A Stay for All Seasons: Cedar Valley Resort

Our family loves a good winter cabin getaway and we try to make it happen at least once a cold season because, well, cold season always feels longer than we remember it being the year before. This year we visited the Root River Valley of Bluff Country and stayed at Cedar Valley Resort near Lanesboro, Minnesota. The family-owned resort sits on 30 acres of land directly along the Root River (and the Root River bike trail) and hosts 11 gorgeous log cabins that can hold up to 37 people. We only had seven people, so our cabin felt incredibly spacious, was remarkably clean, and – a Minnesotan’s favorite words – felt peacefully warm.

Lanesboro is only a little over a two hour drive for us and, even in the snow, it was gorgeous cruising under the bluffs with all the twists and turns. The white knuckles were worth it because when we arrived and got our keys from the office, we were greeted by friendly faces and a large adorable gift shop. We settled in to the Loon Cabin with excitement in our bones knowing we had three upcoming nights of chill, fireplace-warming, board game-playing, cookie-baking anticipation ahead of us. And the cabin was stunning!

I can only speak to the Loon, but we were in awe of the A-frame windows overlooking the snowy fields and the trail (not to mention the MANY deer who welcomed us earlier than the sun each morning we were there). There were two bedrooms on the main level, four upstairs, three bathrooms, a nice sized kitchen, two dining tables, and a sitting room with a fireplace where we spent our mornings and evenings relaxing on the couches or laying by the heat. The porch on the back was awesome too, and we will be sure to utilize that when we come back in the Fall (yes, we already booked another stay for the upcoming Fall).

On the Cedar Valley Resort website, they clearly explain each cabin’s amenities, capacity, and cost. They all come with a personal fire pit, charcoal grill, and picnic table as well. It’s easy online to find their availability (note: winter months are cheaper than peak summer season) and I’m here to tell you, our winter stay is going to be hard to beat! Winter gets a bad rap, but Cedar Valley Resort gave sunshine to the cold. We were so grateful for this getaway.

If you decide to book a stay at Cedar Valley Resort, know that you need to book earlier than you’d think, especially in the warmer months. It’s the perfect spot for long bike rides, tubing down the river, playing outside, and enjoying the town of Lanesboro. The winter has more availability, but that is not due to a lack of things to do.

We had a blast by bringing our own crafts, puzzles, and board games. My mom even brought her sewing machine to teach my daughter how to sew a pillowcase. We made homemade pizzas and sipped wine and shirley temples. We played cards, watched birds, waved at deer, baked cookies, made big breakfasts in our pajamas, and watched some TV by the fireplace. The cabin had the space and functionality for everything we wanted to do – including just lounging around the huge dining room tables looking through magazines. Everything I always think of that I want to do while at home to relax, I was able to do here. Because it was peaceful beyond words.

But the highlights of the weekend for my kids didn’t involved anything we actually packed for the cabin. They loved the outdoor winter activities provided by the resort.

In the winter, it’s the Minnesotan way to bundle up, covering every inch of your skin, and embrace the beauty of the snow and ice. So we did just that.

Cedar Valley Resort fills their acreage in the wintertime with snow tubes, a big skating rink, broomball and hockey sticks, pucks and balls, individual fire pits, gorgeous hiking trails, cross country skis, bird feeders, snowshoes, and deer (well, they don’t “provide” those – they just show up – presumably for the beauty and the bird seed).

The weather was barely 10° but you better believe we spent a big chunk of our daytime hours outside playing. Our daughter is the only one with her own ice skates, and the resort does not rent those out, but our boys loved the big family hockey games we’d play in our boots. None of us are very good, so it was a lot of falling, swing-and-missing, and laughing. That, my youngest said, was the best part of the weekend.

The snow tubing hill was a pleasant surprise. I was worried it would be huge and scary, but it was just the right height to be climbable, manageable, speedy, and safe. We all tried it – including my 70-year old dad – and we all loved it. You really do fly, and tubes and sleds are available in the garage next to the hill (for free).

Be sure to pack hot chocolate because nothing hits the spot more than a cup of cocoa after all that exercise and fresh, freezing air.

While it was a little too chilly to enjoy our bonfire (we packed s’mores and everything), we did relax outside with a couple leisure walks along the Root River trail, located just behind the cabins – literally across the large yard. My parents even went for a stroll just the two of them.

The Root River trail has been on our bucket list for forever and we are already looking forward to our Fall trip when we have our bikes along and can do mileage faster. But for the wintertime, the slow stroll with falling snowflakes was just as memorable. This is also the perfect trail for snowshoeing or cross country skiing (both available at the resort office to rent).

We played outside until the sun went down and captured some beautiful sunset photos of pink sky and nothing but bluffs and fields in the background. To me, THIS is Minnesota winter.

Because we tend to be a restless crew, we did venture into town a couple times over the weekend (it involved changing out of our pajamas – boo – but it was worth it – yay).

Have you ever been to Lanesboro? In the warmer months, it’s a bustling little main street with boutique shops, coffee stops, sweet cafes, wine, beer, a theater, ice cream, consignment, pizza, unique lodging, and trails and parks. And let’s not forget the history, which is captured in the Lanesboro History Museum, the storytelling phone booth, and the historic Coffee Street Bridge. You can dine overlooking the river, walk along the river, or visit the outfitter directly on the main drag and rent a tube to float down the river! So many river options.

In the wintertime, many of these options are actually closed for the season, but we managed to stay entertained in town long enough to fill our cups. We visited the couple open shops, had lattes and frittatas at Paddle On coffee (twice!), bought unnecessary deliciousness at the Lanesboro Pastry Shop, ate flatbreads at High Court Pub, and warmed up by playing games and sipping beer (and root beer) at Sylvan Brewing. Not a bad way to break up the chill if you ask me.

The drive to Lanesboro from Cedar Valley Resort is a quick 8 minutes making it the perfect destination within your destination.

Just some quick links to make your planning a touch easier:

• See all available Cedar Valley Resort cabins
• See list of activities to do (all months)
• See local attractions
• Check out the retreat center at the resort (businesses, crafters, weddings)

What we packed (some of these items were not provided by the resort):

• Bath and hand towels
• Ice skates and winter gear
• Hair dryer, toiletries, shampoo and soap
• Board games, puzzles, crafts, books, DVDs
• Lighters, s’mores stuff
• Paper towels and wipes
• Coffee creamer (they did have the coffee pots and coffee)

If you forget something, it’s likely available at their gift shop in the resort office – a very convenient place to grab ice, snacks, games, drinks, firewood, you name it.

We splurged our last night there and drove 20 minutes to the Branding Iron Supper Club where we had steak and potatoes because, let’s be honest, that stuff also helps get us all through winter.

Our family was so impressed and grateful towards Cedar Valley Resort for hosting us. My parents said it was the “perfect place” and excitedly booked it again for our upcoming Fall. This time we will be checking out the Eagle cabin and we are pumped to experience another season in these gorgeous surroundings.

If you need a break from the norm this winter, check out Cedar Valley Resort’s website or follow them on social media:

• Google
• Facebook
• Instagram

You deserve a break. Embrace the winter and book today. Tell ’em MinneMama sent you.