Minnesota Guide and Deals

Melding a flurry of powerful forehand chops, pinpoint pivoting, and sneaky backhand lobs, tennis is second only to competitive chainsaw sculpting as America’s favorite sport at which to grunt. Sponsored by the United States Tennis Association Northern Section, the Tennis Festival of the North features three days of events that include demos, clinics, an exhibition match, and jet-engine–powered tennis-ball launchers. Tennis fans and fanatics alike will enjoy an all-inclusive pass that includes access to Friday-evening demos and drills, Saturday and Sunday clinics, and general-admission seating to Saturday's exhibition. Tennis pros and experienced instructors lead informative sessions on topics such as Boomers and Beyond, Playing Tennis After 50, and Nutrition Hints for Winning Tennis, while attendees can also browse a vendor fair and an interactive fan zone. Additionally, Olympic gold medalist Lindsay Davenport and 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova will be present to talk tennis and cut up the court during an exhibition match.

Hole up away from home in something that is neither a hole nor your home with today's Groupon. For $59, you'll get a cozy garden room at The Arbor Inn, a quaint bed and breakfast in Prescott, Wisconsin, just 35 minutes outside of the Twin Cities. The "Travel Green" destination follows eco-friendly practices, such as recycling, using cloth napkins and high-efficiency washing machines, and taking a little time each day just to think about the planet and really appreciate how complex it is. It's the perfect romantic couples retreat after a long week of arguing about whether or not Roger Clemens could throw a baseball through a wedding cake.

As proud holders of the gold, silver, and bronze medals from the United States Dressage Federation, instructors Anne McKay and Suzanne Wepplo bring a wealth of equestrian expertise to Pegasus Riding School. The duo helm all manner of courses, including dressage, jumping, and combined training lessons in classical European equestrian philosophies. They educate riders of every age and skill level at their large, onsite outdoor arena and racetrack, as well as from within the comforts of a heated indoor training arena.

Just off the freeway, the fan-worthy Radisson Hotel is a strategic launching point for experiencing the area's diverse mix of lakes, nature trails, golf courses, gigantic shopping malls, giant ax-men, and equally gigantic blue oxen. Adventurous guests may opt to take a light walk to a number of parks and trails located less than a mile from the main hotel before returning for their complimentary repast of prime rib and drinks. Hotel homebodies, meanwhile, can play billiards in the lounge, lounge in the pool, pool quarters for the game room, and room with that special someone while trying to guess which number setting on their Sleep Number bed is "deadly spikes." They'll also get to hit the fitness center, watch movies on 42-inch flat-screen TVs, make themselves coffee or tea, surf the Net on high-speed WiFi, and bring their kids (under 18) and pets along for free.

After spending 30 years honing his passion for riding horses, Donavin Prescott founded Dakota Stables, with a large stable and open pastures surrounded by rolling green hills. At the indoor and outdoor riding arenas, instructors Jill Malecha and Lindsey Maros—both of whom have been riding since childhood—conduct lessons for all experience levels in dressage, Western, and English riding styles, running through basic techniques, such as grooming and tacking, as well as more advanced skills. Outside the ranch, guides lead visitors on trail rides exploring local parks and coordinate longer weekend trips or hands-on camps for children aged 8–18. The stable also provides training and boarding services.

Our customers loved this deal last year, earning Dakota Stables a spot on Groupon's Best of 2012 list.

Phil Martens, 501Fit’s founder, invented the patented G-Werx system to orchestrate his versatile, small-group strength-training workouts, which have been named to Minnesota Monthly's Best of the Cities list and chronicled in the New York Times in 2008. A one-on-one consultation with Phil helps determine each student's personal fitness level, which pinpoints the appropriate G-Werx program best suited to their abilities and goals. The 45- to 90-minute training sessions deploy tactics from an arsenal of more than 100 moves, using free weights and a patented lifting machine to target particular muscle groups, such as legs, buns, and abs; chest, shoulders, and triceps; or heads, shoulders, knees, and toes. Each session's energetic trainer pairs with trainees individually, ensuring that persistent perspirers have access to feedback and undiluted encouragement.