Photo courtesy of Visit Grand Rapids
Head north to Northern Minnesota for spring fun! Even though this winter has been mild in comparison to previous years, everyone is no doubt feeling a little cabin fever. Here are five can’t-miss options for spring fun up north.
Nightlife
Grand Rapids has plenty to do when the sun goes down. Minnesotans love a good beer, of course, and there are two craft breweries in Grand Rapids; Klockow Brewing Company and Rapids Brewing Company. Both showcase live music every week with social distance and masks required. UnWined Up North is a Minnesota wine bar that serves small plates and flatbread. Be sure to check out the Reif Performing Arts Center for virtual and limited-capacity in-person performances.
Photo by John Connelly Photography
Biking & Hiking in Grand Rapids
There’s nothing like being outside in the spring, smelling fresh grass, seeing wildlife stir out of hibernation and taking in the warming sunshine through the trees. The greater Grand Rapids area offers world-class biking and hiking. Consider Tioga Recreation Area and Legion Trail for mountain biking in the spring. Hiking in the Chippewa National Forest is a favorite past time of locals; check out Simpson Creek and Suomi Hills, and watch for signage to see if any trails are closed due to weather conditions. For paved bicycling, you have to ride the Mesabi Trail – over 90 miles of paved trail from Grand Rapids to Ely, Minnesota.
You Will Find More Than Hotdish
You’ve probably heard the stereotype that people up north only eat hotdish. We do love it, but we also enjoy a charbroiled steak, fresh sushi, and Italian pasta. The restaurants in the Grand Rapids area range from rustic and charming to chef-inspired dining. Each restaurant offers a local favorite like popovers, wild rice soup, and prime rib. You can work up quite the appetite out on our trails, so be sure that our restaurants are ready to serve you a quality meal when you are ready to unwind.
Experience The Forest From Four Wheels
Looking for an exhilarating ride? The local ATV clubs have worked to create designated wooded trails and you will find over 300 miles of them. The advantage of being on an ATV is you can cover more ground than you can on foot. You will experience a mix of forest trails, old railroad grade, beautiful lakes and bog areas. The local ATV trails connect to state ATV trails so you can ride from Grand Rapids, south, east, west and north for hundreds of miles.
Spring Rest & Relaxation Lodging
Northern Minnesota makes for a great place to get away in the spring for rest and relaxation. Grand Rapids is a perfect spring destination where you can watch the forests come alive. The abundance of public accessible forest land – over 1 million acres – offers many trails to seek solitude and recharge your soul. You will find a wide variety of lodging properties to suit your needs, from conveniently located hotels to economical motels, charming bed-and-breakfasts, vacation home rentals, lake home rentals and Minnesota resorts. Discover a new place to stay up north in Grand Rapids.
