The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes

The Lodge, opened in 2005 and located right on Highway 371, one of the main drags in the town of Baxter, is something like a smaller version of the Great Wolf Lodge chain hotels. The Lodge is a large hotel built on a pervasive North Woods theme. Mounted animals, fishing lures and boat motors cover the paneled walls throughout the public spaces and rooms. Each of the roughly 100 rooms has a "cabin" name like Trout or Lost Lake, but they're pretty standard-issue hotel rooms. Our room--clean and up-to-date--included a sitting room with a TV and small couch, a desk and a counter with coffeemaker and microwave. A half-wall separated the space for the two queen beds. The hotel's star, of course, is the Paul Bunyan Water Park, a 30,000-square-foot indoor facility attached to the hotel. It includes the amenities typical of these attractions: a 45-foot slide, a zero-depth pool, a lazy river, plus extras such as tube slides that project holographic images on the walls as you pass. Guests also have access to amenities such as free Continental breakfast, a fitness center, wireless Web access and an on-site restaurant. We found the staff friendly and helpful. A free shuttle goes to and from the airport at your request. From $99.