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Goin' up North
Minnesota's Winter Playground
By Suzy Feine
Once outside, your options for fun reach far beyond building snowmen or making snow angels. Try one of these winter sports on for size and see which is best suited to your family.
Called the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota's frozen waterways offer unlimited opportunities for ice skating and ice fishing, two popular outdoor winter sports. Ice skating rinks are abundant, both indoors at Breezy Point's ice arena and right on most lakes. Ice houses for ice fishing are available to rent from Grand View Lodge or at local rental facilities.
For the speed enthusiasts in your family, try downhill skiing or snowboarding. On the beautiful western shores of Gull Lake you'll find Ski Gull, Brainerd's ski resort with 11 runs ranging from beginner to advanced. Ski Gull offers lessons and rental equipment for those just starting out. For more information visit them online at www.skigull.com.
For snowmobile enthusiasts or those who want to give it a try, the Brainerd Lakes area has over 1,200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. The 100-mile Paul Bunyan Trail links Brainerd to Bimidji with 14 towns in between, providing an easy ride with plenty of locations to stop for lunch, dinner or to just take a break. A number of snowmobile rental facilities in town can provide all you need for a day of snowmobiling.
The Brainerd Lakes area offers 240 miles of groomed and non-groomed cross-country ski trails. One of the more popular routes, the Arboretum trails offer 2 kilometers of lighted trail lit until 9 p.m. every evening. Cross-country ski equipment can be rented at all three resorts listed above.
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