, and Judy Garland and Children’s Discovery Museum are just a few area attractions that you should consider touring while in Grand Rapids this spring. Learn More HERE.
A spring break road trip to northern Minnesota is a great getaway for the entire family. In Minnesota cabin fever has a way of creeping in regardless of the winter season conditions. A road trip up north for spring break is the perfect way to take a spring break with the family.
Cozy Lodging
There is a wide variety of cozy lodging options from conveniently in town Hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts, and Vacation Rentals that are close to historic sites, downtown, live entertainment, and fun places to eat & drink. There are Minnesota Resorts and Vacation Rentals that offer lodge rooms, cabins, and condos that are located on beautiful area lakes and near the trails, and fun places to eat & drink. View Grand Rapids Lodging Options.
Explore the Outdoors
Being outdoors while on spring break in northern Minnesota is the perfect way to spend time together as a family. Exploring Minnesota’s nature is a kid-friendly activity where you can get outdoors together. There are a wide variety of trails to enjoy on over 1 million publicly accessible forest acres in the Chippewa National Forest, UPM Blandin Forest, George Washington State Forest, and Scenic State Park.
Some of our favorite trails are Tioga Recreation Area where you can mountain bike on over 25 miles of multi-level, single track trails. You can also ice fish on the 1,140 area lakes. Ardent Bicycles offer mountain bike & fat tire bike rentals. It is pretty typical that in March and April there is still snow on the ground and ice on the area lakes in northern Minnesota. But, there is the occasional year where mother nature presents less snow, but still ice on area lakes.
Letting the kids have fun is a big part of spring break with the family. There are several kid friendly area attractions in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. There is the Children’s Discovery Center and Judy Garland Museum that share a building. The Children’s Discovery Museum is perfect for children aged toddlers to tweens. The Judy Garland Museum has the largest collection of eclectic Judy Garland memorabilia that is perfect for all ages. The Itasca County Historical Museum allows you to step back in time to learn about Minnesota history in the Grand Rapids area. They also host an Escape Room that is perfect for ages 9 to adults. MacRostie Arts Center offers two art galleries with monthly featured exhibits, a art gift shop, and they also offer art classes, and you can check out their art suitcase so you can create art together while on spring break. You can take a self-guided Grand Rapids Art and History Tour downtown. You can let the kids play at the music park and walk across the Mississippi river on the walking bridge next to the library. Then there is two bowling alleys: Thunder Alley XL in Grand Rapids and Blueberry Bowl in Deer River.
Start planning your trip your family friendly spring break to Grand Rapids, Minnesota by checking out the Visit Grand Rapids website for Family Friendly activities, and view the digital version of the Grand Rapids, Minnesota Visitors Guide. And make sure to BOOK YOUR LODGING.
There are many benefits to booking your summer vacation early. One of them is that you get to choose from peak season dates. Because Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a going to the lake summer vacation destination, peak season are the months of June-August. A lot of properties will require a full week stay during this peak season. Each lodging property will determine their overnight stay requirements during peak season. Another reason to book early is being up north in peak season to enjoy the lakes and trails. And another reason is during peak season all of the historic sites and area attractions are open during peak season. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the perfect summer vacation destination for individuals, couples and families. Read more to learn all about booking your summer vacation in Grand Rapids this year.
Summer Vacation in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
There are advantages to booking your summer vacation early. Winter is the perfect time to book your summer vacation up north in Minnesota. If you are looking for a June-August date to vacation at a “lake destination” it is advised to book early because those are peak summer vacation months; and they book early. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is know as the outdoor mecca of the north for the surrounding 1 million publicly accessible forest acres, and 1,140 area lakes that offer beautiful lake clarity, and 2,000 miles of designated trails. The dates of peak summer season have changed over the years as adults work schedules have become more unpredictable, and children’s extra curricular activities schedules have become very full. That is why booking early will help you get the perfect date that works for you and your loved ones. Many lodging properties have minimum night stays during peak season, so you will want to be sure to check with each property on their guidelines.
what to expect peak summer season
Not every Grand Rapids lodging property will fill up 100% during peak season, but weekends will fill up first. Be mindful that because this is peak summer season, properties may require a minimum stay, and some will require a full week. Some properties will have a partial week or long weekend options, so you will want to check with individual properties to see what their policy is. Booking your summer vacation early will ensure you will get the dates that work the best for you and your loved ones. In town Hotels and Motels will be more full in the summer, especially on the weekends, but during mid-week they tend to have some openings. Minnesota Vacation Rentals, Minnesota Resorts, Air BnB’s, and Bed and Breakfasts will fill up faster during peak summer season (June-August) because they do not have the number of lodging rooms like resorts and hotels/motels.
With Grand Rapids, Minnesota being a northern Minnesota lake destination, you can expect more people in downtown, at historic and area attraction sites, on the trails, at boat landings, and at places to eat & drink. However, Grand Rapids, Minnesota is still an off-the-beaten path destination located in north central Minnesota. You could say a ‘hidden gem of the north’ so the crowds are much smaller than Duluth or Brainerd. There are a lot of outdoor recreation opportunities on our lakes and trails, and the fun places to eat & drink are located outside of the city center, where there are less crowds.
Taking vacation in the summer peak season is a great time to be up north. The water clarity in the summer is brilliant and some would say we have some of the cleanest lakes in Minnesota. The forests are a bright vivid green, and the wildlife is alive with song birds, birds of prey, deer, racoon, fox and more active and out for viewing. There are 1,140 area lakes that are full of a wide variety of fish to catch. There is a designated trail for all types of outdoor recreation from ATV/OHV, biking, hiking, and mountain biking. There are small lakes, rivers and reclaimed mining pit lakes that are perfect for paddling sports. Grand Rapids is the outdoor mecca of the north with over 1 million publicly accessible forest acres surrounding it. And there are lots of indoor things to do on inclement weather days (like rain) from the many fun places to eat & drink, historic and area attractions, cultural experiences, public art and galleries, and boutique style shops. This charming small lake town offers everyone a little bit of something – a mix of outdoor nature and indoor fun things to do for all ages.
advantages to booking a vacation early or late peak season
There are advantages to booking your summer vacation early. Winter is the perfect time to book your summer vacation up north in Minnesota. Do you have a hard time to get everyone’s schedules to coincide to book a summer vacation? Try taking a look at early and late summer peak dates. For some properties, early peak summer dates are considered May and early June. And late peak summer dates are considered end of August to early September.
Lake destinations like Grand Rapids, Minnesota fill up fast for peak season (middle of June through middle of August). In the past, peak season typically been defined as Memorial Day to Labor Day. With changing family schedules (tight work schedules and kids extra curricular schedules) it can be hard to get dates that work for everyone for a full week of summer vacation. And, after Labor Day the availability tends to increase, rates decrease, and September is a beautiful time of year to be up north in Minnesota. There are less crowds, less people at the boat landings, fall fishing is good, the leaves are changing into yellow, orange and red, and the temperatures are warm enough for short leaves during the day and sweatshirt by the fire at night.
The other advantages to booking a vacation early is if you like to travel with fiddo, there are only certain properties that allow pets, and these properties often have a maximum number of rooms or cabins that they open up to pets. When you book your summer vacation early then you can first pick. Many properties allow returning customers to re-book the same week for the following year as well. So, check on this opportunity when you book.
Top Summer Things To Do in Grand Rapids
If you are looking for an up north Minnesota summer vacation, then Grand Rapids is a place you should definitely consider. Here is a top summer things to do in Grand Rapids, Minnesota list:
Get Outdoors – even if you are not an outdoorsy person, the lakes and trails in norther Minnesota have a way of helping to put life into perspective and relaxes you.
Have a Campfire and Smore’s – now this has to be a going to the lake or going up north summer things to do – think outside of the box and try some new recipes – roasted marshmallow, banana, chocolate and hazelnut spread and graham crackers or roasted marshmallow, slices apples, any nut butter and graham crackers.
Paddle the Mississippi River – if you do not have paddle equipment and safety gear, no worries: Paddle Hoppers and R&R Rental offer rentals, sales and service.
Go Fishing – with over 1,140 lakes there are a lot of opportunity to fish in the Grand Rapids, MN area. In Grand Rapids there are many fishing piers where you only need a fishing pole, reel, line, a hook and bait. There is a fishing pier at Crystal Lake (by Itasca Fairgrounds), Tioga Beach Fishing Pier, Mississippi River Fishing Pier (behind the library), and Pokegama Dam (fish from shore on the Mississippi River) are all locations to consider.
Take a Hike – a couple of places to consider are Legion Trail (at the Reif Center), Tioga Recreation Area (stay to the right of the bike trails or take the haul roads, and the Chippewa National Forest: Suomi Hills (located on the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway) and Simpson Creek (located at Cut Foot Sioux Visitor Center).
Bike – in Grand Rapids you will find two world-class bike systems. Tioga Recreation Area which is a premiere multi-level mountain bike system that overlooks Pokegama Lake and Tioga Pit Lake. And there is Mesabi Trail which is the longest paved bike trail in Minnesota that runs from the Mississippi in Grand Rapids to the Boundary Waters in Ely.
Tour Historic Sites – Grand Rapids offers a wide variety of historic places to visit. The Forest History Center, the Itasca County Historical Society, and the Judy Garland Museum are three located within the city limits of Grand Rapids. Take a self-guided Grand Rapids Art & Historic Site Tour.
Enjoy fun places to Eat & Drink– another perk of being on vacation is going out to eat. Food and Drink are two of the most enjoyable things about being on vacation. Take in the locally owned places that are unique to Grand Rapids – craft breweries (Klockow Brewing & Rapids Brewing), a Minnesota Winery (Smoke on the Water), a MN Wine Bar (UnWined Up North), the famous Sammy’s Pizza, and the places where the locals go: Forest Lake Restaurant, Pickled Loon, Timberlake Restaurant, Bear Creek Pizza, Florio’s, Cedar Creek Grille, Pokegama Grill, Dotties, and Zorbaz).
Reconnect, Relax and Recharge -a large part of going on vacation in northern Minnesota is slowing down, and taking in the simple things in life Coming together with loved one’s in Minnesota’s nature has a way of putting things into perspective and appreciating the time spent together.
Now that you understand the advantages to booking your summer vacation early, check out the Grand Rapids Visitor Guide to get inspiration for things to do and see while on vacation in Grand Rapids. You can also view all 37 lodging properties that range from in town Hotels, and Motels, Bed and Breakfasts, Bed & Breakfasts, and Vacation Rentals to Minnesota Family Resorts and Vacation Rentals that are located on beautiful area lakes.
