If you grew up anywhere near Minnesota, "going up north" means one thing: pine trees, a cabin, a dock and a lake that's colder than you remember. The Brainerd Lakes Area is where that tradition lives. It sits about 2 to 2.5 hours north of Minneapolis-St. Paul (roughly 125 miles up Highway 10 and 371) and has more than 465 lakes. If our Lake Minnetonka post is the polished, close-to-the-city version of a lake weekend, Brainerd is the cabin-country one.
The lake at the center of it all is Gull Lake, and the resort at the center of Gull Lake is Grand View Lodge in Nisswa. It has hosted families for more than a century, and it's the kind of place where nobody has to get back in the car to have fun.
The Lay of the Land: Brainerd Lakes and Gull Lake
The Brainerd Lakes Area is really a cluster of small towns strung along Highway 371 north of Brainerd and Baxter: Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point, Crosslake. They're all within about 30 minutes of each other, so a home base in Nisswa keeps every drive short.
Gull Lake is the flagship, just under 10,000 acres with about 38 miles of shoreline and depths up to 80 feet, and it anchors the Gull Chain, eight connected lakes you can boat between. The big historic resorts (Grand View Lodge, Cragun's and Madden's) all sit on Gull. Fishing is a big deal too: walleye, northern pike and bass, with a healthy dose of "my dad caught one this big" stories at every dock.
The area suits families who want lake days and pool days with a small town to poke around in between, and there's plenty for boaters and golfers too.
Where to Stay: Grand View Lodge
Grand View Lodge started in 1916 when a Minneapolis developer named M.V. Baker began selling lakefront lots on Gull Lake. In 1919 he built the Main Lodge from Norway pine felled right on the property, mostly to put up prospective buyers. That lodge is still the center of the resort today, log lobby and grand staircase included, and it's on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cote family bought it in 1937, and their company (now Cote Family Companies) has run it ever since.
There's a lot to choose from:
- Lodge Rooms in the historic Main Lodge itself, king studios up the grand staircase (note that there's no elevator).
- Sixty-five Grand View Cabins, the classic family pick, between the Main Lodge and the shore. They run from one to eight bedrooms, and many have full kitchens, fireplaces and even pool tables.
- Garden Cottages, Linden Cottages and Homes on Nokomis for bigger groups or a trip with the grandparents.
- North, the resort's 60-room boutique hotel with a more modern vibe, steps from the NorthPark pools and the spa.
- North Pines homes (four to six bedrooms, fire pits, sport courts, golf simulators), Roy Lake cabins and villas on their own quieter beach, and lodging out at The Pines golf course.
What Makes It Special
- A century-old log lodge that still works as the living room of the whole resort.
- Two championship golf courses on property, The Pines (27 holes) and The Preserve. (Deacon's Lodge, the Arnold Palmer course in Breezy Point, was once part of the family but now belongs to Breezy Point Resort.)
- The Spa at Grand View Lodge, which longtime guests still call Glacial Waters, with an outdoor hot tub, sauna, steam room and a halotherapy salt room.
- A sandy Gull Lake beach with playground equipment right on the sand.
- More than a dozen places to eat without leaving the property.
- Kayaks and paddleboards included with your stay, and a resort shuttle so you can park the car.
- Notes to Keep in Mind
- Grand View is big and spread out. Ask where your cabin sits relative to the beach and the Main Lodge before you book, especially with little legs in tow.
- Summer rates run high for a Minnesota resort, and you won't find last-minute deals, so book early and plan the whole week around it.
On the Water: The Beach, the Boathouse and Pontoon Days
The beach is where I'd plan to spend the most time: a sandy stretch at the bottom of the lawn with playground equipment on the sand, shuffleboard courts and plenty of room for the kids to run while the adults claim a chair.
The Boathouse Office is your rental hub. Kayaks and paddleboards come with your stay (a huge win with kids who want to paddle out "just a little farther"), and pontoons and fishing boats can be rented through Brainerd Lakes Best Rentals, the resort's rental partner. A pontoon afternoon on Gull Lake is a must: pack a cooler, cruise the shoreline, find a sandbar and let the boys swim off the back. The resort also runs a 10-passenger banana tube boat in summer, exactly as silly as it sounds.
If you've got a fisherman in the family, summer guided fishing trips go out from the resort. Roy Lake, the smaller lake on the back side of the property, is calmer if you're teaching a kid to kayak.
Resort Fun for Kids (and a Spa Break for Parents)
Grand View has two pool complexes, which alone can fill a rainy day. The Waterfront Pool sits near the beach and has a 110-foot indoor water slide, connecting pools, two hot tubs, fountains and water guns. NorthPark, up by the North hotel, has a nearly 3,800-square-foot indoor pool with its own waterslide and swimming lanes, plus an outdoor pool and a big hot tub area that stays open year-round.
The Kids Club runs for ages 4 to 12 on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 to 3 with lunch included, and there's a Kids' Night Out from 5 to 8 with dinner. At last check it's about $50 per child for the day session and $40 for the evening, kids must be potty trained, and you'll want to register at least 24 hours ahead. That evening session is your date night ticket, by the way.
Around the grounds you'll also find tennis and pickleball courts with equipment provided, sand volleyball, gaga ball, giant checkers and chess, a playground and Garden Park, a 7-hole mash-up of golf, frisbee golf and foot golf the kids can play in flip-flops. Evenings bring bonfires and bingo, and in summer there's a ticketed concert series on The Pines driving range.
For parents, The Spa at Grand View Lodge is the reward. Book a massage, then linger in the salt room or the outdoor hot tub while the kids are at Kids Club.
Nisswa and Beyond: Turtle Races, the Paul Bunyan Trail and Brainerd
Downtown Nisswa is about five minutes from the resort and one of the most charming little main streets in lake country. The headliner is the Nisswa Turtle Races, held every Wednesday afternoon from early June through mid-August, a tradition since 1964. Registration opens at 1, races start at 2, and $5 gets your kid a turtle to race and an official button to keep. You can't bring your own turtle, which is a rule I appreciate. Go early and cheer like it's the Olympics.
While you're downtown, the Chocolate Ox is the must-stop candy and ice cream shop on Main Street (there's also an outpost right on the Grand View grounds, dangerously close to the beach). The Paul Bunyan State Trail runs through town too: 115 miles of paved former railroad grade, the longest continuously paved rail trail in the country, and the ride north to Pequot Lakes is a flat, family-friendly seven miles or so.
In Pequot Lakes, roll right into Trailside Park, which has a playground, a splash pad and free Bands in the Park concerts on Saturday evenings in summer. Then look up: the town's water tower is painted like a giant red-and-white fishing bobber (legend says it's Paul Bunyan's), and Bobber Park underneath has Babe the Blue Ox and Paul's oversized lumberjack chair for photos.
Brainerd itself is worth a half day. Paul Bunyan Land, east of town on Highway 18, has a 26-foot talking Paul Bunyan who has been greeting kids by name since 1954, plus a Ferris wheel and carousel, petting barns and This Old Farm Pioneer Village. It runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Downtown Brainerd has the 1918 water tower locals call Paul Bunyan's Flashlight, and if your crew likes engines, Brainerd International Raceway hosts the NHRA Brainerd Nationals every August. Closer to the resort, the Nisswa Family Fun Center is a small outdoor waterpark with a 480-foot body slide and a heated zero-depth pool at prices that won't make you wince.
Tee Times on Gull Lake: Golf at Grand View
If someone in your family golfs, Grand View might be the best golf resort in Minnesota. This was my husband’s favorite part of the whole trip.
The Pines is right across the street from the Main Lodge, so you can walk over after breakfast and be on the first tee in minutes. It’s 27 holes designed by Joel Goldstrand and split into three nines (the Lakes, the Woods and the Marsh), so you can mix and match a different 18 each day. The Lakes and Woods nines were recently renovated, and the whole course has that classic Northwoods feel: tall pines, rolling fairways and water that comes into play just often enough to keep you honest. Golfers call it a true “player’s course.” It’s challenging but fun. There’s a full practice facility with a two-sided driving range, putting greens and a short game area, and Freddy’s Grill overlooks the course for a post-round burger and a cold drink.
The Preserve is about 7 miles north in Pequot Lakes, and it’s worth the short drive. It’s 18 holes known for elevated tees, rolling terrain and fast, tour-speed greens. The clubhouse deck has one of the best views in Minnesota golf, and The Preserve Smokehouse serves real BBQ, so plan to stay for lunch after your round.
If you’re building a full golf trip, the Brainerd Lakes Area has plenty more nearby, including Deacon’s Lodge, the Arnold Palmer course at Breezy Point, and the courses at Cragun’s and Madden’s on the south end of Gull Lake.
Golf tips for your Grand View trip:
- Book tee times when you book your room. Summer mornings fill up fast, and the resort offers stay-and-play packages.
- Plan golf around Kids Club or a pool afternoon so everyone gets their kind of fun.
- If your kids are just learning, take them to Garden Park, the resort’s 7-hole mix of golf, frisbee golf and foot golf. It’s low-pressure and they can play in flip-flops.
- Pack a light jacket. Mornings on the course can be cool, even in July.
Where to Eat: On Property and in Nisswa
You could eat every meal at Grand View and never repeat a restaurant:
- Grand Breakfast in the Heritage Room of the Main Lodge is the buffet to start every lake day before heading straight to the beach.
- Northwoods Pub on the lower level of the Main Lodge is the casual family dinner: Minnesota craft beers on tap, walleye tacos, a bison burger and pizza takeout you can carry back to the cabin.
- Char is the steakhouse in the most historic part of the lodge, and it's the one I'd save for date night once Kids' Night Out picks up the boys.
- Italian Gardens (open May through October) serves homemade Italian in a historic cottage, a great pick for the kid who only wants noodles.
- Tanque Verde Cantina is the seasonal beachfront spot with Southwestern food and lake views.
- Brew in North and Grand View Outfitters next to the Main Lodge cover the coffee runs (plus the sweatshirt you'll inevitably need).
- Cru, the French-leaning wine bar, now runs only as pop-up dinners in fall and winter, so don't plan on it for a summer trip.
- In Nisswa, families rave about a downtown lunch followed by the Chocolate Ox for dessert (think truffles, fudge and a wall of ice cream flavors).
Tips for Planning Your Family Trip to the Brainerd Lakes
- Book early. Summer weekends at Grand View fill months ahead, and I'd grab a cabin close to the beach as soon as dates are set.
- Plan around a Wednesday so you can hit the Nisswa Turtle Races. Trust me, it's the single most up north thing you can do with kids.
- Register for Kids Club before you arrive, and pencil in the Kids' Night Out for a parents' dinner.
- Pack bikes and layers. The Paul Bunyan Trail is too good to skip, and July evenings on Gull Lake get cool.
- Late June through mid-August is peak season with the fullest activity schedule. September is quieter and gorgeous, but outdoor dining winds down.
- Reserve your pontoon a few days ahead in peak summer.
Make the Brainerd Lakes Your Next Lake Escape
Minnesota families have been coming back to Gull Lake for generations. Grand View gives you the log lodge and the sandy beach in one place, plus pool slides for the rainy afternoons, and Nisswa adds the turtle races and the bike trail (and the Chocolate Ox for dessert), which is about as up north as a summer gets. Go, and bring the grandparents.
If you're planning a lake trip and want help organizing where to stay, what to book, and how to maximize your time, I'd love to help! As a lake travel expert, I specialize in matching families with the perfect getaway that blends comfort, adventure, and ease. Reach out for help with planning!
