No matter where you’re visiting from- Alexandria, Minnesota is the perfect place for a weekend escape. Located just off of I-94, Alexandria is easily accessible from both Fargo and Minneapolis. The laid-back feel and natural lake life mentality makes for an awesome destination for a girls trip, family getaway, or couple’s retreat. I’m sharing Great things to do in Alexandria, Minnesota to kickstart your planning!
Food and Drink in Alexandria
Alexandria may be known for the many incredible lakes in the area, but there are tons of great places to eat and drink! If you’re anything like me, you consider food and drink an activity so lets start there!
Bold North Cellars
Make plenty of time for your stop at Bold North Cellars. This hub includes Carlos Creek Winery, 22 Northman Brewing, Stoke Pizza, and Grand Hall Event Center. It’s easy to spend a full day enjoying the grounds.
Carlos Creek Winery (at Bold North Cellars)
Carlos Creek Winery was just the beginning of Bold North Cellars, but will always be the cornerstone of the Estate. They do all winemaking on site primarily from home-grown grapes with the exception of a few of their varietals including grapes from a California vineyard.
Grab wine by the bottle, glass, or try a few with one of Carlos Creek’s flight options (this is what we did!). Oftentimes Carlos Creek has live music, this was the case on Saturday afternoon while we were there. For entertainment information, find their calendar of upcoming events HERE.
While we were there the wine room was packed with patrons so we headed over to 22 Northmen to find a place to sit. I chose the MN Nice flight which included: Minnescato, Wobegon White, You Betcha Blush and Hot Dish Red (pictured above- left to right). The Minnescato and Hot Dish Red were my two favorites
22 Northmen Brewing (at Bold North Cellars)
22 Northmen was built in 2019 and turned Bold North Cellars into a one-stop-shop. Alexandria has a strong Viking heritage and the brewery theme is an ode to their history. The wooden beams, heavy furniture and diamond windows give the taproom a rustic and warm feel.
Once we finished our wine flights we grabbed the Pink Guava Punch Face (6.2% abv) sour from the bar. 22 Northman does not distribute beer adding a level of scarcity to the brand- one more reason to make sure a stop to Bold North Cellars is on your list!
Stoke Pizza (at Bold North Cellars)
Where there’s beer there’s food! And Stoke Pizza is truly ALL it’s chalked up to be. The homemade crust was tasty and the toppings were perfect. My friend Jacki and I ordered the margherita pizza- tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil- but they have so many great options. We also tried the pretzel with beer cheese- it was literally the size of my head and so fluffy.
Copper Trail Brewing Co.
Copper Trail Brewing Co. was one of the highlights of our trip. We stopped by on Sunday at noon and were able to enjoy the expansive taproom. The room has a rustic modern feel with long refractory tables lending a cozy family feel. The bartender, Louis, was awesome and made us feel right at home!
I tried the Honolulo Kettle Sour and the Lakeside Wheat with Orange . As a fan of lighter beers, I loved both. The sour was juicy with a pleasant tang, and the wheat beer reminded me of summer.
The above photo was taken by @hittheroad.jacki on Instagram
Host Ramen
Copper Trail Brewing Co has an awesome feature I haven’t really seen in a Brewery before. They have a permanent kitchen set up to host private food vendors. This means that in the winter vendors don’t have to just pull up outside with their trucks!
Host Ramen is regular at Copper Trail- and the ramen was fantastic. The owner set up shop with two options: chicken or vegan ramen, Jacki and I both got chicken.
Nice Juicery
Nice Juicery is a staple stop in Alexandria. They have fresh cold-pressed juices, smoothies and smoothie bowls, toast, and syrups. It is the perfect stop for your morning (or afternoon) pick-me-up.
They have tons of great options that are perfect for any preference! I grabbed two: The Pink Lady-apple, strawberry, pineapple and lemon (it almost tasted like pink lemonade!) and the Bophy Wife- apple, pineapple, and mint (the mint was so refreshing). Next time I stop by, I would love to try one of their smoothies!
Garden Bar on Sixth
Does anything scream “Girls Weekend” more than wine and charcuterie? I think not! Garden Bar is the perfect place for it too. The exposed brick and leafy accents provide a relaxed vibe to unwind and chat with a friend, family or significant other.
Lure Lake Bar
I had my eye on Lure Lake Bar before we were even planning on going to Alexandria. Let me tell you- it did not disappoint! The beautiful wood interior and cozy fireplaces made for the perfect winter dinner. They have huge garage doors and a massive patio that’s right on the lake. I imagine it’s a wonderful place to stop during the summer.
Jacki and I both ordered Spicy Pomegranate Margaritas. Always a great cocktail, these ones were especially delicious after a long day of exploring. I had the fish and chips- crispy walleye with amazing tartar sauce. The fries were nothing to call home about, but the rest of the meal made up for it.
Love Minnesota State Parks? Check out blog posts on Maplewood State Park, Gooseberry Falls State Park, and Jay Cooke State Park!
Things to do in Alexandria, Minnesota
Alexandria has an abundance of awesome things to do no matter the season.
Explore Lake Carlos State Park
Lake Carlos State Park is just 15 minutes from Alexandria and the perfect stop no matter the season. There are miles of trails including multi use trails for snowshoeing, cross country skiing, biking, snowmobiling, horseback riding and hiking. Other trails are specifically for cross country skiing. The winter map identifies groomed trails and can be found HERE.
We spent about an hour at the park- the perfect amount of time for a winter adventure on a chilly day. We did the loop around Hidden Lake and enjoyed the rolling hills and beautiful views. The trail took us in and out of the trees making some areas more windy than others. If you’re there for a winter hike, I would suggest bundling up and wearing layers.
We got there around 9 am and the park was fairly quiet. We did not see anyone else on the trails. Lake Carlos State Park offers snowshoe rentals for $6 per pair at the park office which is open from 9am-4pm. A warming house is available at Lakeview Group camp. They also have 4 season cabin rentals (pictured below), click HERE for more information.
Visit Big Ole
I previously mentioned that the Viking heritage is strong in Alexandria. Be sure to check out Ole, America’s biggest viking. (It’s right next to Copper Trail Brewing Co.!)
Shopping in Alexandria
From what I have heard downtown Alexandria has grown and evolved over the past few years. Renovations are happening and great shops are popping up. No matter what you’re looking for Alexandria has small and locally owned shops to fit your preferences- be sure to check them out!
Raw & Co.
Raw & Co. is a one stop shop for clean skincare, haircare and supplements. Before we went to Raw & Co. Jacki was RAVING about the clean skincare products, especially the Heal Stick- I had to pick one up! In addition to selling their homemade, natural products, they also do group or individual facial sessions. Check out their Instagram HERE, or website HERE for more information.
Kindred People
Kindred People has locations in Alexandria and Fargo. I have stopped into the Fargo store in the past, but this was my first time seeing the Alexandria location. The clothing is always on trend and everything is very reasonably priced. They have great accessories and feature handmade and locally made goods! PS. They have a pretty cute Instagram page too!
Creative Touch Boutique
Creative Touch Boutique is just down the road from Kindred People. The store is a hybrid between a clothing boutique and a home decor store. They have trendy clothing and accessories, Jacki found a cute pair of blue light glasses! I loved this Minnesota-map cribbage board.
Where to stay in Alexandria
There are many great resorts and hotels scattered throughout the lakes. Whether you’re looking for a unique Airbnb, affordable accommodation, or all-in-one resort, you’ll be sure to find it.
While visiting we stayed at Arrowwood Resort just off of Lake Darling. Arrowwood is commonly recognized for it’s large indoor waterpark making it a family-friendly accommodation option.
Arrowwood resort offers plenty of accommodation options including traditional hotel rooms and unique cabin or cottage stays, There are several places to eat onsite and Arrowwood offers rentals in both winter and summer seasons.
In the summer Arrowwood has a full marina and Atikwa Golf Course is on the grounds. In the winter Arrowwood has groomed cross country ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile trails in addition to ice skating on the pond.
We had great views of the lake from our room at Arrowwood Resort.
Be sure to check out my related post- Summer in Alexandria: The Perfect weekend Itinerary
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It’s hard to find experienced people in this particular topic, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Thanks Chad! I had a great time in Alexandria and am so happy to share my experiences!