Wintertime in Minnesota can be downright unbearable. However, those frozen temperatures are also the perfect excuse for a little romance. After all, who doesn’t love cozying up with their special someone when it’s too cold to step outside or braving the icy breezes for some delightfully dreamy ice skating? From small-town retreats to big-city escapes, Minnesota has a romantic hideaway for you. So, lovebirds, light some candles and break out the bubbly for Minnesota’s best winter destinations for couples.
Where to Go for a Romantic Winter Getaway in Minnesota
While many think of white-sand beaches and overwater bungalows when planning a romantic vacation, cuddling beneath a blanket in front of a crackling fire as snowflakes gently fall can be equally alluring. If you’re looking for somewhere to heat things up with your special someone this winter, these Minnesota destinations might be just what you’re looking for.
Rochester
Enjoy an escape—no long drive required—with a romantic staycation. Rochester has something for couples of all kinds, whether you and your other half prefer outdoor adventures, playful and creative activities or traditional romance.
Romance-Ready Rochester Date Ideas
- Unwind with a glass of wine in the countryside at Salem Glen Winery, which frequently hosts special events and pairing flights like Puzzles and Wine, Wine and Bingo, and Port-Style Wine and Chocolate
- Explore the snow-dusted trails of Quarry Hill Nature Center, which also offers hiking by candlelight on select Fridays in January and on Valentine’s Day
- Treat yourselves to an indulgent “spa-cation” at Healing Touch Spa, which offers Date Night spa packages and Weekend Hiatus packages, complete with spa services like a couple’s massage, access to the sauna and steam room of the Hilton hotel, and more
- Bring a bottle of wine and a sense of fun to get crafty at Art Heads Emporium, where you can make something sweet to commemorate your love
- Challenge your significant other to a little friendly competition at Bowlocity
Best Places to Stay in Rochester for Couples
- Hilton Rochester Mayo Clinic Area – Central location with two delicious restaurants and convenient access to Healing Touch Spa
- Oakenwald Terrace Bed and Breakfast – Located around 25 minutes southeast of Rochester in the town of Chatfield, this historic home was named one of the best places to honeymoon in Minnesota by CBS News
Most Romantic Rochester Restaurants
- Bleu Duck Kitchen – Seasonally inspired New American restaurant with charming exposed-brick walls, an oyster bar (Wednesdays are $2.50 Oyster Night with the purchase of select bottles of bubbly and wine) and Tuesday Date Nights for $65 (including two entrees, a bottle of house wine and a dessert to share)
- Terza Ristorante – Downtown Italian restaurant serving generous portions of house-made pasta, sustainable seafood, fresh oysters and wood-fired pizzas alongside an impressive wine list (a special Valentine’s Weekend menu is also available)
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Lanesboro
Nestled in the North Star State’s picturesque Bluff Country, Lanesboro is perfect for couples looking for small-town charm and beautiful views. Known for its quaint downtown area, thriving art scene and enchanting setting along the Root River, it’s the ideal destination for a romantic retreat.
Romance-Ready Lanesboro Date Ideas
- Journey to a simpler place in time with a self-driven, audio-narrated Amish Backroads Tour around the Lanesboro area, with stops at Amish shops selling everything from handmade baked goods and jams to soaps, quilts and baskets (shops accept only cash or checks and are typically open year-round on Monday to Saturday)
- Sip on something tasty at Sylvan Brewing, a riverside craft brewery located inside a former granary that hosts a comedy night on Friday evenings and craft workshops on Sundays
- Take in a live show at the Commonweal Theatre or St. Mane Theatre, which put on professional and community theatre performances, as well as other entertainment
- Embark on a moonlit Snowshoe Stroll before cozying up to a crackling campfire on select winter evenings at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center
- Set out on a snowy hike along the Root River State Trail or Harmony-Preston Valley State Trail
Best Places to Stay in Lanesboro for Couples
- Berwood Hill Inn – Award-winning bed and breakfast located on a 200-acre country estate, once featured on an episode of the Better Homes & Gardens television series and named one of the “Best of the Midwest” by Midwest Living magazine
- Stone Mill Hotel & Suites – Once used to store locally produced items like grain and other products, this 19th-century structure retains much of its historic charm and offers individually themed rooms with amenities like two-person whirlpool baths and iron-clad fireplaces
Most Romantic Lanesboro Restaurants
- Branding Iron Restaurant – Located just a short drive away in Preston, MN, this steakhouse-meets-supper club cooks up surf-and-turf classics with sweeping countryside views
- Juniper’s Restaurant – Though typically closed during the winter season, this elevated fast-casual eatery overlooking the Root River opens on select evenings for special dining events, including on Valentine’s Day (reservations required)
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Winona
Situated along the Mississippi River at the foot of the region’s rolling bluffs, Winona is rich in both abundant natural beauty and date-worthy spaces and activities. Here, culture, history and outdoor adventure collide, making for a romantic destination with a little something for everyone.
Romance-Ready Winona Date Ideas
- Drink in the snow-covered scenery over a glass of wine at Garvin Heights Vineyard, then make the short drive down the road to the bluff-side Garvin Heights Park to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Winona
- Show your special someone what you’re made of at Winona Axe & Arcade, which offers everything from axe throwing to pinball
- Put a new spin on dinner and a movie at the Frozen River Film Festival, which runs for a week every winter
- Be inspired by the beauty of water along the banks of the Mississippi River at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum
- Heat things up when the temperatures are too cold to handle with a glass-blowing class at Rose Colored Glass
Best Places to Stay in Winona for Couples
- Alexander Mansion Historic Bed & Breakfast – Turn-of-the-century Victorian mansion that was once called home by the city’s elite, named one of the “20 Best Romantic Getaways in Minnesota” by Midwest Living for its grand décor and four-course breakfast
- Carriage House Bed & Breakfast – Circa-1870 Victorian home built during Winona’s lumber industry heyday, featuring four guestrooms with many original features and amenities like a two-person whirlpool bath, as well as an artisan breakfast
Most Romantic Winona Restaurants
- NOSH Scratch Kitchen – American cuisine with a Mediterranean perspective crafted with farm-fresh ingredients from southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin
- Muddled Thyme – Atmospheric downtown restaurant specializing in upscale Italian brick-oven pizza and classic craft cocktails
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Red Wing
Further up the mighty Mississippi, the river town of Red Wing charms lovebirds with its waterfront setting, historic downtown area, and heritage of quality craftsmanship. Its creative spirit and breathtaking frost-kissed vistas make this an alluring spot for a romantic winter escape.
Romance-Ready Red Wing Date Ideas
- Pay homage to the home of the iconic Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery with a decorate-your-own-pottery session at the Clay & Creative Center at Red Wing Arts
- Enjoy something sweet with your sweetheart at Red Wing Confectionery, which serves decadent delights like handmade chocolates and Wisconsin ice cream
- See a show at the Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts, which plays host to stage productions, musical acts and more
- Go on a snowy stroll at Colvill Park, which is nestled on the southwest bank of the Mississippi River and is a prime destination for spotting bald eagles (and here’s a fun, romance-related fact: these majestic birds mate for life)
- Get your groove on with your special someone at Big Turn Music Fest, a two-day winter event featuring more than 100 bands across 15 venues
Best Places to Stay in Red Wing for Couples
- Round Barn Farm B&B – Historical landmark home charmingly appointed with reclaimed timbers and both American and European antiques, featuring five suites with two-person jacuzzi tubs and a gas fireplace or stove, as well as a three-course breakfast
- St. James Hotel – Family-owned boutique hotel that originally opened its doors in 1875 and once hosted President Rutherford B. Hayes, featuring Victorian-inspired rooms and picturesque views
Most Romantic Red Wing Restaurants
- Scarlet Kitchen & Bar – New American eatery serving globally inspired dishes crafted with locally sourced ingredients
- Wiederholt’s Supper Club – Classic Midwest supper club cooking up surf and turf in a traditional atmosphere, located less than 20 minutes from Red Wing in Hastings, MN
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Minneapolis-St. Paul
While some couples prefer the slower pace and simple charms of small-town life, nothing beats the sheer variety of romantic opportunities that await in a big city. From the cozy tree-lined streets of St. Paul to the lively energy of Minneapolis, the Twin Cities offers a little (or a lot) of both, with just an easy drive across the Mississippi River.
Romance-Ready Red Wing Date Ideas
- Show off your skills at Puttery, an indoor mini-golf spot offering three immersively themed courses, craft cocktails that can be delivered to your hole, and a boppin’ playlist you can’t help but dance to
- Try your hand at making something special together during a cooking class at Cooks | Bellecour, which has locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Edina, each offering an ever-changing menu of culinary lessons (after all, they say that the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach)
- Lace up your skates and hold on tight to your sweetheart’s hand for what is arguably the dreamiest ice skating spot in Minnesota at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, which features three ponds connected by serpentine canals
- Have a Ghost moment of your very own (minus Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore—and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, Google “Ghost pottery scene” and thank me later) with a Clay Date at Dock 6 Pottery in St. Anthony or Fired Up Studios in Golden Valley, both suburbs of Minneapolis
- Zen out with a spa day at Idlewild Spa in Eagan, a full-service Nordic spa offering couples massages and thermotherapy (including a sauna and steam room for hot treatments and an ice fountain and deluge shower for cold treatments), as well as indoor and outdoor lounges with fire pits and a salt relaxation room
Best Places to Stay in Minneapolis-St. Paul for Couples
- Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis – Luxury hotel just two blocks from the Mississippi River, featuring an outdoor Nordic sauna on the rooftop terrace and a seasonal Nordic Village dining experience, which comes with a four-course dinner served inside a private cabin (available through late March)
- Celeste of St. Paul – Heavenly boutique hotel housed inside a circa-1909 former convent, with high-ceilinged guestrooms, suites in what was once the choir loft or nunnery’s chapel, and complimentary hot breakfast
Most Romantic Minneapolis-St. Paul Restaurants
- Spoon and Stable – New American restaurant in Minneapolis located inside a former horse stable circa 1906 and helmed by a James Beard award-winning chef, serving French-inspired cuisine made from seasonal Midwest ingredients
- Hyacinth – Intimate yet airy European-inspired St. Paul eatery specializing in Italian and Mediterranean dishes served in a sophisticated setting
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Stillwater
No list of the best Minnesota cities for romance would be complete without mentioning Stillwater, which clinched the 56th spot on the Honeymoon Always list of America’s Top 175 Alternative Romantic Destinations for 2023, besting every other Minnesota city in the process. Perched alongside the St. Croix River amid forested bluffs, this historic city is sure to charm couples with its rich heritage and postcard-perfect panoramas.
Romance-Ready Stillwater Date Ideas
- Fan the flames of your romance with a candle-pouring class at Carpe Noctem Candle Co., then take your creation home to rekindle your love with the strike of a match
- Put your partnership to the test at Stillwater Escape Co. and stop the St. Croix Express from going off the rails in the Off Track escape room
- Sip on something tasty while cozying up to your sweetheart at Aamodt’s Apple Farm, home to Saint Croix Vineyards and Thor’s Hard Cider, as well as St. Croix Sauna, which offers private 75-minute sessions in a beautiful wooded setting
- Savor award-winning, small-batch sweets that look as good as they taste at St. Croix Chocolate Company, which crafts artisan chocolates by hand out of locally sourced ingredients
- Raise a glass to your special someone at The Velveteen, a subterranean speakeasy with sultry cocktails and impeccable 1920s-inspired ambiance
Best Places to Stay in Stillwater for Couples
- Rivertown Inn – Circa-1884 lumber baron’s mansion-turned-boutique bed and breakfast, featuring seven suites and two bedchambers lavishly appointed with fine antiques and literary-inspired décor, including a “rail car” à la Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, as well as a gourmet breakfast in the morning and hors d’oeuvres and wine in the evening
- Hotel Crosby – Sophisticated boutique hotel with rustic-meets-industrial décor, including rough-hewn beams and charming exposed-brick walls, and a rooftop hot tub
Most Romantic Stillwater Restaurants
- Domaćin – New American restaurant and wine bar with shareable small plates, elevated entrees, and an attached wine shop
- Phil’s Tara Hideaway – Greek-inspired supper club located inside a cozy log cabin that was once a frequent hangout of infamous gangster John Dillinger
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Duluth
As the gateway to Minnesota’s North Shore, Duluth boasts miles of scenic shoreline along Lake Superior, a historic downtown area brimming with charm, and lively culture and culinary scenes, making for a picturesque setting for your love story.
Romance-Ready Duluth Date Ideas
- Get steamy at Cedar + Stone Nordic Sauna, featuring guided sauna sessions with aromatherapy, herbal tea, bonfires, outdoor cold showers, a harborside natural cold plunge, and a floating sauna on the lake (for Valentine’s Day, don’t miss the Valentine’s Eve Sauna and Sound Bath experience)
- Catch a winter sunset over Lake Superior while strolling hand-in-hand along Duluth’s Lakewalk, which stretches for almost eight paved miles between Bayfront Park and Brighton Beach
- Dance the night away during a group class with Simply Ballroom, which offers free Latin lessons, salsa dance parties and more
- Immortalize your relationship with a Make Your Own Unity Glass class at Lake Superior Art Glass, where you and your special someone will create pairs of glass ornaments and flowers in matching colors
- Shake things up with a cocktail on the shores of Lake Superior at Vikre Distillery, which features a cozy cocktail room, distillery tours, and special events like tasting experiences and Stupid Cupid’s Cabaret Night on Valentine’s weekend
Best Places to Stay in Duluth for Couples
- Pier B Resort Hotel – Lakefront hotel overlooking the Duluth Harbor Basin, featuring a shoreside patio firepit with nightly s’mores making, fire rings with views of the Aerial Lift Bridge, and a year-round outdoor hot tub
- Fitger’s Inn – Four-star hotel located inside a former brewery on the shores of Lake Superior—chose a deluxe, luxury, or executive room or suite for luxe features like bi-level floorplans, lake views, stone walls, two-person whirlpool tubs and fireplaces
Most Romantic Duluth Restaurants
- New Scenic Café – New American restaurant located 8 miles north of the city on the shores of Lake Superior, serving elegant globally inspired dishes in an intimate setting
- Va Bene – Waterfront Italian eatery with an enclosed solarium overlooking Lake Superior and a menu featuring scratch-made soups, sauces, pasta, and gnocchi
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Grand Marais
It doesn’t get any cozier than winter in Grand Marais, where ice-cold temperatures turn Minnesota’s North Shore and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area into a frost-kissed wonderland. Cuddle up with your sweetheart in front of a crackling fireplace, or explore its snow-covered trails together.
Romance-Ready Grand Marais Date Ideas
- See the sunset over the Grand Marais Lighthouse as it keeps watch over Lake Superior
- Experience sauna in the Finnish tradition at Sisu + Löyly, an atmospheric sauna with picturesque views of Artists Point and Lake Superior
- Brave the cold for a winter adventure along the Gunflint Trail by exploring the enchantingly named Honeymoon Bluff
- Make the half-hour drive to Tofte for a relaxing retreat at Waves of Superior Spa, which offers couples massages, body wraps, and facials in a coastal contemporary setting
- Learn a new skill together during a multi-day course at North House Folk School, where two- to four-day sessions cover everything from leather and woodworking to weaving and breadmaking
Best Places to Stay in Grand Marais for Couples
- East Bay Suites – Waterfront condo hotel with comfortable suites featuring Lake Superior views, fireplaces, and a patio or balcony
- Gunflint Lodge – Remote resort along the Gunflint Trail on the shore of Gunflint Lake, featuring rustic accommodations like cozy cabins and couple’s cottages with amenities like wood-burning fireplaces, two-person whirlpool tubs, or a private sauna
Most Romantic Grand Marais Restaurants
- Justine’s at Gunflint Lodge – Fine dining restaurant with sweeping views of Gunflint Lake and a menu featuring Northwoods fare crafted from native ingredients
- Angry Trout Cafe – Quaint shoreside eatery in a former commercial fishing shanty serving dishes made with locally sourced ingredients like Lake Superior fish and hand-harvested wild rice
What’s your favorite romantic winter escape in Minnesota? Leave a comment below!
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