This time of year is all about celebrating time together, beloved traditions, and new goals, all while (hopefully) sipping on eggnog with a shimmering Christmas tree nearby. You could spend the season at home, with the usual routines and to-dos, or you could start anew, and do Christmas vacation Lake Mille Lacs Style. Picture it: warm cozy cabins, twinkling lights on snow-covered pine trees, and the fragile beauty of early ice forming on the lake. Dream it: swap crowded malls and stuffy airports for the peaceful magic of winter getaways in Minnesota! Ready to wrap up the gift of a Christmas vacation on Lake Mille Lacs–one where you can ice fish by day and sip a warm winter cocktail by night? One that keeps on giving the whole year? Read on to light your way to a perfect lakeside Christmas! 

 

From early ice to Northern Lights adventures - Experience the thrill of ice fishing Mille Lacs–one of Minnesota’s most iconic winter adventures–and then some.

 

Where to stay and play - We’ll help you choose the perfect home base, with the best holiday cabins MN has to offer, for all the winter things to do in Minnesota. 

 

Lake-inspired holiday sips - Enjoy festive cocktails and kid-friendly mocktails to bring lake life into your holiday celebrations.

 

When conditions are safe, there’s nothing like moments spent on a shimmering expanse of ice and the anticipation of what’s to come. Create or foster this memorable holiday tradition by packing up your auger, snow suit, and snacks. Add a few strings of lights to the ice house, set your portable speakers to holiday tunes, and you’re well on your way to holiday magic. Are you more about relaxing and decorating than planning and hauling? Hire a local guide or stay at a resort that’ll set up an ice house for you! Any way you approach it, you’re promised gorgeous winter-etched backdrops and a peaceful spirit –and if you’re lucky, the Northern Lights will put on a show!

 

Before, after, or instead of ice fishing, Grand Casino Mille Lacs is a great place to enjoy entertainment off the ice– if you like gaming, dining, and live shows. Bonus: your hotel room can be right upstairs from all of the excitement! Twin Pines is for you if you like the classic up-north atmosphere. They offer amazing food and drinks, and serve as the local hub for community and conversation. Get out there and live like a local with meat raffles, bingo nights, and a host of other small-town fun at all the local hotspots that’ll tie a bow on your holiday season. 

 

Why is Mille Lacs the perfect scene for a magical holiday winter getaway, you ask? Why, because it’s Santa-approved! Snowy shorelines are a must for Rudolph and his crew to make a smooth landing, the down-home charm is just what elves adore, and the slower pace is great for Santa’s jolly old St. Nick lifestyle. After a holiday-spirited day whistling carols and sipping hot cocoa, where should you lay your merry head, you wonder? No matter your needs, there’s a merry and bright option with your name on it. Maybe it’s family-friendly you’re looking for, or a reunion-style vibe. Perhaps it’s a quiet kind of Christmas you’re hoping to experience, or the holiday version of ‘Friendsgiving.’ On Lake Mille Lacs, you can have it all with cozy fireplaces, soothing hot tubs, room for your furry family members, and everything that makes the season feel just right. 

 

Nothing will get you fa-la-la-la’ing quite like a Mille-Lacs-inspired drink. Whether you’re toasting in the cabin, your hotel room, or even tucked in your ice house, these beverages will bring a little ‘Lacs Life’ to every glass.

 

The Ice Breaker - Your jingle-iest guests will appreciate this festive creation. Made with vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, sparkling water, and a sugared rim, the only way to serve this sip is over crushed ice in a decorative glass–and immediately upon their arrival.

 

The Tip-Up Toddy - Just in from a great day on the ice? This fireside favorite will warm you from the inside out – perfect for serving in a mug by the fireplace, or maybe you don’t need to leave the ice house! How about in your trusty thermos right there? With whiskey, honey, lemon, cloves, and hot water, you won’t have to go anywhere for cozy warmth; it’ll come right to you.

 

And mocktails!

 

Frozen Fish House Fizz - On a dark winter’s eve, both you and the kids will love this bright and bubbly treat. Pour berry punch or juice and lemon-lime soda over frozen berries. These will serve as your ice in this refreshing spritz. Be sure to serve in a clear glass to show off its color!

 

The Snow Shack Sipper - Say that 3 times fast! This virgin drink is a winter wonderland dessert served in a cup. Mix snowy white coconut milk (or vanilla almond milk) with cream soda, vanilla, and a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg, then sit back and indulge.

 

Ready to set your plan in motion and live the Lacs Life for the Holidays? Here’s your checklist for a beloved annual tradition:

 

✔️Book your cozy winter lodge, inviting hotel, or picture-perfect holiday cabin in MN. 

✔️Reserve your ice fishing Mille Lacs house, or book time with a guide.

✔️Plan a night at Grand Casino Mille Lacs or Twin Pines.

✔️Live like a local and hit up community hotspots for meat raffles, bingo nights, and simply explore other nearby resorts around Mille Lacs. 

✔️And while you’re at it, be sure to check out upcoming winter events and things to do in Minnesota around Mille Lacs!