Family Vacation Ideas in Minnesota

1. Clearwater Historic Lodge, Grand Marais - 4 hours 40 minutes from Minneapolis

Clearwater Historic Lodge has been welcoming guests since 1915 and is a popular starting point for visitors undertaking a canoe trip along the Gunflint Trail. The lodge specializes in planning excursions and providing all the gear you would need for such a canoe adventure. The warm and rustic log cabins have various bedding configurations and can sleep up to 8 people; they all have a kitchen, bathroom, fireplace, and an outdoor charcoal grill, and there are also a few rooms and suites in the main lodge.

You will find plenty of water-based activities to keep the children happy including fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boards, all of which you can reserve in advance.

774 Clearwater Road Grand Marais, MN 55604, 218-388-2254 | 800-527-0554

2. Cedar Valley Resort, Lanesboro - 2 hours 20 minutes

Picturesquely spread out along the banks of the Root River, the Cedar Valley Resort offers year-round activities to get everyone in the family out into the fresh country air. The famous Root River trail runs through the property, providing perfect conditions for hiking, biking, or rollerblading in summer and fabulous cross-country skiing in winter. The river is great for canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing, and equipment is available to hire. The well-equipped log cottages with three, four, or six bedrooms all have a good kitchen, living area, two bathrooms, and a shady porch overlooking the river, and there is plenty of open space for children to enjoy themselves. There is a wealth of additional attractions within a 20 mile radius.

905 Bench Street, Lanesboro, MN 55949, 507-467-9000

3. Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge - 2 hours 20 minutes from Minneapolis

At Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodations and activities. The lodge offers various options to suit most tastes and budgets, ranging from fully equipped large lakeside villas to lodge rooms. While adults enjoy the many lodge facilities, Kids Kamp and Youth Adventure will keep the children occupied and happy. On-site facilities include golf, a sandy beach with water slide, a heated pool, tennis, volleyball, and biking trails.

There are also three restaurants, a bar, and a spa. Cuyuna State Recreation Facility (close by) offers even more activities to make your vacation memorable.

25039 Tame Fish Lake Road, Deerwood MN 56444, 218-678-2885 | 800-450-4545

4. Appeldoorn's Sunset Bay Resort - 1 hour 40 minutes

Appeldoorn's Sunset Bay Resort is a true year-round vacation destination situated on the shores of popular Mille Lacs. Accommodation choices are numerous, and you can rent anything from a studio cabin for two to a ten-bedroom house, all with cable TV, kitchens, and Wi-Fi. The activities on offer are just as varied and include golf, hiking, biking, and fishing for the adults, while children will be kept busy all day long on the beach or enjoying canoeing and paddleboats.

There is a playground for younger children and a games room. In winter the area is transformed into a snowy wonderland offering ice fishing, cross-country skiing, skating, and snow-mobile trails.

45401 Mille Lacs Parkway, Isle, MN 56342, 320-676-8834

5. Pine Terrace Resort

Pine Terrace Resort is situated in a secluded area on the shores of Star Lake and surrounded by beautiful pine forests. The twelve rustic long cabins are widely spaced along the lakeshore for privacy, and there is plenty of space for children to enjoy themselves in the great outdoors. Most of the log cabins have their own private dock and fire-pit, and all units have kitchens for relaxed holiday self-catering.

The resort has a great sandy beach packed with (complimentary) water toys to keep the whole family busy all day, and there is a playground for younger children. Boat and pontoon rentals are available, and there is on-site laundry.

35101 Pine Terrace Road, Crosslake, MN 56442, 218-543-4606

6. Kavanaugh's Sylvan Lake Resort - 2 hours 30 minutes from Minneapolis

Kavanaugh's Sylvan Lake Resort is a family-owned holiday resort that offers all the necessary elements to make your family lakeside vacation memorable. The cottage-style accommodation is particularly comfortable and well equipped (full fitted kitchens, cable TV, Wi-Fi, gas-fireplaces, air-conditioning, and Weber grills). Summer outdoor activities include hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, tennis, and swimming, and there is a playground for younger children.

In winter there are miles of snowmobile trails, cross-country skiing and ice-skating to enjoy – hire equipment is available on site. Close by there is golf and horseback riding. In near-by Brainerd there is great shopping, a variety of restaurants, and various children’s sporting activities such as softball, baseball, and figure skating.

1685 Kavanaugh Drive, East Gull Lake, MN 56401, 800-562-7061

7. Ballard's Resort

Ballard's Resort on the shores of Lake of the Woods near Baudette is the perfect place to visit if your family is into fishing. The resort offers rustic but comfortable cabins perfectly suited to families and varying in size from one to three bedrooms. There is also a very large unit that accommodates up to fourteen for larger groups.

Each cabin has a fully equipped kitchen with all you need to rustle up your meals, or you can choose a fully inclusive option and eat at the Lodge. The cabins are air-conditioned and have cable TV. The Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities, and each cabin has a picnic table and outdoor grill where you can cook your catch.

3314 Bur Oak Rd, NW Baudette, MN 56623, 218-634-1849 | 800-776-2675

8. Brindley's Harbor

Brindley's Harbor is a popular lakeside resort on the shores of Leech Lake that has just about everything you could ever need for an active lakeside vacation, with activities to keep the entire family busy from dawn to dusk. The comfortable log-cabin-style cottages vary in size from one to four bedrooms and all have a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and outdoor picnic table with Weber grill. All have Wi-Fi but a few smaller units do not have TV – check when booking.

The resort has a sand beach, almost limitless water sports, and a central lodge with a games room and activities for rainy days. There is great shopping and a variety of restaurants in Walker, just 15 miles from the resort.

9530 Pine Point Road NW – Walker, MN 56484, 888-547-5477

9. Cascade Lodge

Situated on the North Shore of Lake Superior, Cascade Lodge is an ideal year-round family holiday destination. In summer you can hike, kayak, fish, or bird-watch in the surrounding pristine Cascade River State Park, while in winter you have a huge choice of snow-related activities to keep you busy. Cross-country skiing along groomed trails, down-hill skiing at Lutsen Mountains and National Forest, snow mobiling, snow-shoeing, and ice-fishing are just some of the activities available.

The lodge offers a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets, varying from inexpensive motel rooms to self-catering log-cabins and a fully equipped holiday home for up to 12 people. The resort offers summer and winter packages for hikers, golfers, and skiers.

3719 West Highway 61 Lutsen, MN 55612, 800-322-9543 | 218-387-1112

10. River Bend's Resort

River Bend's Resort caters principally to families who are looking for a great location for their fishing vacation. The resort has a selection of two and three bedroom cabins, several of which are situated right on the lakeshore. To ensure that you have a comfortable place to relax after a busy fishing day, the cabins are air-conditioned and have flat-screen TV with cable and fully equipped kitchens. There are also campsites and serviced RV plots.

There are various packages available that include accommodation and fishing excursions. In near-by Zipple Bay State Park there are hiking and snowmobile trails and great bird watching, while Timber Mill Community Park has volleyball and a playground for younger children.

3343 Red Oak Rd NW, Baudette, MN 56623, 218-634-3084