14 Perfect Minnesota Getaways!

There comes a time when you need to escape your busy life, and just get away. Fortunately, Minnesota is teeming with places for romantic escapes, weekend adventures, or communing with nature. In fact, picking one can be overwhelming. So, we trimmed the field a bit for you.

Rent a houseboat in Voyageurs National Park

In a park named for the the fur traders who navigated the area by canoe, it only makes sense that the best way to explore is by water. Get away to Voyageurs National Park and rent a houseboat. You’ll see the clear lakes, cliffs, and deep North Woods from a voyageur’s point of view, but you won’t pitch a tent, break camp, forage for food… or paddle. Trés bién, non?

Prairie nights in a Tipi

If you want add a unique experience to your getaway, camp in a tipi at either Blue Mounds or Upper Sioux Agency State Park. Both parks are steeped in Native American History and offer a glimpse into the stunning prairie ecosystem that dominates western Minnesota. Hike along quartzite cliffs and listen to songbirds, as you feel the big bowl of a sky above you. Blue Mounds State Park is also home to a native bison herd.

St. James Hotel, Red Wing, MN

Spend a weekend at this historic hotel in the river town of Red Wing. Enjoy browsing art galleries in the quaint downtown area, or take a stroll along the Mississippi. Drive a few miles south of town for hiking and a sandy beach at historic Old Frontenac. When you get back to the St. James, head downstairs to the Port for a local brew or craft cocktail, and a gorgeous meal.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

If you’re looking for a true getaway—as in get away from pretty much everything—apply for a permit to camp in the BWCAW. Inaccessible by car, most visitors paddle and portage from lake to lake, campsite to campsite. The BWCAW offers a real backcountry experience, so if you’re going, make sure you’re physically up to it and properly equipped. There is no cell service, no TVs, and no other amenities. You need to pack everything in and out. Your hard work will be rewarded with clear, starlit skies, the wind in the trees, perhaps a glimpse of a moose or a black bear, and the singing of wolves. 

The Covington Inn, St. Paul, MN

If you’re looking for an urban getaway with a twist, head to Harriet Island in downtown St. Paul. There, you will find the state’s only floating B&B, the Covington Inn. Housed in a refurbished towboat, the Inn is docked on the Mississippi, beneath the St. Paul skyline. You’ll easy have access to all the city has to offer, like the Xcel Energy Center, CHS Field, and the Science Museum of Minnesota. When you return to your quarters, though, you’ll feel like you’re worlds away.

Canal Park, Duluth, MN

Duluth’s Canal Park is a popular getaway destination—and for good reason. Plenty of lodging and shopping (including the original Duluth Trading Co. store), along with the some of the city’s best restaurants, like the Lake Ave. Café, draw people in. The Maritime Museum, LakeWalk, Adventure Zone, and the award-winning Vikre Distillery, as well as 1,000-foot ships passing below the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge keep them in the area. Try Park Point Marina Inn. It’s just over the bridge from Canal Park Proper, but offers free parking, harbor views, and a respite from the rabble.

Whistle Stop Bed & Breakfast, New York Mills, MN

Folks looking for a unique getaway in the Detroit Lakes area should roll on into the Whistle Stop Bed & Breakfast. Guest suites hearken back to the turn of the century in restored rail cares or a inside the Victorian-era main house. With cozy quarters and amenities like hot tubs, you may find it difficult to drag yourself away.

Naniboujou Lodge, Grand Marais, MN

Naniboujou sits halfway between Grand Marais and the Canadian Border, where the Brule River empties into Lake Superior. Located the on edge of Judge C.R. Magnet State Park and surrounded by the Superior National Forest, Naniboujou is the place to go if you want to unplug but don’t want to work too hard at it. There are no TVs, phones or Wi-Fi at this historic lodge. With spotty-at-best cell coverage, you’ll have to entertain yourself—without a screen. Hike along the Brule River, visit the Devil’s Kettle, or just chill with a book on the lodge’s pebble beach.

Nicollet Island Inn, Minneapolis, MN

If you want to be in the middle of it all but feel like you’re not, the Nicollet Island in is the place to be. Located, obviously, on an island in the Mississippi, the Inn is located in Minneapolis’ most historic neighborhood, in easy walking distance of both downtown and the bustling Northeast district. Stroll (or take a carriage ride) along cobblestoned Main Street. Walk across the Stone Arch Bridge to the Guthrie Theater or cross over to Riverplace and up Hennepin Ave. for sushi at Mass or award-winning wings at Ray J’s.

Superior Hiking Trail

Another way to get away from it all, get back to nature, and burn some calories, to boot, is to hike, bike, or ski the Superior Hiking Trail. You don’t have to do the whole 300 miles, instead just pick a section or two. Bring your own gear, or hit one of the outfitters in Duluth, Tofte, or Grand Marais. It will feel like a true backcountry experience, but you’ll be within reasonable reach of supplies and amenities if you need them. The trail tracks the bluffs and Sawbill Mountains, above Lake Superior and just a few miles off Hwy 61.

Grand Marais, MN

As you descend toward Grand Marais and see this former-fishing village’s peninsula stabbing out into the forever-blue of Lake Superior, sailboats bobbing inside the harbor’s breakwall, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that you’re in Minnesota. Over the last few years, magazines have called Grand Marais “America’s Coolest Small Town” and a “Top 100 Adventure Town.” A year-round gateway for adventure, whether you’re heading up the Gunflint Trail, fat-tiring the Superior Hiking Trail, or mushing in the John Beargrease dogsled race, Grand Marais is your headquarters. Grab a room at a B&B or one of the town’s few small hotels. Coffee from Java Moose and a fresh glazed from the World’s Best Donuts will get you going in the morning. Sven & Ole’s pizza is a tradition, but don’t miss a craft pint and fresh fish at the pier-perched Angry Trout Café—the restaurant with the best views in Minnesota.

Lanesboro, MN

Grab a partner, a bike, and fishing gear, throw ‘em in the car, and drive toward the Southeastern corner of Minnesota. Book a B&B (it’s that kind of a town) ahead of time. Once there, hit the Root River State Trail on your bike, but bring your tackle with you. The Root offers some of the State’s best trout fishing opportunities. Once back in Lanesboro, re-energize at Intermission or the Old Village Hall. 

Ruttger's Bay Lake Resort, Deerwood, MN

If you’re looking for a family-friendly getaway in the Brainerd Lakes area, but want to escape the Brainerd Lakes crowds, make a beeline for Ruttger’s. The difference between Ruttger’s and some of the area’s other lodges is the lack of other big lodges on the lake. You’ll enjoy all the same amenities—meal plans, golf, kids activities, boating, and fishing—but you wont’ have to share the beach or the water with folks from Grandview, Cragun’s, or Madden’s.

Lutsen Resort, Lutsen, MN

Lutsen is an all-seasons homebase. Not only is it Minnesota’s biggest ski resort, its Lake Superior lodging options make for great sea kayaking and lakeside bonfires on summer nights. Home to the North Star State’s only gondola, Lutsen offers some of the best fall foliage vistas in Minnesota. The trail networks along the Sawbill Mountains give hikers and single-track riders a backcountry feel without being too far off the beaten path. In winter, cross-country skiers and fat-tire bikers take over. The Superior National Golf Course overlooks Lake Superior, for those so inclined. And then there’s the downhill skiing. With nearly a hundred runs and 900 feet of vertical, Lutsen feels more like New England than Minnesota. 

Share your favorites!
Minnesota Search
Best Things To Do Near You
Best Things To Do Near You
Mar
29

Free Magic & Balloons

5:45 PM
El Loro Mexican Restaurant Rogers, Rogers, MN
Learn More
Mar
30
Mar
30

Easter Egg Hunt at St. Rosa

10:00 AM
St Rosa Community Park, Freeport, MN
Learn More
Mar
30

Northwest Area Jaycees Easter Egg Hunt

10:00 AM
Corcoran Community Park, Hamel, MN
Learn More
Mar
30

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

12:00 PM
JR's Junction Inc, Brainerd, MN
Learn More
Mar
31

Easter at The Bridge

All Day
The Bridge Church, Elk River, MN
Learn More
Apr
05

Free Magic & Balloons

5:45 PM
El Loro Mexican Restaurant Rogers, Rogers, MN
Learn More
Apr
05

Footloose

7:30 PM
Paramount Center for the Arts - MN, Saint Cloud, MN
Learn More
Apr
05

April Wine and The Babys

8:00 PM
Medina Entertainment Center, Hamel, MN
Learn More
Apr
06

Footloose

7:30 PM
Paramount Center for the Arts - MN, Saint Cloud, MN
Learn More
Show More
Best Places To Go Near You
Best Places To Go Near You
Riverside Drive South East, Saint Cloud, MN
The purposes of the Munsinger Clemens Botanical Society are to act as a support and advocacy group for Munsinger and Clemens Gardens, located in St... Read More
225 33rd Avenue South, Saint Cloud, MN
Skate Park Size: 25,000 sq. ft. Read More
235 33rd Avenue South, Saint Cloud, MN
About Us: The Stearns History Museum is one of the finest history museums in Minnesota. Stroll through two floors of exhibits, research your family... Read More
36282 County Road 2, Saint Joseph, MN
About: Grandpa's Pumpkin Patch opens the 3rd weekend in September, we have pumpkins, squash, gourds, Indian corn, corn shocks, straw bales and loc... Read More
11500 Sherburne Ave, Becker, MN
About Us: Featuring Meeting Rooms, Fitness Room, Gym, Racquetball, Rock Climbing Wall, Indoor Pool with Waterslide, as well as skate park. Read More
15015 93rd Avenue, Kimball, MN
Everyone who came out this season and enjoyed skiing, snowboarding and snowtubing with us. We are proud to have been open for 123 days this season,... Read More
505 Walnut Street, Monticello, MN
The Monticello Community Center is a beautiful, full service venue for hosting meetings and events. With a variety of room options and a dedicated ... Read More
101 Lakeshore Drive, Big Lake, MN
Amenities:   beach, playground equipment, 3 volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, boat launch, fishing pier, dock, 2 shelters, picnic area, grill... Read More
Highway 25 & 2nd Avenue South, Buffalo, MN
Park Rules •Skate Park is open during park hours:  6am-Dusk •Only Skate Boards and In-Line Skates are permitted in the skate p... Read More
57645 State Highway 55, Eden Valley, MN
Our Mission: A maze’n Farmyard began in 2004 with children and families in mind. It is our mission to provide an atmosphere of enjoyment, ed... Read More
304 West Broadway, Little Falls, MN
Our Mission : To collect, preserve and display artifacts of freshwater fishing of Minnesota. To provide classrooms and educational curriculum fo... Read More
5801 Lander Avenue North East, Albertville, MN
Central Park (formerly City Park)  is near the St. Albert Catholic Church. Park amenities include an enclosed park shelter (warming house... Read More
13355 - 90th Street NE, Otsego, MN
Official Site is: http://www.ci.otsego.mn.us/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={3FE32B8B-541F-44F9-8D45-85B5A9B172FC} Read More
5067 Farmington Avenue South East, Delano, MN
Show More
Select a Minnesota town to find
the Best Things-To-Do and Places To Go around you
Kanabec County