The Scene
When Paul Bunyan Center opened in 1950, family vacations meant station wagons, wholesome outdoor fun and giant fiberglass animals. In the decades since, the amusement park's giant statues of Minnesota's most famous lumberjack and his good buddy, Babe the giant blue ox, have thrilled and terrified generations of small children. With 40 rides, bowling and, of course, eats, the park remains the heart of the region. But Brainerd's 465 busy lakes are the real lure.
The Experience
Brainerd's action centers on fishing, boating and swimming. This is lake life, complete with sunsets and mosquitoes. By land, the activity could be dropping a golf ball into one of Brainerd's 450 holes or biking on any of 850 miles of trail. The Brainerd International Speedway competes with the walleyes on weekends, and museums dedicated to farm life, Minnesota's military, Mille Lacs Indian culture and children.