Break Free — Plan the Perfect Minnesota Corporate Retreat

A corporate retreat is a powerful way for your employees to regain focus, work on team building, gain new insights, or receive a reward for a job well done. Whether your retreat is about leadership, education, or recreation, you need the perfect destination to gather. As you consider your goals and plan your retreat, we’d like to suggest you consider any of these 12 fabulous Minnesota venues.

Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley

About Springbrook: Springbrook’s new Interpretive Center offers up-close interaction with live snakes, frogs, and more. Four classrooms can each seat up to 40, plus a new picnic shelter coming summer of 2019 offers space for learning and interaction. The banquet hall seats up to 160 with attached patio and trail access.

Activities: Featuring 3 miles of hiking trails through oak and aspen forests, visitors to Springbrook Nature Center enjoy the tranquil prairies, wetlands, native plants, and wildlife that reside here.  Adult Programs include a Photo Club that meets once a month, and a monthly Wednesday Wildlife Walk with a Springbrook Naturalist.

Bunker Hills Activities Center, Andover

About Bunker Hills: Scenic Bunker Hills Regional Park is home to the Bunker Hills Activities Center. Four meeting rooms are available for groups as small as 24 or as large as 120. Two new outdoor gathering areas will be completed this spring.

Activities: Located close to the Bunker Park Stables, Bunker Beach Water Park, and more than nine miles of paved walking trails. Visitors enjoy an abundance of activities here, including archery, biking, camping, cross country skiing, disc golf, golf, hiking, horseback riding, and more.

MSP Airport Conference Center, St. Paul

About MSP Airport CC: Conveniently located in Terminal 1—Lindbergh at the MSP International Airport, the Conference Center offers the space and amenities needed for meetings and presentations. Conference rooms and private workstations house up to 100. AV, computer, and presentation equipment are available for rent. Administration services, voice conferencing technology, and catering for food and beverages are also offered.

Activities: There’s plenty to do and see in the bustling communities surrounding the Conference Center. Your team may want to check out the nearby world-famous Mall of America, historic Fort Snelling, the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, or Minnehaha Falls, to name just a few. There are also hundreds of restaurants close by, serving everything from casual to gourmet fare.

College of Saint Benedict Events & Catering, St. Joseph

About CSB Events & Catering: Offering exceptional catering, multiple venues, and even on-campus housing accommodations, CBS Events & Catering has embraced a tradition of hospitality for more than 100 years. Located just a few miles northwest of St. Cloud, you’ll find a variety of venues for groups big and small, including the Gorecki Center, Benedicta Arts Center, Haehn Campus Center, plus more.

Activities: An assortment of activities and local points of interest are within easy driving distance of CSB Events & Catering. Visit the lovely campus of nearby St. John University, enjoy the harvest at Collegeville Orchards, toast your team at Bad Habit Brewing Company, or take a stroll at the scenic Quarry Park and Nature Preserve.

Willmar Conference Center, Willmar

About Wilmar CC: Newly remodeled, the Willmar Conference Center offers over 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with state-of-the-art AV electronics, on-site catering, bar and beverage service, and attached Best Western Plus hotel.

Activities: The Willmar Lakes area offers a host of spaces and places to explore, including the Dorothy Olson Aquatic Center, Sibley State Park, Glacial Lakes State Trail, Glacial Ridge Winery, Big Kahuna Fun Park, and Spicer Castle. Your team will have a tough time deciding what to do first.

Northern Star Scouting Base Camp, Fort Snelling

About NSS Base Camp: Staying true to their motto, “Inspiring Active Learning,” NSS Base Camp is an ideal location for team building and educational opportunities. Two buildings each contain multiple rooms for meeting and activities. The site offers 140 free parking spots with the potential for auxiliary and off-site parking as well.

Activities: The TeamBuilding Center invites participants to take part in rock climbing, ropes courses, archery, and team games. The Leadership Center features state-of-the art technology to enhance and support leadership initiatives. Trained facilitators can lead your group through an assortment of activities in a fun and exciting environment.

Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

About the Walker Art Center: This world-renowned art museum invites your group to revel in one of the most unique and stunning venues in the area. Offering both indoor and outdoor areas, rooms are flexible and include high-tech amenities. The variety of spaces available for your gathering include a theater, street-level and roof top terraces, plazas, gardens, and lounges.

Activities: When you host your event here, your team receives free gallery admission, a private exhibition tour, a mini-golf outing, and a cocktail reception with a private screening of the British Arrow Awards around the holidays. Downtown Minneapolis is within easy walking distance where you’ll discover amazing restaurants, clubs, theaters, and more.

Grand View Lodge, Nisswa

About Grand View Lodge: The historic Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake has been welcoming guests since 1916. Their new boutique hotel and conference center offers the perfect atmosphere with a charming Northwoods setting. Four rustic meeting rooms and 60 uniquely decorated hotel rooms make it easy to find the ideal space for your team.

Activities: Some of the most popular team building activities at the Lodge include The Amazing Race, Benevolent Bike Build, and Photo Scavenger Hunt. Additional group activities include spa experiences, fishing, boating, swimming, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, biking and walking trails.

Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center, Alexandria

About Arrowwood: Meetings are more memorable at Arrowwood with its scenic lake setting, beautiful accommodations, and 28,000 square foot conference center with complete AV equipment available. Twelve conference rooms combined offer space for over 1300 guests.

Activities: In addition to golf, tennis, volleyball, and fishing tournaments, there are a wide range of group activities at Arrowwood. Encourage your group to compete in Bunco or Bingo, engage in the Amazing Race — Arrowwood Style, participate in Minute to Win It, cozy up to a campfire, run in the Arrowwood Fun-K, play mini golf, medal in the Wacky Olympics, and much more.

St James Hotel, Red Wing

About the St James Hotel: This historic, luxury hotel is set amongst the beauty of the iconic Mississippi River and the surrounding majestic bluffs. Established in 1875, it merges timeless charm with contemporary sophistication. Meeting accommodations are available for groups of 6 to 240 with 11 meeting rooms, 17,020 total square feet of meeting space, and even an option to rent the entire hotel if desired.

Activities: The historic river city of Red Wing invites visitors to partake in a selection of activities and adventures. Take in a show at the Sheldon Theater, stroll the galleries at Red Wing Arts, or peruse the handcrafted wares at Featherstone Pottery. Explore outdoor activities too at local golf courses, cross-country skiing trails, and mountain biking paths. Discover natural beauty at Frontenac State Park, the Cannon Valley Trail, or the National Eagle Center.

Holiday Inn Minneapolis NE, Elk River

About the Holiday Inn: You’ll find everything you need here for an unforgettable event. With 5000 square feet of flexible conference and banquet space and 7 breakout rooms, the Holiday Inn can accommodate up to 160. On-site catering, event planning services, AV equipment, and WiFi access cover all the details.

Activities: The on-site Wild Woods Water Park features three water slides, a lazy river, basketball water court, and child’s play area. The 6000-square-foot Buddy’s Family Fun Zone has something for everyone with glow-in-the-dark 9-hole Midnight Mini Golf, Buddy Ball, Xbox Kinect dens, air hockey, foosball, ping pong and bean bag toss.

Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge, Deerwood

About Ruttger’s: Established in 1898, Ruttger’s has earned a reputation as one of the leading lakeside resorts in the state. Located on the shores of beautiful Bay Lake, Ruttger’s welcomes guests to both indoor and outdoor meeting space with room for up to 300. The resort has 160 guest rooms, lakeside cabins, villas, and more.

Activities: In addition to golf, dining, and spa services, Ruttger’s offers guests a diverse number of activities year-round. These include cruises on Bay Lake, sandcastle contests, guided nature walks, putting tournaments, Bingo, bonfires with s’mores, music entertainment, kayak racing, water tubing, plus more.