This Must Be the Place - Top Minnesota Retreat Destinations

It’s cold. It’s grey. It’s time to get away!! Gather your gang at any of these top Minnesota retreat destinations. They possess all the perfect ingredients for motivation, relaxation, fun, learning, and team-building.

Arrowwood Resort + Conference Center, Alexandria, MN

What to expect:  Your team can’t help but be impressed upon arrival at Arrowwood Resort + Conference Center. This nature-inspired resort nestled beside Lake Darling is located in northern Minnesota.

Why it’s a top pick:  The resort boasts a variety of comfy accommodations, from guest rooms and suites, to cozy bungalows and lavishly appointed three- and four-bedroom townhomes. Relax indoors at the spa or waterpark, or get energized with outdoor activities like ice skating, sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, campfires, and more.

Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, MN

What to expect:  Hugging the shores of Gull Lake, the historic Grand View Lodge has been welcoming groups to rustic paradise for over 100 years. 

Why it’s a top pick:  Here you can engage your group in expansive meeting spaces; put everyone up in quaint cabins, beautiful townhomes, the comfortable lodge, or a luxurious villa; and dine on mouthwatering cuisine. After hours, your crew can relax at the spa or take advantage of the family fun center, cross country skiing, ice skating, hockey, and so much more.

Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge, Deerwood, MN

What to expect:  An award-winning Minnesota Lake Resort, this family-owned and operated lodge has been a regional favorite since 1898.

Why it’s a top pick:  Ample meeting space, plus luxury accommodations--from lodge rooms to charming cabins to lakeside villas--make this destination special. Custom-designed group activities engage your team, while the spa and salon, hearty dining options, and local attractions like shopping, state parks, and local galleries, make it appealing for all. 

Superior Shores Resort + Conference Center, Two Harbors, MN

What to expect:  Offering a feeling of seclusion, this rustic resort overlooks the awe-inspiring Lake Superior and is surrounded by dense woodlands, yet is just two miles from downtown Two Harbors.

Why it’s a top pick:  Meeting space windows and doors are lakeside and provide views and access to the outdoor terrace and pebble beach. Overnight accommodation options include the main lodge with shoreline access, Burlington Bay lodge located on a hillside with views of the lake, or luxury lake homes perched on the rugged peninsula of Lake Superior shoreline. Fabulous dining and local attractions make this resort a hit.

Minnesota Horse + Hunt Club, Prior Lake, MN

What to expect:  The premiere shotgun sports facility in the US, the rustic lodge and pastoral grounds provide the ideal meeting space for team building.

Why it’s a top pick:  Offering a wide range of activities, including target shooting rifle and pistol ranges, gamebird hunting, and stables, this a place where your team can get their competition on. On-site supper club features panoramic views and is casually elegant, offering a menu of wild game selections and traditional favorites like steak, chicken, and pasta.

Watson Hunting Camp + Bar, Watson, MN

What to expect:  Located in the heart of the Lac qui Parle Wildlife refuge, the area is famous for its waterfowl hunting, trophy walleye, slab crappies, and large northern pike.

Why it’s a top pick:  The camp is the perfect place to congregate with guided dove hunting, duck hunting, and goose hunting, plus ice fishing and a pheasant reserve. On-site lodging features a modern main lodge for up to sixteen guests with bath house, sauna, and great room, plus hotel rooms, RV hookups, and a camping site. Newly renovated barn is fully heated and a wonderful gathering place after a day spent in the great outdoors.

Minnesota Humanities Center, St. Paul, MN

What to expect:  For groups of up to 150, the historic building was built in 1924 and is an architectural gem beautifully renovated in 1996 by the Minnesota Humanities Center.

Why it’s a top pick:  Overnight guests can retreat to one of the 15 stunningly furnished overnight rooms with private baths as well as take advantage of the guest lounge with TV, computer, and WiFi access. The center features a variety of meeting spaces that are either expansive and functional or warm and intimate. Menu selections range from continental breakfasts to dinners of beef bourguignon.

Banquets of Minnesota Blaine, Blaine, MN

What to expect:  Premier banquet site in the northwest suburbs with a capacity for up to 300 in The Elegance Room and 170 in the Opulence Room.

Why it’s a top pick:  Exquisite banquet facilities offering many amenities for your function, including linens, custom surround audio, projector and screen, WiFi, customized setup, stage, and podium. Full-service catering on-site gives you menu options from hors d’oeuvres to entrees to beverages.

Banquets of Minnesota Fridley, Fridley, MN

What to expect:  A preferred destination for any event, the site includes The Grand Olympian room for up to 450 guests, or the Vivian Ballroom for as many as 300.

Why it’s a top pick:  Conveniently located within easy driving distance from both Minneapolis and St. Paul, the event center provides outstanding service and a wide range of menu selections, including a Grand Buffet, Italian Fare, Mexican Feast Buffet, and a Traditional Cold Buffet.

Willmar Conference Center, Willmar, MN

What to expect:   Newly renovated, the Willmar Conference Center has up to 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space.

Why it’s a top pick:  The atrium lobby with grand piano and full-service bar makes a lovely first impression. With room for as few as 50 or as many as 750 guests, the center offers flexible meeting space, memorable cuisine, and customizable menus, all just 2 hours west of the Twin Cities.