Welcome to Brainerd, Minn., birthplace of Paul Bunyan and his faithful blue-hued companion, Babe the Blue Ox. A winter vacation to the stomping grounds of these local legends might conjure up images of long days lazing about in your long underwear, too weary to forsake the relative comfort of your drafty cabin for Brainerd’s bone-creaking cold. But we’re here to banish your misguided notions of northern Minnesota with the spectacular selection of resort, lodge and cabin vacations featured on our Top 10 Brainerd Winter Vacations list – no flannel required!
The presents have all been unwrapped. The last of the honey-glazed ham has been placed in the freezer. And as you gaze out over your wrapping paper-strewn living room and remind your little one that Mommy’s best china isn’t for throwing, a horrifying thought works its way into your… Learn More
Our No. 2 pick also hails from Gull Lake’s shores, but the similarities end there. Where Cragun’s wholeheartedly embraces family fun, Grand View Lodge adds a touch of luxury and indulgent pampering to your Up North experience with the Glacial Waters Spa. Learn More
The pine trees are all but hidden beneath a heavy layer of ice and snow. Three feet of powdery white blankets the northern Minnesota landscape. And a quiet hush settles over the Brainerd Lakes area, broken only by the occasional sounds of a woodpecker taking flight or a… Learn More
While we’ll admit that Minnesota winters can be downright unpleasant, any true fisherman knows that a foot of snow (or two) and a few below-zero temperatures shouldn’t get in the way of good, clean winter fun. And if our Brainerd winter vacation includes a whole stringer… Learn More
If you shudder at the thought of spending an entire weekend sleeping on back-breaking bunks, breathing in propane fumes and sharing cramped ice house quarters with the likes of a minnow bucket, our No. 5 spot will have you sighing in relief – although we still can’t do… Learn More
If you’re anything like us, you treat a vacation as a means of escape. A chance to get away from the hectic pace of daily life, to push responsibilities to the back of your mind and dive wholeheartedly into the present moment. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll agree… Learn More
There’s an old saying that we’re fond of repeating and it goes like this: take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. It certainly rings true in today’s eco-friendly age, but even more so at the No. 7 pick on our Top 10 Brainerd Winter Vacations list. Pack… Learn More
For those who are too impatient to pass their Brainerd winter vacation jigging for jumbo perch, the No. 8 pick on our Top 10 Brainerd Winter Vacations offers a few more intriguing ways to play in this year-round Minnesota playground. Learn More
We found a place where the Twin Cities skyscrapers are replaced with towering pines that reach for the sky. A place where you can breathe a little deeper and the lake waters are a little cleaner. A magical place where the closest you’ll come to a daily commute is joining… Learn More
We expected some fairly cozy accommodations from our No. 10 spot – after all, its name virtually promises it. But what we weren’t expecting was to get all the creature comforts this Brainerd resort had to offer at a rate that didn’t break the bank. For affordable Brainerd… Learn More
Predator Ridge Resort - Vernon, BC
Tanglewood Resort and Conference Center - Pottsboro, TX
The Outback Resort - Vernon, BC
Fox Hotel & Suites - Banff, AB
Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa - Banff, AB
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