Explore Minnesota Travel Guide • 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide • A Winter Wellness Wonderland

Cutting-edge culture and rightfully acclaimed restaurants aren’t the only reasons Kiola Raines, a fitness and nutrition coach, and Nathaniel Silberg, a record dealer/musician, were eager to visit the Star of the North last winter. The California-based couple had also heard a lot about the state’s restorative side.

Minnesota provides a welcome escape hatch from the hustle and bustle of daily life, as Kiola and Nathan discovered firsthand. Here are some ways you can relive their recent trip up north with their young son Ezekiel (a.k.a. Ziggy) and Kiola’s parents, Kevin and Daria.

MN Traders Co. boasts a bold “coffee-to-cocktail” menu that makes it a daily brunch destination in Pequot Lakes. Order a little bit of everything with a big ol’ board of bagel bites, cream cheese, mini waffles and donuts, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, avocado toast, fruit, local maple syrup and house-made jam. Breakfast pizza, sandwiches and salads, and several different sourdough toasts and bowls are also available if you’d rather dig into your own dish. Either way, be sure to set aside some time to check out the cafe’s well-curated gift shop of hygge essentials and comfort inducing home goods.

Nature Link is one of the newest properties in Nisswa, a plot of peaceful land that once housed Minnesota’s second oldest resort and a summertime retreat for hockey players. Now under the ownership of two young families, its matte black cabins, soothing event space and mindsettling barrel sauna look as if they were torn from the pages of a design magazine. A location that feels remote but is right next door to the Paul Bunyan Trail and the town of Brainerd makes Nature Link a perfect starting point for living that lake life all year round, too.

While it’s best known for summer and golf season activities, Grand View Lodge in Nisswa doesn’t go dark in the winter. Coast through postcardworthy snow drifts with Clydesdales, then spend the rest of the day exploring the new 3,779-square-foot NorthPark complete with a waterslide-sporting indoor pool, several ice-skating rinks and a spacious outdoor hot tub area that keeps happy couples warm in the depths of winter.

Sherwood North is a short drive away from Nature Link and another example of a local business that’s balancing its historic landmark status — a fierce stone fireplace that was built in 1936, and a building that’s more than 100 years old — with grand ambition. Kiola was quick to say that she’d “never forget” supper club standards like a pickleforward relish tray and popovers smeared with honey butter, but don’t sleep on a walleye roll that puts lobster on notice; a charred wedge salad that’s been showered with bleu cheese crumbles and a warm bacon vinaigrette; or seared scallops served alongside parsnip puree, chive oil and an umami-packed combo of cooling tomatoes and parmesan crisp.

Northland Arboretum in nearby Baxter offers more than two miles of marked snowshoe trails that pass through a prairie restoration area full of friendly birds and a fragrant jack pine savanna. If you’re more of a cross-country skiier, the Brainerd Nordic Ski Club keeps 12 miles of top-notch trails groomed every season, and a quarter of the course lit at night. It’s a prime example of Minnesota’s active lifestyle. Or, as Kiola put it during her family’s own snowshoe session, “Once you get going, you don’t notice how cold it is.... I’m literally sweating.”

“This place is huge,” Kiola said as her family made their way through Mall of America®, just south of Minneapolis in Bloomington. “There’s a whole roller coaster in here.” Indeed, there is. And that’s not all. Nickelodeon Universe is a sprawling theme park featuring 27 rides and attractions — everything from extreme riffs on “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “SpongeBob SquarePants” to one of the country’s most iconic log chutes.

As for its stores, Mall of America® is full of old favorites and spiffy flagships that’ll appeal to outdoor rec enthusiasts (L.L. Bean, Arc’teryx), athleisure addicts (Lululemon, Vuori), trend chasers (Nordstrom, Aritzia) and nearly every other kind of shopper imaginable.

The Market at Malcolm Yards in Minneapolis is a food hall that feels like a whirlwind tour of international cuisine. Look out for tempting fast-casual takes on Detroit pizza (Wrecktangle), po’boys (Mr. Paul’s), barbecue (Revival Smoked Meats) and artisanal ice cream (Bebe Zito), as well as welcome nods to Argentina (DelSur), Mexico (Martes Tacos) and many different corners of Asia (Bagu, Momo Dosa, Abang Yoli). Drinks are served from a chef-inspired cocktail bar and a wall of pourable craft pints that’s locally sourced and includes several non-alcoholic options.

Considering he’s a longtime collector, it’s no surprise that Nathaniel slipped into the stacks at Roadrunner Records for what felt like hours. The shop has stocked new and used vinyl for nearly 40 years and hosted in-store performances by such indie and avant-garde acts as The Mekons, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Michael Hurley.

“[It’s] the thrill of the catch,” Kiola said when asked about Nathaniel’s love of LPs. “This is his version of fishing, I guess.”

StepChld owner Kamal Mohamed — a serial entrepreneur who’s also conquered fried chicken (Nashville Coop), crustless sandwiches (Gallant Tiger) and clean eats (Parcelle) — named his Northeast Minneapolis restaurant after its difficult to define menu, something he describes as food “a step removed from its origin.” That includes birria tacos that benefit from a berbere spice mix; shrimp kicked up a couple notches with grilled nori, lavender and a fermented chile butter sauce; and a “Minneapple Beauty Burger” served on a pretzel bun with pickled cabbage, gochujang aioli, American cheese, an over “mediumish” egg and a lacy smash patty.

“It’s been really amazing to be part of this community,” Kamal said, referring to the bridge he’s built between his Ethiopian roots and Minneapolis. “It’s big, but it’s small; it kind of has that Goldilocks feel.”

• Distance from MSP Airport to Nisswa: 152 miles (one way, approximate mileage)

• Spa Time: Craving a more classic take on wellness? Check out Grand View Lodge’s Glacial Waters Spa, where the pure, mineral-rich water comes from the depths of ancient glacial lakes. Several spa treatments, including the Glacial Rain body treatment and Serenity Soak, incorporate these waters with healing and rejuvenating properties. Find blissfully relaxing spa resorts around the state at exploreminnesota.com/article/plan-spa-retreat-to-these-minnesota-resorts.

• Detour to Ride: About 30 minutes east of Nisswa, find one of the best mountain biking hot spots in Minnesota at Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails. One of only 15 IMBA Silver Level Ride Centers in the world, this magnet for mountain bikers features 70 miles of purpose-built trails, complete with scenic overlooks.

• Urban Trails: For more fitnessforward fun, check out one of the many urban trails in Minneapolis, including the Midtown Greenway, Winchell Trail and Minnehaha Falls Lower Glen Trail.

Explore Minnesota Travel Guide - 2025 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide

A Winter Wellness Wonderland

How to Take the Ultimate Self-Care Trip to Nisswa

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