Can anyone recommend a resort on a lake with cottage rentals within 1-2 hours north of the Twin Cities? Thanks.

Sue

Sue,
We are looking for the same thing for a family trip in June, 2006. We'll be visiting our daughter and son-in-law who live in St Paul and would like to spend a long weekend in a cabin/house on a lake near the Twin Cities. What do you think about the Brainerd area? It looks like there are lots of places for rent there (see www.exploreminnesota.com) but I'm wondering if it might be quite a drive from St Paul. I'll be watching this thread for suggestions!
jss5200

For a nice family trip, you aren't going to find much of anything within an hour and very little within two.

The Brainerd-Nisswa area isn't that much farther and has some classic old resorts with great beaches and other amenities. It's worth the extra drive. There are nice cabins on various lakes closer, but most are available only from private owners.

Unfortunately the days of nice family cabins close to MSP are long gone. It's a real shame that there aren't some great family cabin resorts on Mille Lacs, great lake with many long sandy beaches.

If you're feeling lucky, vbro might have some possibilities. Not much there, but here's a sample:

http://www.vrbo.com/39309

You may also want to consider looking in Wisconsin. there are some nice areas that might be closer.

I used to live in Aitkin, so check out the website www.aitkin.com/members/resorts.htm for resorts. It is about 2 hours north of Minneapolis.

There are some nice, old-school cabin resorts about an hour SOUTH of the Twin Cities.

Check out the area around Faribault/Waterville. One name I can think of is Roberds Lake Resort.

Try the Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce for more info.

I live in Minnesota and own a cabin in western Wisconsin. I think the best areas are the Brainerd/Nisswa area, Park Rapids and the North Shore of Lake Superior. If you venture as far as Park Rapids you can see the headwaters of the Mississippi and there are many nice resorts. The Brainerd area is very popular...so traffic can be a problem. My favorite place in the world is the North Shore anywhere north of Duluth and there are all types of lodges. There aren't sandy beaches, though,,,depends on what you are looking for.

The Brainerd/Nisswa area is what you want. There are at least 3 resorts on Gull Lake that offer cabins, lots of activities, and prepared sit-down meals in an "upper scale dining hall" setting. You just go an relax, and let people take care of the chores for you.

Prices will seem quite high at first, but remember that the price includes any activites (if you want to canoe, they get you set up in a canoe, golf, etc.). It also includes some child care as well as all of your meals.

The one I can vouch for is called Grand View. I also know of Madden's. There is another that I don't recall. They are just over 2 hours from my house in the Twin Cities suburbs. A little more if you're trying to get up there on a Friday afternoon - we suffer from the same effect as the Denver ski resorts near Denver. On a Friday afternoon, traffic jam to get to God's Country!

You may want to check out www.exploreminnesota.com
We have found some great cabins and bed and breakfast lodging through this site.. I hope you enjoy your stay.