Berit's Favorite resorts in Minnesota for 11 totally different reasons

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Gunflint Lodge - Grand Marais

There's always so much to do outside at Gunflint Lodge. I love it. You can see the waters that lead to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness right from the lodge. Of course, the canoeing in the BWCAW is unparalleled. I love being surrounded by natural beauty out on the water. You can take in the wilderness through the many naturalist programs the resort offers, too. One option is a horseback ride and hearty breakfast out in the Superior National Forest. There's nothing like it. The scenery around the resort offers plenty of unplanned scenic moments, too. Beautiful sunsets over the clear waters are made complete by the lonely wail of a loon. It's absolutely gorgeous all around.

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Fair Hills Resort - Detroit Lakes

Fair Hills is wonderful for kids. There's an amazing amount of things for them to do. There are lots of organized events, like a weekly talent show, capture the flag, and the Wacky Olympics. In between scheduled events you can join the kids on the fabulous beach, where they could easily play all day. There are plenty of fun water sports, like tubing and waterslides. All these kid-friendly activities also make a wonderful, whine-free vacation for parents. The peaceful atmosphere leaves you with more time and energy for other activities, like a round of golf or a game of tennis.

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Naniboujou Lodge - Grand Marais

I love Naniboujou for its impressive fireplace. It's the largest natural stone fireplace in Minnesota. And it's surrounded by the colorful and crazy-beautiful Cree-influenced paint job in the Great Hall. The lodge has a colorful history as well. Founded as an exclusive men's club in the 1920s, it had Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey as original members. It was opened to the public after the Depression. Lucky for us, because it's one of my favorite places to take in while enjoying Lake Superior and Judge C. Magney State Park, right out Naniboujou's back door.

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Ludlow's Resort - Cook

Ludow's Resort stands out in part because of its spectacular sunsets. One of the wooden swings on Sundown Rock is a perfect place to take in the gorgeous panoramic views of the deep orange sun glinting off the water. Gorgeous. The resort is on an island in Lake Vermillion, so you're taken to your cabin by boat. Being on an island means there're always lake views as well as a lot of water activity. One of the quirkiest vehicles you'll see in the lake is an amphibious car, which plunges into the water from the sand. One of the unique cabins is the Dreamcatcher. It's four stories tall with bedrooms on three floors and a living room on the fourth. Best of all, the service is great. What else would you expect from a resort has been in the same family for 67 years?

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Flag Island Resort - Angle Inlet

You can find great fishing at plenty of Minnesota resorts, but Flag Island Resort is a clear standout. It's way up on the Lake of the Woods on the tip of the state's Northwest Angle. You can't get any further north without entering Canada. Landing a muskie is the real challenge here, since walleye and bass are abundant. If you use a guide, they'll cook up a shore lunch over an open fire. The meal consists of--what else--the morning catch. They'll also clean, package and deliver all the fish you're lucky enough to land. After a day out on the water, I recommend spending spend some time in the lodge. Look for the unique spiral staircase that curls around a carved tree trunk.

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Maplelag - Callaway

Maplelag is THE place to go for great cross-country skiing. There are tons of trails cutting across 660 acres. If you're up for a different kind of winter sport, you can try taking the Plunge. A hole on Little Sugarbush Lake is kept open specifically for jumping into the icy water. To add to the challenge, this becomes a "no suit" activity after daylight. If you conquer the cold, you'll get a t-shirt to celebrate your naked plunge. The lodge is as eclectic as the activities that go on outside. Displays of old lunchboxes and railroad depot signs provide quirkily cool decor. Four bottomless cookie jars are filled with homemade cookies at all times. The same 24-hour principle applies to the hot tub. It's a lovely glass-enclosed affair overlooking the lake. Not to mention it's the largest in the state.

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Woman Lake Lodge - Hackensack

A classic mom and pop resort is Woman Lake Lodge. They get a stream of local traffic daily for the donuts they make from scratch. They're delicious! They use a cool obsolete machine called the Donut Robot to bake the popular mouthwatering treats and they keep a record of how many donuts they make each day--up to 600 on their busiest. Among the loyal customers is a group of cabin owners that comes in every day. Their tabs, as well as those for all customers, are kept on pieces of scrap paper. And if the nostalgic hospitality wasn't enough, all of the cabins here are just steps from Woman Lake, a great spot for walleye.

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Ruttger's Sugar Lake Lodge - Grand Rapids

Ruttger's Sugar Lake Lodge is all about relaxation. The best feature of the resort is the beautiful lake, which takes on a Caribbean-like look on certain sunny days. On those days, white wooden beach chairs on the white-sand beach are the best place to take in the aqua-colored water. While you're lazing on the beach, you may see a floatplane swoop in for a landing on the lake. At one time the Ruttgers owned the only private resort airstrip in the country, and guests used to arrive by air as well as by road. The landing strip is now a challenging fairway on the twelfth hole of the Sugarbrooke golf course. In addition to golf, there are also games like bocce ball and boats to rent at the marina.

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Grand View Lodge Golf - Nisswa

You definitely get the celebrity treatment at the Grand View Lodge, just like the actual celebrities that have stayed here. It's a luxurious resort, particularly because of the Glacial Waters Spa. Before your appointment, curl up in a cozy robe by the fireplace in the Relaxation Room or take a steam shower. Then get ready to be pampered with salon services, body treatments, facials and massages. Golfers should check out the Golfer's Massage to get ready to play the Grand View links. Three award-winning courses include the Arnold Palmer-designed Deacon's Lodge course, and the nine-hole Garden.

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Dickersons Lake Florida Resort - Spicer

Dickerson's Lake Florida Resort has a very welcoming family atmosphere. There are plenty of planned weekly activities that let everyone get acquainted with the Dickersons. They're fourth-generation owners, and their goal is to make visitors feel like part of their family. They serve homemade donuts to guests on Sunday mornings and provide pizza for a Pizza Picnic every Monday. On Thursday evenings, the kids can go out on a hayride with Bob Dickerson. You can join them at the campfire for a marshmallow roast afterward. It's always fun to make gooey s'mores with all the kids! Throughout the rest of the week, you can rent wagons, bikes and tricycles. And any kid (or adult) could play in the water all day on inner tubes, paddleboats, the waterslide and hydro bikes.

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Pimushe Resort - Bemidji

The secluded Northwoods experience of Pimushe Resort is amazing. It's on undeveloped shoreline close to the Chippewa National Forest, so there are plenty of wonderful opportunities to experience the pristine wilderness. Chippewa has one of the highest breeding densities of Bald Eagles in the lower 48 states, so you're likely to spot one gliding across the sky or perching in a tree along the shore. They're remarkable to watch. One thing that may draw so many eagles here is the abundance of fish. Pimushe is a great spot for walleye, northern, and bass. In fact, the resort was featured on Minnesota Bound for its great fishing amid the remoteness of the northwoods. Little touches help to make sure you never feel lonely in the forest. Each cabin has a handmade quilt inside and a screened-in porch on which to enjoy the evening breeze.

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List posted: 8/13/2008

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Berit Thorkelson

My name is Berit Thorkelson, and I'm a travel writer. (www.trustypony.com) I grew up in LeSueur, Minnesota (also known as the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant) and I've spent my whole life exploring Minnesota's charming resorts. That exploration has always been a pleasure, but now it's a profession, too, since I write about them for magazines and newspapers. I love finding that perfect place to relax and enjoy a beautiful slice of my home state--for me, and for all types of readers looking for all types of vacations. It isn't hard. There are hundreds of great resorts, large and small, all over Minnesota. This is a list of some favorites, each wonderful for a different reason.