Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Minnesota provides endless ways to take in the pretty natural settings, whether attendees are kicking back in a lounge chair at a lakeside resort or enjoying an invigorating dog-sledding excursion.
From warm-weather pursuits such as boating, waterskiing and hiking to winter activities like ice fishing and skiing, not to mention unique team-building options, the North Star State truly shines in the outdoor activity department.
Central Minnesota
Whatever the season, central Minnesota—which includes the Twin Cities area, Brainerd Lakes and Alexandria—has a wide selection of outdoor activities on tap.
With more than 330 parks in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and approximately 200 miles of paths, the Twin Cities region provides a lot of green space—even within city limits.
Bicyclists can hop on the nation’s first bicycle freeway right from downtown. The paved Cedar Lake Regional Trail runs nine miles along the railway line to the west suburbs.
“We prize the outdoors,” says Connie Stelter, public relations manager at Meet Minneapolis.
Outside the metropolitan area, Dolce International’s Oak Ridge Hotel and Conference Center in Chaska is an ideal place for groups to take in the great outdoors.
Situated on a 130-acre property on Lake McKnight, Oak Ridge features 145 rooms and 22,000 square feet of function space.
“Oak Ridge allows companies to relax outdoors in the evening with a barbecue, a team-building event, a bonfire or a run around the lake path,” says Mary Vogel, marketing manager.
With a team-building center on site, groups can take advantage of outdoor ropes courses and climbing challenges during their stay.
A two-hour drive north of the Twin Cities is Brainerd Lakes, with 465 lakes in a 45-mile radius.
“We’re a year-round destination with not only lakes but the Mississippi River and state parks,” says Brenda Zawatzke, visitor services and group planner at the Brainerd Lakes COC.
Group-friendly hotels that take full advantage of the scenic setting include the Grand View Lodge, Madden’s on Gull Lake, Cragun’s Resort and Hotel on Gull Lake, Breezy Point Resort and Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge.
“What sets us apart is that we offer a lot of team-building options,” says Kathy Reichenbach, marketing director at Madden’s on Gull Lake.
Choices include a chariot race, a Survivor on Gull Island game and other team-building competitions. The property also has a water-ski school on-site.
Grand View Lodge is another popular option for lakefront retreats.
“There’s no better way to experience Minnesota than to get out on the water,” says Mike Kennedy, director of sales at the Grand View Lodge, also on Gull Lake.
For those who want to stay dry, he recommends golfing at one of the three championship golf courses in the summer. In winter, the golf courses become cross-country ski trails, while the lake becomes a perfect setting for a reception on ice.
In Crosslake, the Whitefish Lodge and Suites is a great fit for groups.
“We’re a newer facility, but we’ve had the opportunity to host Best Buy, Target Corp. and Arc of Minnesota,” explains Crystal Glaser, sales executive at the property.
Whitefish Lodge and Suites offers 54 lodge rooms and more than 7,000 square feet of meeting space. They also manage 10 luxury townhomes on the shore of Cross Lake.
South of Brainerd is Alexandria.
“We have 300 lakes in our county alone, so we’re definitely in water country,” says Coni McKay, executive director of the Alexandria COC.
Depending on the size of the group and the age of attendees, Mc- Kay recommends taking part in wakeboarding, parasailing and boat cruising on the many lakes.
A unique experience is a Segway tour of the Carlos Creek Winery, a 160-acre property, followed by a wine tasting.
Group-friendly waterfront resorts include Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center at Lake Darling and the Viking Bay Resort and Lodge at Lake Miltona.
“A group recently enjoyed a day of fishing contests and golf tournaments,” says Jeff Wild, general manager of Arrowwood. “They ended the day with a lakeside reception under a tent.”
A favorite team-building option is the resort’s Wacky Olympics, during which teams compete in egg races, obstacle courses and three-legged races, among other tasks.
With horse stables on-site, a ride to a remote spot is easy to plan. Once there, Wild says groups like to sit down for a hearty barbecue.
Northern Minnesota
Bemidji counts approximately 400 fishing lakes within a 25-miles radius.
“Nature is right outside your backdoor here, all you need to do is walk out of your hotel room,” explains Cindy Habedank, assistant to the director of Visit Bemidji.
Group-ready properties include the Hampton Inn and Suites, with its 600 feet of sandy beach, the Northern Inn Hotel and Suites and Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge.
“My great grandfather, Joe Ruttger, was one of the pioneers of resorting in Minnesota,” says Randy Ruttger, owner of the Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge, adding that he likes to take guests out on speedboat rides in his father’s 1949 Chris-Craft or the resort’s 28-foot E Scow sailboat.
The Bemidji Town and Country Club, home of the Birchmont Golf Tournament, has scenic views of Lake Bemidji from many locations on the course.
With winter comes fun in the snow, including snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and snowshoeing.
A unique sight in the region is Big Bog State Recreation Area. Long used as a source of medicinal plants for the Ojibwa Indians, the bog has unique flora such as yellow-eyed grass, orchids and even carnivorous plants. A one-mile boardwalk guides guests through the area.
Set in the heart of Chippewa National Forest, Leech Lake is a dream come true for lake and wildlife enthusiasts—the forest is home to bald eagles, loons and ospreys.
“On a nice day you can see boats of every size—houseboats, jet skis, kayaks and canoes paddling through the narrows,” says Cindy Wannarka, executive director of the Leech Lake COC.
Built in 1922, the destination’s Chase on the Lake is a luxury property that reopened in July.
“We’re just a few hours from the metro area, yet we’re in a tranquil area with a lot of recreational activities,” says Jamie Tagte, general manager.
According to Tagte, GPS-based outings are the most popular team-building options for groups.
Approximately 60 miles east of Leech Lake is Grand Rapids, where accommodations include Ruttger’s Sugar Lake Lodge and the Windigo Lodge, Golf and Conference Center. The newest addition to the area is the 84-room Timberlake Lodge, which opened in May and features a variety of activities that take in the surrounding natural beauty.
“We’ll take the group out on a trail ride on dogsleds and then have a picnic,” says Lauri Gomez, sales and marketing manager at Timberlake.
Farther southeast, the city of Duluth, located on the shores of Lake Superior, provides an outdoor playground that changes with every season.
“It may surprise some, but people come here to surf on the lake,” says Gene Shaw, director of public relations for Visit Duluth.
The town also attracts bird watchers. Every year around September, visitors come to Hawk Ridge to see up to 10,000 raptors a day.
“Imagine standing on a winded bluff and seeing that,” Shaw says. “It’s amazing.”
With 12 streams going through the city, the area is stocked with rainbow trout and steelhead salmon.
“Duluth is a lot like a resort city with great hotels and the outdoors right at your door step,” says Julie Johnson, senior sales manager at Visit Duluth.
She recommends Canal Park Lodge, which opened in May 2007, the Inn on Lake Superior and the Edgewater Resort for groups wanting to stay outside the city.
“We really try to utilize our natural resources, so what it comes down to is how adventurous the group wants to be,” Johnson says.
Popular activities include kayaking through sea caves, charter fishing outings often turned into team-building competitions and team rowing excursions.
Southern Minnesota
Driving an hour south of the Twin Cities brings visitors to scenic open prairies.
Built in 1875, the historic St. James Hotel in Red Wing is the property of choice for groups that want to include some outdoor fun in their agenda.
“For guests, it’s all about the experience, and here they’re within minutes of a wide breadth of activities,” says Lisa Impagliazzo, general manager of the resort.
Located on the bluffs of the Mississippi, the 61-room property offers great views of the mighty river and the Hiawatha Valley. There are numerous summertime activities available, including boating and waterskiing, and the property also provides access to tubing, skiing and bald eagle watching in winter as the birds converge over the river.
“There’s something for every season, and everything is really built for the differences in weather,” Impagliazzo says.
In nearby Rochester, groups will find a range of attractive outdoor settings close by.
“Within just 45 minutes in any direction, one may access the Mississippi River, small trout streams, wooded bluffs or prairie,” says Brad Jones, executive director of the Rochester CVB.
Rochester also hosts one of the largest giant Canada geese populations, which makes it a hunting hot spot in fall.
Jones says Rochester features more than 60 miles of hiking and biking trails that wind in and out of the city and more than 3,500 acres of parkland.
The most popular outdoor retreat property in the area is Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center is Lanesboro, just 45 minutes south of Rochester. Also nearby is Mystery Cave, which offers wild cave tours.
“Mankato and North Mankato are blessed with hills and valleys that provide spectacular views, especially in the fall when the leaves change colors,” says Anna Thill, president of the Greater Mankato CVB.
An extensive trail system runs throughout and around Greater Mankato, providing great biking, hiking, running and cross-country skiing opportunities.
Snowboarders and downhill skiers make their way to Mount Kato as soon as the season opens.
For More Info
Alexandria Lakes Area COC 320.763.3161 www.alexandriamn.org
Bemidji Visitors and Convention Bureau 218.759.0164 www.visitbemidji.com
Bloomington CVB 952.858.8500 www.bloomingtonmn.org
Brainerd Lakes Area COC 218.822.7113 www.explorebrainerdlakes.com
Explore Minnesota Tourism 651.296.5029 www.exploreminnesota.com
Grand Rapids Area CVB 218.326.9607 www.visitgrandrapids.com
Greater Mankato CVB 507.385.6640 www.greatermankato.com
Lake of the Woods Area COC 218.634.1174 www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Leech Lake COC 218.547.1313 www.leech-lake.com
Meet Minneapolis 612.767.8000 www.meetminneapolis.com
Rochester CVB 507.288.4331 www.rochestercvb.org
St. Cloud Area CVB 320.251.4170 www.granitecountry.com
Saint Paul RiverCentre Convention and Visitors Authority 651.265.4900 www.rivercentre.org
Visit Duluth 218.722.4011 www.visitduluth.com
Visit Minneapolis North 763.566.7722 www.justaskmn.com
