Minnesota is known for it’s “Lake Life”- warm summers cruising around the lake, water-sports, fishing, and cold drinks. Us midwest dwellers have a tendency to hibernate in the winter. I’m on a mission to change the narrative- if you’re dressed properly and motivated to get out and do things- The Midwest is your oyster! There are so many great winter things to do in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota… here are a few to get you started!
Where to Eat in Detroit Lakes
I love to start with food and drink. Not everyone may consider this a “thing to do” but I certainly enjoy grabbing a drink and spending quality time with whoever I’m traveling with. Smallish towns like Detroit Lakes have great options no matter what you’re looking for, and it’s fun to support local places.
Zorbaz
Hitting up Zorbaz on the Lake is a surefire way to guarantee that you get quality food and drink. The atmosphere in always upbeat and cheerful and it’s fun to look around at all quirky decor and bright signs. Although Zorbaz isn’t unique to DL, it’s a Minnesota restaurant chain that has great food and drink!
Jake and I ordered Caesars and the full size nachos to share! The Caesars were delicious- I like mine spicy, they gave it a kick with jalapeño juice instead of hot sauce which was a fun (and tasty!) twist. For our meal we had the full size nachos (definitely enough for two people!), and those bad boys were LOADED. I haven’t had refried beans on nachos very often, and I have to say, I think they belong there! The homemade salsa was perfect for dipping, plus they gave us two containers of it so no fighting for our turn!
Lakeside Tavern
Lakeside Tavern was short walk from our hotel and the first place we stopped to eat. The restaurant has a cozy feel with a wood interior and a giant Yeti wood carving. The taps had the coolest boat pull handles- I had to get a picture!
Lakeside Tavern brews their own beer so of course I had to try one of their concoctions. I went with the Beachin’ Blonde and I’m so happy I did! It was light and refreshing, I would definitely recommend the beer. For food we ordered the pulled pork poutine to start and the pizza to share, half Aloha (ham and pineapple) and half The Beach (pepperoni, sausage and mushroom). I have heard there burgers are incredible!
Checkout Lakeside Tavern on Instagram HERE.
Hub 41
Hub 41 is right next to Lakeside Tavern and has a bit more of a modern feel. We went in to see if we could grab a table but it was absolutely packed. We didn’t get to try the food and drink this time around, but hope to stop by next time we’re in town!
Check out Hub 41 on Instagram HERE.
Brygge
Brygge is just up the hill from all the hustle and bustle by the lake, but a great place to stop for a bite to eat. It’s located in a strip mall and had a very relaxed feel.
Jake and I ordered the Techno Viking berliner weisse sour by Drekker! Always fun to see a Fargo-Moorhead brew on tap! Jake ordered the fried pickles- they were super unique, cheesy and fried in wonton wrappers! He also got the cheese curds which were steaming hot and very squeaky (a thing I learned is important from my Wisconsin-native grad school friends!) I ordered the quinoa salad- it was good and a nice change of pace from the bar food I had been enjoying all weekend. They have a full salad section on the menu, so if you’re looking for a healthier option I would recommend heading to Brygge!
Check out Brygge on Instagram HERE.
La Barista
We didn’t stop at La Barista, but when we passed it in the Washington Square Mall the smells were incredible! I mentally added it to my list for the next time we’re there. I’m always looking for a great place to grab a coffee!
Check out La Barista on Instagram HERE.
Check out other great Minnesota adventures like: Voyageurs National Park, Alexandria or Maplewood State Park!
Things to Do in Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes is packed with things to do even in the winter. Whether you’re looking for a fun outdoor activity, or wanting to stay inside there’s something for everyone!
Detroit Mountain
This weekend was my first time visiting Detroit Mountain- given that I’ve been in the area for 7+ years, I think that’s pretty crazy! It’s just a 10 minute drive from the heart of Detroit Lakes and the perfect place to adventure.
If you love downhill skiing or snowboarding, or prefer tubing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or fat biking- Detroit Mountain has the thing for you. And if outdoor activities just aren’t your thing, the chalet is beautiful and has a full bar with food and drink. Detroit Mountain isn’t just a hub for winter activities either- in the summer there are concerts, mountain biking, and other events happening.
We spent a few hours snowboarding and had a great time. It was incredibly windy the day we went, but we found that if we stayed on the backside of the hill we had a bit more shelter. The runs don’t take long but neither does the chair lift!
Check out their website for more information and to book tickets in advance- Click HERE! I would suggest purchasing lift tickets and rentals in advance, on nice days lift passes and rentals will sell out! You don’t want to show up and be turned away.
Polarfest
The highlight of our weekend was exploring the Polar Fest Ice Palace and enjoying the events around town. Polar Fest happens in Detroit Lakes throughout the month of February with events happening each day, particularly on the weekends. For a full event schedule click HERE– there is still time to check out Polar Fest 2022!
This Ice Palace was constructed in 8 days entirely by volunteers! You can’t go inside but it’s fun to walk around, take a picture with the throne, and enjoy the ice carvings. In the park directly adjacent from the palace is the Children’s maze (I can attest-fun for people of all ages!) Additionally, the Pavilion features information about the history of Ice Harvest- a great place to learn more about the process!
Shopping
Downtown Detroit Lakes has tons of incredible shops and boutiques. I had so much fun browsing the trendy clothing, home decor, and splurging!
Lit Decor & Gift
I walked into Lit Decor & Gift and fell in love! They have stunning home decor pieces including furniture, wall and table top decor, and accesories. Jake and I were saying we need to make a special trip out to Detroit Lakes to visit Lit next time we’re decorating!
They also have wonderful gifts for anyone you might be buying for. There are candles, stationary, locally made goods, and an array of sentimental or funny cards. Check out their Instagram HERE.
The Nines
The Nines is huge boutique with tons fo trendy clothing. You enter at the store front and realize that it goes on forever! The have incredible pieces including great shoes and accessories. Definitely worth the trip if you’re in town! They also have a great instagram page and online store. Click HERE to check it out!
Leela and Lavender
Leela and Lavender is a staple in North Dakota and Minnesota so I had to be sure to stop at the one in Detroit Lakes. They always have great name brand items, and cute pieces.
Lake Shirts Beach Shop
I’m talking about the iconic tee shirt store in Detroit Lakes. This shop has a reputation that proceeds it. Amazing beachy prints that scream SUMMER- what more could you want? Unfortunately it was closed while we were there (it is closed in the winter), but I have a few shirts from the shop and they are so cute and comfortable. Check them out on Instagram HERE.
Ice Fishing
I don’t know much about ice fishing, but I do know that Midwesterners LOVE ice fishing. Detroit Lakes is a great place to do it! The Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce releases a weekly ice fishing report that can be found HERE.
Looking for More?
These are only a few of the GREAT things to do in DL in the Winter. For more great ideas check out The Ultimate Guide to Winter Fun in Detroit Lakes on visitdetroitlakes.com.
Where to Stay in Detroit Lakes
Fairfield by Marriott
The Fairfield by Marriott is in the heart of Detroit Lakes. If being within walking distance of great places is important to you, I would strongly suggest booking your stay here. We were able to walk to almost all of the places we wanted to see (it would be even better in the summer!)
Our room was clean and comfortable and the bathroom was incredible! I loved the modern walk-in shower, and the water pressure was great (something that’s of high importance to me!)
I can’t speak highly enough about the staff. They were incredible to us and made us feel right at home. Having wonderful hospitality can truly make a trip.
For a video tour of our room, be sure to check out my Detroit Lakes highlight on Instagram!
There are so many amazing winter things to do in Detroit Lakes- we already can’t wait to go back! We are having a great time exploring close to home, and I cannot encourage local travel enough!
Looking to maximize your time off for travel? Check out my post:
How to Travel with Limited Time Off
Great tips and tricks for making the most of any length of time you may have. Plus examples of how I’ve used these strategies myself!
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