Outdoor activities abound in Minnesota year-round, making it a favored destination for groups composed of active adventurers.
The Land of 10,000 Lakes is home to every imaginable recreational pursuit, both waterborne and on land, from paddleboarding and Jet Skiing to hiking, snowmobiling and horseback riding. In addition, there are several options unique to the region that would tempt Paul Bunyan himself to join in on the fun, including log rolling and ice fishing.
Following are several ideas for planners who’d like to lead attendees out into the great outdoors during a meeting itinerary.
Key Log Rolling, Minneapolis
www.keylogrolling.com
Log rolling, an aquatic activity made popular by lumberjacks starting in the late 1800s, consists of two competitors trying to stay on one log longer than their opponent.
“Staying atop a spinning log is unlike any activity most people have ever done,” says Abby Hoeschler, founder and president of Key Log Rolling, a Minneapolis outfitter whose aim is to rejuvenate the sport’s popularity at home and throughout the country. “Log rolling involves balance, agility, footwork, cardio and strong concentration, yet everyone always seems to have a smile on their face as they are falling into the water—there’s just something about it that makes you laugh!”
Log rolling classes are available during the summer at Lake Calhoun, a popular urban lake where attendees will witness the active lifestyle of Minneapolis residents participating in everything from biking to kayaking, according to Hoeschler.
“However, log rolling definitely draws the most spectators,” she says, adding that groups can enjoy an evening picnic in the park or walk down to the Tin Fish outdoor restaurant on the lake after a log rolling session.
Stand Up MN, St. Paul
www.standupmn.org
Stand Up MN offers guided stand-up paddleboard tours on the beautiful Mississippi River, including two tour options in the St. Paul area. Groups can choose the lush greenery of the Fort Snelling tour or the picturesque skyline of the downtown St. Paul tour, according to Gordon Clark, chief of operations for the company.
“We offer an add-on food/drink option that provides you with a voucher to one of our local food partners, either Sea Salt Eatery or Great Waters Brewing Co.,” he says, explaining that a tour includes a two-hour paddleboard rental, certified river guide, river safety orientation, paddle tips and transportation up river.
Every tour offers the basic challenges that a participant must overcome while learning the sport, Clark adds, including balance, board maneuvering, river safety, communication both on-river and off-river, leadership skills and operating in a group dynamic consisting of individual strengths.
“Each group will inherently learn more about each other as individuals from participating in stand-up paddleboarding, as it can sometimes be a challenging sport,” Clark says. “Although as the tour progresses, our customers become extremely confident and comfortable on the boards.”
Elm Creek Disc Golf Course, Maple Grove (Minneapolis Northwest)
www.threeriversparkdistrict.org
Disc golf combines the fun of flying a disc with the challenge of golf, making it an accessible activity for groups of all ages and skill levels.
For an idea of what groups can get out to do if the meeting is during the winter months, Elm Creek Park Reserve’s 18-hole disc golf course follows cross-country ski trails and traverses a tubing hill. The course features two par-fours and other championship-caliber holes that call for distance and accuracy skills.
“It’s similar to regular golf in that playing disc golf is a great way for participants to have fun and network outside,” says Wayne Iseri, operations manager for Elm Creek Park Reserve.
After the disc golf outing, the Chalet at Elm Creek, which features an oversized fireplace, a cathedral-style ceiling and large glass windows overlooking the park, is available for group gatherings of up to 200 people.
Pine River Riding Stable, Pine River (Brainerd Lakes)
www.pineriverstable.com
The staff at Pine River Riding Stable accommodates group outings and welcomes ideas to make any event fun and memorable for all ages. Scavenger hunts, arts and craft sessions, hay rides, cookouts and anything else a planner can dream up can be arranged in conjunction with a horse riding outing.
The horse ride itself is a hands-on endeavor from beginning to end, as it includes a class in saddling, bridling, feeding, hoof care and general safety before an enjoyable ride through wooded trails.
Pine River Riding Stable is situated on a 240-acre ranch located on the Pine River just north of Brainerd.
“Top of the World” Covered Wagon Tours, Bemidji
www.bvskiarea.com
Historic covered wagon tours, which are held at the Buena Vista Village adjacent to the Buena Vista Ski Area, can be booked during the summer and are especially lovely when colorful foliage arrives during the fall.
“The covered wagon tours are unique because it is like stepping back in time and living and experiencing how our ancestors traveled over 100 years ago,” says Suzanne Thomas, spokeswoman for Buena Vista Ski Area.
The narrated 45-minute wagon route begins at the Lumberjack Hall of Fame building, which is a logging museum housing many artifacts from the early 1900s, and follows the Leech Lake-Red Lake Trail, the same route traveled by Native Americans, early explorers and pioneers.
According to Thomas, attendees will enjoy a scenic and historic ride in an authentic covered wagon pulled by draft horses.
“When the wagons roll back into camp, guests will enjoy live music and refreshments in the log building along with hearing more stories about the area’s logging history,” she says.
Ice Fishing Adventures, Lake of the Woods
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Lake of the Woods welcomes the cold days of wintertime, during which thousands flock to the area for an ice fishing adventure.
“Heading out on a frozen lake, perhaps 15 miles out on the ice, is amazing,” says Joe Henry, executive director of tourism at Lake of the Woods Tourism. “To see hundreds of fish houses on the lake of all sizes and styles leaves an impression—everything from practically a cardboard box to fish houses that have satellite dishes, generators, knotty pine and all the conveniences of home.”
Numerous area venues, including Sportsman’s Lodges (www.sportsmanslodges.com) and Border View Lodge (www.borderviewlodge.com), provide groups with a day of fishing, bringing about a bond that “just happens” among group members, according to Henry.
“Ice fishing is a great option for team building,” he says. “It is a frozen wonderland outside and nice, warm and cozy on the inside of the fish house. It seems in this environment people let down their guard and really get to know one another.”
Group outings for five to 500 are accommodated and, Henry says, they will catch fish.
“Guests get picked up just before dark and are back in time for happy hour and a fish fry,” he says.
Spirit Mountain Adventure Park, Duluth
www.spiritmt.com
The Spirit Mountain Adventure Park is a wonderful option for groups because it offers a variety of fun outdoor activities that attendees won’t find anywhere else in the Midwest, according to Briana L. Johnson, director of marketing and sales at Spirit Mountain Recreation Area.
“Timber Twister is the only Alpine Coaster in the entire Midwest and our Timber Flyer is the only zip line of its kind in the Midwest,” she says, adding that there is also a tubing park open in wintertime and a new nine-hole miniature golf course that groups enjoy.
Team-building elements in the park include competing in a Best Ball mini-golf scramble, riding double on the Alpine Coaster, which forces employees to earn each other’s trust since the rider in the backseat has complete control of the speed and brakes, and overcoming a common fear of heights on the zip line.
“Together all of these fun, recreational activities present a new way for corporate employees to build trust, teamwork and confidence,” Johnson says.
The Spirit Mountain Adventure Park often hosts meetings in its large, air-conditioned chalet, complete with catering services for meals.
“And of course there is time to enjoy the great outdoors in between meetings or after a long day of sessions,” Johnson says.
Drive a Tank, Kasota (nearby Mankato)
www.driveatank.com
Drive A Tank’s military tank driving adventure makes for a unique and memorable team-building experience for attendees.
“Anything out of the ordinary is going to bring a bonding experience to your staff and employees,” says Tony Borglum, president of Drive A Tank. “Stepping out of your box exposes hidden skills in almost everyone and promotes organizational development and problem-solving.”
The four- to five-hour outing features an introduction to armored vehicle history and safety, driving instruction, driving a tank and, depending on the package booked, driving a tank in a combat-type situation and crushing a car.
There are also facilities on-site to accommodate a large number of people for lunch or a light snack, both inside and outside, as well as a climate-controlled indoor firing range where attendees can shoot rare, historic machine guns.
“We’re currently the only venue in the U.S. where driving a tank is available,” Borglum says. “Doing so provides a feeling of invincibility and power to those involved.”
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings MidAmerica.
