Aerial view of a curving road and the Mississippi River near Brainerd in northern Minnesota.( Getty Images). a towering statue of Paul Bunyan that seemed impossibly tall to a seven-year-old.
THOSE PLACES ARE STILL HERE.
At Paul Bunyan Land, families still wander through rides and attractions that have entertained visitors for decades.
Nearby, the waterfalls and winding greens at Pirate’ s Cove Adventure Golf continue to draw people looking for a little friendly competition on summer evenings.
Another stop just outside town is Safari North Wildlife Park, where visitors can see animals ranging from giraffes to kangaroos.
Waterparks add another option on hot days. Attractions like Paul Bunyan Water Park at Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lakes keep kids busy even when the weather doesn’ t cooperate.
And then there’ s the rumble of engines at Brainerd International Raceway, where race fans gather for events throughout the summer.
16 2025 | destinationupnorth. com
NISSWA: WHERE LAKE COUNTRY SLOWS DOWN
No staycation tour of the Brainerd Lakes Area feels complete without a stop in Nisswa.
Visitors arriving in town are greeted by the giant turtle statue along Main Street— a playful reminder that Nisswa has never taken itself too seriously.
The downtown has mastered the art of slowing down. Boardwalk sidewalks wind through town, flower baskets hang outside storefronts and people drift from shop to shop without much of a schedule.
Ice cream counters stay busy. Coffee shops fill with conversation. Breweries and small downtown restaurants invite people to linger a little longer over a meal or a pint.
AND THE PACE OF THE DAY SLOWS DOWN.
Sometimes it ends the way summer evenings used to— with a frosty mug of root beer at A & W Restaurant, condensation sliding down the glass as families gather at picnic tables, just like the drive-ins many remember from childhood.
But on summer Wednesdays, the rhythm of the town shifts in a different direction.
On summer Wednesdays, Nisswa’ s famous turtle races bring the town to life.
Families gather before the starting whistle. Kids crowd around a row of numbered buckets, reaching in to draw the turtle they’ ll cheer for.
When the whistle blows, the turtles scatter in every direction as children shout encouragement from the sidelines.
Laughter ripples through the crowd.
“ It’ s a tradition,” said Kalie VanVickle, president of the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce.
“ We have grandparents who came here for the turtle races as kids and now bring their grandchildren and even great-grandchildren,” VanVickle said.“ It’ s about families and bringing back traditions and memories.”