8 Serene Minnesota Towns For A Weekend Retreat
Serenity flows gently throughout the small towns of Minnesota, mirroring the currents of its calming rivers. While being incredibly peaceful, the North Star State is never boring. The places on this list are packed with annual shows and festivals, wild wilderness trails, and endless opportunities for adventure. Along with the Mississippi River, the state has 11,842 lakes to explore, including Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake. Keep reading to plan a weekend with the ultimate mixture of relaxation and exploration.
Ely
Find sanctuary in the wilderness of Ely, where you can introduce yourself to a thriving wolf pack at the International Wolf Center and see the pack play and roam their forested home. If you’re lucky, you’ll even get to experience the wild lullaby of the wolves' howl and get to join the chorus yourself. To soak in some silence after the wild chorus of howls, go to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Float within 1,500-plus miles of water trails in this vast park, which proudly boasts its highly protected Class 1 Air Quality, making this the ideal place to meditate upon gentle lake waves.
Even more peaceful fun awaits at Grand Ely Lodge. Along with a pool and sauna inside, the lodge is full of outdoor activities. Guests are invited to rent kanoes, roast s'mores at firepits, walk the surrounding trails, and more. End your weekend retreat with a piece of Ely, found only in the Downtown District. Most shops on this street offer locally crafted handmade goods, such as Pengal's Basswood Trading Company, which has served the community for 100 years with its in-house embroidery.
Stillwater
Stillwater is one of the river towns on the St. Croix River. The river flows along the bookshops and antique stores of the town before cutting a gentle path through a forest of towering trees, making the small town feel truly enchanted. To give your getaway weekend a romantic vibe, stay at Aurora Staples Inn. While each room is unique, every single one is packed with coziness that seems to be otherwise left behind in the 1800s. A room at this Inn even comes with a voucher for breakfast at a local restaurant. After breakfast, enjoy some of Stillwater’s whimsy at Teddy Bear Park. The park is home to a giant concrete teddy bear and its concrete cub. Eat among the teddy bears at the many picnic tables, or utilize the two-level barn, which has kitchens that are great for warming food.
To switch from teddy bears to antiques and prison stories, visit the Warden’s House Museum. The home-turned-museum is full of 19th-century artifacts and is on the National Register of Historic Places. This structure, full of stories, was built in 1853 and has housed at least thirteen prison wardens spanning multiple generations. Touring the home will satisfy those who are curious about 19th-century life as well as those who want to hear prison stories about notorious criminals, such as the members of the James-Younger Gang.
Lanesboro
Spending time in Lanesboro means getting a chance to meet some of its most interesting residents- its various wildlife. On the Root River State Trail, bike or walk through wooded paths and over bridges that span the river. On the trail, you may be lucky enough to become acquainted with the wild turkeys, hawks, deer, and other wild animals that live there. After your exploration, tuck yourself away for the weekend in the beautiful stone and red brick Stone Mill Hotel & Suites. This hotel was built in 1884, only 26 years after Minnesota gained statehood, making it an iconic structure in the community that perfectly blends comfort with intrigue.
Head to the historic downtown district to see a show in a cheese factory-turned-theater. Commonweal Theatre Company produces a mixture of classic and contemporary plays throughout the year that value identity, diversity, and local artistry. Dig even deeper into the heart of bluff country by getting insight into traditional living and craftsmanship at an Amish Country Tours. Attending a Bluffscape Amish Tour will give you access to an otherwise lost way of life, a slower pace that moves with nature and community at its center. You’ll even get to witness the artistry behind leatherwork and natural craftsmanship, as well as walk through traditional farms and workshops.
Grand Marais
Greet Grand Maris each morning at the lakeside, with coffee and donuts within walking distance at East Bay Suites. Resting peacefully against Lake Superior, your condo has a luxurious feel while remaining focused on sustainability through resource conservation and community engagement. Your day can start right around the corner, at World’s Best Donuts. These donuts are for the heart and from the heart, being family-owned and operated since 1969. They are best known for their creative spin on donuts from their “Sizzles” (stretched sweet deep fried and dough), to their “Kabobs” (donut holes on a stick with icing and sprinkles).
Learn a new craft with deep ancestral roots at North House Folk School. For a more serene and whimsical option, take a course in “knitting the night sky” or “baking in a wood-fired oven”. The school also produces nature-related festivals throughout the year, honoring the beautiful landscape and wildlife that make up the Grand Marais community. Return to Lake Superior at Artists Point, where a path guides explorers through pine trees and past tide pools and rocky shores that lead to a lighthouse.
Red Wing
Red Wing is full of strange and wonderful views, from winding rivers to the world's largest boot. See the largest boot in the world at the Red Wing Shoes Museum. The size 638-½ boot is 20 feet tall and promotes Red Wing’s impressive footwear, not all of which is made for giants. The museum houses boots from the World War II era, as well as vintage sewing machines used to make them. Shoe fans and history fans alike will love exploring these halls. Shift from Leather shoes to clay pots at the Pottery Museum of Red Wing. Here, you can walk through shelves and displays of artistic pottery and stoneware. The museum is a tribute to Red Wing pottery factories and the town's prominent place in the clay industry.
To see all of Red Wing and the Mississippi River, head to He Mni Can, also known as “Barn Bluff”. A steady climb up the cliffs offers a glorious view of the town and the river that winds around it. Those who want the serenity of the forest without the elevation of the cliffs have many other trails to choose from, such as the “Carlson Lime Kiln Trail”, which leads to the Kiln Structure, a gorgeous limestone Kiln built in 1882. After so much exploration, somewhere special awaits the weary. Bathed in warm light and rich oak, St. James Hotel provides sensationally serene accommodation. The hotel opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1875, giving it the warmth and spirit of community that it still has today.
New Ulm
Spend the weekend among historic and musical Icons in New Ulm. The town honors its Germanic roots with a statue of Hermann the German, whose army liberated Germany from Roman rule. While the statue symbolises war, the view around it is the complete opposite, a peaceful view of the town and the river valley. Many more legendary tales lie within this small town. The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame celebrates the state's legendary musicians. Walk these halls to learn more about Judy Garland, Bob Dylan, and Prince, while discovering musicians you may not have heard of before.
Finally, head to Schell’s Brewery for a traditional German brew that they have spent over 140 years perfecting. Schell’s is one of the country's oldest family-owned breweries, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and fun. You can have a drink at the bar, tour the facilities, or rent a private space. For a vintage Bed and Breakfast experience, stay at Bingham Hall. This BNB prides itself on peaceful spaces, from its rooms to its porch. Each room is unique, some embracing an outdoor wood theme, with others luxuriating in turn-of-the-century details.
Park Rapids
For a true taste of Minnesota’s lake culture, visit Park Rapids, the birthplace of the Mississippi River. Spend peaceful evenings warmed by a lakeside fire pit at Spirit Lake Resort. This family-owned resort fully embraces the state’s “lake life culture” and invites you to do the same. Whether you want to get toasty in a lakeside sauna or a fire pit on soft sand, the resort keeps you just as warm and comfortable outside as it does inside its simple, modern rooms. This town’s dedication to lake life is well earned. The headwaters of the Mississippi River run through Itasca State Park, which provides lodging and dining areas as well as visitor centers full of natural and cultural history. Stand at the base of this national landmark, where history and unity are represented in the calm flow of water that connects so much of the country.
For more of the beautiful nature that makes Park Rapids so special, go to the Heartland Trail, where an abandoned railroad has been repurposed as a path for walking and all-around exploration. The trail will take you through forested trails, past lakes, and even a beach suitable for lake swimming. To take a break from “lake life”, see a performance at Jasper's Theater. The unique architecture of the log theater is almost as appealing as the performances on stage, which vary from concerts, magic shows, stand-up comedy, and other performances.
Two Harbors
Resting peacefully against Lake Superior, Two Harbors' natural beauty varies from jagged coastlines to forests full of wondrous surprises. To get the full Two Harbors experience, stay on the North Shore of the lake at Larsmont Cottages, where a rocky coast will greet you each morning. Even more gorgeous views await at Gooseberry Falls State Park, where the rumble of waterfalls surrounds scenic pathways and bridges. If you’re visiting during colder months, stop by the visitor center to get warm by the roaring fireplace.
Options of exploration are endless at the Superior Hiking Trail, where you can choose one of the many trails to explore. The 300+ miles of pathways connect to the Canadian border. The trails are sprinkled with waterfalls, wildlife, and just enough foliage and quiet to get momentarily lost in. For more aquatic sightseeing, head to Agate Bay, where Two Harbors Lighthouse has proudly guarded the shore since 1892. Walk around and within the lighthouse on a self-guided tour, where you can see the view from the overlook as well as the Pilot House and Keepers Quarters. The light still operates, calling seafarers home to Two Harbors.
Float into the ultimate relaxing weekend as the currents of the Great Lakes carry you from howling wolves to long forested trails. Those who find serenity in the wild will find it in abundance in places like the rocky shores of Grand Marais and the lush forests of Ely. Then, tuck into an even gentler side of the state, where lakeside firepits and railroad trails offer a haven of reprieve to all travelers. You don’t need to find serenity; it finds you in Minnesota.
