Chillout — 6 Minnesota Resorts That Celebrate Snow

You have two options when it comes to winter — either hibernate for four months or get out and enjoy it. If your team is in the latter group, then we have some insider info for you. The following Minnesota resorts do more than tolerate snow…they celebrate it! If you’re planning a weekend retreat or team building event, these six resorts are the hottest places to be when the weather is cold.

Grand View Lodge, Nisswa

About the Resort — For more than 100 years, folks have flocked to the Brainerd Lakes area to enjoy the many amenities of Grand View Lodge. With its popular lodging options, including the main lodge, lake homes, golf course homes, and their new 60-room boutique hotel, there’s a place for groups of every size. Ten dining options cater to every taste while the Glacial Waters Spa provides pampering to all who crave it. There are seven diverse meeting venues including the 25,000 square foot Gull Lake Center.

Winter Activities — Things don’t slow down here just because it’s winter. This is Minnesota, after all. Spend your days outdoors skiing, snowboarding, tubing, or ice skating. Enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride through the countryside, explore hundreds of miles of trails on a snowmobile, or hook a lunker out on the lake when you go ice fishing! Ready to warm up? Inside you’ll discover the NorthPark Recreation facility with indoor pool, water slide, hot tubs, fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball hoops, and much more. Enjoy the weekly wine and beer tastings, get competitive with a game of Bingo, or try your hand at video games, billiards, or table tennis in the Game Room.

Lutsen Resort, Lutsen

About the Resort — Nestled in a private cove on the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior, Lutsen Resort has been welcoming guests since 1885. Combining historic charm with modern amenities, Lutsen offers a variety of lodging options. Stay in the lodge, relax in a spacious townhouse, get cozy in a log cabin with a wood fireplace, kick back in a condo with whirlpool and private deck, or take in breathtaking views of Lake Superior from a Sea Villa. Several meeting venues are available with accommodations for up to 100 in the Superior Ballroom.

Winter Activities — Go outside and play — there’s plenty to do here! Lutsen offers one of the largest cross-country ski trail networks in North America, 450 miles of snowmobile trails, and the largest alpine skiing and snowboarding park in the Midwest. But that’s not all—choose from ice skating, snowshoe hiking, sled dog rides, ice fishing, or campfires. Or do them all! Come indoors and get pampered at The Spa at Lutsen, then grab some grub at either The Strand Waterfront Dining Room or the Poplar River Pub.

Caribou Highlands Lodge, Lutsen

About the Resort — Open year-round, Caribou Highlands Lodge is perched in the Sawtooth Mountains on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Lodging options range from cozy hotel-like rooms for 2-4 guests to condos for 2-6, townhomes for 6-10, and multi-level homes for 2-12. There’s also plenty of room for groups to meet and retreat here, with space for up to 100. Moguls Grill and Tap Room serves up exceptional cuisine from an early breakfast to a late dinner.

Winter Activities — Test your skill on any of the amazing runs at this ski in/ski out resort. Or cross-country ski the glorious trail systems unlike anywhere else in the Midwest. Take a romp through the woods aboard a snowmobile or snowshoe through for a more serene experience. Explore the great indoors by swimming laps in the pool or receiving a relaxing massage in the Woodlands Spa.

Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort, Biwabik

About the Resort — Tucked amongst the pines of Superior National Forest, Giants Ridge is the perfect get-away for your group. Luxury accommodations include lodge rooms, villas, and guest houses, all charmingly rustic. After a day on the slopes, slip inside to the Burnt Onion Kitchen & Brews or the Wacootah Grille for dining options to satisfy every appetite. The conference center within the chalet offers more than 5000 square feet of flexible meeting and gathering space along with onsite catering for up to 300.

Winter Activities — Giants Ridge is one of the Midwest’s top-rated ski and snowboard resorts with rental equipment and lessons available. If you’re looking for a more peaceful day in the snow, Giants Ridge has more than 60 kilometers of world-class Nordic ski trails. Two Terrain Parks keep snowboarders entertained, along with snowtubing, snowshoeing, and Fat Tire Biking. When you’re ready to relax, the Laurentian Divide Salon & Spa can provide the pampering.

Superior Shores Resort & Conference Center, Two Harbors

About the Resort — Located on the shores of Lake Superior, the resort offers three unique lodging properties that include the Main Lodge, Burlington Bay, and the Lakehomes. All that outdoor activity is sure to boost appetites, and Kamloops Restaurant and Lounge is there to satisfy them. Meetings are sure to be inspiring in the 3600-square foot Conference Center offering stunning lakeside views.

Winter Activities — Because of its convenient location, Superior Shores Resort is close to many of the area’s attractions and activities. Take a wintery hike along the Superior Hiking Trail, have a snowmobile adventure on the North Shore State Trail System, go cross country skiing on the Erkki Harju Ski Trail, or snowshoeing in Gooseberry Falls State Park. End your day at the resort with campfires, in the swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, or exercise room.

Breezy Point Resort & Conference Center, Breezy Point

About the Resort — For more than 90 years, Breezy Point has been welcoming guests to its four-season resort on the shores of Pelican Lake. Unique lodging options range from lodge apartments to individual homes and cabins, some with jacuzzi suites, full kitchens, and gas fireplaces. Meetings are always motivating when held in the Lakeside Ballroom or Meeting and Convention Center with 25,000 square feet of flexible function space. Five dining options offer everything from a quick snack and soft drinks to gourmet cuisine in Antlers Dining.

Winter Activities — Winters at Breezy Point are something to be experienced. Whether your guests are angling out on the lake in an ice fishing house, downhill skiing at nearby Ski Gull, or snowmobiling on the groomed trail system in the Lakes Area, their stay here will be memorable. There are lighted skating rinks, cross country skiing, snow golf, hockey tournaments, plus two indoor pools, both with Jacuzzis. Enjoy shopping or a night out on the town in nearby Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, or Crosslake.