What To Do When You Are In A Winter Slump

Winter in Grand Rapids, MN

Cabin Fever Reliever

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.

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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.

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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 Conditions before 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.

Snowmobiling Resized 2 1024x683 1 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 Resize 1024x683 1 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 resized 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.

18033122 1505950616102025 8779788604272335442 n Fun Area Attractions – For a small town, Grand Rapids has a lot of fun places to be entertained, learn about Minnesota History, and embrace stunning works of art and view performance art. Here are just a few places to note: Judy Garland & Children’s Discovery Museums Itasca County Historical Society & Escape Room, MacRostie Art Center, and The Reif Center. There are several places where you can create and learn: MacRostie Art Center, Stained Glass with Class, and the Itasca Community Education. You do not need to be a resident to participate in any of these opportunities. By viewing each of their websites, you can see upcoming classes that they offer, and most of the time you can sign-up and pay online. View Itasca Area Attractions HERE.

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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.

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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 HERE to 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.

Winter Road Trip to Grand Rapids

top winter things to do

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.

top winter things to do 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.

top winter things to do 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.

top winter things to do 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.

top winter things to do 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.

Ice Fishing for Northern Pike in the Grand Rapids Area

Northern Pike -Grand Rapids, MN

As winter continues to move forward, Ice fishing has sort of taken a back seat to other winter activities in the Grand Rapids area. With snow levels at ever-increasing levels, snowmobiling and cross country skiing have been extremely popular. It continues to be an “Old-time Minnesota Winter” that we haven’t seen in several years. A gentleman once told me the higher the Muskrats build their winter houses the more snow we are going to have. Well, he was correct. Even the weather folks predicted this winter wrong, but the Muskrats knew.

End of Season for a Few Species- Northern Pike & Walleye

Winter fishing is still a popular time to be out enjoying the outdoors. Right now locations are very important in contacting fish of several species. As we are into the later period of ice fishing, the cold water has definitely slowed the metabolism of fish but that will increase their feeding activity as we continue to move forward. Species such as walleyes and northern pike have only a few more weeks to show in your bucket. February 28th will end the season for both species, but there are still others to fish for.

Ice Fishing Tips!

Northern pike is moist often a fish that is less affected by cold water and they can continue to be active. By using Lakemaster mapping you can target areas where weeds and hard bottom near drop-offs exist. Tip-ups are still a good way to target these late-season pikes and allowing two tip-ups per angler can up your odds if you bring a friend or family member along. Smaller sucker minnows will most often produce the most flags. If I’m going to jig them or fish live to bait with a rod and reel I most often will use a slower moving bait then in early winter, drill several holes in an area from 8 to 20 feet and change holes often until you get bit. Many times attach a small sucker or medium shiner to your jig if that’s your presentation and it will definitely help. If there are weeds anywhere in the holes you drilled, concentrate your efforts in and around those locations.

Great Lakes to Fish for Northern Pike

Several of the good northern pike lakes in the Grand Rapids area that you may want to try are Swan, Trout Lake in Coleraine, Wabana, Big Winnie, and Pokegama. The last 2 weeks of the ice fishing season are coming up for northern pike and walleyes. Get out and give it a try on the mentioned lakes and it may be a good choice for the last of the season ice fishing trip.

To locate lakes, click HERE

There are great lodging properties in Itasca County on or close to the lakes mentioned above. To book/check out the lodging properties, click HERE. If you can’t make it up this winter to ice fish for northern pike or walleyes, don’t worry Summer and Fall are great times to book a fishing vacation too.

 

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Top 5 Trip Ideas for a Romantic Getaway

Romantic Getaway- Visit Grand Rapids, MN

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner plan your romantic getaway in Grand Rapids, MN. There is no better gift than a special weekend out of town. If you haven’t planned what to do for your special person, here are 5 ideas to make this valentine’s day extra special.

1. Hotel, Wine Bar, & Snowshoeing!

In Grand Rapids, there are 5 outstanding hotels. 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. 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 wine and beer all made in Minnesota. During your stay, spend some time outdoors exploring the snowshoeing trails. Rentals are available at Ardent Bicycles. Guided snowshoeing is available every Thursday from 12:30-1:30 at Tioga Recreation with Stephanie from the City of Cohasset Park and Rec. Department. Snowshoes are available during this guided service for FREE! Check out other trails in the greater Grand Rapids area by clicking HERE.

Snowshoes Janna Salmela 2015

2. Experience the Arts During a Weekend Up North!

Part of a great romantic getaway is to take in a performance together. See the Itasca Strings Orchestra on February 12th at 7 pm at The Reif. The Itasca Symphony Orchestra Plays Bizet Featuring violist Evgeny Zvonnikov they will be playing Carmen Fantasy. Before the show, there are great dining options in the Grand Rapids area to treat your special someone. Don’t forget to stop at MacRostie Art Center to see their Face Value exhibit by Russ White. There is also a cool store on the corner called Stained Glass with Class that offered stained glass classes. Call today to book a time!

MAC Art Shop Jordan Weis

3. Relax & Re-connect at a Resort or Bed & Breakfast

Enjoy the coziness of a cabin in the winter or the ease of a Bed & Breakfast. Re-connect with your loved one for a romantic getaway while exploring Minnesota’s nature. Set up an ice shanty on one of 1,000+ lakes in the area for some amazing ice fishing. Check out the latest Ice Fishing Report. Another idea is to head over to Blackwater Cross County Ski trail for a night ski on their lit trails. Lights are on until 10 pm and they have a heated shack! For more cross-country ski trails, click HERE.

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4. Weekend Ideas for the Adventurous Couples

If you and your significant other love snowmobiling or fat tire biking, the Grand Rapids area is the perfect place to make a valentines day weekend trip. There are over 1,000+ miles of groomed trails to explore. Check out the trails in advance by clicking HERE. If you are visiting to fat tire bike, Tioga is the place to go. There are over 25 miles of groomed trails from beginner to advanced. Click HERE to see the trail report.

Resort Group

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 has a special menu for Valentine’s Day and Klockow Brewing Company allows you to bring in your own food!  Near the breweries are 2 unique museums. Check out The Itasca County Historical Society which has a ton of unique exhibits and has an escape room. Call to book an hour! If you and your significant other are looking for a guided tour, the Judy Garland Museum has a guide every Friday and Saturday. Take a walk around and learn about the life of Judy Garland. The museum included the home she grew up in.

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Information on Booking a Trip

To see the different lodging properties in the greater Grand Rapids area visit our Stay Page. If you have any questions about booking a romantic getaway, feel free to call the Visit Grand Rapids office at (218) 326-9607 or e-mail us at info@visitgrandrapids.com

 

What To Do When You Are In A Winter Slump

Even in the cold of winter Grand Rapids, MN has indoor and outdoor fun!

What’s Going on This Week in Grand Rapids

Tuesday-Sunday: The Fat Forest 14 is virtual. Sign up on the GRIMBA website to race 7 miles or 14 miles on Tioga Recreation.

Tuesday: Harry Potter Trivia with UnWinded Up North. Trivia begins at 7pm on Facebook Live or in person!

Wednesday: Zocial Diztant Trivia at Zorbas. Trivia begins at 6:30!

Wednesday: Artist Talk Series with Monika Lawerence. Join at 6pm on Zoom. Click HERE to get to more information and the Zoom link.

Thursday: Live music at Rapids Brewing Company. Stop in and see Mckeon Hugh Roberts at 6pm.

Saturday: Pond Hockey is one. Head out to McKinley lake and have some hockey fun. For more information on how to sign up click HERE to be directed to their Facebook page.

Saturday: Bundle up and bring the kids out to McKinney Lake on February 20th for some family fun. From 11pm-2pm compete in a snow sculpture competition! For more information and to register contact Myrna Peterson at 218-301-6028.

Saturday: Join the traveling art pub and Timberlake Lodge from 5:30-7:00pm and paint the “Bright Winter Sunset”. The cost is $35 a person and food and beverage is additional. Click HERE to learn more and sign up.

Winter Recreation

Grand Rapids has over 1,000 lakes perfect for ice fishing and in Itasca County alone there are over 600 miles in snowmobile trails. In addition, to that there is a wide variety of snowshoe and cross country skiing trails for all levels. Of hit the slopes at Mt. Itasca for tubing, snowboarding or skiing.

Drive Up For Some Winter Fun!

No matter if you are an  indoor out outdoor person in the winter, Grand Rapids has something for everyone. To book your stay click HERE to find the perfect place to stay to get out of the winter slump.

Spend Valentines Day Up North…. Plan Or WIN Your Trip To Grand Rapids!

How to Win A Trip

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Head to the Visit Grand Rapids Instagram account. To be entered you must follow the account and tag someone you want to bring on  a trip to Grand Rapids. For an extra entry share our post on your Instagram story and tag us! The Winner will be announced Sunday February 10th at 5pm and will receive 1 FREE night stay at AmericInn in Grand Rapids, a half day of snowshoeing or cross country skiing for 2 from Ardent Bicycles and a 50 dollar Gift Card to Forest Lake Restaurant. For more information DM us on Instagram or Facebook!

Plan A Trip

Want to surprise your significant other with a weekend getaway? You can now book a hotel/motel, vacation rental or Bed and Breakfast right through the Visit Grand Rapids website. Click HERE to be directed to book. Enjoy the bliss of being up north with your loved one or make it a Galentine’s weekend with the girls! We have a variety of outdoor recreation, dinning and craft breweries to make you Valentine’s weekend unforgettable.

Here Are A Few Things To Do During Your Stay

Snowshoeing or cross country ski on the trails

Brewery hop or check out the wine bar

Mt. Itasca– snowboard, ski or tube!

Enjoy bowling or an arcade at Thunder Alley XL

Snowmobile on 600 miles of trails in Itasca County

Ice fish on 1,000 lakes in the area

Check out McRostie Art Gallery

Shop Downtown Grand Rapids or Central Square Mall

Ice skate on one of the rinks in town

*Check out our things to do tab for more information-HERE

Valentine’s Deals!!!!

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Have more questions?

If you want recommendations for things to do or places to stay, contact us via email at info@visitgrandrapids.com or call us at 218- 326-9607. Pack up for the weekend and experience all the winter fun in Grand Rapids has this Valentine’s Day!

Winter Road Trip to Grand Rapids

Take a break and get out of the city. Enjoy Grand Rapids as the winter wonderland it is. Experience snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding and tubing! and now…… we have two different virtual tours you can experience from the safety of your car.

Virtual Tours

Grand Rapids Art and History Virtual Tour

Take a drive around town and see the Grand Rapids historic buildings. If you follow along with the map you will see a current photo and what the building used to look like. Many of the buildings on this Grand Rapids history  virtual tour still stand and have been refurbished. In addition, this map also has numerous art locations to see. Some of the art pieces are located in some of the historic sites.  Most locations are open with social distancing and masks required. Click HERE to see the different spots in town  to explore on a winter roundtrip to Grand Rapids.

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Old Pokegama Hotel
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Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway Virtual Tour

Travel the historic and picturesque Highway 38 from Grand Rapids to Effie. The Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway is 47 miles long with 14 different discovery sites and a few hidden gems totaling to 22 sites to explore. Along this byway is the Chippewa National Park and sights of shoreline. As a reminder when traveling be cautious of the road especially during the winter. Locals refer to this road as “Highway Loop-de-Loop”.  Click HERE to see the map and sites to explore.

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Outdoor Recreation

Hop out of the car and stretch your legs with some outdoor fun! Spend the day tubbing, skiing or snowboarding up a Mt. Itasca. 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.

For trails and conditions click HERE. Trail conditions are updated weekly.

 

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Fat Tire Biking

Safe and Cozy Lodging

Check out our 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.

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Vacation Rental

Head North for a Getaway

Plan your winter road trip today. Take the time to reconnect up north and experience all of the fun outdoor recreation Grand Rapids has and now, take virtual tours and travel the routes. See the beauty, art and history of Grand Rapids this winter with a road trip!