Thinking about taking the family on a 4-5 day fishing trip this summer, probably late July or early August. Looking for recommendations in northern MN for family friendly resorts/lodges. Kids' ages are 9-13, so somewhere with activities besides fishing would probably be best. Any help is greatly appreciated!
Minnesota family fishing vacation recommendations?
- Thread starter 1934A
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G44
MEMBER
SW Michigan
Vermilion Dam Lodge. Fantastic place, family friendly. My guess is they are probably already booked for 2024 but worth a try. We are regulars there in the fall.
www.vdl.com
Kurt
Lake Vermilion Resorts | Vermilion Dam Lodge
Vermilion Dam Lodge is a Lake Vermilion Family Fishing Resort in Minnesota. Known for its great fishing and breathtaking scenery, it's truly one of Minnesota's most pristine bodies of water. Almost 40,000 acres of water, 1,200 miles of shoreline and 365 islands provide for a relaxing and...
www.vdl.com
Kurt
devils lake, north dakota on the way thru, leech lake, lake of the woods, i like that walker minn area, then if it works stop at duluth and watch the lift bridge and the big boats, pretty cool. kids like that, my grandkids talk about the boats 2 years later. the iron ore mine right west of hibbing, puts me in awe, maybe not for the kids so much?
Everyone has their favorite lakes. Lots of good fishing north of MSP, just be aware that if you are looking at the bigger lakes you will be limited to close bays if its windy. Those little 16' camp boats are not good once it gets to 10+mph on the bigger water. Dont waste your time Mille Lacs, its pretty overfished and you limits are one Walleye. Closer you get to the border the better it gets, if you want it really good head up to Lake of the Woods or even Lac Seul, lots of fish camps, but still you get wind up there.
Longville, MN. Women lake chain. Lots of water to explore with pretty good fishing, plenty of family/kids activities in town (restaurants, ice cream, turtle races, mini golf, candy shops). Nice airport just out of town. You will run out time before you run out of things to do.
www.longville.com
Great place to stay with kids- walking distance to town activities.
AK
Longville MN Chamber of Commerce - Area Lodging & Businesses
Longville Minnesota, home of the famous Turtle races every Wednesday, June thru Aug. Great place for family vacations, fishing, snowmobiling, biking...
www.longville.com
Long Birch Lodge on Girl Lake
Long Birch Lodge on Girl Lake Experience the "Up North" charm of our Minnesota Lake Resort. Long Birch Lodge, which is Located just one hour north of the Brainerd Lakes Area, our resort is nestled in the woods near Longville, Minnesota. Quiet and serene, Long Birch Lodge is located on beautiful...
longbirchlodge.com
AK
sj
Staff member
Northwest Arkansas
I'm not a huge fisherperson, but this place is really cool. I was there in the winter. There is talk of getting the airstrip nearby open again last I heard, or building another one.
www.flagislandresort.com
sj
Flag Island Resort | Lake of the Woods | Angle Inlet
Flag Island Resort: Your Northwoods hideaway on Lake of the Woods. Over 75 years of fishing and hunting tradition in Angle Inlet, Minnesota
www.flagislandresort.com
sj
62E
MEMBER
Tower, MN
Lake Vermilion is a good choice. The Tower (east end) will put you close to a number of options for the entire family. Including airport and seaplane base. This website has a number of links and information. Hope this helps.
We're gonna try and get to the river a couple times this summer, but the family wants to go see some new country, and go on an actual vacation, lol. Our oldest kid is 13, and she's starting to catch on that a parts run to Rapid City with a stop at dairy queen isn't a 'family vacation'.
again, the boats under the bridge at duluth, if you end up close to there dont miss it. theres a ice cream stand just a few feet south of this that has way better ice cream than the dairy queen, i think im going to go back just for another cone. https://saultstemarie.com/the-ultimate-list-of-1000-foot-freighters-on-the-great-lakes/
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Museum - Lake Superior Marine Museum Association
lake vermillion was mentioned, going to get back over there again and this is going to be on my agenda anyway. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00285#homepage
slowmover
Registered User
Little Rock, AR
We did a trip like that a few years ago in a Cessna 180. Flew into International Falls, rented a car, and drove over to Voyageurs National Park. We stayed at Sandy Point Lodge and Resort on Lake Kabetogama. Great spot, except the rooms hadn't been cleaned in a couple of decades and I never did figure out how to pronounce the name of the lake. But we didn't go there to be inside. We went swimming, canoeing, hiking, and one day we rented a motorboat to check out the area. Plenty of fishing, but we also went to Ellsworth Rock Gardens. You need a boat to get there but it's worth it. A carpenter from Chicago named Jack Ellsworth spent 20 years of his free time there building a terraced rock garden. It's really cool and is now part of the national park.
Then we flew past Duluth and over to Washington Island, Wisconsin. The only way onto the island is via boat or airplane. There's a grass strip there (2P2). We rented a cabin and a local guy delivered bikes to the airport for us. No car required. This was another beautiful spot with some of the most unique beaches I've ever seen. Instead of sand, the beaches are covered in smooth rocks about the size of golf balls. There's a small town there and several good restaurants, plus the lavender fields and Scandinavian influence brought by the settlers from Iceland are cool to check out. One day we flew up to Mackinac Island, Michigan. That's another interesting spot if you're beating around the lakes.
On the way home I hoped to fly down the west side of Lake Michigan to South Bend before continuing to Arkansas. But the weather got super murky by downtown Chicago. This was in 2020 when there wasn't much airline traffic and the Chicago controllers let me go over the top of O'Hare at 6000 feet. I hoped to fly by the old Meigs field but going over the top of O'Hare was a worthy consolation prize.
Great way to beat the heat in August! I hope you have a great trip.
Then we flew past Duluth and over to Washington Island, Wisconsin. The only way onto the island is via boat or airplane. There's a grass strip there (2P2). We rented a cabin and a local guy delivered bikes to the airport for us. No car required. This was another beautiful spot with some of the most unique beaches I've ever seen. Instead of sand, the beaches are covered in smooth rocks about the size of golf balls. There's a small town there and several good restaurants, plus the lavender fields and Scandinavian influence brought by the settlers from Iceland are cool to check out. One day we flew up to Mackinac Island, Michigan. That's another interesting spot if you're beating around the lakes.
On the way home I hoped to fly down the west side of Lake Michigan to South Bend before continuing to Arkansas. But the weather got super murky by downtown Chicago. This was in 2020 when there wasn't much airline traffic and the Chicago controllers let me go over the top of O'Hare at 6000 feet. I hoped to fly by the old Meigs field but going over the top of O'Hare was a worthy consolation prize.
Great way to beat the heat in August! I hope you have a great trip.
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Jessie View resort,, https://jessieviewresort.com/
owners are fine folks and own a PA12 that they fly out of a grass strip just 3 miles away at Bowstring. They've been doing lots of remodels and upgrades the last few years
owners are fine folks and own a PA12 that they fly out of a grass strip just 3 miles away at Bowstring. They've been doing lots of remodels and upgrades the last few years
62E
MEMBER
Tower, MN
I have but it was a long time ago. An experience I’ll never forget. And that’s meant in a good way.
Yukon John
SPONSOR
Unorganized Territory
I'm kind of partal to my neck of the woods, the Gunflint Trail. Fishing slows down a bit that time of year except for Smallmouth Bass and Lake Trout. There are several lodging options on the Trail. I'm going to throw out the most expensive; Gunflint Lodge. It has many activities available. However, they have had Staffing issues which can be frustrating. The other lodges are smaller and seem to retain thier crews better. At least a day canoe trip into the BWCAW is a must!
Yes, I also think Duluth is a cool place, especially the Canal Park area. The nearst town to us is Grand Marais, a small drinking town with a fishing problem. It is also very Artsy Fartsy. The whole North Shore of Lake Superior from Duluth to the border and beyond is amazing and there are many choices for lodging. I would say if you stay on the North Shore, a charter boat on the Big lake would be your best fishing option.
All the other choices are great ideas too. The bugs should be easing up a bit then, but bring your bug dope!
Good Luck
Yes, I also think Duluth is a cool place, especially the Canal Park area. The nearst town to us is Grand Marais, a small drinking town with a fishing problem. It is also very Artsy Fartsy. The whole North Shore of Lake Superior from Duluth to the border and beyond is amazing and there are many choices for lodging. I would say if you stay on the North Shore, a charter boat on the Big lake would be your best fishing option.
All the other choices are great ideas too. The bugs should be easing up a bit then, but bring your bug dope!
Good Luck
Yukon John
SPONSOR
Unorganized Territory
Cab-a-toe-ga-ma is pretty close pronunciation. I took my 180 over to the Ellsworth Rick Gardens. Just be careful.
The Soudan Mine is open for tours this year.
Also Nelson’s on Crane Lake is a possibility for guided fishing. MartyC
I agree Lake Vermilion is a pretty good fishing lake. Besides Walleyes, Muskies as well.
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