So many places to see, so much pressure to choose just one. Start planning your corporate retreat, team-building event, or company get-away with this handy guide to the hottest hot-spots in the country.
Small town charm
Not only are small towns quaint, they’re down right convenient and often cost-effective, too. Explore these picks for a heaping helping of hospitality…plus more.
More than 25 wineries dot the landscape in Palisade, Colorado. Cozy local B&Bs are plentiful as are opportunities to team build with hiking, biking, and rafting.
Known for its art galleries, amazing food, and hiking trails, Grand Marais, Minnesota is a must-see small town located on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
The humming downtown of Stockholm, Wisconsin is populated with galleries, boutiques, and a performing arts center. Overlooking the sparking waters of Lake Pepin, it’s a popular place for retreats because of its visual, culinary, and performing arts scene.
With an abundance of outdoor activities, amusement parks, golf courses, and lakes for water sports, Okoboji, Iowa makes any escape great.
Eat and greet
Everyone knows that the food can make or break an event. Ensure your guests are satisfied with fare that’s more than fair when you visit these destinations.
Madison, Wisconsin is host to an abundance of wide ranging tastes and flavors. From ethnic eateries to old fashioned supper clubs, tapas to traditional, there’s something for everyone at over 600 restaurants.
A retreat to Des Moines, Iowa means a culinary adventure from breakfast to dinner. Sweet Danish, El Salvadoran pupusa, brisket sandwiches, juicy steaks, and warm apple dumplings are just a few foods to try here.
There’s a reason Boulder, Colorado is known as the “happiest city in the country” …the food! Fusing food that is both good and good-for-you, the emphasis is on seasonal local ingredients from the area’s renowned farmer’s markets.
There’s more to nosh in Minneapolis, Minnesota than hot dish. Comfort foods packed with flavor are favorites here, including wild rice soup, polish sausage, porketta sandwiches, Juicy Lucy’s, mini donuts, and craft brews, to name a few.
Distinct destinations
Why not consider out-of-the-ordinary spaces and places when planning your retreat? Unforgettable adventures begin where the proverbial road ends.
Most people want to get out of jail, but in Minnesota, folks are clamoring to get in. There are three different Jailhouse Inns (historic jail buildings renovated into B+Bs.) Check in at the one in Wykoff, Preston, or Taylor’s Falls for an arresting experience.
The Apostle Islands in Wisconsin consist of 22 small islands on Lake Superior and feature incredible sea caves along the shoreline. In summer, groups kayak to explore the caves. When the lake freezes in winter, visitors trek out to view delicate ice formations inside the caves.
The historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado is famous for its appearance in the 1977 Stephen King classic, “The Shining.” Many who’ve stayed here believe that it is haunted. If nothing else, the area is hauntingly beautiful.
The Mason House Inn in Bentonsport Iowa is a 170-year-old hotel built in 1846 for steamboat travelers. Nestled on the banks of the Des Moines River, the inn features a Caboose Cottage constructed from a real 1952 railroad caboose. All aboard!
