Great Minnesota Outdoors - Come Back to Nature

Even as you’re beginning to accept that the last golden days of summer are slipping away, you can still take advantage of the great outdoors. Whether you’re planning a company retreat, corporate meeting, or team building get-away, these gorgeous Minnesota resort and conference center destinations will bring your group back to nature and make for great memories that will sustain them during the long, cold winter days to come.

Native Minnesotans know the pull of “up north,” a place with no specific boundaries but a boatload of appeal far away from the cities. Overflowing with verdant forests, sparkling lakes, and summer nights soft with breezes and bedazzled by stars, all it takes is one visit and you’ll know why visitors come back again and again.

Arrowood Resort + Conference Center Just four miles outside the quaint town of Alexandria, this all-season resorts hugs the shores of Lake Darling. Tee up at the 18-hole championship golf course, saddle up at the stables and ride the wooded trails, or dive in at the full-service marina with jet skis, paddleboats, fishing boats, or pontoons. After volleyball on the beach or swimming in the lake, end the day with a cozy campfire.

Breezy Point Resort + Conference Center Serenity abounds at this four-season resort on Pelican Lake. Whether your agenda includes golf at any one of their three courses; boating, canoeing, kayaking and more from their marina; swimming, horseshoes, or bonfires on the beach; or biking and hiking on their miles of woodland trails, there’s no end to the outdoor activities your gang can enjoy here. As added bonus, you can get the group together for a cruise aboard the Breezy Belle Paddle Wheel Boat on either a lunch or dinner cruise.

Grand View Lodge Boasting gorgeous views of Gull Lake, this year-round lakeside resort has been the site of many a memorable gathering for 100 years! Some of their most popular team-building activities take place in the great outdoors, including raft building, golf, scavenger hunts, geocaching, fishing, boating, swimming, and much more. The charming log constructed main lodge is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge A sandy beach, rustic cottages and lodge combine to create an appealing environment at this lakeside resort. Family owned and operated since 1898, it’s been a popular favorite on Bay Lake in the Brainerd area for many generations. Between 27 holes of golf, gorgeous natural surroundings, outdoor pool, tennis, boating, kayaking, and more, your group won’t know what to do first.

Superior Shores Resort + Conference Center Situated on 60 wooded acres and overlooking the grandeur of Lake Superior, your team will revel in the fresh air, spectacular views, and amazing activities at this exceptional resort. Outdoor pool and hot tub, 2000-foot pebbled beach, hiking trails, 18-hole golf course plus nearby Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Duluth’s Canal Park all add to its considerable appeal.

Head south of the Twin Cities for a change of scenery and a change of pace. The tranquil and picturesque region is one of the prettiest in the state, magnificent with lakes, trails, historic sites, pristine prairie land and state parks galore.

Minnesota Horse + Hunt Club With an outdoor pavilion that seats up to 300, the tranquil environment comprised of 600 acres of prairies and wilderness is just the right setting for your event. Located in lovely Prior Lake, your team can take part in a wide variety of outdoor activities including gamebird hunting, target practice, shooting on the rifle or pistol ranges, riding lessons, and more.

Mystic Lake Casino Hotel The Meadows, an award-winning public golf course located at this Prior Lake Casino/Hotel, is both challenging and scenic. Then of course, the venue’s great indoors challenges your team with slots, blackjack, bingo, plus concerts and shows and no less than eleven bars, cafes, restaurants, and coffee shops.

When you travel west of the cities you likely won’t encounter any cowboys. What you will find are lots of lakes, golf courses, hiking/biking trails, historical sites, parks, wineries, fishing, and more.

Best Western PLUS Willmar Conference Center Located at the heart of some of the area’s best outdoor attractions, the hotel and conference center are the ideal, comfy home base for your crew. Located just minutes from the Best Western, guests will enjoy the nearby Glacial Trails for hiking or biking, the 9-hole Valley Golf Course, and of course more than 300 lakes in the Willmar Lakes Area.

Any one of these Minnesota resort and conference center destinations will make your team glad they made the most of these precious summer days while they lasted.