Ashlee Ciora was playing golf with a group of women in 2020, trying to decide her next career move after two decades in golf tourism and hospitality, when a member of her group asked for her help in arranging a women’s golf trip to Pebble Beach.
Almost instantly, Ciora, who lives in the Minneapolis suburbs, sensed an opportunity. Ciora operates Women’s Golf & Travel, a company that takes women’s groups on golf trips around the world. So if you want pointers on how one would arrange a women’s golf trip to Minneapolis, Ciora is a good first call.
Ciora said she saw a business opportunity because women are looking for “experiential” trips, whereas men want to “check off the bucket-list golf courses.”
“The majority of women who come on trips with me are social golfers,” she said. “They love the game and want to be out there playing because it’s such an enjoyable activity for them. But they want to have a day off, where they’re doing something that’s unique to the destination.”
In downtown Minneapolis, that might mean treating your body and mind at Hotel Ivy’s Anda fitness center and spa, or exploring the North Loop’s boutiques and brewpubs, and perhaps stopping at the very old-school Monte Carlo for a martini. “It’s a fun place to go and it’s always packed,” Ciora said.
Start planning your Minneapolis trip by picking an amenity-rich downtown hotel. It’s a great walking city, with clusters of restaurants, shops and other entertainment, and you still have easy access to golf courses around the metro area.
“I look at places to stay that are going to have all of the amenities a female would want,” Ciora said. “Does it have a spa, a fitness center, what are the restaurants and dining options? So I arrange for my groups to stay at a four- to five-star-level hotel.”
Minneapolis has you covered on that front, depending on your group’s preferences.
If you want a modern hotel in the heart of the city, Four Seasons Minneapolis checks all the boxes. It’s located on Nicollet Mall, a mile-long pedestrian plaza stretching from near the Walker Art Center east toward the banks of the Mississippi River, with a procession of local eateries, bars and boutiques.
The Canopy by Hilton is located several blocks down the river, nestled between the U.S. Bank Stadium, the Mill City Museum, and the visual wonder that is the Guthrie Theatre, with its cantilevered bridge that reaches out toward the river. The Canopy’s brick accents evoke the history of the surrounding Mill District.
Just across the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, you’ll be treated to a completely different lodging experience: the Nicollet Island Inn. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Nicollet dates to 1893, but was reimagined as a quaint, boutique hideaway that combines modern amenities with antique design flourishes.
But this is still a golf trip, and Minneapolis is a golf-mad city. (Minnesota, in fact, ranks third in the nation in golf participation, according to the National Golf Foundation.) So this is your chance to enjoy some of the North’s best public courses.
Ciora is a big fan of Rush Creek, as are Golfweek’s course raters, who have made the course a top-10 staple in the state. Since its 1996 opening, Rush Creek has hosted three LPGA events and a USGA championship. It also has the sort of culinary program normally reserved for a private club. Rush Creek’s Highlander restaurant is best enjoyed from the terrace overlooking the course.
Ciora also recommends Baker National, which is located a short drive from Rush Creek in Medina. Baker National’s championship 18-hole layout is complemented by a nine-hole executive course, an all-grass practice tee and a golf academy – all at a reasonable rate.
Any visitor who spends a summer evening walking around downtown Minneapolis knows that you can’t hit a lob wedge without hitting a restaurant patio filled with customers. Summer in Minnesota is all about outdoor dining.
The most in-demand tables are at Owamni, and not just because of its location near the riverfront. Since its opening three years ago, Owamni has developed a national reputation, winning the James Beard Foundation’s Best New Restaurant award in 2022 with its all-natural, “decolonized” menu, which doesn’t include beef, pork, chicken or dairy. In a short time, Owamni chef Sean Sherman has created one of the North’s most-talked-about culinary experiences. Spirit Kitchen, Sherman’s grab-and-go at Midtown Global Market, offers a quick and easy alternative to his indigenous offerings.
Owamni isn’t the only Metro-area restaurant earning national attention. Union Hmong Kitchen has received several James Beard nominations after starting as a humble pop-up experience. For a lighter twist on Hmong cooking, consider breakfast or lunch at Diane’s Kitchen. (Diane’s plan to open for dinner soon.)
Elsewhere, the talented husband-wife tandem of chefs Gustavo and Kate Romero learned in April that they were a James Beard national finalist for their adventurous exploration of Mexican cuisine, and specifically heirloom corn, at Oro by Nixta.
Minneapolis is home to a bustling arts scene, much of which can be enjoyed free of charge. That includes the Weisman Art Museum, well known for its distinctive Frank Gehry design, the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Just want to chill out? Plan a beach day. Yes, you read that correctly. Within the city limits, there are beaches and other water activities on the Chain of Lakes.
If your group wants more golf options, consider a drive southwest of downtown, to Chaska Town Course, whose unpretentious name belies the fact that it’s consistently ranked among the state’s top 10 by Golfweek and other publications, and is a former Minnesota Golf Association course of the year. It’s a prairie-style layout that sprawls across 285 acres.
On the way back to downtown, Ciora suggests a stop in Wayzata, which has a good selection of shops and restaurants, such as CoV and 6Smith, along Lake Minnetonka.
East of downtown, Ciora likes the similar experience that can be found in the town of Stillwater, which sits on the St. Croix River, just across from Wisconsin and roughly a 30-minute drive from downtown Minneapolis. Stillwater is home to distilleries, wineries and, of course, riverboat tours.
While in Stillwater, consider tastings and tours at St. Croix Vineyards or Rustic Roots Winery, where you can complement your Margherita with a glass of Grenache. Or enjoy the river views while sipping on a craft cocktail at Forge & Foundry Distillery. Stillwater also is home to StoneRidge Golf Club, a linksy Bobby Weed design ranked among the state’s top 10.
These attractions only hint at all that Minneapolis/St. Paul has to offer for women’s golf groups visiting the state. To start planning your golf trip, find travel guides, itineraries and more at exploreminnesota.com. Follow Explore Minnesota on Instagram, TikTok, Threads, Facebook, and YouTube.
