Winter in Minnesota is famous, often fascinating those from warmer climates who have never experienced it. And while it is true that the season often comes with extra chilly temperatures and the need to bundle up, it also means you can give your attendees exciting, memorable experiences they might not find anywhere else. For planners who have a full day of work, activities like evening carriage rides can be a special treat. If you have more time available during the day, ice fishing and curling can bond teams.
Whatever constraints your event has, there is a seasonal activity that can give your attendees the magic of winter without any of the downside. As Daniele Villa, Visit Duluth’s president of sales and operations, says, “You can enjoy the good part of winter. [As planners and attendees,] you don’t have to get up at 5 a.m. snow blowing. Everything’s all set for you to enjoy [the season]. And when you’re done, you get to sit by the bonfire and have a glass of wine.”
If you have limited time to shop around, consider working with Minnesota’s convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and resorts to plan your winter gathering. Villa is quick to point to Visit Duluth’s complimentary concierge planning services, as well as financial incentives. Plus, Duluth’s location close to picturesque natural areas means urban resources with winter fun only minutes away. It is a duality that Rochester shares, according to Shawn Fagan, executive director of the Rochester Downtown Alliance. “Our extensive skyway and subway [tunnel] system lets you explore much of downtown without needing to bundle up,” he says, noting the systems also connect with several hotels.
The Grand View Lodge, Spa, and Golf Resort in Nisswa offers lodging, two dozen meeting space options, and activities including carriage rides and igloo-style dining, where attendees eat together in translucent and insulated igloo-shaped enclosures. While these kinds of dining structures are often for six to eight—see B’s On The River in Watertown or Duke’s on 7 in Minnetonka—Grand View Lodge circumvents this limitation by positioning its igloo-shaped enclosures close to larger private dining spaces.
For planners looking to add some adrenaline to the agenda, Grand View Lodge also has Sherp all-terrain vehicle rides. “It’s a four-wheeler on steroids,” explains Kelli Wawro, director of catering at Grand View Lodge. “It climbs snow hills, it goes on the ice, and what’s great is that it will break through the ice—and it floats. We had a group here last year, and some of them had never seen ice or snow before. To pile them into the Sherp and go for this ride was pretty amazing.”
Other resorts that pair event space and winter include Giants Ridge in Biwabik (downhill skiing and fat biking), the Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais (guided snowmobile tours), Breezy Point Resort (horse-drawn hayrides and snowshoeing), and McQuoid’s Inn near Lake Mille Lacs in the city of Isle (guided snowmobiling and ice fishing). And this is just scratching the surface of the winter fun to be had.
Ice fishing and curling are iconic Minnesota activities that often get a bad rap for being cold, but they are not always as bone-chilling as they might sound. Jasper Guide Services on Lake Minnetonka (based in Mound) sets up roomy ice houses heated to 70 degrees inside and outfitted with tech that allows everyone to see the fish swimming below the surface. The indoor Frogtown Curling Club in St. Paul has a warm lobby just steps away from the temperature-controlled rink.
For many years, Jasper Guide Services has been the sole partner for Minnesota-based Oakmont Capital Services and its national company networking event. “People spread out across a group of five or six ice houses and move among the houses to meet new people and catch up with old friends—and there are some games, too,” says Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President Daryn Lecy.
As for curling at Frogtown Curling Club in St. Paul, also indoors, Andersen Corp. Engineering Manager Nate Leland says when he brought a group there it felt like “something everyone could enjoy.” He adds, “The atmosphere is very relaxed and fun, [but you are still] able to weave in some strategy and competition.”
“Three hours went by in a heartbeat,” says Tyler Leonard, area manager at Baker Hughes (headquartered in Houston, Texas). He chose Frogtown Curling Club because of its capacity, flexibility, and commitment to fun. But while the St. Paul curling club is beloved, it’s not the only Twin Cities curling spot available for icy good times.
Ruth Ann Setter, senior accountant at John A. Knutson & Co. in Rogers, loved working with Four Seasons Curling Club in Blaine, a Twin Cities suburb. “The communication from beginning to end was exceptional, the Curlers Lounge and catering were just what we needed, and the curling event itself was so much fun,” she says.
For snow-filled activities, Minnesota has an infinite number of snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails, but group options such as tubing and dogsledding might bring a little more excitement into the meeting itinerary. Tubing adds a rush of adrenaline without the workout. Twin Cities favorites include Douglas F. Bryant Winter Recreation Area’s 10-story hill in Maple Grove and Buck Hill in Burnsville, which also has its Buck ’54 Bar & Grill for attendees to unwind at. Both spots have chair lifts and towropes to bring attendees to the top of the hill, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing options.
Dogsledding has a hub around the small town of Ely (two hours north of Duluth) including White Wilderness Sled Dog Adventures, Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge, and Chilly Dogs Sled
Dog Trips. A bit closer to the cities, Silent Run Adventures is in Monticello, about 45 minutes northwest of Minneapolis. At Silent Run Adventures, groups begin by meeting its Siberian huskies and learning about the breed and the sport of mushing (dogsledding). Its dogsledding trail is about 1 mile long, and groups can take plenty of photos along the way.
Even if your main event is not near these providers, businesses such as the Minneapolis-based GetKnit Events can help. GetKnit has 20-plus premade private event itineraries—including ice climbing and on-ice fish fries—but it also creates custom trips that can take attendees throughout the state. “What we suggest, to create a nice and well-balanced experience, is to be bold enough to steer away from those corporate norms and really highlight some local partners,” says Nick Blake, president of GetKnit Events. No matter which winter excursions you choose, groups will find plenty of excitement and variety throughout the North Star State.
buckhill.com
downtownrochestermn.com
fourseasonscurlingclub.com
frogtowncurling.org
getknitevents.com
grandviewlodge.com
jasperservices.com
silentrunadventuresllc.com
threeriversparks.org
visitduluth.com
