Making summer memories on vacation is all about reconnecting with loved ones, recharging your batteries, and relaxing in Minnesota’s nature. A summer vacation up north with your loved one’s is about the deeper connections you make and the stories that you will always share. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the perfect up north summer vacation destination. You will find a wide variety of short-term lodging options to gather together in, charming boutique style shops, fun places to eat & drink, beautiful public art & historic sites, summer events and festivals, and a lot of outdoor recreation opportunities! This summer make memories in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
A summer vacation in Grand Rapids allows you to do as little or as much as you want. In Grand Rapids, Minnesota, there is a wide variety of places to stay in Grand Rapids. There are conveniently located in town Hotels and Motels that offer a variety of on-site amenities like a pool, restaurants, continental breakfast, walkable shops and restaurants, and in town trails. There are two charming Bed and Breakfasts where the host provides a clean and comfortable bedroom, access to the home gathering spaces, and breakfast each morning. You will also find in town Air B&B’s that are located above downtown shops that have room to spread out, kitchens, and separate bedrooms. The Vacation Rentals are in town and on area lakes that offer you kitchens, living rooms, separate bedrooms. Minnesota Family Resorts are located on one of of 1,400 pristine lakes, offer full kitchens, living room areas, screened in porches, firepits, dock slips, and water toys. The choice is yours.
Minnesota Summer vacations are best spent up north at the lake! In the greater Grand Rapids, MN area you will find over 1,400 lakes. These lakes range in size from less than a hundred acres to over 4,000 acres. On thousand grand lakes you can paddle, fish, swim, boat, ski, tube, and just float. “Going to the Lake” in the number one summer vacation memory. “Fishing” is a main activity that most resort guests say they enjoyed while on their Grand Rapids, MN Summer Vacation. From panfish to trophy fish like walleye, northern and musky; we have a lake to catch them on. All of our Minnesota Family Resorts offer boat rentals, but you can fish from the dock, shore or a fishing pier too. There is something special about watching a child catch their first fish. All you need is a fishing pole, a hook and some bait. The Grand Rapids Library lends out fishing poles and tackle where you can fish from their fishing pier on the Mississippi River. Fun for the entire family! Learn more about Lakes and Fishing in the Grand Rapids area.
Grand Rapids, Minnesota is known as the outdoor recreation mecca of the north. Whatever type of outdoor recreation that you enjoy, you will find a trail or lake to do it on. You will find over 2,000 miles of trails in the greater Grand Rapids, MN area. Many of these trails are in the Chippewa National Forest and George Washington State Forest. From ATVing, biking, hiking, mountain biking, paddling, fishing, and boating. Enjoy yourself in Minnesota’s nature. Take in the fresh air in our mixed forests of tall hardwood and pine trees, pristine clear lakes, or mighty Mississippi River. So many new outdoor recreation trails to make memories.
Grand Rapids is home to three championship level golf courses known as the Grand Lakes of Golf Courses; Sugarbrooke Golf Course,Pokegama Golf Course,Eagle Ridge Golf Course. Each course is beautifully manicured with different degrees of difficulty. All have cart rentals and restaurants on site. In addition to the three-championship courses, there is also several smaller 9-hole courses located in the greater Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Around the Grand Rapids, MN area there are several places to enjoy beautiful public art and historic sites. Tour a historic museum, 1900’s logging camp, Children’s Museum, or an art gallery. Take a self-guided public art tour in downtown Grand Rapids, walk across the Mississippi, or take in a live performance or concert at The Reif Center. There is probably way more to do than you would think in a small northern town. Grand Rapids boosts historic and art attractions that draw people from across the country.
Going out to eat while on vacation is a must. In Grand Rapids you will find a large selection of fun places to eat & drink from craft breweries, boat in options, a Minnesota wine bar, locally owned restaurants, places to get juicy bar burgers, fine dining, Mexican, Sushi, and more! This small town has locally owned restaurants that offer made from scratch and restaurants that work with local farmers for fresh and seasonal menu items. So, when you work up an appetite on the lakes and trails, sit down for a homemade meal from the places the locals like to eat and drink at.
This Northern Minnesota town offers BIG charm which is a perfect place to make vacation memories this summer. Grand Rapids is a going to the lake community that is an outdoor recreation mecca of the north. Enjoy time on our lakes and trails and take in the fresh air of the Minnesota forests. The official Visitor Guide has lots of information to help you plan your Grand Rapids, MN Summer Vacation.
Around the middle to end of March, Minnesotan’s get CABIN FEVER, and we seek a relaxing spring getaway. This year head to northern Minnesota where you will find cozy lodging, fun places to eat & drink, an abundance of outdoor recreation trails, live entertainment, beautiful public art and intriguing historic sites.
Cozy Lodging
The cozy lodging that is available in Grand Rapids, MN makes for a relaxing spring getaway. The wide variety of lodging properties grants you access to Minnesota’s nature whether you are staying in town at a Hotel, Motel, Bed & Breakfast or AirB&B, or you are staying at a Minnesota Resort or Vacation Lake Rental. The abundance of public accessible forest land, over 1 million acres, makes for many trails to seek solitude and recharge your soul. Discover a new place to Stay in Grand Rapids.
Explore The Outdoors
Even though you seek a relaxing spring getaway, we think that strolling through the forest in the spring will help recharge your soul. Grand Rapids, MN is The Outdoor Mecca of the North. With over 2,000 miles of trails and over 1,400 lakes. Being outside in the spring is wonderful to smell fresh grass, see the wildlife come to life, and take in the sunshine through the trees. For biking we suggest: the Mesabi Trail for over 100 mile paved bicycle trail, the Tioga Recreation Area for multi-level professionally built 25+ miles of mountain bike trails, and the Chippewa National Forest for hiking trails like the Suomi Trail, Lost Forty and Simpson Creek. If you are looking to paddle, Paddle Hoppers opens up in May for paddle rentals, sales and service right on the Mississippi River. Ardent Bicycle is a great place to rent mountain bikes. Grand Rapids Marine and R&R Rental offers fishing boat and pontoon rentals. Explore the Outdoors in Grand Rapids.
Fun Places To Eat & Drink
When you go on vacation, nobody wants to cook and clean-up, so our fun places to eat & drink will help you have a relaxing spring getaway. You probably think that all we eat in northern Minnesota is hotdish. Let’s be honest, we do love our hotdish, but we enjoy a charbroiled steak, fresh sushi, and Italian pasta. Our Grand Rapids restaurants range widely from rustic and charming to chef inspired dining. Each restaurant offers a local favorite like popovers, wild rice soup, and prime rib. You can work up quite the appetite out on our trails, so you can be sure that our restaurants are ready to serve you a quality meal when you are ready. Grand Rapids is home to two craft breweries (Klockow Brewing Co and Rapids Brewing Company), and a Minnesota Wine Bar: Unwined Up North. Our dining guide offers you a wide variety of fun places to eat & drink from all over the county. Find Fun Places to Eat & Drink.
Be Entertained
Come be entertained up north! The Reif Center is our world-class performing arts center that brings Broadway theater to northern Minnesota. This state of the art facility features two theaters that both offer you an up close and personal experience to the live performances. Every week there are several regular nightly entertainment events like live music, meat raffles, bingo, pub and paint classes, art classes, and more. Our Events Calendar is full of things to attend, so be sure to check it out before you arrive to ensure you get a ticket to the event you are interested in. Check out the Events Calendar.
Enjoy Minnesota Art & Historic Sites
This spring head north to enjoy stunning works of art throughout the community. While on your relaxing spring getaway, take a self-guided walking tour of the Grand Rapids Public Art & Historic Sites. You can walk this, bike this or drive this. All the works of art are located within 4 miles of each other. Many pieces of art are located outside, and many of them are located inside at MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids Area Public Library, Grand Rapids Post Office, Old Central School and the Reif Center. The Itasca County Historical Society offers a free museum, gift store and escape room. Their newest exhibit is the river room that showcases life on the Mississippi River. The mighty Mississippi runs right through downtown, a block south of the historical society. Take your time to enjoy the beauty and history of the town in downtown Grand Rapids. Discover Grand Rapids Area Attractions.
Relax, Reconnect & Recharge
A lot of times on vacation you just want to get away to seek rest and relaxation. We believe reconnecting with loved one’s and recharging your soul in Minnesota’s nature is right up there with relaxation. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is one of those small rural communities that allows you to do all of these things. This spring enjoy a slower paced life in northern Minnesota for a relaxing spring getaway. Sleep in at a cozy lodging property, enjoy breakfast at a local coffee shop, go for a hike in the forest to watch Minnesota’s wildlife come alive in the spring, and enjoy lunch and dinner out at one of our locally owned restaurants. There is plenty of things to do and see if you wish, but there is also an opportunity to slow down and regain perspective of what is important in life. Come discover Minnesota’s nature in Grand Rapids, Minnesota this spring for a Relaxing Spring Getaway. Before you come to town, view the interactive Grand Rapids Visitors Guide for more travel inspiration.
Enter To Win Relaxing Spring Getaway to Grand Rapids, MN
Cabin fever has set in, so its the perfect time to book a Spring Road Trip Girlfriend Getaways to Grand Rapids, MN. The springtime of the year allows you to get outside more to enjoy warmer weather, fresh buds on the trees and flowers starting to appear, and northern wildlife starts emerging from a long winter’s sleep. So, get your girlfriends together and have them check out the reasons why you should consider Grand Rapids, Minnesota as your next Spring Road Trip Girlfriend Getaway destination.
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 Lake Home Rentals 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 satelite TV. 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. Book at one of our 32 Grand Rapids Cozy Lodging Properties.
Get Pampered
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. Center Spa MN is a Mind and body fitness studio dedicated to providing intelligent instruction so that you get more out of every workout. 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.
Eat & Drink Local
Start your day out right at one of the local coffee shops like: NoPo Coffee Company is an adorable cafe that has great coffee, tea, and also offers a full drink and food menu. Brewed Awakenings is located in historic downtown that offers Minnesota based coffee, teas, homemade bakery items, breakfast sandwiches and fast and healthy luncheons to go. For dinner enjoy our two craft breweries where you can dine-in at Rapids Brewing, order take-in or order from a Food Truck at Klockow Brewing Co, or order in or to go at Unwined Up North Wine Bar. Or select from several other wonderful places to dine like: Sammy’s Pizza, Forest Lake Restaurant, Pickled Loon, Zorbaz, Florio’s, Boulder Tap House, El Potro, or 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.
If after-hours entertainment is something your group desires, check out our Things To Do page. Grand Rapids, Minnesota offers wonderful weekly live music at our craft breweries: Klockow Brewing Co and Rapids Brewing Co. The Reif Center has weekly performances September through May of each year that include Broadway style productions, live music concerts, and comedy shows. Check out the Events Calendar to view the daily and weekly line-up of nighlight in Grand Rapids.
We hope that we have given you inspiration for you to want to book your Spring Road Trip Girlfriend Getaway to Grand Rapids, Minnesota! Download the 2023 Grand Rapids Visitor Guide for even more Girlfriend Getaway inspiration.
Read the Top 5 Spring Trails Up North in Grand Rapids, MN that are perfect for all ages, families, couples, singles. This will help you plan your spring getaway up north to Grand Rapids, MN; the outdoor recreation mecca of the north!
Grand Rapids is the perfect spring MN adventure location. Here is our Top 10 list of things to do, fun places to eat & drink and cozy lodging. Let’s be honest, winter has been great this year, but we all have a little cabin fever. That feeling of being cooped up inside is leaving all of us seeking spring adventures in Minnesota. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the perfect up north spring road trip where you can get outside, seek adventure, and also enjoy a little rest and relaxation as well. Below is a list of Top 10 spring MN adventure you can find in Grand Rapids, Minnesota…
1. Hiking
Everyone gets a little, or a lot, of cabin fever around the transition from winter to spring. Grand Rapids, Minnesota offers over 1 million acres of public forest land made up of the Chippewa National Forest, UPM Blandin Foundation, George Washington State Forest, and the Scenic State Park. These are all great places to hike on well-maintained trails. We suggest the following: Simpson Creek (Easiest) is located in the Chippewa National Forest 45 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, Minnesota on the Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway. This trail is a nice entry-level that is perfect for families of young children. Enjoy rolling topography through pines and along glacial eskers, with overlooks onto Cut Foot Sioux Lake and journeys into the cedar swamp. Legion Trail (Easy/Beginner to More Difficult Level) located north of town inside the City limits of Grand Rapids is a 7-mile hand-cut trail that is fun, flowy, and twisty in a mixed forest that wraps around Hale Lake. Suomi Hills (More Difficult Level) is a remotely located hiking and skiing trail located twenty-three miles north of Grand Rapids up the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway. An interesting site is The Day Lake Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp remains, a prisoner of war camp during World War II is located on the north end of Suomi Hills. Learn more about places to Hike in the Grand Rapids, MN area.
2. Explore Minnesota’s History
Grand Rapids, Minnesota was established in 1872 and has rich forestry, logging, and mining history to learn about. You will want to check out the Itasca County Historical Society Museum. The Museum is FREE, houses a lot of interesting Minnesota artifacts, and houses a genealogy center, gift shop, and escape room. The Judy Garland Museum and Children’s Discovery Museum are two museums under one roof where you can learn about the life of Judy Garland, born as Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Find the largest Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz artifacts in the nation. Walkthrough the home Judy grew up in. The Children’s Discovery Museum offers hands-on educational exhibits, activities & programs for kids, plus a gift store. Learn more about Grand Rapids, MN area Historic Attractions.
3. Four Wheel Forest Adventures
Grand Rapids, Minnesota has over 300 miles of ATV trails to ride in the Spring. ATV/OHV trails open April -middle of May. The ATV trails that are located on old railroad beds open first (Alborn-Pengilly (39 miles), Blue Ox (74 miles), and Thistledew (25 miles). With Alvwood/Squaw Lake (159) and Island Lake Connection Trail (2 miles) opening May 2nd. The rest of the Itasca County ATV/OHV trails open middle of May (UPM-Blandin (21 miles), Balsam to Bigfork (33 miles), Little Moose (18 miles), and Northwoods Regional Trail (19 miles). All of these trails are well maintained and offer a wide variety of easy to moderate riding levels. All of these trails will take you through mixed forest, tamarack bogs, across boardwalks, and around lakes, rivers and streams. ATV/OHV is a wonderful opportunity for spring MN adventures. Download the Itasca County ATV Map.
4. Explore Grand Rapids Public Art & History Tour
Take a walking tour around Grand Rapids and visit different murals, sculptures, and historic buildings. The art and history around Grand Rapids represent what Grand Rapids was founded on and you can find different art pieces that represent the Ojibwa culture, forestry, logging, and mining history, and the splendor of surrounding Minnesota’s nature. Also on the tour is MacRostie Art Center and The Reif Center which have rotating art exhibits and galleries. The new walking bridge across the Mississippi River is a wonderful place to start this self-guided tour. Download the Grand Rapids Public Art & History Tour.
5. Indoor Water Fun
Many Grand Rapids lodging properties like Timberlake Lodge Hotel, AmericInn, Country Inn & Suites, and Best Western all offer pools and/or hot tubs. This allows kids of all ages to enjoy pool time while the parents relax in the hot tub. Timberlake Lodge Hotel has a Grand Splash waterpark, which offers a 98-foot slide, 20-person hot tub, and kiddie pool. A wonderful way for the kids and adults alike to burn off some energy and the parents to relax in comfort. Find Grand Rapids, MN places to Stay with pools and hot tubs.
6. Bike the Mississippi to Boundary Waters
The Mesabi Trail is 145 miles of mostly paved bicycle trail that runs from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids to the Boundry Waters in Ely. Cutting through the forests of northeast Minnesota, your adventure will take you past lakes, creeks, and ponds, by vast red pits of old iron ore mines now filled with emerald, green water. Learn more about the Mesabi Trail and purchase a wheel pass. The Tioga Recreation Area is a 25-mile single-track trail that was created for mountain biking and fat-tire biking. Playground Pathfinder will also be officially opening sometime in the Spring of 2022. Learn more about the Tioga Recreation Area.
7. Be Entertained
Mother Nature sometimes brings showers so our spring flowers can bloom. If this is the case, don’t fret, we have several indoor locations that can keep everyone entertained. The Reif Center is our hidden gem of a theater that brings the stars to northern Minnesota. Another place to relax and be entertained indoors is Mann’s Cinema Theater. Take in an afternoon matinee or evening show. They offer comfortable theater-style seating and a full-service concession stand. Thunder Alley XL offers a bowling and indoor adult-style arcade game area, an onsite bar that serves great pizza and other concession snacks. Find Grand Rapids, MN Area Attractions.
8. Eat, Drink & Shop Local
Check out the two craft breweries and Minnesota wine bar. At Klockow Brewing Company you can order or bring your own food in and enjoy live music every week. Rapids Brewing Company located in historic downtown offers wood-fired oven cuisine and live music and events occurring weekly. Unwined Up North is also located in historic downtown and serves Minnesota wine and craft beer, charcuterie boards, flatbreads, salads, and sandwiches. In Grand Rapids, you will find many locally-owned restaurants, bars, and grills that offer one-of-a-kind up north cuisine like hearty wild rice soup and juicy bar burgers. Find Places to Eat & Drink in Grand Rapids, MN. Downtown Grand Rapids is best known for boutique-style shops that offer one-of-a-kind gifts, home decor, clothing, shoes, jewelry, local art, and Northwood memorabilia to take home with you as a memento of your visit to Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids, Minnesota area has several other retail shops and vintage boutique-style shops where you can shop to your heart’s delight.
9. Grand Lakes of Golf
Three 18-hole championship golf courses make up the Grand Lakes of Golf: Eagle Ridge Golf Course, Pokegama Golf Course, and Sugar Brooke Golf Course. Each course is beautifully manicured with different degrees of difficulty. All have cart rentals and restaurants on-site. Whether you want 18 or 9 holes, to take an extended vacation, long weekend, or just get in a few holes after work, Grand Rapids has many options, and won’t disappoint. There are four additional 9-hole courses located in the Grand Rapids, MN area as well that are perfect for entry-level golfers and families. Find more information and book a tee time for Grand Rapids, MN area Golf Courses.
10. Seek Rest and Relaxation
Grand Rapids, Minnesota offers you a lot of spring MN adventures, but you will also find lots of cozy lodging options where you can find rest and relaxation while up north. You will find conveniently located in town Hotels/Motels and Bed & Breakfast. You will also find Minnesota Resort cabins and Vacation Home Rentals where you will have the opportunity to make your own meals and gather together. And we also offer in-town Air B&B’s as well that are hosted in a mixed commercial and residential area that is close to being able to walk to shops, restaurants, and breweries downtown. Find Places to Stay in Grand Rapids, MN.
Around Ground Hog’s day, many Midwesterners fall into a winter slump. Some call it cabin fever. We have been inside for way too long! The kids are getting on each other’s nerves from feeling pent up. Even the dog is sick of being inside the same four walls. This blog article gives you tips on what to do when you are in a winter slump.
Be Entertained
Even small towns have events, live music and theater performances. A change of scenery can help you get a new perspective. Your town might have all of these ways to be entertained too, however, each community puts their own creative flare and localness to their events, highlights different musicians. The Reif Center is a state of the art performing art center that offers two theaters that both give you an up close and personal view to the entertainment. They bring Broadway performances to northern Minnesota.
Upcoming Grand Rapids, MN Winter Events:
Fat Forest Fourteen (Tioga Recreation Area) Feb 11
Northwood Pond Hockey Championship (McKinney Lake) Feb 11
Frozen Fairway Golf Classic (Hale Lake) Feb 25
Frederick Douglass: In the Shadow of Slavery (Reif Center) Feb 10
Simply Sinatra (Reif Center) Feb 14
Dragons and Mythical Beasts (Reif Center) Feb 16
Legally Blonde: the Broadway Musical (Reif Center) Feb 21
Blind Boys of Alabama (Reif Center) Feb 25
Weekly Live Music, Bingo, Meat Raffles, and other events that happen at fun local places to eat & drink.
View the Grand Rapids Event Calendar for the full list and details of the upcoming winter events to help you get out of the winter slump HERE.
Winter Recreation
Grand Rapids is known as the outdoor mecca of the north. Surrounding Grand Rapids is over 1 million acres of publicly accessible forest land. There are over 1,400 area lakes perfect for ice fishing. There are over 2,000 miles of trails to fat tire bike, cross country ski, and snowmobile on. Over 13 outdoor trail clubs keep the trails well groomed and maintained. View the Trail Conditionsbefore you arrive to know which trails will be perfect for you and your friends and family to enjoy. There are many places to recharge in Minnesota’s nature: Chippewa National Forest, Lost Forty, Scenic State Park, Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway, Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway and George Washington State Forest. Getting out in the winter wonderland will help you get out of the winter slump because it gives you a fresh perspective. The American Heart Association has said that being in nature helps reduce stress. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a charming small town that can give you an opportunity to relax, reconnect with loved ones, and recharge within Minnesota’s nature so that your perspective remains fresh.
Snowmobile Trails – There are twelve Itasca County Snowmobile Clubs that keep our 300+ miles well groomed and in prime condition to ride through tamarack bogs, under tall pine forests, and over frozen lakes. You can access these trails from in town lodging properties to access gas, fun places to eat & drink, and also connections north, south, east and west to ride to other communities. The famous Taconite Trail starts in Grand Rapids at the Itasca Fairgrounds where there is lots of parking for trucks and trailers. By riding south to Hill City, Minnesota you can access the Soo Line which runs to Wisconsin.
Cross Country Skiing – Thanks to the Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club, there is over 200KM to ski in the greater Grand Rapids, MN area. Cross country skiing is the perfect sport where all members of the family can view northern MN forest trails. Along these frozen trails you will view northernn MN wildlife like deer, owls, and other birds that remain here in the winter. Ardent Bicycle and Mt Itasca offer rentals.
Fat Tire Biking – The greater Grand Rapids, MN area has become a premiere destination for mountain biking. The Grand Rapids and Itasca Mountain Bike Association keeps Tioga Recreation Area winter trails well groomed for fat tire biking in the winter. Tioga offers over 25 miles of single track mountain bike trails that are multi-level and a skills course too. Within 100 miles you can ride 145 miles at 4 different professionally built mountain bike trails. Visit Ridge The Range for more information.
Snowshoeing – In the Grand Rapids, MN area there is over 1 million acres of public accessible forest land that is perfect for snowshoeing. A few of our favorite places to snowshoe are: Simpson Creek and Lost Forty in the Chippewa National Forest. Tioga Recreation Area is also a great place to snowshoe. Just remember to walk flat footed to not create divots in the freshly groomed trail. And cross the trail at a 90 degree angle.
Skating, Downhill & Sledding – What would winter in northern Minnesota be without ice skating, pond hockey, downhill skiing and sledding? Mt Itasca is the perfect place to downhill ski, snowboard, snow-tube and cross country ski. They offer rental equipment on site. There are many outdoor skating rinks where you can ice skate and play pond hockey.
Find more information about winter outdoor recreation HERE.
Grand Rapids offers a wide variety of fun places to eat & drink. From locally owned craft breweries, a wine bar and the restaurants that the locals go to. From rustic and charming to fine dining, from American fare to cultural cuisine, you will find great places to dine in greater Grand Rapids, MN. Find fun places to Eat & Drink HERE. Downtown Grand Rapids is a great place to find locally owned boutique style shops that offer one of a kind items like Minnesota art, home decor, clothing, shoes, jewelry and vintage finds. There are lots of places to shop around the greater Grand Rapids, MN area too. Find great places to shop HERE.
No matter if you are an indoor or an outdoor person Grand Rapids has something for everyone,, and all ages. You will find a wide variety of cozy lodging places to stay overnight or for an entire week. These year-round lodging properties offer a wide range of amenities and locations. From conveniently located in town Hotels/Motels, Bed & Breakfasts, Air B&B’s to Resort Cabins and Vacation Home Rentals. The choice is yours, and you can search on https://visitgrandrapids.com based on the amenities you are looking for, date and price range through Book>Direct online booking system. To book your stay click HEREto find the perfect place to stay to get out of the winter slump.
You can start your planning by downloading the Grand Rapids Visitor Guide. This guide offers a wide variety of seasonal articles, event highlights, things to do, places to eat & drink, and places to stay. Learn more HERE.
Now is the time to plan your 2024 Vacation! The US Travel Association has set the last Tuesday in January each year (January 30, 2024) as National Plan Your Vacation Day. This day has been set aside to commit your time-off for the rest of the year, at the start of the year. Each year millions of vacation days go unused. You work hard and we want you to use those days off to make wonderful memories, recharge your soul and reconnect with your loved ones. 2024 is the year to come together with your friends and family to enjoy Lakes, Trails and Fresh Air that is found in Minnesota’s nature. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the outdoor mecca of the north. Find over 1 million public accessible acres to seek adventure on lakes and trails. This charming small town offers a natural setting to rest, relax, and recharge. Come together with loved one’s this year in northern Minnesota. A year-round destination that is perfect for all seasons.
Reduce Stress By Being Outdoors In Minnesota’s Nature
We all live very stressful and busy lives. The American Heart Association created an article about the benefits of being in nature to reduce stress and anxiety. Grand Rapids is the perfect place to find your ideal balance and recharge your soul in a small charming town that is surrounded by Minnesota’s nature. From any vantage point you will discover many outdoor recreation opportunities and many opportunities to seek solitude as well. Places we suggest where you can de-stress and reconnect with nature: Grand Rapids Library Fishing Pier on the Mississippi River, Angel of Hope at the Mississippi River, Pokegama Dam Recreation Area, Suomi Trail in the Chippewa National Forest, and the Lost Forty in the Chippewa National Forest. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is known as the outdoor mecca of the north. This year when you plan your 2023 vacation, consider all of the outdoor trails and lakes that you can hike, bike, fish, float, boat, paddle, and more!
Enjoy Art, Culture & History
Grand Rapids is a regional hub for Minnesota artists to convene and be inspired by nature. The Grand Rapids Art & Culture Commission and the Grand Rapids Arts have partnered together to create nature inspired public art pieces throughout downtown and along the Mississippi River, that runs right through the middle of town. View Grand Rapids Public Art & Historic Places. MacRostie Art Center is a free art gallery that showcases local and Minnesota artists in monthly exhibits. You can purchase a piece of local art to bring home as a memory of your trip. The Reif Center creates over 40 performance opportunities each year. While right now most of these performances are available from the convenience from your home; you will want to head north to Grand Rapids this summer for outdoor performances in Minnesota’s nature.
Explore Minnesota History
Grand Rapids was founded in 1872, so there is rich Minnesota History to explore. Places like the Forest History Center, an environmental learning center that includes a reconstructed 1900’s logging camp, is a great place to explore. All ages enjoy will enjoy the period costumed interpreters show in the logging camp that includes a horse show. Then hike the trails to the Wannigan on the Mississippi to experience what life would have been like to hall goods up and down the river from one trading post to another. Another place to get up close and personal with Minnesota history is the FREE Itasca County Historical Society Museum, Gift Shop and Escape Room. Their River Room explores life on the Mississippi River as it would have been in the 1900’s and today. The Mississippi River is located one block south of the Historical Society.
In today’s every day life, we are over-booked, over-worked and over-scheduled. We know that it is hard to find time to get away, but we suggest you find the time this year. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is that up north destination that offers a slower pace of life. A place where you can stop and reflect on what is really important in your life. Going on vacation with the one’s you love creates lasting memories. We know that once you come, you will return again and again. There is something very special about this place that will leave an impact on you and your loved one’s forever. Take advantage of TODAY being the National Plan Your Vacation Day!
Download the Interactive Grand Rapids Visitor Guide or request a Mailed Visitor Guide. This handy guide helps you plan out things to do before you arrive. Or you can use this guide as a itinerary builder once you get to town. Small towns often have much more than you realize. Make sure you have this guide with you to help you make the most out of your vacation to Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Book Your Trip
Now that you have decided to plan your 2024 vacation, you will want to take a look at the wide variety of lodging options that are available in Grand Rapids, MN. You will find conveniently located in town Hotels, Motels, Bed & Breakfasts, and Air B&B’s. You will also find lake cabins at Minnesota Resorts and Lake Home Vacation Rentals. Whether you are looking for a property that has full in-house amenities like a pool, hot tub, on-site restaurant & bar. Or maybe you are looking to rent an entire cabin or maybe several cabins for friends and extended family to join you on vacation. You will find it in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Visit Grand Rapids makes it easy for your to search based on the amenities that you are looking for and the date you are looking for. Search for Grand Rapids, MN Lodging.
Top 10 Reasons to book Spring Break in Grand Rapids, MN this year. Everyone get’s a little, or a lot, of cabin fever around the transition from winter to spring. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is known as the outdoor mecca of the north. In and around Grand Rapids families will find over 1 million acres of public forest land, 1,007 lakes, and over 2,000 miles of trails to explore. Families will also find fun places to eat & drink, kid-friendly art and historic places to explore, and cozy lodging.
Cross Country Skiing is a great way to get the entire family outside to explore the many forests around Grand Rapids, MN. The Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club created a ski trail map that is over 200KM in total. Some of our favorite kid-friendly ski trails are Legion, Forest History Center, and MN Power. Both the Legion and MN Power are lit at night until 10pm. There is something very magical to ski at night on a lit path in the winter. The glistening snow, the cool crisp air, and the sparkling stars above the tall pine trees. If you do not own, Ardent Bicycles rents equipment. View Cross Country Ski Trails HERE.
Snowshoeing is a wonderful outdoor recreation activity, and kids love it. Kids strap on snowshoes and enjoy the big footprints in the snow that is left behind as they trek through the forests of white winter wonderland. A few of our favorite places to snowshoe are Simpson Creek and the Lost Forty in the Chippewa National Forest. Explore the mixed hardwood and pine forests of over 200 year old trees that takes four people to hold hands together to fit around. If you do not have snowshoes for the entire family, Ardent Bicycle rents. Find more information about Snowshoeing HERE.
The Grand Rapids, Minnesota area has over 100 miles of bike trails that you can ride all seasons. In the Winter, we suggest: Tioga Recreation Area (25+ mile world class, purpose built multi level mountain bike trails), Chippewa National Forest trail roads, and Legion Trail. Tioga has trails for all levels from green to double black diamond. Legion is a 7-mile loop that winds around Hale Lake. The Chippewa National Forest offers an opportunity to ride packed winter forest roads, and to get an up close personal view to northern MN wildlife. If you do not own fat tire or mountain bikes, Ardent Bicycles rents.
The Grand Rapids, MN area is known for some of the best snowmobile trails in Minnesota. Over 300 miles of snowmobile trails that makes for a great way to spend a March Spring Break. The Grand Rapids, MN area snowmobile trails are open until March 31st each year. From the in town trails you can access the famous state Taconite Trail. The Taconite Trail is 165 miles long, and once on you can ride to Ely, Minnesota. If you do not own snowmobiles, R & R Rental rents snowmobiles. Learn more about Grand Rapids area snowmobiling HERE.
Kids love ice fishing as much as adults. The Grand Rapids area has some of the best ice fishing destinations, and has been referred to as an “Ice Fishing Paradise” – with an abundance of interconnected lakes, creeks, and ponds perfect for fishing success. In Northern Minnesota ice fishing goes through March and sometimes April. Later in the season walking out on the lake is the best way to catch big panfish. This is perfect for kids because they just want to catch something. Don’t have Ice Fishing Gear, give R&R Rental a call, and Bowstring Shores has hard ice house rentals. Learn more about Ice Fishing in Grand Rapids HERE.
Grand Rapids and surround communities have outdoor skating rinks that are maintained weekly. These outdoor rinks offer on-site rink attendants and warming shacks. Clafton Skate is a great place to sharpen your skates, and also check on their rental supply. When there is low snow, skating on the frozen lakes is a common past time. Located only 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids is a the Mt. Itasca Winter Sports Center that is the perfect family-friendly ski, snowboard, cross country ski, and snowtubing located in Coleraine, MN. Mt Itasca is also home to Olympic biathlon and ski jump training.
Grand Rapids, Minnesota was established in 1872, and has a rich forestry, logging and mining history to learn about. You will want to check out the Itasca County Historical Society Museum. They just opened a new escape room. The Museum is FREE, and houses a lot of interesting Minnesota artifacts, and also houses a genealogy center and gift shop. The Children’s Discovery Museum is a great indoor museum that offers unique kid-friendly exhibits that have an up north theme. Perfect for kids ages toddler to early teens. The Judy Garland Museum is housed in the same building. Did you know Grand Rapids, MN is the birthplaces of Judy Garland? When you purchase a ticket to the Children’s Museum, you also get access to the Judy Garland Museum. Pay a little bit more money and get a VIP tour that includes access to an exclusive Judy Garland memorabilia exhibit.
Take a walking tour around Grand Rapids and visit different murals, sculptures and historic building. The art and history around Grand Rapids represents the what Grand Rapids was founded on and you can find different art pieces that represent the Ojibwa culture. MacRostie Art Center offers youth classes, and has monthly art exhibits that the entire family will enjoy. MacRostie also lends out an art suitcase that includes everything families will need to create art while visiting Grand Rapids. Let nature inspire you. To view the self-guided Grand Rapids Art & History Tour map click HERE.
In Grand Rapids you will find many lodging options to choose from while on Spring Break in Grand Rapids, and many offer onsite pools and hot tubs. This allows the kids of all ages to enjoy pool time while the parents relax in the hot tub. Timberlake Lodge Hotel has a Grand Splash waterpark, which offers a 98 foot slide, 20 person hot tub, and kiddie pool. A great way for the kids to burn off some energy and the parents to relax in comfort. Additional properties that have a pool and hot tub are: AmericInn, Country Inn & Suites and Best Western. To find Hotels with pools as amenities, learn more HERE.
Mother Nature sometimes brings showers, and sometimes she brings snow storms. If this is the case, don’t fret, we have several indoor locations that can keep the everyone entertained. The Reif Center is our hidden gem of a theater that brings the stars to norther Minnesota. Each year the Reif staff selects family friendly theater performances. Another great place to relax and be entertained indoors is Mann’s Cinnema Theater. Their reclining seats offer a great place for families to attend an afternoon matinee or evening show. Thunder Alley XL offers bowling and indoor adult style arcade game area, and onsite bar that serves great pizza and other concession snacks. Lastly, check out our new craft brewing. Then check out fun places to eat & drink that also offer live family-friendly entertainment like Klockow, Rapids Brewing Co and Unwined Up North. Check out the Grand Rapids Events Calendar for all of the details.
Grand Rapids, MN is a family-friendly destination for Spring Break. Find lots of cozy family-friendly lodging options in Grand Rapids. From conveniently located Hotels, Motels, Air B&B’s and Bed & Breakfasts to Resort Cabins and Vacation Rentals located on the lakes and trails. Book your Spring Break Vacation HERE. Also, check out the Last Minute Openings for short-term lodging properties that have a last minute opening because someone was not able to head north and had to cancel.
The winter season continues to move along and there are numerous opportunities to take advantage of. Besides the good ice fishing options there are great snowmobile trails, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. The Grand Rapids area has many options to enjoy the seasons and winter is just one of them.
Winter angling has been tracking its normal opportunities and with the winter trout season opening, it gives anglers another species to pursue. Itasca County has numerous lakes loaded with Rainbow, Brown, Splake, and Lake Trout. A Trout Stamp is required to angle for trout which is added to your current license. Except for Lake Trout, lite tackle is most often your best option. Most trout lakes are gin clear, and trout can be pretty spooky characters and finessing them at times is critical. Four to six pound test monofilament is required and if you intend on using braided line then consider using a 3-4 foot section of fluorocarbon leader rather than straight braid. Small baits are the best option for most species of trout. Small spoons, jigs and a variety of plastics, are needed to chase trout in the winter. Live minnows are not allowed on designated trout lakes, but attaching wax worms or euro larvae are allowed. That additional taste can make a difference. Some of the small jigs to consider fishing winter trout are Northland Tackle’s Mud Bug, Tungsten Mini Smelt, Tungsten Mayfly, and Tungsten Bloodworm. Each of them have that micro appearance that are trout catchers. With the Mud Bug attach a couple wax worms and you’re in business. The Forage Minnow Fry or Forage Spoon are also good options and attach several euro larvae and you set the table.
For Lake Trout a slightly bigger offering may be the answer and spoons are the calling card. Fished in deeper water than Rainbows and Browns, a stiffer rod and eight to ten pound test will be a better choice. With somewhat large jigs like the Buck-A-Roo or Deep V Bucktail can be great options when chasing Lakers. A strip of sucker belly cut into strips can be a great bait when fishing winter Lakers. Depths of 40-80 feet on lakes that contain these bigger fish may require beefier tackle. St. Croix makes several ice rods that can handle lakers.
Some of the good lakes to try in the Grand Rapids and Itasca County area for Lake Trout are Pokegama (Sherry’s Arm), Caribou, Trout, and Bluewater. For Rainbows and Brown Trout there are several lakes that can be good choices. Kramer, Tioga Pit, Erskine, Moonshine just to mention a few. You may have to snowshoe into some of the smaller lakes for they are located in Non-Motorized areas.
Trout fishing is just another example of the multi species opportunities that exist in the Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Stop by Thousand Lakes Sports and ask Grant, Mark, Sam or Bryce where some of the best options to catch trout and what you will need. They are a great source of information throughout the year.
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