Photo by Calvin Miller
Fall is a beautiful time to head north to Grand Rapids, Minnesota for a fall weekend getaway. This charming community up north is a convenient destination that is far enough away location to provide a real escape to see the area’s stunning fall colors. Follow Visit Grand Rapid’s itinerary for a weekend escape that is chock full with things to do and see.
Day 1 – Friday
Check In – at one of Grand Rapids’ cozy fall lodging options.
Get Pampered – Visit one of Grand Rapids’ salon and spas for a facial, massage, pedicure or manicure. You can’t go wrong with one of these fabulous local spas: True North Salon, Bala Spa, Salon Brad, and Elements Spa.
Get Outdoors – With more than 2,000 miles of well maintained hiking and biking trails, you can select what level of outdoor adventure fits you. The Chippewa National Forest has miles of hiking through well maintained mixed forest trails. For biking, take a leisurely ride on the paved Mesabi Trail or visit Tioga Recreation Area for a world-class single track mountain bike trail that has over 25 miles of multi-level terrain and trails. Grand Rapids also touts 300 miles of wooded and forest ATV/OHV trails to explore.
Be Entertained – Enjoy a Broadway style performance at The Reif Center with safe social distancing in place. Find out why they call this the hidden gem of Minnesota’s Northwoods.
Photo by Adessa Cournoyer
Day 2 – Saturday
Rise & Shine – Start your day with a great cup of coffee and a freshly baked muffin at Brewed Awakenings or NoPo Coffee.
Learn & Enjoy Art – Take a free tour of the Itasca County Historical Museum to learn about all of the fascinating culture and heritage of the area. Go for a stroll around town and take a self-guided tour of the public art. MacRostie Art Center also has a free art gallery where you can view monthly exhibits and purchase Minnesota-made art.
Taste Craft Brews & Minnesota Wines – Enjoy a craft beer or two at Grand Rapids’ local craft breweries—Klockow Brewing Co. and Rapids Brewing Co. Experience Minnesota wines at Unwined Up North.
Fall Scenic Drive – Finish the day by taking a scenic drive up the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway. Enjoy stunning fall colors of the hardwood and pine trees in the Chippewa National Forest, and stop at the shops and restaurants along the way.
History Tour – Discover a historic environmental learning opportunity by driving northwest to the Lost Forty in the Chippewa National Forest. Learn about the surveying mistake of this 144 acres of 300-400 year old pines.
Photo by John Connelly
Day 3 – Sunday
Sleep In – Sundays are fun days, and ones where you can allow yourself to not be woken up by an alarm clock.
Enjoy Brunch – Fuel up at one of the several restaurants in Grand Rapids that host terrific Sunday brunch. Two popular spots are Pickled Loon Saloon or Forest Lake Restaurant.
Get Outdoors – Don’t miss your last chance explore the Northwoods before you hit the road to travel home. Before heading out, take a look at Visit Grand Rapid’s fall leaves tour map to find the best spots to see the stunning fall foliage. It’s only around for a short period of time, so it is definitely worth one more look!
Travel safely back home and share all of your photo memories with Visit Grand Rapids on your social media pages by including #grandrapidsmn in your post.
