Labor Day Up North
Summer’s Last Hurrah Labor Day Vacation Ideas for the greater Grand Rapids, MN area. Here is your last minute opportunity to head north to the thousand grand lakes of Minnesota to RELAX, RECONNECT, and RECHARGE! Visit Grand Rapids has put together these labor day vacation ideas for you as easy itinerary things to do, but please know that the Grand Rapids, MN area is also a wonderful place to untap, unwind, and relax too! The choice is yours. Welcome to Grand Rapids, Minnesota!
Cozy Lodging With a View
You will find a wide variety of cozy lodging options with a view. Visit Grand Rapids represents 37 lodging properties that are Hotels/Motels, Bed and Breakfasts, Air BnB’s, Vacation Rentals and Resorts. With such a wide variety of options, there is a short-term lodging property to meet everyone’s needs. Whether you are looking for an in town place that is close to the area shops, restaurants and in town trails. Or you are looking for a property that is located more off the beaten path, on a lake, or in the forest. But don’t delay, BOOK NOW summer is fleeting – head north for Labor Day this year!
Labor Day Vacation Ideas
For summer’s last hurrah, Visit Grand Rapids has put together Labor Day Vacation ideas through an itinerary sample. You can do everything on the list, or you can do one or two, and spend most of your time to untap, unwind and relax. The choice is yours how you spend your Labor Day Vacation in the greater Grand Rapids, MN area.
Labor Day Sample Itinerary
Day 1:
Once you arrive to the greater Grand Rapids, MN area, take time to unpack, get settled into your short term lodging property, and read up on things to do in the Grand Rapids Visitor Guide. Depending on what time you arrive on Day 1, will determine what is available to do at that time. Here are some options for you to consider:
MORNING – (Breakfast) Either book breakfast at your own cabin or vacation rental. OR try a local breakfast favorite: Brewed Awakenings, Country Kitchen, Dotties Hometown Cafe, NoPo Kitchen or Sportsman VIEW DINING OPTIONS (Activity) enjoy time on a lake dock (there are many fishing piers/docks in the Grand Rapids, MN area to consider: Blandin Beach on Forest Lake, Tioga Recreation Beach in Cohasset, Pokegama Dam on the Mississippi River).
AFTERNOON – (Lunch) While you are out and about, going out to eat is a huge part of going on vacation – so let’s eat out for lunch! Consider a place with a view: Pokegama Grill at the Pokegama Golf Course, Zorbaz on Pokegama, Bobbers at Williams Narrow’s Restaurant are a few of our favorite VIEW DINING OPTIONS (Activity) bicycle on the Mesabi Trail or mountain biking at Tioga Recreation Area and no worries if you do not have bikes with you or own bikes, rent at Ardent Bicycle or Mesabi Excursions VIEW OUTDOOR RECREATION IDEAS
EVENING – (Dinner) There are a lot of great places to eat in the Grand Rapids, MN area, but if you are looking to try the places where the locals go consider: Florio’s in Cohasset, Trailside in Bigfork, or Cedar Creek Grill in Grand Rapids VIEW DINING OPTIONS (Activity) If the weather allows, and your lodging property offers either fire pits or gas fire pits or tables, we suggest heading outside to enjoy a fire in nature. And of course what is better with a campfire than s’mores, and remember there are both savory and sweet options to consider (savory: brie cheese, fig jam or honey, and crackers or sweet: marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers)
Day 2:
We hope you had a chance to either get up early to take in the sunrise or sleep in, since you are on vacation! When you get up and get ready, now is time to get a good breakfast in you for a full day – or a day spent relaxing by the lake, reading a book, or finding new adventure on a trail.
MORNING – (Breakfast) The Hotels, Motels and Bed & Breakfasts will provide for you. But if you are seeking a local coffee shop you have to try Brewed Awakenings, Dragonfly Coffee. They all offer great coffee, chai, and tea options, as well as fresh baked items, yogurt, cereal, and breakfast sandwich options. VIEW DINING OPTIONS
AFTERNOON – Now again, you pick how much activity you are looking to do while on vacation in the greater Grand Rapids, MN area, but here are some adventure opportunities: Paddle the Mississippi by renting and launching right from Paddle Hoppers or taking a guided paddle on the Mississippi River from the Forest History Center. (Lunch) Whether you are looking for a quick bite or a sit down spot with a view, here are some options to consider: Spartan Deli in Central Square Mall offers healthy and quick options to go, Pickled Loon Saloon offers an amazing view of the Pokegama Lake harbor. VIEW OUTDOOR RECREATION IDEAS
EVENING – (Activity) To slow things down, try throwing a line in an area lake or the Mississippi River. The Grand Rapids Library loans fishing rods, reels and tackle for you to try your chance at catching a fish on the Mississippi River pier located behind the Grand Rapids Library or if you have your own fishing equipment, there are over 1,000 area lakes to catch fish. Places like Thousand Grand Lakes Sporting Goods or L&M Fleet Supply for bait and fishing tips, techniques and get the latest on what’s biting. READ THE WEEKLY FISHING REPORT (Dinner) Tonight we encourage you to head out to try one of the craft breweries – Klockow and Rapids Brewing or winery – Smoke on the Water or Unwined Up North. All of these locations are family friendly and outside you can bring your dog too.
Day 3:
MORNING – On Day 3, we hope that you got an amazing nights sleep, and if you didn’t, maybe a nap on a hammock or lounge chair by the pool, lake or river is in order. By Day 3, you have probably gotten a grasp on places to eat & drink, options offered at your short-term lodging option, so, we will just include the link to find places to grab breakfast here VIEW DINING OPTIONS (Activity) Sometimes by Day 3 (weather dependent) you are looking for more of a slower paced activity option, and maybe sometimes you are wanting more of an adventure. Taking a hike in the 1M+ publicly accessible forest acres around the Grand Rapids, MN area (being out in nature has proven to help lower stress and allow people to regain perspective on what is important to them) Here are some of our hiking spots (based on intensity level) Simpson Creek Trail in the Chippewa National Forest (light-moderate) is a 13-mile trail which is fairly flat and even ground that wraps around the Cut Foot Sioux area where eagles and other birds of prey, ducks and geese often are found. Legion Trail (light to moderate) (while we know that this link takes you to a mountain bike group version of the trail – that’s OK, there is a single track trail for biking and a mowed wide path for hiking) right in the city limits of Grand Rapids next to the Reif Center is a wonderful 7-mile trail that wraps around Hale Lake. There is a map kiosk that you can take a picture on your phone to take as you hike. Suomi Hills Trail that is located on the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway (moderate to advanced) this trail contains more hills, and is a 19-mile loop. VIEW OUTDOOR RECREATION IDEAS
AFTERNOON – Depending on the amount of exercise that you got while hiking will depend on how hungry you are, and if you are preferring a sit down place to eat near your hike. Here are some options to consider: Gosh Dam Place on the Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway near Simpson Creek Trail, Timberwolf on the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway by the Suomi Trail, or Cedar Creek Tavern that is north of Legion Trail in Grand Rapids VIEW DINING OPTIONS We all know that we do not allow ourselves enough time to untap, unwind, and relax, so here is your opportunity. Take time on your Labor Day Vacation in the greater Grand Rapids, MN area to just simply be in nature. Sit in a chair by water to reflect on the beautiful sights and sounds around you. Practice mindful breathing to slow your heart rate and allow yourself to be in the time and place of nature. Sometimes slow activity like wading the in the lake, pool or river, or slow paddling a stand up paddle board or kayak across the water has a similar impact on your mind and body to slow down and enjoy being in nature.
EVENING – (Dinner) While you know after viewing the DINING OPTIONS and on Day 3 of your vacation up north in the Grand Rapids, MN area there are many places to eat, but maybe you are looking for cultural cuisine or upscale dining options. Here are a few for you to consider: Fuji Japanese Restaurant, El Porto Mexican Restaurant, or The Pines Restaurant downtown Grand Rapids. (Activity) Here is your opportunity to take advantage of the later sunset and take a stroll from your lodging property to enjoy the greater Grand Rapids, Minnesota area that is surrounded by nature. Whether you are staying in downtown Grand Rapids, on a lake, or in the woods, the views are amazing this time of year.
Finish Your Planning and BOOK LODGING
So, we hope you enjoy our Summer’s Last Hurrah Labor Day Vacation Ideas blog and itinerary sample. Now you can finish your planning and BOOK LODGING now! Also take a look at LAST MINUTE LODGING OPTIONS to see if there is a discount or deal that you can take advantage of. DOWNLOAD GRAND RAPIDS VISITOR GUIDE for more information.
