Winter Family Activities at Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

Located just outside of the bustling twin cities of Minnesota lies a retreat, an establishment where families can come together to make the type of memories that last a lifetime. Grand View Lodge is that place. It is the place you see in the movies where grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and kids come together for their annual family gatherings. It is the place where time slows down, people unplug, board games are played, books are read, and of course, time is spent lounging on or around the lake.

Known for its gorgeous summer gardens, lakefront activities, boating, swimming, and more, Grand View Lodge also offers a multitude of exciting wintertime fun for families too. Whether you are simply planning a wintertime trip for your immediate family or planning a family gathering that spans generations, Grand View Lodge is here to meet your needs. This is the place where families come together year after year, season after season, making forever friends with other guests while experiencing all the best this beautiful location has to offer.

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

Keep reading to see and discover the beauty and family fun that is Grand View Lodge in Minnesota during the winter season.


Winter Fun For All Ages At Grand View Lodge in Minnesota

Winter Activities

Sledding

An easy wintertime activity that is fun for all ages, the sledding hill at Grand View Lodge is perfect for kids big and small. Families will love the camaraderie and joy they will find playing together in the snow as everyone takes their trip (or likely multiple trips) down the groomed sledding hill. Centrally located on Garden Cottage Drive, this is the place where your family will find hours of fun and entertainment, and will probably make a few new friends as well. Complimentary sleds are available.

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Pines Winter Recreation Center

Head over to the Pines Winter Recreation Center to explore this winter wonderland in the woods. With the expansive golf course converted to 8 kilometers of immaculately groomed cross country skiing trails, the beauty and serenity of nature in the area will not disappoint. Enjoy your time in the snow as you cross country ski or snowshoe under the trees and make sure to keep an eye out for the deer and other winter wildlife you may see along the way. With complimentary cross country skis or snowshoes available for both adults and children, this enjoyable winter activity can be experienced as a family.

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If you happen to be staying at one of the many accommodations available around the Golf Course, it is simple to hop onto the cross country ski trails from right outside your door.

Snowmobiling

Whether you’re bringing your own snowmobile or renting one for your trip, Grand View Lodge in Minnesota offers 115 miles of surrounding snowmobile trails that can be accessed from anywhere on the property. Head out day or night to enjoy and explore the stunning, snow-covered woods teeming with wildlife and mainly untouched in this area.

Ice Fishing

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

If you are looking for a quiet day on the lake, planning a family ice fishing trip, or even want to join in the fun of a hosted ice fishing competition, Grand View Lodge has got you covered. Fishing is available on both Gull Lake and Roy Lake with fishing competitions and more offered most weekends. Grand View Lodge hosts family fun ice fishing days on the lake where games, food, fishing, and prizes are all part of the day’s activities. Fishing poles and other necessary equipment are available on hosted ice fishing dates.

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Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

Is there anything that makes the snow-covered woods feel like they are straight out of a fairy tale more than a horse-drawn carriage ride? With rides leaving every 15 minutes from outside the North Hotel on the Main Property, experience the beauty of winter with a family-friendly, comfortable, horse-drawn carriage ride around the Grand View Lodge property. The handsome and impressive horses will even stick around for a few affectionate pets from the kids after the ride.

Ice Skating and Ice Hockey

Whether you simply want to take spin around the rink, even under the stars, or came prepared for a full-fledged family hockey game, with two outdoor ice skating rinks, Grand View Lodge in Minnesota gets you outdoors and on the ice. Skate as a family, simply send the kids to play, pick up a game of broomball, or simply enjoy the cool night air under the gorgeous trees and beautiful lights this winter. Centrally located near the chapel and the Gull Lake Center, ice rinks are easy to access and fun for all.

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Northpark

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

Who says wintertime is all about the snow? At Grand View Lodge in Minnesota take a break from the cold and snowy outdoors, and head inside to the Northpark Waterpark, Exercise, and Activity Center. With something to entertain everyone in the family, you could literally spend hours, or even all day, active yet out of the cold at Northpark during your trip to Grand View Lodge. The large indoor pool includes swimming lanes, a giant waterslide and play area for the kids, and games such as water basketball. There are also two indoor hot tubs. Locker rooms and lockers are available.

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If you’re wanting a more wintery, yet warm experience, head outside to the huge outdoor hot tub where you can sit back and relax amid the hot water and steam while enjoying vast views of the snowy grounds.

After you are out of the pool but still don’t want to head out in the cold, the Kids’ Club area offers board games, knee hockey, coloring and painting, a chalk table, pop-a-shot basketball, corn hole, books, movies, puzzles, beading activities, legos, lincoln logs and more.

Finally, because vacation doesn’t necessarily mean ditching the workout routine, Grand View Lodge in Minnesota offers state of the art exercise equipment including a weight/fitness room, yoga studio, and Wellbeats fitness classes within the Northpark facility.

Glacial Waters Spa

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

If your idea of a winter getaway includes saunas, steam rooms, and relaxing massages, then the Glacial Waters Spa at Grand View Lodge in Minnesota will accommodate your every desire. Offering their full range of services throughout the winter months, the Glacial Waters Spa is the perfect place for a girls’ weekend retreat, couples massage, or even mother/daughter day while the boys hit the snowmobile trails.

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With a well appointed great room offering snacks and drinks by the fire, you can spend all day at the Glacial Waters Spa enjoying the wide variety of services available. From massages, body treatments, hydrotherapy, and skincare to nail care and makeup services, the Glacial Waters Spa can meet all of your needs whether you are visiting Grand View Lodge for a family vacation, couples getaway, or even attending a wedding.

Mt. Ski Gull

Hit the slopes during your winter vacation to Grand View Lodge in Minnesota at the nearby Mount Ski Gull. Plan for a full day of fun at the mountain where you can ski, snowboard, and tube all day long! Trust us, the kids will not want to leave. With 10 runs available, including a bunny hill will a magic carpet lift and a terrain park, Mount Ski Gull is perfect for kids, teens, and adults alike. No matter your level of skill there is something for everyone. Night skiing is also available as the trails and terrain park are lit making for a beautiful sight on a cold winter’s night.

With both private and group lessons available for beginners, kids, and adults, even if you’ve never been on skis, or want to try your hand at snowboarding, lessons are available. Ski and snowboard rentals are also available on site. Seniors over 65 ski free any day of the week, and kids under 5 ski free with a paid adult lift ticket.

If you plan to check out the tubing hill at Mount Ski Gull you will not be disappointed. With four, 500-foot tubing lanes, this fast-paced ride is fun for all ages! Slide down individually, as a group, race one another, and more on this perfectly groomed and maintained tubing hill. With a magic carpet ride to the top and plenty of tubes available at the bottom of the hill, this is an easy and enjoyable activity for the whole family. Glow tubing is also available on select evenings.


Winter Lodgings

North

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

Check out the newest North hotel at Grand View Lodge in Minnesota. This 60 room boutique hotel features all the amenities you could ask for, a gourmet coffee shop in the lobby, and is located on the main property within easy walking distance to the lodge, restaurants, NorthPark Recreation Center, the ice skating rinks, and more. Rooms are available with king or two queen size beds.

Main Property

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

Garden Cottages

Whether this is your first trip to Grand View Lodge in Minnesota or this is your annual vacation destination, you absolutely must check out the new Garden Cottages for your next visit. Available in Studio or 3-4 bedroom configurations, the Garden Cottages at Grand View Lodge feature large rooms, high ceilings, full kitchens or kitchenettes, outdoor furnished patios, and beautiful gas fireplaces.

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The open and spacious floor plans available in the 3-4 bedroom Garden Cottages are made for large families, multiple families traveling together, or groups of friends. The ability to even incorporate additional studio rooms into the cottage gives you the ability to include up to 6 bedrooms. Luxuriously appointed, the Garden Cottages include rooms with king-size beds, double queen beds, and even bunk rooms for up to 6 people. Bathrooms include large walk-in showers and plenty of space.

While the upstairs incorporates all the amenities of home with full kitchens, a well-appointed island with bar stools, dining tables with extended seating, full living rooms and more, the downstairs is made for play. Cottages with the downstairs unit include 2 more bedrooms, a large downstairs game room, kitchenette, game tables, big screen smart TVs and gas fireplaces. The full cottages also feature a laundry room with a washer and dryer.

Additional lodging options available at the Grand View Lodge in Minnesota’s main property include main lodge rooms, the Linden Cottages, the Homes on Nokomis, and the Grand View Cabins. All of these options are within walking distance to the main lodge, restaurants, the Glacial Waters Spa, NorthPark Recreation Center, Gull Lake Center, the ice skating rinks, sledding hill, and Gull Lake.

Roy Lake

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

If you prefer a bit more privacy during your stay, the Roy Lake Villas, Cabins, and Cottages might be more your style. Perfect for families who want to be able to utilize Grand View Lodge’s numerous amenities, but still prefer a bit more seclusion, these lodging options are nestled in the woods along Roy Lake just a mile and a half from the main property. With its own small beach area during the warmer months and plenty of outdoor space to play, studio through 4 bedroom options are available.

Golf Course

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

If your idea of a vacation includes expansive views of a beautiful and well-maintained golf course, no matter the season, then the Golf Course properties at Grand View Lodge in Minnesota will provide the getaway you’ve always wished for. During the summer sit on your patio and watch the quiet serenity of the sun rising each morning over the course, and in the winter spend time curled up near the fireplace while you watch the deer and other wildlife venture through the trees as the cross-country skiers pass by. Enjoy the privacy these accommodations offer while still within walking or a short driving distance to the main property. Lodging options include the Clubhouse Suites, Golf Villas, 8th Fairway Townhomes, and Fairway Pines Cottages.

Fairway Pines

These 2-4 bedroom cottages offer the perfect place for families during their stay at Grand View Lodge in Minnesota. With large open floor plans for the kitchen, dining and living room area, and well-appointed bedrooms with private baths, the Fairway Pines cottages also offer a three-season porch complete with its own fireplace and smart tv perfect for early morning breakfasts, or entertaining family and friends. Many of the cottages even include a lower level that includes a bedroom, large game room, and laundry room.

During the winter if you enjoy cross-country skiing the cottages at Fairway Pines allow you to easily ski-in and ski-out to the trails right from your own back door. For families, the cul-de-sac layout of this area also makes it easy to simply head out and make friends with the neighbors while visiting Grand View Lodge in Minnesota.

East Side Beach

Located just three miles south of the main property, the East Side Beach properties offer families more privacy and seclusion right on the shores of a private beach on Gull Lake. With cozy firepits and docks leading right out from your cabin, those who want to be right on the water will love these accommodations at Grand View Lodge in Minnesota. Many activities are also hosted nearby throughout the year. The East Side Beach properties include the Gull Haven Cabins, Interlachen Townhomes, and the Bay Colony Cottages with 2-4 bedroom floor plans available.


Winter Dining

Wintertime at Grand View Lodge in Minnesota means delicious foods that warm the belly after a cold day outdoors, from the hearty fare available at the pub to the more refined and eclectic options at the restaurant and wine bar, there is something to please every palate, including the kids.

Northwoods

Simple, laid back, and complete with a game room for the kids, the Northwoods Pub is a family-friendly restaurant and pub open year-round serving a hearty fare of burgers, sandwiches, salads, nightly specials and more. Everyone in the family will enjoy a great meal in this relaxing and casual atmosphere that is open for both lunch and dinner. The pub also features a variety of Minnesota made craft beers and features live entertainment on select evenings throughout the year.

Char

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

A steakhouse that speaks for itself, Char serves premium craft steaks, local fish, and produce all sourced carefully and crafted of the finest ingredients. This family-friendly steakhouse is the perfect choice for your large family holiday dinner or gathering while everyone is visiting Grand View Lodge in Minnesota. Whether you’re dining with or without the kids, Char is the perfect upscale and elegant restaurant that still provides a relaxed dining experience with a menu full of hearty foods and innovative nightly specials. Grab a table near the large fireplace this winter and revel in the warm and cozy atmosphere while enjoying a glass of wine or a signature cocktail and a perfectly prepared steak.

Cru

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

If you’re planning a night out for mom and dad, or even all the adults in the family, then Cru Restaurant and Wine Bar is the ideal location for an adults-only dinner. The intimate and relaxing atmosphere combined with the incredible wine selections and carefully crafted meals makes this the place to spend time enjoying a bottle of wine, and lingering over dinner and dessert, all while appreciating the joys of adult conversation. With over 2,000 bottles of worldly wines available, this is a place even the most experienced wine connoisseur will enjoy.

On The Rocks In the Igloo

Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

This winter enjoy the lastest in experiential dining and drinks at Grand View Lodge in Minnesota in their large outdoor, heated igloos. Located just outside the Northwoods Pub on the Main Property, the igloos are a great place for winter family fun. Heated, with plenty of comfy, cozy seating and blankets provided, you can order appetizers, large platters, and drinks to include hot chocolate or wine depending on whether you’re spending time with the kids or as an adults-only evening in the igloo. Relax and enjoy the scenic views, or make it a game night with the provided games and entertainment, no matter how you decide to spend your time in the igloo it will be fun and memorable for all involved.


While Grand View Lodge in Minnesota may be famous for its summers spent on the lake, wintertime at Grand View is simply a sight to behold. Towering trees covered in snow, sunset over the frozen lakes, and the quiet peacefulness of nature everywhere you go make the time spent here during this season a truly unforgettable experience. Families will gather here year after year; grandparents, parents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and even large groups of long time friends will spend time together, unplugged, uninterrupted, and making the type of memories that will literally last a lifetime.

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Winter Family Activities At Grand View Lodge In Minnesota

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Daily Mom is a parent portal for women who are looking for information and education. It's a combination of your favorite blogs, Pinterest boards, parenting websites, how-to posts, product features and the best fashion magazines all packaged neatly into short easy to read posts with gorgeous photographs. We are a team of passionate writers and editors on a mission to educate, inspire and help women all over the world by providing informational articles on all aspects of womanhood.

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