Plan a Romantic Winter Getaway in Minnesota
Plan a Romantic Winter Getaway in Minnesota
By Caitlin Hannah
The most romantic winter vacation isn’t always a beach with an umbrella drink in hand. Sometimes it’s a quiet, cozy, firelit retreat, with snow drifting silently outside. Here are a few places to inspire your next getaway.
The Nordic Village at Riva Terrace / Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis
Minneapolis-St. Paul
Are you looking to come to the city for a weekend away? Or just need to get away without hitting the highway? The iconic Saint Paul Hotel could be just the fix. Find specials that offer your accommodations, a champagne welcome, fresh flowers delivered to the room and a food and beverage credit.
The luxurious Four Seasons in downtown Minneapolis is the ultimate winter getaway in the city. Dine at the seasonal Nordic Village on the Riva Terrace rooftop. This cozy cabin experience features a four-course dinner menu paired with craft cocktails, mocktails, local beers or wine pairings. Warm up in the cedar + stone sauna, enjoy a massage, spa treatment or soak in the large whirlpool. Find one of the city’s hottest restaurants — Mara, led by James Beard Award-winning chef Gavin Kaysen — in the lobby.
OTHER HOTEL OPTIONS
Alma, Minneapolis
Hewing Hotel, Minneapolis
Rivertown Inn Bed & Breakfast, Stillwater
Lora, Stillwater
Hotel Crosby, Stillwater
The Hotel Landing, Wayzata
A snow-covered Larsmont Cottages
Northeast Minnesota
For a couple who loves adventure: Abandon the hotel in favor of a yurt. Don’t worry — the ones hosted by White Wilderness in Ely are insulated, heated and on a carpeted platform. Spend the day mushing through the frosty forest with your pack of dogs, then arrive at your yurt to bed down for the night.
Snowshoe to your heart’s content. Help with the dogs. Bundle up — happy and exhausted — together.
When it comes to cozy winter scenes, Larsmont Cottages in Two Harbors could hardly draw up a better one. Find fireplaces, couple’s massages, Jacuzzis, a wood-fired Finnish sauna, stargazing and more along Lake Superior. Delicious nearby dining includes New Scenic Café, Va Bene and The Boat Club.
Other Hotel Options
The Lodge at Giants Ridge, Biwabik
Oldenburg House Inn, Carlton
Pier B Resort, Duluth
East Bay Suites, Grand Marais
Mayhew Inn, Grand Marais
Cantilever Distillery + Hotel, Rainier
Bluefin Bay, Tofte
Nature Link resort in Nisswa / Simple Escape Photo
Central Minnesota
Take your pick of lodging at the Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria — cottage, townhome or lodge room — and enjoy a wide array of amenities that make it an ideal wintertime getaway.
Want to relax? Darling Reflections Spa offers a variety for services, including couples’ massages or herbal steam treatments. Make sure to ask about the tantalizing specialty packages, which include date nights, spa deals and winter adventures.
Nature Link’s mission is for its guests to connect with nature in Nisswa and disconnect from technology. Sounds like a perfect getaway right? Find forest or lake views in their beautiful and modern cabins. Soak up nature with modern amenities like full kitchens, fireplaces and soaking tubs.
Other Hotel Options
Breezy Point Resort, Breezy Point
Spirit Cove Lodge Bed & Breakfast, Alexandria
Saint James Hotel, Red Wing / Courtesy Red Wing Visitors and Convention Bureau
Southern Minnesota
Located in charming downtown Red Wing, the historic St. James Hotel is a wonderful getaway close to the Twin Cities. This boutique hotel is in the middle of the Mississippi River and bluffs of southern Minnesota. Enjoy a meal at Scarlet Kitchen + Bar, Bev’s Cafe or sip local brews at the Red Wing Brewery. Rent a pair of snowshoes at Frontenac State Park or catch a show at the Sheldon Theatre.
Lanesboro calls itself “the-bed and-breakfast capital of the world” but many flock to the Scanlan House for its Victorian charm and abundance of romantic add-ons. Consider sinking into a steamy aromatherapeutic drawn bath and turn-down service, complete with chocolates on the pillow.
If you feel the need to leave, there’s always a horse-drawn carriage ride with a stop at a cabin to warm up.
Other Hotel Options
Anna V’s Bed & Breakfast, Lanesboro
The Contented Cottage, Northfield
Round Barn Farm Bed and Breakfast, Red Wing
Turning Waters Bed and Breakfast, Wabasha
Copper Door Aveda Spa at Chase on the Lake
Northwest Minnesota
Set amongst the trees, the cozy Black Lantern Resort near Bemidji offers a quiet retreat for two. Every stay includes complimentary snowshoes, sleds, firewood, hot cocoa, coffee or cider and board games.
The historic Chase on the Lake looms large on the shores of Leech Lake near downtown Walker. Unwind at the Copper Door Aveda Spa, lace up your skates for a spin around their outdoor ice rink and enjoy lakeside views from your room. Dine on walleye wild rice cakes at The 502 or sip local brews at Portage Brewing Company.
MORE NORTHWEST MN OPTIONS:
Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge, Bemidji
Wambolts Cabins, Park Rapids
Discover more boutique hotels or find more trip ideas for your next couples’ getaway.
Caitlin Hannah is Explore Minnesota's senior digital social strategist. When traveling around the state, she likes spending time near the water, hiking, antique shopping, trying new restaurants, and watching hockey.