enough to do for 1 week

Our son would like to attend a boarding ice hockey camp for one week in the summer. Since we live in Florida my husband and I will fly out there with him and stay somewhere within a half hour of the camp just in case he gets hurt. (or actually because I can%26#39;t stand for him to be that far away) The camp is located in Deerwood. Is their enough in the surrounding area for my hubby and I to do for a week while he is at camp. We also would not mind driving an hour or two away for daily attractions, sightseeing, etc.

enough to do for 1 week

You are in the HEART of the lake district.

If you like any type of summer recreation, you%26#39;ll have a blast. Maybe rent a summer cottage from a lake resort.

Here%26#39;s a few sites with great info -

http://www.explorebrainerdlakes.com/

http://paulbunyantrail.com/nisswa.html

You%26#39;re also near Grand Casino Mille Lacs

grandcasinomn.com/home/GrandCasinoHome2.aspx

enough to do for 1 week

It depends on what you like to do... are you big into fishing, boating and outdoors? If so, then it%26#39;s a great spot. If not, then I%26#39;d suggest splitting your time between there and exploring the Twin Cities or Duluth.

Thanks for the great websites. We like boating, outdoors, some fishing. How far of a drive is it to the twin cities and Deluth?

Twin Cities are about 2-1/2 hours to/from Brainerd - except Friday afternoon or Sunday respectively due to weekend traffic. About 133 miles, mostly four lane but not freeway so some lights.

Duluth is about 120 miles but takes longer due to being almost all two lane. Figure closer to 3 hours depending on traffic.

There are tons of things to do (boat, fish, golf, casinos, etc...) in the general Brainerd area. Especially north of Brainerd near Nisswa which would only be 20-25 miles cross country to Deerwood.

The Mille Lacs Grand Casino (on lake of same name) is about 30-45 minutes from Brainerd (about same from Deerwood).

Some of the best pan fishing in the area is in the old mine quaries around Ironton and Crosby. No boat needed...just a cheap rod %26amp; reel and some live wax worms.

Are we best to stay in Nisswa rather than Brainerd? Sounds like there is plenty to do. What is the weather like in the summer? Looks like camp will be the third week in July. Also, what is the water temp of the lakes this time of year?

3rd week it should be verging on hottest part of the year. Around there probably 80 or so for highs and 50 at night, although after thunderstorms and cold fronts even in July you can get a day that barely reaches the upper 60%26#39;s. Rarely it can be near 90 and humid but not for long. Water temps should be 70-75 near the surface although a thunderstorm can cool things pretty quickly. Several hot sunny days make for decent swimming. But expect thunderstorms every 4th-5th day..normally, although the past bunch of years have been fairly dry around that part of MN.

This being the first normal (cold snowy) winter in a long time maybe summer will be normal too. The cold nights this past week have probably re-frozen the lakes pretty well so ice out might be a bit late this year but by the time the lakes turn over they should warm up fairly fast.

Just to sum it up, there%26#39;s no better place than Minnesota lakes country in July, and the water temperature is perfect for swimming and boating. So you%26#39;re set no matter where you go.

Let me explain the whole Brainerd-Nisswa thing. Brainerd is just the town, and tourists don%26#39;t stay there. The big strip on Minnesota 371 next to Brainerd, with all the hotels and restaurants and big-box retailers, actually is Baxter (and that%26#39;s where the Paul Bunyan State Trail starts). The area with all the big resorts is Nisswa, which is not just the little shopping town but the whole area around it.

The Deerwood-Crosby area to the east comes under the ';Brainerd Lakes%26#39;%26#39; umbrella, and so does the Pine River-Crosslake-Whitefish Chain area to the north.

The other thing you should know is that the smaller lake resorts rent by the week, usually Saturday-Saturday. There are two that are walking distance of ';downtown%26#39;%26#39; Nisswa and the bike trail, Good Ol%26#39; Days and Eagles Nest. If you%26#39;re sociable and like being around families, one of those may be ideal.

Another place that might be ideal for you (it%26#39;s not so kid-oriented) is Manhattan Beach Lodge on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes near Crosslake. It%26#39;s a nice combination of an inn and a lake resort, and you can rent a pontoon to explore. You also might want to check out Boyd Lodge and Lost Lake Lodge.

Many people like Madden%26#39;s and Grand View, which are large resorts with more of a country-club atmosphere.

Beth at MidwestWeekends.com