Fall Family Fun
Grand Rapids, MN is the perfect place to road trip to northern Minnesota for MEA Family Fun Weekend in Grand Rapids, MN. It is hard to getaway for a vacation with the kids during school, but MEA weekend allows parents to take a long weekend vacation in the fall. In Grand Rapids you can reconnect with loved ones, recharge in Minnesota’s nature, and relax by the lake or in the forest. With over 1,400 lakes and over 2,000 miles of trails there is lots of outdoor recreation to enjoy this fall in Grand Rapids, MN over MEA weekend. But, make sure that you book your MEA Family Fun Weekend in Grand Rapids, MN early. BOOK Lodging HERE.
BIKING
There are several places to bike over MEA in the fall. Legion Trail located in the American Legion Memorial Park located at The Reif Center parking lot includes a single track mountain bike trail, hiking trail and 18 holes of disc golf. Then there is the Mesabi Trail which is over 100 miles of paved trail that run from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids to the Boundary Waters in Ely, MN. Whether you prefer paved biking trails or off-road mountain biking, the choice is yours. Find places to Bike in Grand Rapids HERE.
HIKING
With over 1 million acres of public accessible forest land, hiking over MEA is perfect for the entire family. You will find a hiking trail that is perfect for hiking with kids.
1. Golden Anniversary State Forest – (LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE) Located 15 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids on the Great River Road. The terrain includes flat ground to gently rolling hills. The forest is made up of hardwoods and pines that are used to produce timber, create wildlife habitat and opportunities for hunting.
2. Simpson Creek – (LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE) Located 40 minutes northwest of Grand Rapids on County Road 46. This forest was established in 1907 by Sam Simpson. Located in the Chippewa National Forest, this trail is located next to the Cut Foot Visitor’s Center. This 13-mile trail is all non-motorized.
3. Suomi Hills Trail – (LEVEL: EASY TO INTERMEDIATE) Located 14 miles north of Grand Rapids, in the Chippewa National Forest. The remote and stunning Suomi Hills has 19 miles of hiking, biking, and ski trails and is part of a semi-primitive non-motorized area.
For additional hiking resources click HERE.
KID FRIENDLY MUSEUMS
In Grand Rapids, MN you will find several kid friendly museums where the kids will be able to be kids. At the Children’s Discovery Museum there is wide open spaces for them to play on the Lake Life equipment and interact with the exhibits. The Museum is perfect for ages toddlers to tweens. The Judy Garland Museum, under the same roof as the Children’s Discovery Museum, you can step back in time to the early 1900’s to relive life through Judy Garland’s career. Tour her house, and view the hundreds of exhibits and artifacts from her life’s career as a singer and actress. The Itasca County Historical Museum offers a chance to also step back in time and view many interesting historic artifacts like the wholly mammoth tusk, Native American artifacts, and new displays like the River Room, Veterans Room and many more. The Historical Museum also offers an Escape Room that is for children age 9+. Find more kid friendly Grand Rapids are attractions HERE.
PUMPKIN PATCH & HAYRIDES
Cowhorn Crossing Farm & Pumpkin Patch is open in the Fall starting September 24-October 31, 2022. This farm offers fun for all ages. It is a great place to go to let the kids run off some energy, pet the farm animals, run through the corn maze, take a hayride through the field and woods, and pick out the perfect pumpkin. They are open Thursday and Friday 4-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm. The cost is only $8/person, and $7/person for groups that include a free small pumpkin (1 chaperone is free with 10 students). For more details on other Grand Rapids Events happening over MEA click HERE.
APPLE ORCHARDS
Apple picking is perfect for a crisp fall day. In Grand Rapids there are two family-owned and operated apple orchards where you can purchase pre-picked or you can pick your own MN Grown apples. These hearty northern Minnesota varieties are perfect for baking, cooking, and eating. Lavalier’s Berry Patch and Apple Orchard is located right off the Great River Road, the Mississippi River is just a stones throw away. They grow strawberries, blueberries, pumpkins, and have beautiful apple trees. Then there is TimberSweet Apple Orchard that is located in Cohasset. They offer blueberries, apples, honey, and award winning maple syrup. TimberSweet can be found selling their produce and products at the Grand Rapids, MN Farmers Market on Wednesday and Saturday through October.
KID FRIENDLY PLACES TO EAT & DRINK
While on your MEA Family Fun Weekend in Grand Rapids, MN you will want to find kid friendly places to eat & drink. Both of the craft breweries are locally owned and operated and are both family friendly, and pet friendly. Klockow Brewing Company specializes in their craft beer, and also sells Minnesota Soda. They have food trucks on the weekend, and they allow food deliveries or for you to bring in food from Grand Rapids area restaurants. Rapids Brewing Co has a full menu including wood fired pizza, an amazing smash burger, and speciality items likes carneta nachos and chips and queso. In addition to the craft breweries, Grand Rapids offers many other kid friendly places to eat & drink: Unwined Up North, Zorbaz on Pokegama, Pickled Loon Saloon, Pokegama Grill, Florio’s, Forest Lake Restaurant, Hotel Rapids Bistro, Timberlake Lodge Restaurant, ElPotro, Fuji, Boulder Tap House and so many more! Find kid friendly restaurants HERE.
Grand Rapids, Minnesota is the perfect place to take a long weekend with the kids over MEA weekend. Enjoy an abundance of outdoor recreation on the 1,400 lakes and over 2,000 miles of trails, enjoy the fall colors, take a scenic drive, go to the kid friendly museums and area attractions, and enjoy some down time to just relax at cozy lodging options with stunning views of Minnesota’s Nature! Everything you need to plan your tip can be found at: www.visitgrandrapids.com.