With the new year in full swing, now’s the perfect time to plan a Valentine’s Day getaway for you and your sweetheart. If you’re searching for a romantic retreat away from all the hustle and bustle of the city, the Grand View Lodge in Minnesota should be on your radar. Tucked away in a snow-covered pine forest about 2.5 hours north of Minneapolis, the lodge and grounds will feel worlds away from everyday life.
From relaxation to adventure, you’ll never run out of things to do as a couple. In operation since 1916, the lodge spans several hundred acres and boasts 65 year-round activities, eight restaurants, two golf courses, an award-winning spa with 70-plus treatments, miles of trails through the surrounding wilderness, and a 2,500-foot stretch of sandy beach along the shores of Gull Lake. With all the amenities on offer, it’s no wonder the lodge has topped reader’s choice lists in several magazines for 10 years in a row.
Romantic activities at Grand View Lodge
If you can tear yourself away from the lodge’s cozy interiors, the outdoors is well worth exploring. Consider a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow, some cross country skiing or snow-shoeing through more than five miles of pristine trails (the gear is complimentary), or ice skating on one of two rinks, perhaps hand-in-hand as a couple.
When you’re ready for some rest and relaxation, book a couple’s treatment like the relaxation massage with aromatherapy ($160) or the hot stone massage with warm basalt rocks to release tension ($240). Skin care and body treatments are also available, including a full body scrub down and topped off with a soak ($220) in the mineral-rich glacier waters that Minnesota is known for.
As you wind down for the day, grab a bottle of wine from the coffee and wine lounge, Brew, and curl up with your sweetheart next to one of the many outdoor bonfires under the stars. To warm up even more, consider a soak in the biggest outdoor hot tub in the state, which has three secluded bays for privacy and only allows adults for the last two hours of the evening.
Accommodations and amenities
To be right in the center of the action, stay in the historic main lodge. Each room comes with a king-size bed and an easy walk to most of the amenities for $120 to $140 per night, depending on the dates of your stay. The new 60-room boutique hotel, North, is also worth noting for its modern design and close proximity to restaurants and activities. There are queen and king-size rooms available running from $120 to $140 a night, with the option to upgrade to a spa relaxation package for $100 off a spa treatment.
Your stay includes access to the NorthPark fitness center, where you can fire things up with a morning cycling class or find deeper connection together with a yoga session. The fine dining options will also draw you closer, with a candle-lit dinner inside the wine cellar at Cru or pub fare and drinks in a heated igloo outside Northwood’s Pub. From casual to intimate, there’s something for everyone at this romantic destination in the Midwest.
