🌿 RelaxedWeekend · from Minneapolis, MN
Brainerd Lakes: Minnesota's Resort Country
Two hours north of Minneapolis on US-10, the Brainerd Lakes area is what Minnesotans mean when they say 'going to the lake' — a concentration of 500 lakes in a glacially sculpted landscape that has been Minnesota's resort destination since railroad passengers first arrived in the 1880s. Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake, open since 1919, is the original Northwoods resort and still the most architecturally complete lake resort in the state. The Paul Bunyan State Trail, the longest paved recreational trail in Minnesota at 120 miles, connects the lakeside villages of the region. Nisswa, the closest resort village to Grand View, is a compact commercial district of chocolatiers, galleries, and fishing outfitters unchanged in character since the mid-20th century.
Day 1 — Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake & Nisswa VillageDay 2 — Morning Paddle, Paul Bunyan Trail & Drive South
Day 1 — Brainerd Lakes
Day 1 — Brainerd Lakes
🚗 2 hr 8 min driving📍 4 stops
🌅
Morning
🚗
Drive
Minneapolis, MN → Nisswa, MN
2 hr8:00 AM → 10:00 AM
Nisswa Village
The commercial heart of the Brainerd Lakes resort district — a compact pedestrian village on the Paul Bunyan Trail with a chocolatier (Chocolat Celeste), fishing outfitters, the long-running Turtle Races on summer Wednesdays, and a density of lake-country shops that has remained largely the same since the resort era of the 1950s. Stop at Chocolat Celeste for something to carry to the lake, browse the tackle shop for the local walleye conditions, and walk the short section of the Paul Bunyan Trail through the village center.
10:00 AM📍 See location
🍽️
Lunch
🚗
Drive
Nisswa → Grand View Lodge
8 min11:00 AM → 11:08 AM
Grand View Lodge
★ 4.6A resort on Gull Lake that has operated continuously since 1919 — the original 1919 main lodge, the historic cottages along the shoreline, and the newer lakeside suites make this the most architecturally layered lake resort in Minnesota. The beach on Gull Lake is the center of resort life: kayak and canoe rentals, pontoon tours, and the float platform anchored in the swimming area. Check in, get a boat, and spend the afternoon on the lake before the dinner bell.
11:08 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
Gull Lake — Kayak & Pontoon
★ 4.8Gull Lake covers 9,860 acres — large enough to feel genuinely open water but manageable for a half-day paddle. Kayak rentals through the lodge reach the quieter north arm of the lake in 20 minutes; the pontoon rentals are the low-effort option for an afternoon with no agenda beyond being on the water. Walleye and bass are present and the guide service can arrange evening fishing if you want to add it.
12:08 PM📍 See location
🌙
Evening
Gichi-ziibi at Grand View Lodge
★ 4.6The main dining room at Grand View Lodge — named for the Ojibwe word for the Mississippi River, which begins not far north of here. The menu centers on Minnesota ingredients: wild rice, walleye, venison, and produce from regional farms. Eat on the veranda above the lake if the weather holds; the sunset over Gull Lake from the dining room terrace is the quintessential Minnesota resort experience.
5:00 PM📍 See location
Day 2 — Paul Bunyan Trail & Drive South
Day 2 — Paul Bunyan Trail & Drive South
🚗 2 hr driving📍 3 stops
🌅
Morning
Sunrise Paddle on Gull Lake
★ 5Gull Lake at 6am before the pontoon boats are out — the mirror surface in early morning light, loons calling across the water, and the mist lifting off the far shore are what Minnesota resort life is actually about. The lodge has kayaks available from dawn; a 45-minute paddle to the north shore and back is the right start before breakfast.
8:00 AM📍 See location
Paul Bunyan State Trail
The longest paved recreational trail in Minnesota at 120 miles, built on a former Northern Pacific Railroad grade through the Brainerd Lakes region. The Nisswa trailhead is the most scenic access point — the 8-mile section north to Pequot Lakes passes through lakeshore forest and connects several resort villages. Bike rentals are available in Nisswa; a 2-3 hour ride through the birch and pine forest is the right complement to the previous afternoon on the water.
9:00 AM📍 See location
🍽️
Lunch
Bar Harbor Supper Club
★ 4.3A Gull Lake supper club operating since the resort era — walleye, lake perch, and the full Minnesota supper club format: relish tray on arrival, old-fashioneds from the bar, and a dining room looking out over the water. The walleye shore lunch platter is the correct order. The supper club as a format is specific to Minnesota and Wisconsin; Bar Harbor is one of the better-preserved examples in the Brainerd area.
10:00 AM📍 See location
☀️
Afternoon
🚗
Drive
Brainerd Lakes → Minneapolis, MN
2 hr12:00 PM → 2:00 PM
Plan your own escapeExplore more trips →