Winter Romantic Getaway

Couples Getaway

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner plan your winter romantic getaway in Grand Rapids, MN today. There is no better gift than a special getaway out of town. If you haven’t planned what to do for your special person, here are 5 reasons why you should book a trip to Grand Rapids, MN for your Valentine.

1. In Town Lodging, Wine Bar, & Snowshoeing

In Grand Rapids, there are several Hotels, Motels and Vacation Rentals. Some of the great amenities that are offered at some of the properties include a pool, hot tub, dog-friendly, attached dining/bar and all are conveniently located close to town. Find more information about in town lodging HERE. During your stay, visit UnWined Up North. They were voted the #1 wine bar in Minnesota by Star Tribune. Locally owned and known for a wide array of Minnesota wine and beer. During your stay, a great way to spend time outdoors together exploring is on snowshoes. Rentals are available at Ardent Bicycles. Check out other places to snowshoe in the greater Grand Rapids area by clicking HERE.

2. Experience the Arts During a Weekend Up North

Looking to be entertained while on your winter romantic getaway? This small town in northern Minnesota offers a wide variety of weekly live entertainment. This winter, the Reif Center, has a wide variety of live entertainment. Before the show, there are great dining options in the Grand Rapids area to treat your special someone. Check places to Eat & Drink Local. The MacRostie Art Center offers a free art gallery, gift shop, art classes, and the Giinawind Creative Space. MacRostie is a wonderful place to stop while in town to view beautiful works of art. There is also a cool store downtown called Stained Glass with Class that offers stained glass for sale, and also offers stained glass classes. You will want to book art classes in advance.

3. Relax & Reconnect

Enjoy the coziness of a cabin or vacation rental in the winter or the ease of a Bed & Breakfast. Reconnect with your loved one for a romantic getaway while exploring Minnesota’s nature. Check out the options for Grand Rapids, MN Resorts, Vacation Rental and Bed & Breakfasts HERE. Set up an ice house on one of 1,000+ lakes in the area for some amazing ice fishing. Don’t have ice fishing equipment, no problem, R&R Rental can help you. Check out the latest Ice Fishing Report. Another idea is to head over to Minnesota Power Cross Country Ski trail or Legion Trail for a night ski on their lit trails. The lights are on until 10 pm! For more cross-country ski trails, click HERE.

4. Weekend Ideas for the Adventurous Couples

If you and your significant other are up for outdoor adventure, then the Grand Rapids, MN area is the perfect place for a winter romantic getaway trip. There is over 1,000+ miles of groomed snowmobile trails to explore. There are thirteen snowmobile clubs keep the trails cleared and groomed each week. If you do not own snowmobiles, but looking to rent, contact R & R Rentals. Download the 2022/2023 Itasca County Snowmobile Map. Tioga Recreation Area is the place to fat tire bike in the winter. There are over 25 miles of groomed trails from beginner to advanced. If you do not own a fat tire bike or mountain bike, Ardent Bicycles rents, sells and services. Check out the trails conditions in advance by clicking HERE.

5. Beer Flights & Museums

Come experience a fun weekend at the local breweries! Sip a flight of craft beer while listening to live music and enjoy some great food. Rapids Brewing Company offers a full menu, Klockow Brewing Company allows you to bring in your own food! Both of the breweries offer live music and events. Check the Grand Rapids Event Calendar to learn more. Near the breweries are two unique museums. Check out The Itasca County Historical Society which has a ton of unique historic exhibits, a new river room that explores life on the Mississippi, and an escape room. Call to book an hour! If you and your significant other are looking for a VIP guided tour, the Judy Garland Museum offers a special guided tour that you can pre-register for via their website. Take a walk around and learn about the life of Judy Garland. The museum included the home she grew up in.

Information on Booking a Trip

To see the different lodging properties in the greater Grand Rapids area visit our Stay Page. You can Book Direct to many properties by sorting the amenities that fit you the best. Visit Grand Rapids makes it easy to find a wide variety of cozy winter lodging options, unique things to do, and abundance of outdoor recreation, fun places to eat & drink, and live music and performances. Download the Visitor Guide to start planning now!

Winter Road Trip to Grand Rapids

This blog includes Top Winter Things To Do In Grand Rapids, MN. Experience and abundance of outdoor recreation: snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, downhill skiing, and tubing. Reconnect with loved one’s by relaxing by a fireplace, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in northern Minnesota. Book your winter trip now to Grand Rapids to enjoy the top winter things to do today!

Winter Outdoor Recreation

Grand Rapids, MN is the outdoor mecca of the north. This is your opportunity to get an up close and personal experience and adventure in Minnesota’s nature. With over 1,400 lakes and over 2,000 miles of trails there is a lot of outdoor recreation opportunity! This is why outdoor recreation is first on our top winter things to do in Grand Rapids, MN:

Downhill, Snowboarding & Snowtubing

Mt. Itasca is a winter recreation sports facility that is perfect size ski hill for young or entry level families. Their Area 51 snowboard terrain park, snowtubing runs, and 10k of cross country ski trails. They also offer equipment rentals for downhill, snowboarding and cross country skiing.

Cross Country Skiing

The Northern Lights Nordic Ski Association has many volunteer members that work along with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to keep the 198 KM well groomed for the winter season. The Northern Lights Nordic Ski Association does a great job of keeping their Trail Reports up to date, and the easy to read PDF map helps guide for level, KM length, description of the trail, and directions. Located just north and west of Grand Rapids is the Chippewa National Forest that has hundreds of KM of cross country ski trails. This winter seek solitude in Minnesota’s nature on cross country skis. For trails and conditions click HERE. Trail conditions are updated weekly once there is enough of a snow base for clubs to start grooming.

Snowmobiling

Grand Rapids has over 1,000 miles of well groomed snowmobile trails. There are 13 snowmobile clubs and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources who keep the Itasca County Snowmobile Trails well groomed. The snowmobile trails can open as early as December 1st, but the lakes and tamarack bogs need to freeze solid with 5-7 inches of good ice to cross safely in a snowmobile or four-wheeler. In order for the clubs and MN DNR to groom they need a 10 inch base. Once they get that good base, then maintaining the trails and a balance of continued snow totals, temperature, and trail use. Grand Rapids, MN has in-town trails that allow for safe travel from gas stations, places to eat, and places to stay. Grand Rapids is the start of the famous state Taconite Trail which is 165 miles that goes to Ely, MN. There are many spur trails off of the Taconite Trail that connect to places to eat, gas stations, and places to lodge. For trails and conditions click HERE. Trail conditions are updated weekly once there is enough of a snow base for clubs to start grooming.

Ice Fishing

There are over 1,400 area lakes in the greater Grand Rapids, Minnesota area that covers over 2,000 square miles. There are a lot of fish to catch here in northern Minnesota! The smaller lakes tend to freeze earlier than the large lakes like Pokegama, Bowstring and Lake Winnibigoshish. Safety should always be observed when traveling across ice at any point throughout the winter season. The MN DNR Ice Safety Guideline is a great resource for traveling across the ice, and what depths are standard for being able to withstand the weight of a person, four-wheeler, snowmobile or a vehicle. They call it fishing, not catching, so be patient, and enjoy the time on the ice as an escape from the everyday hurried schedules.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing in the winter in Northern Minnesota has the advantage of outdoor activity with no ticks and no mosquitos. Unlike snowshoeing in the mountains, we have no danger of avalanche, either! We don’t have to worry about what trails are safe, or what beacons to purchase should we fall prey to a snow slide. A couple of places to try snowshoe are: Tioga Recreation, Legion Trail, Simpson Creek, and Sugar Hills. The links are those to the cross country ski trail, just remember to not walk on the groomed trails and cross the trail at a 90 degree angle. Snowshoeing can be done anywhere there is public access or land you have private access approval. The Chippewa National Forest has hundreds of thousands of acres to snowshoe on. Find a forest road that is not plowed and find your new snowshoe adventure. Just be mindful of the direction you are headed in. A compass is a great tool to have with you. If you snowshoe along a designated trail system, it will help you access back to where you parked.

Ice Skating

Grand Rapids, MN is a hockey town USA. There are many outdoor skating rinks that the surrounding city public works keep the ice cleaned off. Many have heated ice shacks for people to put on their skates and warm up between pick-up hockey games. These outdoor rinks are perfect for families on a 20 degree winter day. Grand Rapids hosts thousands of people to weekend hockey tournaments that take place at the IRA Civic Center and Hodgins-Berardo Arena. Both of these indoor rink facilities offer open skating hours and on site concessions.

Fat Tire Biking

Located just outside Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a premiere world-class mountain bike trail that was professionally built to include multi-level trails for the beginner to the double black diamond rider. Tioga Recreation Area is a 25-mile single track trail system that is located on a reclaimed mine area that includes 500 acres. Situated between a beautifully clear Tioga and Pokegama Lakes. Both of these lakes provide great ice fishing opportunities. In addition to fat tire biking, Tioga is a great place to snowshoe. Just make sure to cross the trail at a 90 degree angle to not disrupt the grooming. Then in town, right next to The Reif Performing Arts Center is Legion Trail which is 7 miles of single track trail. There is also a lit cross country ski trail system that runs through the American Legion Park too.

Rentals

If you are looking for something to get you more into nature, stop at Ardent Bicycles where you can rent cross country skis, snowshoes or rent a fat tire bike and spend the day on the 25 miles of trails at Tioga Recreation. If you want more of an adrenaline rush call over to R&R Rentals to rent a snowmobile! In Itasca County we have over 600 miles of trails. We also have a variety of lodging that has access right to the trails. If you are taking a road trip to go fishing we have over 1,000 lakes in Itasca County. If you are looking for new gear or forgot something check out Thousand Lakes Sporting Goods. They have just about everything and more you would need for ice fishing.

Fun Places to Eat & Drink

Eating out is one of the best parts of being on vacation, so that is why fun places to eat & drink are next on the top winter things to do in Grand Rapids, MN. There are two locally owned craft breweries, Klockow Brewing Co, and Rapids Brewing Co. Then there are eclectic lake restaurants like Zorbaz and Pickled Loon Saloon located on Pokegama Lake. Unwined Up North is a MN wine bar that also serves Minnesota craft beer and tasty panini sandwiches, salads, flat breads and charcuterie boards. Timberlake Restaurant, Forest Lake Restaurant, Cedar Creek Grill and Florio’s are locally owned restaurants that offer northern specialties like prime rib, steaks, shrimp, wild rice soup, fish dinners, and great bar burgers. Fuji, El Potro and New China offer a cultural cuisine to Grand Rapids, MN. You will find many other options like fast-food and food chain franchise restaurants in Grand Rapids, MN as well.

Public Art & Historic Attractions

Downtown Grand Rapids offers beautiful public art. Most of this art was created by local and Minnesota artists. MacRostie Art Center is a free gallery and gift shop where you can purchase stunning works of art. The Reif Arts Center is another attraction where you can view monthly art exhibits in their lobby. Grand Rapids is also home to the famous Judy Garland Museum and Children’s Discovery Museums, and the Itasca County Historical Society. All of these locations are kid friendly.

Events & Entertainment

For a small town, Grand Rapids has a lot of events and weekly entertainment. The craft brewing companies are known for their weekly live music venues. The Reif Center brings Broadway style theater and performances to northern Minnesota in a two-stage theater venue where you can get an up close and personal view to the performers. Check out the Events Calendar to view the current and upcoming events and entertainment in the greater Grand Rapids, MN area.

Cozy Lodging

And of course we cannot forget about a place to stay, so that is the final top winter things to do in Grand Rapids, MN. Check out the STAY PAGE to find lodging for your winter road trip. On this page you will find Hotels that offer a wide array of amenities and economical and convenient Motels located in town. A quaint Bed & Breakfast located on Pokegama Lake. Vacation rentals that are located both in town and also on Grand Rapids, area lakes. In addition, you will find year-round Resorts that offer cozy cabins with fireplaces and a short walk to the lake. Plan your winter road trip today. Take the time to reconnect up north and experience all of the fun outdoor recreation, fun places to eat & drink and cozy lodging that Grand Rapids, MN has to offer.

road trip virtual winter

Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchards in Grand Rapids, MN

Pumpkin patch

Enjoy a pumpkin patch & apple orchards in Grand Rapids, MN this fall. The Cowhorn Crosing Pumpkin Patch & Farm is officially open for the season. They are open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. This family-owned hobby farm puts on a great kid friendly experience that all ages will enjoy. Take a hayride through the field and the forest. Let the kids run off some energy through the corn maze. Costumed farm helpers will assist with the petting farm where you can pet the horses, donkey, rabbits and more. Then when the kids have played their hearts out, have them pick out a pumpkin that you can carve into a jackolantern for Halloween festivities. The Farm is open special hours over MEA weekend. Check them out on FACEBOOK.

APPLE ORCHARDS

Another fun outdoor family friendly activity is picking apples at the apple orchards in Grand Rapids, MN. Lavalier’s Berry Patch and Apple Orchard is family owned and operated. In the summer they have sweet strawberries and blueberries, and in the fall they have apples, pumpkins, gourds and squash. Some years they even have brussels sprouts that you can cut right off the stalk from their garden. If you don’t feel like picking apples, they also offer pre-picked. Both are by the pound.

TimberSweet is also a family-owned and operated apple orchard that offers blueberries in the summer, apples in the fall, and award winning maple syrup year round. The Fideldy family prides themselves on harvesting the best produce and maple syrup. At their farm site they offer pick your own and pre-picked, and maple syrup. You can also find them at the Grand Rapids MN Farmers Market selling blueberries, apples, and maple syrup.

Both berry patches and farms are perfect to let the kids participate in harvesting MN grown produce, and then going home and cooking or baking with them. The experience is a wonderful educational and bonding memory. You could even start a new fall tradition.

FUN PLACES TO EAT & DRINK

While in town for the pumpkin patch & apple orchards in Grand Rapids, MN, you will want to check out the fun places to Eat & Drink. Grand Rapids is home to two craft breweries, a Minnesota wine bar, a tap house, and locally owned restaurants that make their menu from scratch and with locally grown produce, meat and eggs. Brewed Awakening and NoPo are both great places to start the day off right with locally sourced coffee, baked goods, and made from scratch recipes. For lunch you will want to check out Unwined Up North and Rapids Brewing Co; both offer made from scratch and locally sourced products. Unwined is the MN wine bar that also sells MN craft beer. Rapids Brewing is one of two craft breweries in town that has a log fired oven that they create pizza, a smash burger and other made from scratch recipes. For dinner we suggest Timberlake Restaurant, Pickled Loon Saloon on Pokegama and Forest Lake Restaurant. All three of these restaurants offer a full menu from burgers, salads, pasta to steak and seafood specialties. For a full list for Places to Eat & Drink in Grand Rapids, click HERE.

FIND COZY LODGING & OUTDOOR RECREATION

Don’t just come for the day, stay overnight. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is known as the outdoor recreation mecca of the north. Over 1,400 lakes, and over 2,000 miles of trails that are located on over 1 million publicly accessible forest acres. Come for the pumpkin patch & apple orchards, and stay for the cozy lodging and outdoor recreation!

You will find a wide variety of overnight lodging to choose from. There are in town Hotels and Motels that are conveniently located near in town trails, shops, and places to eat & drink. Then you will find a charming B&B located on Pokegama Lake, and close the the golf course and in town trails. There are in town Air B&B’s that are located above or near the downtown business district. These are close to the downtown restaurants, shops, public art and historic sites. And there are Minnesota Resorts and Lakeside Vacation Rentals that are all located on beautiful northern Minnesota lakes. Find Grand Rapids Lodging HERE.

Grand Rapids is surrounded by the Chippewa Nation Forest, UPM Blandin Forest and the George Washington State Forest just to the north of Grand Rapids. Over 2,000 miles of trails to ATV, hike, bike, and hunt. There are over 300 miles of ATV Trails with the closest one being only nine miles south of Grand Rapids (UPM Blandin ATV Trail). There are over 1,000 Hiking Trails, our favorites are in town (Legion Trail) and (Suomi Hills Trail) located just 30 minutes north of Grand Rapids. There is lots of Hunting Land, just make sure that you look up the hunting regulations and requirements for the land you are seeking to hunt on. Resources to check with are the Chippewa National Forest, Itasca County, and MN DNR. For biking we suggest the Mesabi Trail a 80+ miles paved trail, and Tioga Recreation Area for mountain biking. Tioga is a 25 mile, single track trail that has a skills course (Pathfinder Playground) and multi-level trails for the entire family. Explore all of the Outdoor Recreation you can enjoy around the Grand Rapids, MN area HERE.,

Fall Romantic Getaway Grand Rapids, MN

Fall Romantic Getaway

Take a fall romantic getaway to Grand Rapids, MN. This is the perfect romantic getaway for the fall because there are cozy places to stay, like downtown historic vacation rentals, unique places to eat and drink local like craft breweries, locally grown and raised food at farmers markets, and apple orchards. But don’t delay the fall season in northern Minnesota is a very short season, so you will want to BOOK your fall romantic great river road getaway to Grand Rapids, MN. View Fall Things To Do in Grand Rapids HERE.

The Great River Road

Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a Great River Road Town. The mighty Mississippi River flows right through historic downtown. The city is named for the 3.5-mile long rapids in the Mississippi River which was the uppermost limit of practical steamboat travel during the late 19th century. A couple of places where you can get an up close and personal view of the Mississippi is at the Pokegama Dam that is managed by the U.S. Corp of Engineers. You can camp in the campground through the middle of October each year. You can walk across the Mississippi Dam where on the other side you will find a little hiking trail where you can fish from shore.

Another location where you can access the Mississippi River is at the Grand Rapids Area Library where you can borrow a fishing pole and tackle and go fishing on the Mississippi. At this same location is a newly designated McCarty Music Park where you can create music in nature. As you walk along the Mississippi River Trail enjoy the beautiful public art murals, and the sunflower solar panels. Continue your stroll across the new walking bridge that gives you an aerial viewpoint of the falling leaves as they float across the water. Learn more about the Minnesota Great River Road HERE.

Warm & Cozy Lodging

In Grand Rapids, Minnesota you will find a wide variety of cozy lodging properties. From in town vacation rentals and Air B&B’s and Hotels/Motels, Minnesota Resorts that are open well into the fall and many open year-round, and Vacation Rentals that are located on pristine northern Minnesota lakes. On Friday, arrive for check-in at the Doc House which is a historic Victorian vacation rental located in downtown Grand Rapids. This locally owned short-term rental offers three charming short-term rental units that are perfect for the couple that is looking for a place in town that is walkable to the Mississippi River, local places to eat & drink like a craft brewery, and in-town trails. Each unit provides cozy beds, places to gather together, and inviting kitchens where you can cook up a hearty breakfast each day. Find all of the Grand Rapids, MN Cozy Lodging HERE.

Locally Sourced

On Saturday, bike up Powers Hill to the Grand Rapids MN Farmers Market and purchase locally grown vegetables, locally raised meat and eggs, and home baked bread, muffins and more. The Grand Rapids Farmers Market takes place Wednesday and Saturday through the end of October from 8am-1pm. Come back to the Doc House and cook up a hardy breakfast. The fall harvest is the perfect time to visit the market. The market is a hub for handmade, locally grown, locally raised, and Minnesota artists. Pick out a perfect pumpkin, buy a peck of apples, taste a fresh slice of apple pie, and enjoy the flavors of the season from the local food trucks. Find more fall events and festivals in the Grand Rapids, MN area HERE.

Local Places To Eat & Drink

Taste the fall harvest through a flight of locally craft beer. Enjoy a locally sourced chef’s inspired menu item that celebrates the season. The atmosphere of the historic theater building offers great acoustics to the musicians that perform live on stage. Enjoy the ambiance of the night by enjoying a bonfire on the patio.

Take in the fresh crisp night air with a stroll back to the Doc House where you can enjoy a night cap on the wrap around front porch. Sometimes a fall romantic great river road getaway is not about packing in a ton of things to do, but just to be together in a place where you can regain perspective in its natural order. Find more places to eat and drink local in Grand Rapids, MN HERE.

Apple Orchards

On Sunday, you must make a stop one of the apple orchards. Lavalier’s Berry Patch and Apple Orchard is located just down from the Great River Road. This charming straw

berry patch and apple orchard is family owned. Lavalier’s also sells pumpkins, gourds, and brussels sprouts. The other apple orchard is TimberSweet that is also family owned. The Fideldy family grows blueberries, apples and produce award winning maple syrup.

Both apple orchards offer pre-picked and you pick options. This is a great opportunity for you to see locally grown, family-owned Minnesota orchards up close to really appreciate the extra time and efforts that go into MN Grown.

This video highlights the Fall Romantic Getaway on the Great River Road in Grand Rapids, MN.

Learn more about September, Drive The Great River Road Month, for a chance to win $500 HERE.

Fall Hunting & Fishing in Grand Rapids, MN

Fall Fishing

This week’s Fall Hunting and Fishing in Grand Rapids, MN blog article is from, Tom Neustrom, owner of MN Fishing Connections. Tom is an inductee of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and the MN Fishing Hall of Fame. Tom is a professional representative for many major outdoor companies that manufacture outdoor fishing and hunting goods.

Being on the water for many years has given me an opportunity to observe many of Mother Nature’s changes throughout the seasons. Fall has become my all time favorite and there are so many reasons. The freshness and crispness of the air and taking deep breathes that are almost soothing is a great way to start your day. Early morning fog from the previous cool night drips off the trees and sparks a beginning to a fall day. Sounds of geese a mile high give an echoing that only nature can produce. These are just a few of the bells that ring letting us know that fall has arrived. Some of the maple trees are starting to show color ever so slowly as nature’s paint brush begins to change the surroundings to enhance the beauty of fall.

Species of fish are also sensing that change is on the forefront of their daily lives and begin to feed more often and change locations. Their main diet is small minnows and other creatures that inhabit the bottom of the lakes. In the panfish world bloodworms that suspend daily are a target food that they will dial into. This happens simultaneously with the coming of the fall and it is just another play in the seasonal change that is about to take place. Its amazing with nature that this song is replayed every year and many times never noticed by us as individuals. Locational changes of “Here today and gone tomorrow” are something that is hard to detect. When on the water its, at times, hard to detect these changes that occur. But the fish know these far ahead of the anglers. We just have to catch up. Presentations change and the locations change allowing us to detect these fish presentations a whole lot differently. Its all about the learning curve of success. Fall is like no other time of year where change is detected by fish and also game. Going into the cold water period many species of fish and game know that weather will dictate their lives. Just a 4-6 degree water temperature change affects not only location for species such as walleyes, but it is something that anglers have been waiting for.

Fall walleye fishing is a tradition of the fall and it can be some of the best opportunities of the season to catch numbers and a trophy. The cooler water drives walleyes to feeding more often and shallower. Baitfish are also feeding on plankton and they are schooled up in masses. Not only do the walleyes seek them out but the young of the year loons left behind by the adults are feeding heavily before winter. This too can be a sign of walleyes location and other gamefish seeking easy meals this time of year. Many lakes in the Grand Rapids area provide great opportunities for fall walleyes. Pokegama, Big Winnie, Big Cutfoot, Bowstring, Jessie, and the Mississippi River all can provide great fishing for walleyes and other species. Northern Pike, Slab Crappies, Muskies, and Perch provide great fishing at this short period of time.

It doesn’t hurt to hire a fishing guide to minimize your time on the water seeking out your favorite fall species. Contact area bait shops such as Thousand Lakes in Grand Rapids, River Rat Bait in Cohasset, Fred’s Bait in Deer River, Winnie One Stop, and Max Mini Store in Squaw Lake for up to date fishing information and names of guides to contact.

FALL HUNTING

Another fall ritual that is traditional as fishing is Grouse and Woodcock hunting. Many folks put their angling gear away begin the pursuit of grouse and the fast flying woodcock that abound in the woods around Grand Rapids. They both are wary of humans and noise. Walking the numerous trails north, south east and west of Grand Rapids will provide miles and miles of great habitat for both species. Having a good grouse and woodcock dog can be essential in flushing up birds especially in heavy cover. Again not a bad idea to have the guidance of a well known Grouse guide. Two of the best are Jeff(Cubby) Skelly of Deer River and Bill Heig at Bowens lodge. Can make all the difference in the world of contacting birds.

End of Summer Road Trip Ideas

End of Summer Road Trip to Grand Rapids

Summer isn’t over yet; it’s only the second week of August. There is still time to take a last minute summer road trip with loved one’s. Grand Rapids is an northern Minnesota destination that is perfect for a summer road trip. There are some last minute openings still available at Grand Rapids area resorts, vacation rentals, hotels and motels. Check out the Grand Rapids Last Minute Openings and get your overnight lodging booked. Grand Rapids is an outdoor recreation mecca of the north with over 2,000 miles of trails and over 1,400 lakes in the area. Grand Rapids also offers a historic downtown with boutique style shops, craft brewery, a wine bar and charming coffee shops. You will also find an abundance of public art, art and historic attractions, and live theater performances and live music. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the perfect place for an end of summer road trip to reconnect with loved ones, recharge and relax in Minnesota’s nature.

Outdoor Recreation Mecca of the North

Grand Rapids, Minnesota is surrounded by public forest land; over 1 million acres to be exact. The Chippewa National Forest, UPM Blandin Forest, Rajala Forest Land, and George Washington State Forest make up these public acres. Whatever type of outdoor recreation you enjoy, you will be able to do it here. There are biking, hiking, hunting, ATV, snowmobile and cross country ski trails. Here are a couple of trails we recommend:

MOUNTAIN BIKING

Tioga Recreation Area for mountain biking. Enjoy 25 miles of single track trails that are beginner to double black diamond level. Trails for the entire family. Two lakes surround the trails: Tioga & Pokegama that are great for swimming, fishing, paddling and boating.

HIKING

Suomi Trail located 18 miles north of Grand Rapids is a wonderful 20+ mile trail that has hills and curves that wrap around several small lakes. The Legion Trail offers great hiking and single track mountain bike trails that is located in the city limits of Grand Rapids. It is a 7 mile loop that has a couple of overlooks to Hale Lake. A good place to access is at the Reif Center.

ATV/OHV/OHM

UPM Blandin ATV Trail is located 9 miles south of Grand Rapids on Hwy 169. It connects with the Rabey Line ATV Trail that takes riders into Hill City, Minnesota where riders will find restaurants, gas stations, a grocery store, and places to overnight lodge. This trail goes through mixed hardwood and pine forests, over tamarack bog boardwalks, and several picnic areas to pull over for a shelter break.

BICYCLING

Then the Mesabi Trail is a 100+ mile paved bicycle trail that is perfect for the entire family. A great place for EV bicycles. The Grand Rapids to Keewatin, Minnesota section is full of hills and curves that go through old mine areas, over a swinging bog bridge, and through mixed hardwoods and pine forests.

Minnesota Art & History

MINNESOTA ART & CULTURE

Grand Rapids, Minnesota has become a regional hub for art & culture. The public art that is located throughout the downtown has been provided by the Grand Rapids Arts and Culture Commission and the Grand Rapids Arts. MacRostie Art Center is a place where you can view and purchase local and Minnesota art. They are located downtown across from the historic and open to the public Old Central School. The Reif Performance Center offers over 50 performances each season in their two theaters that seat a total of 900 people. The Reif Center brings Broadway style theater to Grand Rapids. All seats are perfect to get an up close and personal live theater experience.

MINNESOTA HISTORIC SITES

The Old Central School is a Romesque Style architecture building that was built in 1894. The school is now a commerce site for business and art suites for several artists. You can take a self guided tour of Downtown Public Art and Historic Sites HERE. This interactive map will guide you to and from each site. At the bottom of each art and historic site, you will click navigate here which will bring up a Google Map directions that you can get from your mobile device. There are historic area attractions that you can purchase admission to tour the Judy Garland Museum and Children’s Discovery Center which share a building that has children’s interactive exhibits, and the largest exhibit of Judy Garland memorabilia displays. Judy Garland was born in Grand Rapids. The Forest History Center is another great historic site that includes a 1900’s reinacted logging camp where interpreters in period costumes lead visitors in the logging camp retelling the story of what life would have been like in the early 1900’s winter. There are over 200 acres in the Forest History Center with trails that lead to the Mississippi River.

Local Places to Eat & Drink

For a small town, Grand Rapids has a wide variety of places to eat & drink. There are the local favorites like Sammy’s Pizza, Zorbaz, Forest Lake Restaurant, and Timberlake Lodge Restaurants. The eclectic coffee houses like Brewed Awakening and NoPo. Then the boat in favorites like Pickled Loon Saloon, Pokegama Grill and Otis’s Restaurant. And then there are place to sample local brew and Minnesota wines. Unwined Up North serves Minnesota craft beer and Minnesota wines. Rapids Brewing Company brews on site and then utilizes their brewery grains to create unique cuisine menu items. Klockow Brewing Co brews onsite and hosts a variety of food trucks and offers weekly live music. Click HERE to find a full list of places to eat and drink in the greater Grand Rapids area.

Cozy Places To Stay

For an end of the summer road trip, you will find lots of cozy places to stay. From in town and conveniently located to shops, breweries and trails you will find Hotels, Motels, a Bed and Breakfast, and Vacation Rentals. You will also find Minnesota Lake Resorts, Vacation Lake Rentals, and campgrounds. We suggest by starting with Last Minute Openings and then check out our STAY page that has our full listings of short-term overnight lodging establishments. There is such a wide variety that we are sure there is an overnight lodging property to meet everyone’s needs.

Fishing for Walleyes, Crappies and Northern

Grand Rapids Fishing Report by Tom Neustrom

This week Tom Neustrom, owner of MN Fishing Connections professional guide services, shares tips and techniques on fishing for walleyes, panfish and northerns. Delivery Systems, we are not talking the U.S. Mail, are an important part of every angler’s arsenal of presentations. It doesn’t matter the species, but everything is different or is it? What ever fish you are chasing in the Grand Rapids area, big or small, specific size and types of baits are all important.

As the season progresses many examples of food sources become evident. Early in the season after ice out moving into and past the post spawn time table, smaller baits seem to be the choices because of availability. Smaller minnows and tiny grub morsels are rather standard early on. As the season moves on into early summer and current conditions choices and size of food changes. Walleyes and most predatory species such as northern pike and bass prefer minnows as a steady diet moving into summer. The minnow type forage most often consists of small perch, shiners, chubs, and suckers. The size may vary but these most often are what is out there for them to pursue. Bass may slightly change their food choice to crayfish when available, but make no mistake they too are opportunistic to feed on anything they feel is a meal. They are also very susceptible to feeding on young bluegills and will be around those areas as feeding stations.

Fishing For Walleyes

Tom shares his tips and techniques for mid-summer fishing for walleyes in the greater Grand Rapids, MN area. Walleyes are a creature of difference from bass. They roam far more in search of food and can adapt to many different food choices. Walleyes primary food choices are young of the year perch and other minnows of all types and can adapt. Jig and minnow, spinners and a minnow or half a crawler, leeches on a slip sinker rig, slip bobber and a leech are just perfect examples of delivery systems that will put walleyes in the boat all through the season leading into fall. Spinners with a medium chub or small shiner are particularly effective when moving and seeking active walleyes. This method is very active when the water is a bit turbid and there is a significant cabbage weed growth. Speed is very important and moving at 1.25 to 1.50 id critical to consistent success. Most often a bullet head weight of 1/8^th to 3/16^th is modeled to slip through the weeds efficiently.

Many lakes in the Grand Rapids area can provide good walleye action all through the season. Pokegama, Trout, Deer, Moose, Bowstring and Big Winnie are sure bets to put walleyes in the boat using some of the above methods.

Fishing For Panfish

Panfish are set up in their summer patterns and weed edges and types of weeds are essential in finding multiple Bluegills and Crappies. They have all the cover needed for their existence and food choices abound. Both are notorious bug, larvae and small minnow eaters and the weeds beds are to their liking to finding all of the above. They very seldom stray too far from weeds because of shelter and good food choices. Good weed growth can also provide excellent protection from predators such as pike and bass. Many times if you find one bluegill or crappie there will be others in the neighborhood. A small jig and piece of worm or waxie will attract even the fussiest of fish to bite. A slip bobber or fixed float to keep the bait above the weeds is sometimes the best option. A fixed float is many times very helpful when there is unwanted wind. Small jigs and plastics will work easily as well and many times can be even better than live bait. Light line and a soft action rod is crucial fishing panfish as not to pull the hook away. St. Croix makes a series of Panfish rods that are the best for these situations.

Fishing for Northerns

Northern pike are less of a finicky nature when it comes to finding them and catching. They are kind of the bully in the water shed and are always looking for a fight. They can be caught a number of different ways. Many anglers prefer trolling lures such as spoons, crankbaits, and large spinners. Even a jig and minnow is a great choice. They are found in many areas of the lake and especially around weed beds, rock piles, timber and other structures. Their total target is food and will strike at anything that looks like food. Many lakes in the Grand Rapids area provide excellent northern pike fishing. Just a few are Swan, Trout, Pokegama, Splithand, Bowstring and Sand.

There is plenty going on in the world of fishing for multiple species right now so get out and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. Make sure that you have reviewed and understand the MN Fishing Regulations and Boating Safety before you head out on any Minnesota water to fish.

If you are coming here to fish, but maybe your friends and family is tagging along, and they don’t fish? No worries, check out Grand Rapids Things To Do or Grand Rapids Events. There is always things to do and see in the greater Grand Rapids, Minnesota area. And, there are things to do for all age levels from kids to Grandparents. But sometimes it is just relaxing by the lake! Stay safe on the water and enjoy!

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Grand Rapids Fishing Report by Tom Neustrom

Fishing For Walleyes

Fishing For Panfish

Fishing for Northerns

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