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Minnesota is a U.S. state in the Midwest that contains more than 10,000 lakes, including Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes, and Lake Itasca, the Mississippi River’s primary source. This coastal destination has majestic waterfalls, beautiful trails, and historic lighthouses, making it a wonderful place to have a company retreat.
There are tons of things to explore in Minnesota, including going to Voyageurs National Park, Walker Art Center, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnehaha Falls, and Gooseberry Falls State Park. You could even bring out your inner youth and go to the Nickelodeon Universe theme park or the Minnesota Zoo.
Minneapolis has lots of options for team-building activities, including axe throwing and escape rooms. These games are designed to be fun but also inspire your team to work together in order to achieve the same goal.
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We've put together this list of team-building activities in
Minnesota
to help you get the most out of your visit.
Minneapolis’s retreat agenda shifts between canoe races on Bde Maka Ska, warehouse dinners in the North Loop and long evenings by the Mississippi that make the city feel far more outdoorsy than most corporate retreat destinations.
Surf Office was amazing to work with - from the initial introductory call to the final day of our corporate retreat! They are well-organised, transparent, super reliable and the communication throughout the planning and execution phase was prompt and clear. We are looking forward to working with them for future company retreats.
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Elke and Álvaro to plan our onsite, and I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the very beginning, they were incredibly friendly, responsive, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us create a great event. Elke was so thoughtful and organized, always making sure every little detail was covered and keeping everything running smoothly. She brought such a positive energy to the process — she was super approachable and made collaboration easy and fun. Throughout the entire planning period, they both went above and beyond to support us. I really appreciated how proactive they were in anticipating our needs, and how enjoyable every interaction was. It truly felt like working with partners who cared as much about the success of our onsite as we did. Thank you, Elke and Álvaro, for being such a joy to work with! I’d happily work with you both again any time.
It's our second year working with Surf Office for our company offsite (30 pax first year, and 42 pax second year), and we're super happy! This year our offsite was a huge success, with direct impact on our employees' satisfaction, company culture, and alignment with our mission. The week they put together for us was perfect on all fronts: venue selection, logistics, activities, last-minute changes - everything was super well executed. Couldn't recommend them more! And... I know whom we're working with next year!
Working with Surf Office was a great experience from start to finish. Communication was smooth, the planning was thoughtful, and the platform made coordination easy. We really appreciated the well-curated suggestions for locations, activities, and restaurants – everything felt carefully considered. Beyond that, the setup created a great team atmosphere, making it easy to connect and enjoy our time together. We would definitely recommend Surf Office to any team looking for a well-organized and inspiring retreat.
Danielle, Giselle and the SurfOffice team were extremely cooperative, understanding and flexible to support my team’s 80-person offsite in Belgrade, Serbia. From being patient with our company’s lengthy vendor due diligence and procurement process, to responding swiftly when an attendee misplaced her passport - everything went really smoothly. Working with them took a huge load off our shoulders and their relationships with hotels/activities/venues also helped us secure good deals. Would definitely recommend their services to any company who’s looking to plan for an enjoyable team offsite.
We recently organized our company offsite with SurfOffice, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the very beginning: The location selection and contract negotiations with Giselle, to the actual planning and execution of the offsite together with Elke, everything was handled exceptionally well. Working with Elke was truly outstanding. She was incredibly proactive, always thinking several steps ahead, and responded extremely quickly to every question or change. She managed to get fast answers from all providers: from transport companies to hotels and local activity partners- and did so with a consistently friendly and professional attitude. Thanks to her dedication, we had little organizational workload on our side, and we always felt fully supported. The offsite turned out to be an amazing experience for our whole team, and we’re certain we couldn’t have organized something like this on our own. SurfOffice played a huge role in making our offsite in Kemer such a success, and we can wholeheartedly recommend them to any company planning an offsite for a larger group.
Sara was fantastic in organising our company trip to Istanbul - she was quick to reply, offered great solutions to issues, and made the trip itself seamless and enjoyable. Already looking forward to the next one!
Expertise and competence in service. Friendly, helpful, and respectful communication. Comfortable, welcoming, and inspiring surroundings.
This was our second year working with Surf to plan our annual company retreat, and once again, they smashed it. We had a beautiful, restorative and fun retreat just outside of Barcelona that the whole team loved. It was so lovely to have the team's support in planning such a complex event, and they did a great job at helping us stay within budget. Great experience overall.
Yes, Minnesota is a strong destination for company retreats thanks to its mix of lakes, outdoor activities, creative cities, and reliable infrastructure. Teams can organize a corporate retreat in Minnesota with strategy sessions, waterfront activities, brewery visits, hiking, and social dinners across both urban and nature-focused locations.
Minnesota stands out because teams can combine city experiences in Minneapolis–Saint Paul with lake cabins, forests, and outdoor adventures within a relatively short drive. In our experience hosting teams, Minnesota works especially well for companies that want a balance between productive work time and relaxed outdoor settings.
Minneapolis is the top choice for larger corporate retreats thanks to its restaurants, event venues, and direct flights. Duluth works well for lakefront offsites near Lake Superior, while Brainerd Lakes is popular for cabin-style retreats and outdoor team building. Stillwater and Grand Marais are also great for smaller company retreats with a quieter atmosphere.
Most teams arrive through Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), which offers strong domestic and international flight connections. Downtown Minneapolis is around 20 minutes from the airport, and many popular retreat areas can be reached within 2–3 hours by car.
Summer and early fall are usually the best seasons for a Minnesota company retreat. From June through September, temperatures are typically between 65–85°F, making it ideal for lake activities, hiking, and outdoor team building.
Popular options include:
Most teams plan a 3 to 4 day corporate retreat in Minnesota. This gives enough time for work sessions, outdoor activities, and social events without requiring long travel schedules.
Lake Minnetonka, the Brainerd Lakes region, Gull Lake, and areas near Lake Superior are some of the most popular choices for lake retreats. These destinations work especially well for teams looking for waterfront accommodations and outdoor activities.
Teams can expect a mix of modern Midwestern restaurants, lakeside dining, craft breweries, rooftop bars, and outdoor social experiences. Minneapolis also has a strong live music and arts scene that works well for evening group activities during a team retreat in Minnesota.
Compared to many coastal retreat destinations in the US, Minnesota is often more affordable for accommodation, dining, and group activities. In our experience, teams can usually organize a high-quality offsite in Minnesota while maintaining more flexibility in their retreat budget.
