Fall Getaway to Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the perfect Fall Getaway in Northern Minnesota. Take a scenic drive on the Great River Road that follows the Mississippi River. The mighty Mississippi River flows right through downtown. In the fall the mixed hardwood forests surrounding Grand Rapids are vibrant with yellow, orange, brown, red and hues of deep green. This small, charming town is a great off the beaten path for a couple day getaway in the fall.
A true Fall Getaway in Northern Minnesota is one that provides several opportunities: a wide variety of cozy lodging, things to do, fun places to eat & drink, an abundance of outdoor recreation, and fall event. You will find all of those things in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Grand Rapids, Minnesota is far enough away from Metro areas to provide a real getaway, and close enough to be convenient. Located in North Central Minnesota, Grand Rapids is 3.5 hours north of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. Hwy 169N will take you straight to Grand Rapids, Minnesota. If you wish to take 35N then you will take a more scenic route through Moose Lake, to Hwy 2, which also takes you straight into Grand Rapids.
Cozy Lodging
Even though Grand Rapids, Minnesota is a small town, you will find a wide variety of cozy lodging options in the fall! There is many different types of overnight lodging options, this way you can select the one that meets your lodging needs. There are conveniently located Hotels and Motels in town near shopping and places to eat & drink. These offer a wide variety of onsite amenities. Then there is Minnesota Resorts that are located on beautiful lakes that offer stunning fall views. There are two Bed & Breakfasts in Grand Rapids that are charming and the owners provide breakfast each day. And then there are Vacation Home Rentals which offer you either an in town studio, condo or apartment, or a lake home where you have the entire home/cabin. Book your Grand Rapids Fall Lodging HERE.
Fall Things To Do
Whether you are looking for a Fall Getaway in Northern Minnesota that is relaxing or full of fun things to do, Grand Rapids is a place where you can do both.
Recharge in Minnesota’s Nature: the surrounding mixed hardwood and pine forests that surround Grand Rapids gives visitors the opportunity to rest and relax from their everyday busy lives. The combination of the lakes, rivers, trees, trails, and Minnesota’s wildlife allow people to slow down and enjoy the simple things of life.
Fun Fall Things To Do: there are many places to find fun things to do in Grand Rapids, MN. There are historic attractions like the Itasca County Historical Society, Judy Garland Musuem and Children’s Discovery Museum, and the Forest History Center (open Saturday’s through Oct 14). There are places to view beautiful art like MacRostie Art Center, The Reif Center, and you can take a self-guided Art & Historic Tour in downtown Grand Rapids. One of our favorite things to do for a Fall Getaway to Northern Minnesota is take a scenic drive on the Fall Color Tour. This fall drive will take you off the beaten path to small communities that are surrounded by vibrant fall hues of mixed hardwood and pine forests. Along the fall color tour you will find places to stay, places to shop, outdoor recreation, and fun places to eat and drink.
Fun Places to Eat & Drink
Going out to eat is a major part of going on vacation. That makes Grand Rapids, Minnesota the perfect Fall Getaway in Northern Minnesota because there is a wide variety of fun places to eat & drink. From the two locally owned craft breweries. Klockow Brewing Company, which brews onsite and distributes to liquor stores, restaurants around Minnesota and Wisconsin. Klockow hosts food trucks and live music on a regular basis. Rapids Brewing Co. locally brews onsite and only sells at their Grand Rapids location. They host weekly live music, and offers a log fired oven menu. Then there is a wine bar: Unwined Up North that features Minnesota wine and craft beer and serves made to order sandwiches, soups, salads, and small plates. Smoke on the Water is newest fun place to eat & drink in the greater Grand Rapids MN area. They are a winery located on the shores of Trout Lake in Coleraine serving house-made wood fire pizza and cocktails.
And then we have restaurants that are the places that all of the locals like to go: Sammy’s Pizza which serves their award winning pizza, Italian favorites, and cocktails. Timberlake Restaurant serves fresh made to order American specialties with weekly Chef inspired menu items. Forest Lake Restaurant is locally restaurant and lounge that is known for their chicken wild rice soup, juicy burgers, and steaks. And then there are the Boat In Restaurants: Pokegama Grill that is located at the Pokegama Golf Course and serves salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, and appetizers that keeps people coming back. Pickled Loon Saloon offers a harbor access from Pokegama Lake, and a wide menu from wraps to burgers and nightly Chef Specials. Zorbaz on the Lake is a chain that offers a fun atmosphere, pizza, tacos and spaghetti.
And then for off the beaten path locations check out Sportsman Cafe, Blueberry Bowl, Cedar Creek Grill, Florios Grill & Tavern, Rileys Cannibal Junction, The Pine Cone, The Antler Lodge, Timberwolf Inn, and Wizards Bar & Grill.
And in the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area you will also find ethnic cuisine like at Fuji Japanese Restaurant, El Potro Mexican, and Muchi Si Mexican. Find Fun Places to Eat & Drink HERE.
Getting outdoors is a must for a Fall Getaway in Northern Minnesota. You will find 1,400 area lakes, and 2,000 miles of trails that are located in over 1 million acres of publicly accessible forest land. The Chippewa National Forest surrounds the greater Grand Rapids, Minnesota area. In the Chippewa you can hike, bike, ATV and hunt in the fall.
For fall hiking we suggest you try Simpson Creek that is located at Cut Foot Sioux on the Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway. Suomi Hills is located north on the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway. The Legion Trail is located right in the City limits of Grand Rapids at The Reif Center.
For ATVing we suggest the B & B ATV Trail that takes you from Bigfork to Balsam. The UPM Blandin ATV Trail takes you south of Grand Rapids to Hill City, Minnesota. And the Alborn-Pengilly ATV Trail runs on an old railroad grade in the Pengilly, Minnesota area.
For biking we suggest the Mesabi Trail for paved bicycle riding from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids to the Boundary Waters in Ely, Minnesota. The Tioga Recreation Area is located in Cohasset which offers 25 miles of multi level mountain bike riding, paddling, fishing, and hiking opportunities.
Find more Outdoor Recreation in Grand Rapids, Minnesota HERE.
Fun Fall Events & Entertainment
While on a Fall Getaway in Northern Minnesota, being entertained is a bonus. In Grand Rapids, Minnesota you will find a wide variety of weekly live music, Broadway style performances, art events and classes, and Minnesota premiere events.
The Reif Center is a world-class performing arts center that offers two theaters for an up close and personal live performance experience. The MacRostie Art Center and the Grand Rapids Arts hosts a monthly First Friday Art Walk which is FREE and open to the public in downtown Grand Rapids. MacRostie Art Center offers two beautiful gallery spaces and an art shop for your to purchase something special as a memento of your trip. The local craft breweries and Grand Rapids, MN area restaurants host live music and events on a weekly basis.And then there are the premiere annual Fall Events like Grand Rapids Riverfest (first Sat in Sept), and Klocktoberfest (last Saturday in September) just to name a few. Find Fall Fun Events in Grand Rapids, MN HERE.
Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the place to take a scenic drive for a Fall Getaway in Northern Minnesota. This fall recharge in Minnesota’s nature where the crowds are less, and the vibrant colors provides a stunning background for a scenic drive. Start planning your Fall Getaway in Northern Minnesota by viewing the Interactive Grand Rapids Visitor’s Guide.