Winter Romantic Getaway

Romantic Getaway

Get cozy this winter for a romantic getaway in northern Minnesota. Winters get long in Minnesota, and a winter weekend getaway to Grand Rapids, MN is the perfect way to kick cabin fever. You will find cozy lodging, fun places to eat & drink, boutique style shops, entertaining historic attractions, an abundance of winter trails and lakes to explore in a remote setting to seek rest and relaxation.

Warm & Cozy Lodging

Grand Rapids, Minnesota has a wide variety of warm and cozy places to stay in the winter. There are in town Hotels, Motels and Bed & Breakfasts that are located near the shops, restaurants and in town trails. There are Minnesota Resorts that are open year-round and provide you will a fireplace cabin. And then there are Vacation rentals that are located both in town and on area lakes. The Best Western Plus of Grand Rapids, Minnesota offers all the upscale amenities and accommodations for our guests to feel comfortable and relaxed. Enjoy the convenience of being minutes from experiencing all the recreational options, history, shopping, restaurants and downtown. Find more Places to Stay in Grand Rapids.

Fun Places to Eat & Drink

You will find a wide variety of places to eat & drink in the Grand Rapids, MN area. Rapids Brewing Company is a locally owned craft brewery that is in historic downtown Grand Rapids. They offer weekly live music and other entertainment, and a full wood fired oven menu. Smoke on the Water is also a locally owned restaurant and winery that is located on Trout Lake that offer a wood fired oven menu. Whether you choose an upscale dining atmosphere or a more casual laid back place where you can be entertained by a performance or the view; the choice is yours.

Outdoor Recreation

With over 1 million acres of publicly accessible forest land in the area with over 2,000 miles of trails and 1,400 lakes; any outdoor recreation you are interested in, you can experience it in Grand Rapids. The outdoor recreation mecca of the north! Mt Itasca Winter Sports Center is a place where you can always find snow to downhill ski, snowboard, cross country ski, and snow tube. Mt Itasca offers weekend winter fun for all ages. They offer on site rentals and a concession for food and beverage. In addition to Mt Itasca, you can enjoy over 200KM of cross country ski trails, over 400 miles of snowmobile trails, and lots of forest land to snowshoe. Come enjoy a winter wonderland in Minnesota’s nature. View more Winter Outdoor Recreation.

Entertaining Historic Attractions

Looking for indoor places this winter, the Judy Garland Museum offers VIP tours of exclusive Judy Garland memorabilia that is not open to everyone in the museum. Judy Garland was born in Grand Rapids (aka Frances Ethel Gumm) in 1922. Enjoy hundreds of Judy Garland memorabilia and step back in time to the home she grew up in. The Itasca County Historical Society offers a free will donation museum that showcases Minnesota historic artifacts that were found in the Grand Rapids, MN area. Some of their exhibits are: Veterans Memorial, Mississippi River, and Bigfoots Backyard Escape Room. The Escape Room requires an appointment. If you are looking for a way to experience the forest in the winter, the winter horse drawn sleigh rides at the Forest History Center are awesome. Experience the winter wonderland in Minnesota’s nature.

We have an opportunity for you! Visit Grand Rapids has partnered with several area businesses to present the Get Cozy Winter Romantic Getaway Sweepstakes. You can enter January 15, 2024 at noon through January 29, 2024 at noon. The trip prize is a two-night stay at the Best Western Plys, $100 gift card to Rapids Brewing Co, $100 gift card to Smoke on the Water, VIP Tour of the Judy Garland Museum, admission to the Escape Room at the Itasca Historical Society, two horse drawn sleigh rides at the Forest History Center, a winter sports rental package from Mt Itasca, a $100 gas card and a romantic welcome basket from Visit Grand Rapids. A $1,062 value trip prize! Enter For a Chance To Win HERE.

Grand Rapids MN Ice Fishing Report 1-10-24

Grand Rapids MN Ice Fishing by Sam Wastensee and Bryce Busching

Ice on small to mid size lakes seems to be holding steady in the 9” to 12” range. We are starting to see some snowmobile and ATV traffic on some of these lakes. Most larger lakes are in the 6” to 10” range. Uniformity is still a lingering issue, especially on the deeper bodies of water. Use caution as there are spots that are newly iced over within the past week or so. With winter trout season opening this weekend, keep in mind that deeper water is typically the last to freeze and may be unstable. Make sure to continually check ice thickness on your way out and have ice picks handy in case of emergency.

Panfish reports have been good overall. Small tungsten jigs or spoons, tipped with wax worms or plastics have been working well. Weed edges and deeper basins are both still producing.

The walleye bite has slowed a bit as we ease into mid-winter , but some fish are still being caught in the morning and evening hours. Jigging spoons tipped with fathead minnows or shiners on a dead stick have been best.

More about Splake: The DNR stocks stream trout and lake trout in select bodies of water. Most stream trout are caught in 3 to 20 feet of water with splake and brook trout preferring the shallower end. Lake trout use structure usually within the 30 to 70 foot range and sometimes deeper.

Grand Rapids Ice Fishing Report 1-3-24

Grand rapids Ice Fishing Report by Sam & Bryce

This week’s Grand Rapids MN Ice Fishing Report (1-3-24) is brought to you by Sam Westensee and Bryce Busching.

Ice conditions in the area are improving slowly but uniformity is still an issue. We are seeing 6 to 12 inches on most small to mid sized lakes and 4 to 8 inches on bigger water. Deep clear lakes are still holding some pockets of open water.

The bite has remained strong and has even improved slightly with a little bit of added snow cover. Walleyes have been biting best during low light periods around sunrise and sunset. Panfish are still being found on edges of deeper basins and along weed edges.

Remember to check the ice as you walk out, tell someone where you are going, and when you are expected to return. No ice is safe ice. And remember to use the MN DNR Ice Safety Guide.

Snowmobiling in Grand Rapids, MN

Snowmobiling in Grand Rapids, MN

Guest blogger, Megan Christianson, shares her snowmobiling in Grand Rapids, MN. Itasca County has over 300 miles of well-groomed snowmobile trails. This will be our second year riding the Itasca County Snowmobile Trails. The Itasca County Snowmobile Trails are well-groomed and maintained by 13 snowmobile club volunteers who groom weekly, including the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. There are many snowmobile trails to ride in the Grand Rapids, MN area.

Download the 2023/2024 Itasca County Snowmobile Trail Map HERE.

Sample Snowmobile Trip Itinerary From Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Riding Day 1: The Taconite Trail to the Junction Bar in Togo. The Taconite Trail is a well groomed snowmobile trail. From the Taconite Trail Head at the Itasca County Fairgrounds (1336 Fairgrounds Rd, Grand Rapids, MN 55744), then take the Tim Corey trail, and then take the the Circle T which will take you to The Junction Bar in Togo. The Junction specializes in burger baskets, and cold beer. There is plenty of parking for trucks and trailers at this location at the Itasca County Fairgrounds. The Junction is a good place to grab lunch or dinner. On a beautiful winter day, the Junction is always full of snowmobilers, and we were pleasantly surprised by their wide variety of menu, and very friendly staff. The Junction also sells gas to fill up before you head south to Grand Rapids. This will be a full day ride up to Togo and back to Taconite Trail parking lot located at the Itasca County Fairgrounds in Grand Rapids. This is an approximately 140 -mile round trip. The trails you will experience are mixed forest, tamarack bogs, around through small lakes and tall pine forests. Taconite Snowmobile Trail

Riding Day 2: The Driftskipper Snowmobile Trail to Harry’s Bar in Hill City. Start at the Itasca Driftskippers Club House (33455 Wagon Wheel Court Rd, Grand Rapids, MN 55744). There is plenty of parking for trucks and trailers to load and unload. The trail head is right at their parking lot. Once you are on the Driftskippers Trail this will take you all the way into Hill City to Harry’s Bar spur. If you want to add more riding you can add the Cook Lake Trail and the Splithand Trail. Harry’s Bar in Hill City is welcoming to snowmobilers. This bar/grill provides a relaxed feel. They specialize in smoked meats, burger baskets, and daily specials. This is a family-friendly place to stop. There are two gas stations in Hill City to fill up and pick up snacks too. This is an approximately 45 mile round trip, so perfect for a morning or afternoon ride. You can ride from the south-end hotels in Grand Rapids to the Itasca Driftskippers Clubhouse, plan on adding approximately 15 miles. On this trail you will experience mixed pine and hardwood forests, riding around and through tamarack bogs, riding across lakes, and in town riding.

Where to Stay

There are many trails to Snowmobile in Grand Rapids, MN, that you will want to ride multiple days. There are many overnight lodging properties that are located on the Itasca County Snowmobile Trail system, have a spur trail to their location, and or are not far to ride across a lake or trailer to a main parking area.

Grand Rapids, MN offers a wide variety of overnight lodging properties like conveniently located in town Hotels and Motels, open year round resorts and vacation rentals located on frozen lakes, historic and charming bed and breakfasts located in town and on Pokegama Lake. These properties offer a wide variety of amenities like on-site bar/restaurant, continental breakfast, in-room service, pool, hot tub, and conveniently located on or near the winter trails. Search Grand Rapids Lodging Options HERE.

Snowmobile Resources

Snowmobiling in Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the perfect winter getaway trip to northern Minnesota. Make sure that you have the proper Minnesota Snowmobile Registration on your snowmobile and your insurance in up to date. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is a good source for this information HERE. If you are looking for an interactive statewide snowmobile map, take a look HERE. If you do not own a snowmobile, and you would like to rent, give R&R Rental in Grand Rapids a call: 218-999-7368 or view their website HERE.

View the Itasca County Snowmobile Trail Map to help you plan your Snowmobile Trip to Grand Rapids, MN HERE.

Fat Tire Biking | Grand Rapids, MN

Fat Tire Bike Riding in the Grand Rapids, mN Area

In Grand Rapids, Minnesota there are 32 miles of trails to ride. The three most popular groomed trails are Tioga Recreation Area (20 miles of groomed trails), Legion Trail (7 miles of occasionally groomed trails), and Forest History Center (approximately 5 miles of groomed trails). Please note that the Forest History Center is not open on a regular basis throughout the winter, but they are open Saturdays in December for Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides, and during certain winter dates for winter programming events. During these days you are able to ride their fat tire bike trails. All of these fat tire bike trails are part of the Ride The Range mountain bike trail system, where you can ride over 200 miles of groomed trails within a 80 mile radius in Northeastern Minnesota.

Tioga Recreation Area

The Tioga Recreation Area is your best bet for weekly groomed fat tire biking trails in the Grand Rapids, MN area. The Grand Rapids and Itasca Mountain Bike Association volunteers groom weekly at Tioga. There are approximately 20 miles of groomed trails to ride at Tioga. Each week the volunteers ensure that the trails are in good riding condition. Visiting the GRIMBA Website HERE before heading out to ride is a good idea so that you know what the riding conditions are. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram as well.

The City of Cohasset and GRIMBA worked together to create a world-class, single-track trail that offers multiple level riding from green to double black diamond. Which means there is a trail for every level of rider. The entire family will find fun and exhilarating trails to ride. The City of Cohasset and GRIMBA together maintain the trails, with GRIMBA taking the lead on grooming.

The trails at Tioga overlook Tioga Pit Lake and Pokegama Lake (backwaters of the Mississippi River). Therefore making it a part of the Great River Road and Mississippi River Trail systems.

Find more information about Tioga Recreation Area HERE.

Legion Trail

The Legion Trail is a multi-level trail system where people can cross country ski, snowshoe, and fat tire bike. There is designated trails for each type of winter outdoor recreation sport. The main trail system is a hiking trail Spring-Fall, and then is the groomed cross country ski trail. This trail is groomed each week for cross country skiing. There is lights that automatically turn on at 5pm and around 11pm.

Then there is a randomly groomed, single-track, fat tire bike trail system that is perfect for low snow conditions. There is something very special about creating your own tracks in low snow conditions. Once a good freeze, this trail sets up nicely. Riding there is 32 degrees or less.

For snowshoeing, this area has 15 acres of forest land that can be snowshoed. This land wraps around Hale Lake, and sit adjacent to the Grand Rapids High School and The Reif Performing Arts Center. If you can hike, you can snowshoe, and equipment is relatively low cost, and if you don’t want to buy, you can rent snowshoes at Ardent Bicycles.

Forest History Center

The Forest History Center is open on Saturdays in December for their Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides through the forest. Find details about these events HERE. When the Forest History Center is open, and with admission, people can ride Fat Tire Bikes on their 200+ acres of forest trails. In the winter they groomed trails for cross country skiing, and pack trails for fat tire biking. Please be aware of which trails are for which outdoor winter activity.

If you are looking for a unique ride, and some interesting historic education programming events, then the Forest History Center is a perfect Grand Rapids Area Attraction to visit in the winter. There is programming scheduled each month on a Saturday throughout the winter.

Where To Stay

In Grand Rapids, Minnesota you will find that all properties are welcoming to fat tire biking. You will find a wide variety of overnight lodging. There are in-town and conveniently located Motels and Hotels, open year-round resort cabins and vacation rentals, and charming bed and breakfasts. There are a wide variety of amenities available at these properties from on-site bar/restaurant, pool, hot tubs, continental breakfast, cooked to order breakfast, in-room services, full kitchens, in-room fridge, kitchenettes, multiple bedrooms, and multiple bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and located on trails and area lakes.

Whether you are looking for a place that you can ride your bike to the trails, looking to rent an entire cabin or vacation rental home, or if you are looking for a pool and hot tub to soak in after a hard days fat tire biking in Grand Rapids…you will find many places to stay.

Find Places to Stay in Grand Rapids HERE.

Eat, Drink and Be Entertained in Grand Rapids

After you have worked up a hearty appetite on the bike trails, you will find that Grand Rapids, MN offers a wide variety of places to eat & drink, and places where you can enjoy live performances, events and live music.

Locally owned breweries like Klockow Brewing Co and Rapids Brewing Co. Unwined Up North which is a Minnesota Wine Bar that sells Minnesota Wine and Craft Beer. Then you will find the locally owned restaurants that are a Grand Rapids tradition like Dotties, Forest Lake Restaurant, Sammy’s Pizza, and Timberlake Restaurant. Places that have lake views like Zorbaz, and Pickled Loon Saloon. If you are looking for authentic ethnic cuisine then you should check out Fuji Japenes Grill, El Potro and Mucho Si. And there are the restaurants that are located outside of Grand Rapids that are a must stop like Antler Lodge, Cedar Creek Grille, Florio’s Tavern, Rileys, Sportsman Cafe, The Locker Room, Timberwolf Inn, and Wizards Bar.& Grill. Find fun places to eat & drink HERE.

Every week the local breweries, bars & grills offer free live music and events. And The Reif Performing Center offers Broadway style theater, concerts and more. Their performance calendar is full this winter. Find more details about the Grand Rapids Winter Events HERE.

Get Cozy Up North This Winter | Grand Rapids, MN

Cozy Lodging

This winter head north to Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Get Cozy Up North. Grand Rapids, Minnesota has a wide variety of warm and cozy overnight lodging options to choose from. There are in town Hotels and Motels that offer a wide variety of on-site amenities and are close to shops, restaurants, and in town trails. There are two Bed & Breakfasts that have on site owners that make from scratch breakfasts. Both are historic, quaint, and charming. Perfect for a winter couples getaway up north. Then there are open year round Minnesota resorts that are located on pristine lakes where you can access snowmobile trails, ice fish, cross country ski and snowshoe. And then you will find vacation rentals that are located in town, above commercial properties, on beautiful area lakes, and on the trails. The choice is yours, book early for the best selection of dates HERE.

Featured Lodging: Timberlake Lodge Hotel & Restaurant (donating two-nights lodging to the Get Cozy Up North Sweepstakes) this three-story craftsman-style building with 84 unique and beautifully furnished guest rooms cater to the business traveler, the couple on a getaway, and vacationing family. Whatever you are looking for, their quality rooms coupled with the relaxing beauty of the area, create a restful experience. They also offer pet-friendly options and extended stay accommodations for those who are looking to spend a little more time in our great northern Minnesota community.

Fun Places to Eat & drink

There are many fun places to eat & drink where it is warm and cozy inside in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. There are a wide variety of places from locally owned breweries, a wine bar, locally owned winery, fine dining, the places where the locals go, and ethnic cuisine. There is something for everyone. The two local breweries are Klockow Brewing Company and Rapids Brewing Co. The wine bar is Unwined Up North, and the winery is Smoke on the Water. Fine dining can be found at Timberlake Restaurant, Forest Lake Restaurant, Cedar Creek Restaurant, and Timberwolf Restaurant. The place where all of the locals go are Sammy’s Pizza, Florios Grill and Tavern, The Locker Room, Antler Lodge, Sportsman Cafe, Brewed Awakenings, Dottie’s Cafe, and The Dutchroom. You can even pick-up a charcuterie board to go from places like NoPo Kitchen, HR Bar + Bistro, Four Seasons Meats, and S&S Meats. You can find our dining listings for the greater Grand Rapids, MN area HERE.

Featured Places to Eat & Drink: Rapids Brewing Co (donating a $100 gift card to the Get Cozy Up North Sweepstakes). With 16 locally craft beer on tap, they also offer amazing wood fired pizza and other seasonal menu items, and offer alcoholic and non-alcoholic craft cocktails as well. They have weekly live music and other events that are open to the public. Smoke on the Water (donating a $100 gift card to the Get Cozy Up North Sweepstakes).A production owned winery and cider facility with a wood fired kitchen and crafted bar located in neighboring community Coleraine, MN. The on-site wine and cider production is coming soon. Right now they are partnering with MN wineries and MN craft beer facilities for daily service.

Outdoor Fun Up North

There is something very special about being outdoors in the winter. The vantage point that you get is breathtaking, no pun intended. If you dress for the weather, in layers, you will find that the outdoor exercise in the winter really warms the soul. Getting outdoors in the winter sunshine gives the body much needed vitamin D. Staying active year round helps with stress too. Snowshoeing is a great way to get outside to walk, basically. Snowshoes are an inexpensive way to get out in the winter months in Minnesota’s nature. The wintery forest snow covered landscape provides for a beautiful snowshoe hike at Tioga Recreation Area, or at Simpson Creek or at the Lost Forty, both located in the Chippewa National Forest.

Another great way to get outside for activity in the winter is cross country skiing. You can rent without buying first to see if you would like the sport. Many times in the early season (November/December timeframe) you will find ski swamps through local cross country ski clubs, ski hills, and through community centers. Ardent Bicycles is a great place in Grand Rapids to rent cross country ski equipment. There are two lit trails so you can ski at night: Boswell MN Power Trail in Cohasset and Legion Trail located at the Reif Center parking lot. Both stay lit until around 10pm. Skiing at night is a wonderful experience, and with a lit trail it is like skiing by candle light on a well-groomed trail. A true winter outdoor recreation bucket list activity. Find all of our Cross Country Ski Trails and mapping information HERE.

In the greater Grand Rapids, Minnesota area there are over 300 miles of snowmobile trails. This means that in whatever direction you want to go you can travel via snowmobile for hundreds of miles. Our trails connect to the state famous Taconite Trail and the Soo Line Trail, which once you are on you can snowmobile to WI. The Itasca County Snowmobile Trails run from Hill City north to Togo and east to Keewatin and west to Northome. Here in the greater Grand Rapids, Minnesota area there are 13 snowmobile clubs that groomed trails every week. The Itasca County trails are some of the best in the state of Minnesota! Download the Itasca County Snowmobile Map HERE.

Minnesota is the state of 10,000 lakes…and lots of fish. The Grand Rapids, MN area has 1,400 frozen lakes with robust amounts of fish. Walleye, Crappie, Northern Pike and more. Throughout the winter months, snowmobiles, four-wheelers and side by sides traverse the frozen lakes, bringing the dedicated outdoorsman to his ice house. The reward? A catch of hard-won fresh fish. The Grand Rapids area has some of the best ice fishing destinations, and has been referred to as an “Ice Fisherman’s Paradise” – with an abundance of interconnected lakes, creeks, and ponds perfect for fishing success. Find weekly ice fishing reports, ice fishing guides and more HERE.

In the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area there are approximately 50 miles of groomed fat tire biking trails. These are off the beaten path trails that range from novice to expert level. There are trails for every member of the family. The Tioga Recreation Area has roughly 15 winter groomed trails to ride; groomed weekly by the Grand Rapids and Itasca Mountain Bike Association (GRIMBA) Snowshoers are welcome at Tioga as long as they stay off the groomed trails. There is over 200 acres to snowshoe on at Tioga. Then there is Legion Trail that is groomed by the GRIMBA as well. At Legion there are single track fat tire bike trails, groomed cross country ski trails and approximately 15 acres to snowshoe (making sure to stay off the groomed trails). And within one and a half hours of Grand Rapids, there are over 100 additional winter biking trails you can ride at Ride The Range. Learn more about Fat Tire Biking in the Grand Rapids, MN area HERE.

Be Entertained

Grand Rapids, Minnesota is home to a hidden gem of a theater called The Reif Performing Arts Center. Featuring live music, theater and dance as well as an art gallery. Each year, the Reif hosts more than 50 national and international touring performances, representing a diverse range of artistic disciplines, including musicians, classical and contemporary dancers, musical theater, children’s theater, comedy – the list goes on! In addition to the Reif Center, the local craft breweries: Rapids Brewing Co and Klockow Brewing Co, the wine bar: Unwined Up North offer weekly live music, comedy events, and other live entertainment opportunities on a regular basis. The Grand Rapids, MN area Events Calendar is full year round! View the Calendar HERE.

Historic Attractions, Sites & Beautiful Art

Grand Rapids, Minnesota has many historic attractions, sites, and buildings that date back to the late 1800’s still standing and available for self-guided tour. The Old Central School is one of the oldest original structure buildings in downtown Grand Rapids. The style is Romanesque and it was built in 1894. Once a school K-12, then converted into a retail space. Today it is open to the public Monday-Friday 9am-5pm for a self-guided tour. Featured Historic Attractions: The Judy Garland Museum (donating 4 VIP tours and a gift to the Get Cozy Up North Sweepstakes) The Judy Garland Museum® is home to an eclectic Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz collection, Judy’s 1920’s restored Birthplace Home, the Children’s Discovery Museum, on 2 acres of Minnesota beauty. The Museum hosts thoughtfully curated exhibits and artifacts, including the original Carriage featured in “The Wizard of Oz”, a Dorothy Gale test dress worn by Judy Garland, and many personal Judy Garland items collected over the last 40 years. The Itasca County Historical Society (donating 4 Escape Room admissions to the Get Cozy Up North Sweepstakes). Come take a step back in time at the Itasca County Historical Society. Their mission is to connect people with the history of Itasca County. The River Room is a must see while visiting because it has a local artist mural within the exhibit, and historic artifacts from the Mississippi River. The Historical Society is also home to the Escape Room, and right now the theme is Bigfoot’s Backyard. Find more historic attractions, and beautiful art in the Grand Rapids, MN area HERE.

Chance To Win A Winter Family Getaway

Visit Grand Rapids has partnered with Grand Rapids, MN area businesses to present the Get Cozy Up North Sweepstakes. Enter for a chance to win a two-night stay for a family of four to Grand Rapids, Minnesota that includes: two-nights stay at Timberlake Lodge Hotel, $100 gift card to Rapids Brewing Co, $100 gift certificate to Smoke on the Water, 4 tickets to a VIP Judy Garland Tour and Children’s Museum, 4 tickets to the Itasca County Historical Society Escape Room, and a winter welcome basket valued at over $150. The Get Cozy Up North Trip Prize Package is worth $850! ENTER NOW

Snowshoeing in Grand Rapids, MN

Snowshoeing for Beginners

Snowshoeing in Grand Rapids, MN is a great way to explore the forest in northern Minnesota. Winter can be experienced in two ways, snuggled up indoors enjoying the warmth, or layering up and exploring Minnesota’s nature. One of the best ways to experience the outdoors in the winter is by snowshoeing. This is an activity that anyone can do! Below are the Top tips for snowshoeing for beginners. In addition, resources for rentals and guides.

Tips!

Layer up. Minnesota winter can be chilly especially if you’re snowshoeing near water. Wear snow pants, waterproof winter boots, a hat, gloves, and a warm winter coat. Make sure to check the weather before going out.
Bring a friend or go with a guide! If it is your first time going out snowshoeing, it is a great idea to have someone with you.
If you’re snowshoeing out at Tioga or anywhere where the trails have wooden bridges make sure not to use your poles to avoid them getting stuck in the bridge.
Check out trail info before hitting the trails.
Make sure your snowshoes and poles are adjusted properly.

How to adjust snowshoes to fit: https://fb.watch/a0Id3ta4jq/

purchase or rent

If you do not own your own snowshoes, don’t worry…

Places to Rent:

Ardent Bicycles
218-999-5470
951 NW 4th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://www.ardentbicycles.com/

Places to Purchase:
Glen’s
218-326-1201
701 NW 4th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://www.glensoutdoors.com/

L&M Fleet Supply
218-326-2926
1400 S Pokegama Ave, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://www.landmsupply.com/

Ardent Bicycles
218-999-5470
951 NW 4th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://www.ardentbicycles.com/

places to snowshoe

Top Trails to Explore include Tioga Recreation, Forest History Center, Soumi Hills, Sugar Hills, Joyce Estates, Legion Park Trails, Simpson Creek, and Wabana. Visit the Snowshoeing Page to see trail maps and the level of difficulty of each trail.

Cozy Lodging

Grand Rapids, MN offers a lot of overnight lodging options from in town Hotels, Motels, Air B&B and Bed and Breakfasts. You will also find MN Resorts cabins that are open year round, and lake vacation rentals. The decision on what type of lodging can be searched based on the amenities that you are looking for. In town lodging is close to in-town trails, shopping and dining. Cabins and vacation rentals are located on beautiful lakes and near trails systems. For snowshoeing you don’t need designated trails. Just make sure that if you are on a cross country ski trail or a mountain bike trail that you cross the trail at a 90 degree angle to not disrupt the grooming. Find Grand Rapids Lodging HERE.

Fun places to eat & drink

Snowshoeing can work up quite the appetite. Grand Rapids, MN might be a small town, but it boosts fun places to eat & drink. Whether you are looking for a quick bite on the run, or you are looking to sit down at the favorite place the locals go, you have options! There are two craft breweries and a MN wine bar in addition to some franchise properties and locally owned restaurants. Find fun places to Eat & Drink HERE.

Ice Fishing In Grand Rapids, MN

ice fish for panfish to trophy fish

Ice Fishing For Panfish

The Grand Rapids, Minnesota area has over 1,400 lakes that provide great opportunities for ice fishing. You will catch panfish to trophy fish on these lakes. Grand Rapids, Minnesota offers a wide variety of lodging options, and fun places to eat & drink. Book your Ice Fishing Trip to Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

For the most part panfish have been the choice of most anglers and until the ice conditions improve for mobility, accesses close to shore for foot travel seem to be best. Bluegills and crappies have been biting on small baits tipped with wax worms or euro larvae in 12-20 feet especially in and around weed beds. With less oxygen available with deep snow amounts on area lakes, it becomes important to find locations that have scattered weeds. Panfish need oxygen and food and are very good at finding both measures of existence in weeds that hold both. These are areas that consistently produce catches of both crappies and bluegills.

Lite line can be key when fishing panfish especially in clear water. 2-4 pound test mono or fluoro carbon are essentially the best choices for sometimes finicky bluegills and crappies. Because of their food choices, smaller baits in sizes 1-64^th to 1/16^th sizes are preferred when fishing both species. They are feeding on very small micro organisms and larvae so small is best. Very lite rods are too a necessity to detect very lit bites and pay attention to the soft rod tip on a quality ice rod.

Some of the good area lakes to try are Big Bass in Cohasset, Rice Lake, Loon, Little Moose, and Little and Big Splithand lakes. All of the mentioned lakes have good populations crappies and bluegills. For a lake that has produced good to excellent opportunities for nice perch, give Big Jay Gould a shot. It’s one of the better perch lakes in the area.

Ice Fishing For Walleye

Walleye fishing has been good on area lakes and there has been some nice catches reported on several bodies of water. Ealy and late in the day seem to be the best times to try, but on overcast or cloudy days there seems to be a window of opportunity. Depth can vary right now depending on where you chose to fish. Big Winnie has been producing a mixed bag of walleyes and nice perch on shore line breaks and rock humps closer to shore. With the added amounts of heavy snow these are you best options until things firm up a bit.

Some lakes in the Grand Rapids area that offer good opportunities for ice fishing for walleyes: are Wabana, Pokegama, Big Splihand, Moose, and Trout Lake in Coleraine. Looking for a memorable ice fishing trip to Grand Rapids, Minnesota? Book an ice fishing guide trip with Lyle Unger (Grand Rapids Guide Service) or Jeff Johnson (Northern Drift Outfitters).

Women Like To Ice Fish Too!

Ice fishing is not just for the guys! Quiana Radaich enjoys to ice fish with her fiancé, Bryce Bushing, and they fish every chance they get. Ice fishing is one of the winter outdoor sports that doesn’t take a ton of gear to get started. Investing in warm pair of bibs and jacket, and gloves will help make the experience much better. There are a lot of companies that are making outdoor gear for women now. Then a good rod and reel combo, some tackle, either a hand drill or an electric ice auger, and a bucket and you can start ice fishing. If you are looking to invest a little bit more money, purchase a pop-up ice house and a little portable heater and you can fish all day. The pop-up ice houses are light or portable that you can pull yourself or attach to a four-wheeler or snowmobile easily. So, guys don’t leave the girls at home! Ice fishing is the perfect couple and/or family winter outdoor activity where great memories are made.

Places To Stay

While on your ice fishing trip to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, you are going to book your lodging prior to arrival. Being a hockey town our weekends book early. Mid-week will give you a lot more availability. If you are looking to come up on a weekend, and the in-town Hotels, Motels, and Vacation Rentals are booked, check out the Resort Cabins, and Lake Vacation Rentals. There are many Resorts that are open year round that are located on prime ice fishing lakes. Find places to stay HERE.

Eat & Drink Local

Grand Rapids, Minnesota has a wide variety of places to eat & drink. You will find several of the fast food options on the south and east end of town. Then there are the local favorites like Timberlake Lodge Restaurant, Sammy’s Pizza, Forest Lake Restaurant, Pickled Loon Saloon, Unwined Up North, Boulder Tap House, Fuji, El Potro, Cedar Creek Grille and Florio’s. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is home to two craft breweries as well: Klockow Brewing Co and Rapids Brewing Co. View all of the places to eat and drink in Grand Rapids, Minnesota HERE.

Why Shoulder Season Is The Best Time To Visit | Grand Rapids, MN

Shoulder Season Travel

Why shoulder season is the best time to visit Grand Rapids, Minnesota? Many Reasons! For many visitors, a up north trip is preferred in the summer months. But, we have a little secret for you, come in the shoulder season. Here is why…

Rates are cheaper at Minnesota Resorts, in town Hotels and Motels, charming Bed and Breakfasts, and Vacation Rentals. Grand Rapids, Minnesota offers a wide variety of short-term lodging options. Whether you are looking for an urban oasis Air B&B, to seek solitude at an off the beaten bath Vacation Rental, be close to the shops and fun places to eat & drink, or a cabin with a view. You will find the options HERE.

There are many things to do during the shoulder season in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The boutique shops are open year round. There are many Broadway style theater performances at The Reif Center. MacRostie Art Center and the Grand Rapids Arts host monthly art events. Many area attractions are also open year round. The breweries and other local bars and restaurants host live music and events weekly. And, there is a million accessible public forest acres to explore. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a small town with lots of shoulder season travel options.

Shoulder Season Lodging Options

Traveling during shoulder season gives opportunities at deals for lodging. Typically the rates drop for overnight lodging with discounts between 30-40% from peak season (June-August). This allows you to either stay longer, or to have more money to do things while you are in town. Grand Rapids, Minnesota might be a small town, but it doesn’t lack lodging options! You will find over 37 lodging options on www.visitgrandrapids.com/stay website. There are in town Hotels and Motels. There are two charming and historic Bed & Breakfasts. There are many Vacation Rentals By Owner. And there are several Minnesota Resorts that are open year round. All of these beautiful properties give visitors the option of in town, off the beaten path, full amenities, close to trails, rent the entire cabin/vacation rental or have room service delivered right to your room. Find your ideal Shoulder Season Lodging in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Things To Do In The Shoulder Season

Some assume that during the shoulder season small towns shut down, but not the case for Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Only a couple of area attractions close for regular season (June-August) but even these have special events and programming throughout the year. The Judy Garland Museum and Children’s Discovery Museum is a prime example; they change their hours, but they are open year round. The Itasca County Historical Museum and Escape Room are open year round as well; a must stop is to tour the Mississippi River Room. Downtown is a great place to come during shoulder season to take a Self-Guided Grand Rapids Art & Historic Site Walk. MacRostie Art Center offers two art galleries with new monthly exhibits, a gift shop, and a classroom for art classes year round. The locally owned boutique shops are open year round as well, and offer unique art, home decor, gift, clothing, jewelry, vintage, repurposed, and sustainable goods. Find places to Shop in Grand Rapids. The local breweries and locally owned restaurants and bars are open year round as well, and many offer weekly specials, events and live music each week. Find Fun Places To Eat & Drink in Grand Rapids. View the year round Grand Rapids, MN Area Events Calendar.

Be Entertained In The Shoulder Season

Grand Rapids, Minnesota has a hidden gem called The Reif Performing Art Center. This state of the art facility offers two theaters for amazing up close and personal live performance experiences. The Reif’s peak season is the travel shoulder season. They offer over 50 performances September to May of each year. This means coming to Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the shoulder season will give you an opportunity to take in a Broadway style theater performance. There are performances for all audiences, so be sure to check out the family friendly performances. The local breweries, restaurants and bars are open year round, and offer weekly live music and events that will entertain you will you drink and dine. Many of the entertainment is free. Throughout the shoulder season there are also premiere annual events like Shop Hops, Bargains Are Great On Hwy 38, First Friday Art Walks, Christmas in the Logging Camp, and Frozen Fairway. Make sure to check out our full Events Calendar before you arrive to know what events are happening HERE.

Discover Minnesota's Nature In The Shoulder Season

One of the main reasons why shoulder season is the best time to visit Grand Rapids, Minnesota is because you have the opportunity to slow down, reconnect together and recharge in Minnesota’s nature. The Grand Rapids, MN area has over 1 million publicly accessible forest acres where you can hike, bike, hunt, ATV, fish, snowmobile, snowshoe, and cross country ski. Discover the many trails that you can enjoy Outdoor Recreation in the Grand Rapids, MN area.

The Chippewa National Forest surrounds Grand Rapids, Minnesota. You will find many designated and well-maintained and mapped trails. During the shoulder seasons starting in October the forest changing and gives you a place to seek peace. Once the leaves fall, the forest point of view changes to allow you a front row seat to wildlife. There are no leaves that get in the way of viewing soring eagles ahead, and other northern Minnesota wildlife like deer, rabbits, and fox that are seeking food and places to rest in the forest. Many visitors seek the forest during this time of the year because they get a sense of calm, and find the solitude of the forest allows them to regain balance in their life.

Start Planning Your Shoulder Season Trip To Grand Rapids, Minnesota

You can start your shoulder season trip to Grand Rapids that is located in northern Minnesota by viewing the interactive Grand Rapids Visitor Guide. This guide gives you ideas for things to do all year long, showcases the amenities of overnight lodging, and highlights outdoor recreation trails and lakes.

Another way to start your planning is to view the Visit Grand Rapids website which highlights everything you need to know about visiting the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area. Learn more by viewing www.visitgrandrapids.com now!

Girlfriend Getaway to Grand Rapids MN

The fall and winter seasons are perfect for a Girlfriend Getaway to Grand Rapids, MN. You will find cozy lodging, craft breweries, wine bars, salons and spas to get pampered, boutique style shops, craft shows, holiday open houses, live music and theater performances, and fun places to eat & drink, and art and historic sites. A great weekend to consider is the first weekend in November, which also happens to be Minnesota Deer Hunting Opener. Grand Rapids has many events going on, several craft shows and holiday open houses, and available overnight lodging.

Cozy Lodging

Grand Rapids is a perfect up north destination that provides a wide variety of places to stay. The Grand Rapids Area Resorts offer cabins and Vacation Rentals offer lake homes to rent for a couple of days or more. This gives you multiple bedrooms with twin to king size beds, pull out sofa’s, and futons to expand sleeping options. Cabins can sleep 2-12 people. Many resorts have newer up-to-date cabins that offer full kitchens with dishwashers, wifi, and cable or satellite TV. Many of these properties are located on the lake or have lake views. There are several Grand Rapids Hotels and 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 & Breakfasts or Air B&B’s downtown which are also close to town to trails, shops, area lakes and places to eat & drink. View all 37 Grand Rapids, MN Lodging Properties HERE.

Get Pampered

at our local Spa Service Providers in town. True North Salon & Spa is located within Historic Old Central School in the center of downtown. They offer facials, hair services (cuts, blowouts, styling, etc). They are an exclusive Aveda salon. There is Salon Brad which offers full-service hair and waxing services. Center Space MN offers med spa and day spa services. Muah Spa & Salon offers day services like hair and nail services and massages. Elements Salon & Spa Services offers hair services, facials and massages. And then you will want to talk with your lodging property to see if they have a list of massage therapists that they know that might come directly to the property for a group.

Eat & Drink Local

Start your day out right at one of the local coffee shops like: NoPo Coffee Company, Brewed Awakenings/Bixby’s. For lunch and dinner we suggest Hotel Rapids + Bistro, Rapids Brewing, Unwined Up North, Florio’s Grill & Tavern, Timberlake Restaurant, Sammy’s Pizza, Forest Lake Restaurant, Pickled Loon Saloon, Zorbaz, Boulder Tap House, El Potro, Fuji Japanese Restaurant, Smoke on the Water, and Cedar Creek Grille. Or maybe, you are looking to cook with your Girlfriends. With two locations for SuperOne Grocery Stores you can shop local from fresh produce, bakery, deli and meat to cook at your own cabin or vacation home rental.

Create Memories

A great way for you and your girlfriends to spend time together is creating something to take home as a memory of your time together. In Grand Rapids we have a rich artistic culture to create art in a natural setting. MacRostie Art Center offers a wide variety of art classes for beginners to advanced students. They can also connect you with an artists that would be interested in coming to you to teach a class. Classes range from painting, pottery, jewelry making, paper making, etc. Classes that they have coming up at their facility are: Wine, Paint & Canvas; Beer Bowls and Bites; Wine, Words & Art.

Seek Outdoor Adventure

Take advantage of the natural setting of Grand Rapids, MN by getting out into nature and experiencing something unique like hiking the Lost Forty. Bicycling the Mesabi Trail or Mountain Biking at Tioga Recreation Area. Snowshoeing at Tioga Recreation Area or Simpson Creek. Cross Country Skiing the Suomi Trail or Legion Trail. Downhill Skiing, snow tubing or cross country skiing at Mt Itasca. Ardent Bicycles offers mountain bike, snowshoe and cross country ski rentals. If you do not feel comfortable in going on trails by yourself, Ardent Bicycle may be able to provide guide services or know of someone who would be interested in guided for a fee. We empower you to get outside in Minnesota’s nature to experience the woods, trails and water. They truly have a positive mental health impact, and allows you to regain balance.

Be Entertained

If after-hours entertainment is something your group desires, check out our Things To Do page. Grand Rapids, Minnesota offers weekly live music at our craft breweries: Klockow Brewing Co and Rapids Brewing Co. The Reif Center provides an opportunity to attend Broadway style productions, live music concerts, and comedy shows. Check out the Events Calendar to view the weekly line-up of nightlife in Grand Rapids. Upcoming at the Reif Center is Neil Diamond Tribute Band on November 4, 2023 at 7pm.

Boutique Style Shops, Craft Shows & Holiday Open Houses

Grand Rapids, MN is filled with little boutique style shops that offer one-of-a-kind unique items that you cannot find anywhere else. You will find clothing & shoes, up-north goods, Minnesota made, antiques, vintage, and home décor. Here are some of our favorites: Bender’s Shoes & Gifts, Wings & Willow, Central Square Mall, Itasca County Historical Society Gift Shop, North in Bloom, Thousand Lakes Sporting Goods, Lake + Company, Annabella’s Antique Mall, Shaw Florists, MacRostie Art Center Gallery, Frame Up 218, The Antique Company, Red Willow Co, The Evergreen, and Clara Cupboard Llc.

In addition to the boutique style shops in Grand Rapids, the first weekend of November there are over 10 craft shows, and holiday open houses. This is a great time to start your holiday shopping! And then from October to December the local shops will be hosting Holiday Open Houses that are fun to view their new holiday decor and gifts.

We hope that we have given you inspiration to book a Girlfriend Getaway to Grand Rapids, MN. Download the Interactive Grand Rapids Visitor Guide for even more Girlfriend Getaway inspiration.

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Romantic Getaway

Warm & Cozy Lodging

Fun Places to Eat & Drink

Outdoor Recreation

Entertaining Historic Attractions

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Grand Rapids MN Ice Fishing Report 1-10-24

Grand Rapids MN Ice Fishing by Sam Wastensee and Bryce Busching

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Grand Rapids Ice Fishing Report 1-3-24

Grand rapids Ice Fishing Report by Sam & Bryce

Snowmobiling in Grand Rapids, MN

Sample Snowmobile Trip Itinerary From Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Where to Stay

Snowmobile Resources

Fat Tire Bike Riding in the Grand Rapids, mN Area

Tioga Recreation Area

Legion Trail

Forest History Center

Where To Stay

Eat, Drink and Be Entertained in Grand Rapids

Cozy Lodging

Fun Places to Eat & drink

Outdoor Fun Up North

Be Entertained

Historic Attractions, Sites & Beautiful Art

Chance To Win A Winter Family Getaway

Snowshoeing for Beginners

Tips!

purchase or rent

places to snowshoe

Cozy Lodging

Fun places to eat & drink

ice fish for panfish to trophy fish

Ice Fishing For Panfish

Ice Fishing For Walleye

Women Like To Ice Fish Too!

Places To Stay

Eat & Drink Local

Shoulder Season Travel

Shoulder Season Lodging Options

Things To Do In The Shoulder Season

Be Entertained In The Shoulder Season

Discover Minnesota's Nature In The Shoulder Season

Start Planning Your Shoulder Season Trip To Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Cozy Lodging

Get Pampered

Eat & Drink Local

Create Memories

Seek Outdoor Adventure

Be Entertained

Boutique Style Shops, Craft Shows & Holiday Open Houses

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