Laura’s Northern Minnesota guidebook

Laura

Joined in 2022

City/town information

Osage

Cute town that is about 15 minutes away. This has the closest gas station, grocery store, liquor store, burger joint (OBT), and beach and swimming area with a diving raft. Don't blink or you'll miss it. On your way to get to Park Rapids, MN.

Osage

Cute town that is about 15 minutes away. This has the closest gas station, grocery store, liquor store, burger joint (OBT), and beach and swimming area with a diving raft. Don't blink or you'll miss it. On your way to get to Park Rapids, MN.

Detroit Lakes

Detroit lakes is a short drive and has just about anything you can want. Many choices for shopping, groceries, fast food and sit down restaurants. Has a wonderful city beach and great playgrounds for the kids. It has a very nice movie theatre for rainy day enjoyment and a caribou coffee to get you energized to start a lakes country adventure!

15 locals recommend

Detroit Lakes

15 locals recommend

Detroit lakes is a short drive and has just about anything you can want. Many choices for shopping, groceries, fast food and sit down restaurants. Has a wonderful city beach and great playgrounds for the kids. It has a very nice movie theatre for rainy day enjoyment and a caribou coffee to get you energized to start a lakes country adventure!

Park Rapids

Has the cutest main street with lots of fun shops included candy stores, retro movie theatre, clothing shops and boutiques, and antique stores. It is the closest larger town with a very clean and well stocked Walmart. Has many nice restaurants; we recommend the good life cafe, west forty, great northern for breakfast, and a nostalgic drive in A&W just outside town headed south on hwy 71.

22 locals recommend

Park Rapids

22 locals recommend

Has the cutest main street with lots of fun shops included candy stores, retro movie theatre, clothing shops and boutiques, and antique stores. It is the closest larger town with a very clean and well stocked Walmart. Has many nice restaurants; we recommend the good life cafe, west forty, great northern for breakfast, and a nostalgic drive in A&W just outside town headed south on hwy 71.

Sightseeing

Itasca State Park, South Entrance

Itasca State Park is a must see if you've never been! It holds the start of the Mighty Mississippi River! Walk across the start of the river as it exits Itasca Lake. Has a great lodge with gift shop and food. Itasca lake also has a paddle boat you can ride that goes around the lake for beautiful, undeveloped scenery. There are miles and miles of hiking trails, biking trails, and even climb the fire tower for breathtaking vista views.

Itasca State Park, South Entrance

U. S. Highway 71

Itasca State Park is a must see if you've never been! It holds the start of the Mighty Mississippi River! Walk across the start of the river as it exits Itasca Lake. Has a great lodge with gift shop and food. Itasca lake also has a paddle boat you can ride that goes around the lake for beautiful, undeveloped scenery. There are miles and miles of hiking trails, biking trails, and even climb the fire tower for breathtaking vista views.

Trowbridge Creek Zoo

Great zoo just outside of Vergas, MN. Very clean and spacious with healthy animals and a nice playground for kids. You can purchase corn to feed all the animals as you go around. This zoo is owned by a local dairy farmer but has very unique and exotic animals that are impressive to see. Certain days have camel rides and newer attractions are large koi pond with walking bridge over it and a mining for gems area that is interactive for kids and let’s them hunt for treasures.

6 locals recommend

Trowbridge Creek Zoo

50622 Co Hwy 17

6 locals recommend

Great zoo just outside of Vergas, MN. Very clean and spacious with healthy animals and a nice playground for kids. You can purchase corn to feed all the animals as you go around. This zoo is owned by a local dairy farmer but has very unique and exotic animals that are impressive to see. Certain days have camel rides and newer attractions are large koi pond with walking bridge over it and a mining for gems area that is interactive for kids and let’s them hunt for treasures.

Heartland State Trail

The Heartland trail stretches for hundreds of miles but we recommend hopping on in park rapids. Had a great paved biking and hiking trail that is located in beautiful forest areas. We recommend renting a bike at Northern cycle where the trail starts in Park rapids and biking to the tiny town of Dorsey and having lunch before biking back!! Mexican restaurant called Companeros is famous and delicious :)

Heartland State Trail

The Heartland trail stretches for hundreds of miles but we recommend hopping on in park rapids. Had a great paved biking and hiking trail that is located in beautiful forest areas. We recommend renting a bike at Northern cycle where the trail starts in Park rapids and biking to the tiny town of Dorsey and having lunch before biking back!! Mexican restaurant called Companeros is famous and delicious :)

GoGo Rental

Rent water toys and boats to cruise on Big Detroit Lake. Next to Voyager Lanes bowling alley.

GoGo Rental

15857 U.S. 59

Rent water toys and boats to cruise on Big Detroit Lake. Next to Voyager Lanes bowling alley.

Food scene

Ice Cracking Lodge

Great local restaurant with excellent burgers and great other menu items!! Great atmosphere and woodsy decor. Highly recommend. Bingo nights (usually Friday I believe) are packed so call for reservation on Fridays.

Ice Cracking Lodge

30389 County Highway 35

Great local restaurant with excellent burgers and great other menu items!! Great atmosphere and woodsy decor. Highly recommend. Bingo nights (usually Friday I believe) are packed so call for reservation on Fridays.

Zorbaz

Great food, great place to eat, drink, and hang out. Park rapids has a zorbaz, so does Detroit Lakes and Perham MN. The Lowden pizza sounds weird but if you like a little spice and peanut butter, we definitely recommend it! :)

12 locals recommend

Zorbaz

22036 County 7

12 locals recommend

Great food, great place to eat, drink, and hang out. Park rapids has a zorbaz, so does Detroit Lakes and Perham MN. The Lowden pizza sounds weird but if you like a little spice and peanut butter, we definitely recommend it! :)