Here is our list of the best company retreat ideas in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Company retreat ideas in Minneapolis are activities and locations teams can visit to spend time together, have fun, bond, and assess the company’s goals. For example, corporate teams can spend the day at North Loop Neighborhood, explore the Walker Art Center, or have fun at Betty Danger’s Animal Farm. The purpose of these ideas is to help groups decide the best experience to have during a retreat in Minneapolis.
These ideas can work for corporate retreats and group retreat activities. The ideas are similar to group activities in Minneapolis and Minneapolis company outings.
This list includes:
- corporate retreat ideas for big groups in Minneapolis
- corporate retreat ideas for small groups in Minneapolis
- company retreat entertainment ideas in Minneapolis
- company retreat locations in Minneapolis
- staff retreat activities in Minnesota
- team retreat ideas in Minneapolis
Here we go!
List of corporate retreat ideas in Minneapolis
Depending on the kind of experience your group prefers, Minneapolis has many activities and locations you can visit. From touring the U.S. Bank Stadium to exploring the Splatball indoor paintball arena, here are the best team retreat ideas in Minneapolis.
1. The Great Guac Off™️ (Popular)
With The Great Guac Off, colleagues go head-to-head in this friendly guacamole-making competition!
Here is what you can expect:
- 90 minutes with engaging hosts and co-hosts
- high-caliber guacamole ingredients and chips
- an optional secret ingredient to shake up the recipes
- high-energy warm-up games, icebreakers, avocado trivia, and mini-games
- competitive guacamole mash-off and judging round
Best of all, we will bring all the ingredients to the venue of your choice. If you are looking for an engaging way to connect your team, then add The Great Guac Off to your agenda!
Learn more about The Great Guac Off.
2. Espionage! (Popular)
Teams can enter the thrilling world of secret agents with Espionage! This team building experience takes you on a journey of spies, puzzles, and strategic challenges.
Espionage! includes the following:
- 90 minutes with a world-class host to lead the experience
- undercover teams of spies and agents
- deception and secret identities
- challenging scavenger hunts, code scrambles, and word searches
- strategic thinking and team discussions
We will meet you at your preferred location and provide all the necessary supplies for this thrilling game. Espionage! will boost your creative thinking and competitive spirit.
Learn more about Espionage!
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3. The Art of Storytelling (Team Favorite)
Learning how to tell stories is a great way for staff members to connect to both colleagues and customers. Through our immersive workshop, your team can unleash the power of storytelling to foster meaningful connections.
The Art of Storytelling includes the following:
- 120 minutes with expert storytellers
- valuable insights that enhance your team’s storytelling abilities
- the five elements of a captivating story
- an environment of openness, vulnerability, and active listening
- time for participants to practice their new skills
- valuable host feedback
To make planning simple, we will meet you at your venue of choice with all the needed ingredients. By mastering the art of storytelling, your team will gain the ability to connect and inspire others.
Learn more about The Art of Storytelling.
4. Pine Tree Apple Orchard
Fresh fruit is always in style, and at Pine Tree Apple Orchard, you can buy farm-fresh apples and strawberries! The orchard currently grows 25 varieties of apples, including Duchess, Dolgo Crab, and Lakeland. You can find a description of each apple variety, its flavor profile, and its best use on the website. Shoppers can also check out homemade apple cider and pies. During strawberry season, you can either pick your own or snag some pre-picked berries. The bakery features these berries in delicious strawberry rhubarb pies. Additionally, you can pick up other pie flavors, such as mincemeat and pumpkin. During the fall, the orchard has a pumpkin patch and corn maze. Be sure to swing by for a sweet addition to your company retreat!
Learn more about Pine Tree Apple Orchard.
5. Memory Lanes
Memory Lanes is a locally owned bowling alley featuring 30 lanes with bumpers. You can visit the alley for a cosmic bowling experience at night or on weekends. The center is open to the public daily, although access to the lane will depend on availability. During your experience, you can order food and beverages from the full-service menu.
The center also features an outdoor volleyball court and organizes league games for players at any skill level.
Learn more about Memory Lanes.
6. Norseman Distillery
Norseman Distillery is one of the best cocktail-centric company retreat locations in Minneapolis. Typical reservations last 90 minutes. Also, the distillery offers mixology and bartending classes. The lessons come in two levels, each lasting two hours.
You will learn the best bartending practices and tips for making delicious cocktails during the class. Furthermore, you can watch an improv comedy show at the locations on the first Thursdays. You can also reserve a space for private events, dinner, or cocktail parties.
Learn more about Norseman Distillery.
7. The Workshop Mpls
The Workshop Mpls is an art school in Minneapolis offering adult pottery classes. The workshop also organizes Pottery Pop-In classes, great for beginners or as a fun group activity. During the one-hour experience, you will work with a pottery wheel and pick two pots. The staff will help you glaze the item in your preferred color.
If you and your colleagues are first-time visitors, then you can take a ten-minute tour around the studio. The Workshop Mpls is a perfect location to have a relaxing retreat and explore your creativity.
Learn more about The Workshop Mpls.
8. Acme Comedy Company
Acme Comedy Company is an 18+ venue featuring live stand-up comedy shows, a bar, and a restaurant. The venue offers dinner-show packages, which cover admission and reserved seating for your group. You can also have a banquet experience where your group gets to enjoy a family-style dinner before watching a show.
Acme Comedy Company provides a stage for world-class shows performed by comedians like Robert Baril, Tracey Ashley, Cy Amundson, Matthew Broussard, and Carly Aquilino. On Tuesdays, you can attend the Open Mic Night event free for guests. The event often serves as a practice ground for veteran and upcoming comedians.
Learn more about Acme Comedy Company.
9. The Green Roof Pub
Playing games at The Green Roof Pub is one of the best corporate retreat ideas for small groups in Minneapolis. The pub is a relaxing spot where groups in the Twin Cities can come together to have craft beer and play video games. You will find a patio featuring a charcoal grill and outdoor string lights at the location. Your group can sit around the fire pit for warmth or roast marshmallows.
The Green Roof Pub hosts events like Game Night, Beer-lympics, and Sunday Brunch. During Beer-lympics, guests can compete in any game, and the top players will receive prizes. You can also play board and video games on Game Night.
Learn more about The Green Roof Pub.
10. North Loop
North Loop is a vibrant neighborhood in Minneapolis and a great destination for company retreats. From fine dining locations to entertainment centers, the neighborhood is home to top attractions in Minneapolis. If your group is a baseball fan, then you can head to Target Field to watch a game. Moreover, the stadium offers behind-the-scenes tours lasting 90 minutes.
Also, the neighborhood has a farmers’ market that opens daily. You can stop by different vendors’ spots to taste the city’s fresh products and learn a new recipe. You can also dine in different areas, including Spoon and Stable Restaurant, Bar La Grassa, Kado no Mise, and Borough. You will find the AxeBridge Wine Co., where your group can taste wines and go on a luxurious limousine tour.
Learn more about North Loop.
11. Walker Art Center
Exploring the Walker Art Center is one of the fun corporate retreat ideas in Minneapolis. Walker Art Center is home to a collection of media, visual, and performing art, including works of artists like Kara Walker, Darren Bader, Ben Vautier, and Hollis Frampton. The institution also organizes a guided tour for groups with no more than 20 guests.
You can extend your visit to include a free tour of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The garden displays works from the art center’s collections, like the Walking Man statue, The Six Crystals, and the Reclining Mother and Child designed by Henry Moore.
Learn more about Walker Art Center.
12. Marsh Lake Archery Range
Shooting at Marsh Lake Archery Range is one of the staff retreat activities in Minnesota that your team can access for free. The range features several targets in over 15 stations and opens about 30 minutes before sunrise. You can locate the outdoor range in Bloomington, particularly along Marsh Lake and France Avenue.
Since the range does not provide equipment rentals, you should plan to bring your gear. You and your colleagues will have fun practicing anytime from dawn till dusk.
Learn more about Marsh Lake Archery Range.
13. Mission Manor Escape Rooms
Mission Manor provides fun escape rooms with puzzles and clues curated to give players an adrenaline boost. The escape room themes include:
- Inheritance: You and your group play to earn a wealthy man’s inheritance before time runs out.
- Countdown: Your mission is to prevent an explosion in the Twin Cities and save millions of lives.
- Asylum: You and your teammates will journey to an old, abandoned asylum. You will use a doctor’s note to find clues left in the building.
The games have different difficulty levels and require varying degrees of teamwork. Depending on your chosen theme, the rooms can accommodate around two to ten players.
Learn more about Mission Manor Escape Rooms.
14. La La Homemade Ice Cream
La La Homemade Ice Cream is a quaint dessert shop in Uptown, Minneapolis. The shop serves hand-made ice creams produced without artificial ingredients. You can also order sodas available in about ten flavors at the store.
The store aims to deliver the best quality ice creams in small batches. Depending on the season, you can get different rotating flavors like cocoa chocolate, raspberry honey, mixed berry sorbet, and mango pineapple ginger. Aside from ice creams, the shop also serves salads, soups, and sandwiches.
Learn more about La La Homemade Ice Cream.
15. U.S. Bank Stadium Tours
Touring the U.S. Bank Stadium is one of the top company retreat entertainment ideas in Minneapolis. Conveniently located in the city’s heart, the indoor stadium is home to the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football Leagues.
Experienced tour guides will lead your group around the stadium’s facility for a behind-the-scenes view. Your group will walk through different areas like the stadium art collection, the Thomson Reuters Press Level, and the team locker room. The 90-minute tour allows you to broaden your knowledge on aspects like Viking history, building architecture, and the stadium’s sustainability features.
Learn more about U.S. Bank Stadium Tours.
16. Betty Danger’s Animal Farm
Betty Danger’s Animal Farm is a politically-inspired bar and restaurant serving fresh farm-to-table food. The restaurant is artistic and makes a satirical representation of Animal Farm from George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm.
You will also find themed menus at the restaurant. For instance, in the Menu of Truth, you can order drinks like The Party Animals, Whistleblower Protection Act of 1984, Helpful Propaganda, and The Capitalist. Also, the Menu of Plenty represents both Animalism and Vegetablism.
Betty Danger’s has a Ferris Wheel called The Revolution, with tables and cup holders for dining and drinking. A revolutionary ride will last about 12 minutes and includes up to five rotations. Your group can also play mini-golf at the restaurant.
Learn more about Betty Danger’s Animal Farm.
17. Splatball
Shooting paintballs at Splatball is one of the most fun corporate retreat ideas for big groups in Minneapolis. The session will begin with an orientation speech on the game’s safety. Afterward, a staff member will supervise your group as you explore the paintball arena. Your booked package will include paintballs, paint guns, and protective goggles. Premium guns and armor packages are also available to add to your reservation.
You can play the game privately or share the experience with other groups. In the latter case, the center will classify the groups based on age and events. Furthermore, the center will set tables aside for your group once you make a reservation.
Learn more about Splatball.
18. Textile Center
Crafty teams will love unwinding at Minneapolis’ Textile Center. This facility offers 90-minute courses teaching teams how to do a fiber-based activity. Groups can choose from felting, weaving, stitching, or dyeing courses. These make-and-take events are great because participants get to keep their crafts at the end! If you are interested in seeing the Textile Center’s facility, then you can also add a guided tour to your course. After class, you can check out the shop for a wide array of goods, such as hats, jewelry, and toys. Staff members can even tour exhibitions to get textile inspiration. For a hands-on activity, be sure to check out the Textile Center!
Learn more about the Textile Center.
19. AxeBridge Wine Co.
AxeBridge Wine Co. is a top-rated winery located in the North Loop Neighborhood. Drinking at the winery is one of the corporate retreat ideas for small groups in Minneapolis. The company offers a guided wine tasting experience for groups having around six members. A session will last 45 to 60 minutes.
Keep in mind that the wine tasting is not a private event, and you can expect to share the experience with other guests. After the session, your group can have wine or order food from the menu. AxeBridge Wine Co. also offers a luxurious limousine tour, which includes a stop at Schram Vineyards and Schram Brewery. Your group will enjoy flights of wines while in transit. The experience will run for four hours and can accommodate groups having up to 30 guests.
Learn more about AxeBridge Wine Co.
20. LITT Pinball Bar
LITT Pinball Bar provides well-maintained pinball machines and local beers in south Minneapolis. From World Cup Soccer to Toy Story and Rick and Morty, you will find an extensive list of games to play. The bar also hosts pinball league tournaments on a weekly and monthly basis. In addition, the venue can accommodate private events by appointment.
With a relaxed atmosphere and an excellent collection of cocktails and beers, your group will have a great retreat at LITT Pinball Bar.
Learn more about LITT Pinball Bar.
21. ProKart Indoor Racing
Racing on the tracks at ProKart is one of the competitive staff retreat activities in Minnesota. Located in Burnsville, ProKart offers several event packages for groups looking to foster friendly competition among employees. You can set up your own karting league if your group has at least eight players. You get to determine the league’s length and the race frequency.
ProKart also offers a special package for corporate groups, which covers catering and meeting spaces. You can have the races customized to match your group’s preferred format. You can also reserve the entire facility for a private experience or have an open race with other visitors.
Learn more about ProKart Indoor Racing.
22. Minneapolis Farmers Market
Minneapolis Farmers Markets serves the city with fresh products as far back as the 1870s. Many vendors usually appear at the market on Saturdays and Sundays, so schedule your visit on these days for more options to explore. The market opens daily in the North Loop neighborhood and on Thursday in Downtown Minneapolis.
The vendors include Rich Valley Farms, Sue Vang, Bergen’s Greenhouses, Dehn’s Garden, Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, and Dueling Grandmas Shortbread. Although the farmers mostly showcase local produce, you will find products from other places, especially during Minnesota’s short growing season.
Learn more about Minneapolis Farmers Market.
23. Cooks of Crocus Hill Cooking Class
Cooks of Crocus Hill is a culinary academy located in North Loop, Minneapolis. The kitchen offers daily classes, with the menu focusing on dishes from the world’s top cuisines. In the Knife Skills class, you will learn the techniques for washing, storing, and sharpening knives. You can also learn about food and snacks like Asian noodles, classic French macarons, pizza, gluten-free Thai meals, and croissants. The classes will last anywhere from 90 minutes to seven hours.
Cooks of Crocus Hill is one of the best company retreat locations in Minneapolis, particularly for private culinary events. During your visit, you can also stop for a bite at Bellecour Bakery at Cooks, located inside the building. The bakery serves fresh viennoiserie, soups, salads, and coffee.
Learn more about Cooks of Crocus Hill Cooking Class.
24. Vertical Endeavors Minneapolis
Vertical Endeavors Minneapolis provides climbing facilities accessible to visitors of all ages and skill levels. Your group can sign up for a lesson at the center to advance their skills.
In the Basic Top Rope Skills, you will learn knot tying, belaying techniques, and technical equipment usage. If your group members are experts in the activity, then you can take the two-hour Climbing 201 lesson. Vertical Endeavors Minneapolis provides a ten-minute orientation video that first-time visitors must watch online. Upon arrival at the center, you must give correct answers to questions about the orientation video before climbing. Otherwise, you will have to rewatch the video.
Learn more about Vertical Endeavors Minneapolis.
Conclusion
Minneapolis, also known as The City of Lakes, is an artistic destination in Minnesota. You can explore the artistic offerings in different locations like the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, and Betty Danger’s Animal Farm. The city also provides many opportunities to acquire and improve diverse skills, ranging from pottery making to cooking and belaying. Regardless of your retreat’s goal, you will find the right experience fitting your group’s values or personalities. You will also find countless free activities and paid experiences to enjoy at affordable prices. Your next corporate retreat in Minneapolis will be fun and unforgettable, with many fun locations, activities, and foods to try out.
Next, check out Minneapolis team building experiences and corporate event ideas in Minneapolis.
