Our Favorite Family Getaways

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Playing in and out of the water in Brainerd, Minnesota

Central Minnesota's resort country is a magnet for families looking to create summertime legends, with 465-plus lakes, 120 lodging choices and 25 golf courses sprawled around Brainerd, 130 miles northwest of the Twin Cities.

Everywhere you turn here, a sparkling lake twinkles back at you. Whether you stay on the shore of 7-mile-wide Gull Lake or teeny-tiny Lost Lake, you'll find plenty of ways to get out and get wet. For those craving more than sun and sand, the area offers lots of dry-land alternatives, including award-winning golf courses and the 100-mile Paul Bunyan Trail for cycling.

The next three slides have information on what to do, where to eat and where to stay in the Brainerd area.