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Lakes & Links

The Brainerd Lakes area is a well-known vacation destination. Its bountiful waters have drawn anglers for more than a century. Today, the area is noteworthy for its abundance of top-notch golf courses, including golf and spa resorts. Water parks and amusement parks cater to kids.

Amid the cluster of lakes to the north of Brainerd, the villages of Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Crosslake and Pine River harbor an array of fun shops and restaurants. The popular Paul Bunyan Bike Trail winds through the area. A great new mountain biking network is a highlight at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area.

To the east is giant Mille Lacs Lake, a year-round fishing paradise. Nearby Aitkin County is prime territory for birding, hunting and snowmobiling. Little Falls is a lovely rivertown with colorful murals; tour the childhood home of aviator Charles Lindbergh. The Mille Lacs Indian Museum near Onamia and the Jaques Art Center in Aitkin are some of the cultural highlights of the area.