Breezy Point White Birch Summer

On this trip to White Birch at Breezy Point, we traveled during the middle of August. Our family—two adults and children, 10, 8, and 6—was joined by two of our parents, male and female, in their mid-60’s.

While we have stayed in the Eagles Nest portion of White Birch during the winter, this was our first summer trip, and we stayed in the portion called White Birch Estates. Breezy Point is a very large resort community made up of three primary resorts. White Birch is the newest part of the resort town and consists of individual homes with lockouts in Eagles Nest or a variety of twin-home or quad units in the White Birch Estates.

All of the White Birch units are on or very near the White Birch golf course, one of two courses that make up the Breezy Point resort.

A second resort, the Breezy Point resort itself, is a somewhat older, more hotel-like building along the lake and beachfront.

The third resort, Leisure Suites at Breezy Point, has moderately old to new condos located along the Traditional golf course or fairly close to the lake.

The three resorts share many amenities, like the pools and beach area. This resort community is one part of the very extensive Brainerd Lakes area/Whitefish Chain vacation area. It is a beautiful northern Minnesota environment with everything from fishing to fine shopping and dining.

Quick Tips:

Find out where your accomodations are. If you are in the White Birch portion of Breezy Point, plan to have transportation if you want to get around the surrounding area. The resort does have transportation within the resort. There are several sources online for travel information. Check out links related to Brainerd, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, and Cross Lake in addition to Breezy Point.

Best Way To Get Around:

There is a bus within the resort, but a car is very useful in this area if you plan to shop and enjoy places other than at the resort.

White Birch Estates is located just off the main entrance to White Birch Golf Course. White Birch Resort also is made up of the Eagles Nest units which are all along the golf course. The Estates are near, but not on the golf course. Our unit was a very easy walk to the course which had a bar and restaurant with fine dining.

The unit had three bedrooms, the master with a king-size bed and two others with queens. There was also a pull-out couch to make sleeping available for eight.

The unit was very well-kept, clean, and had a very new feel to it. A full kitchen had a center bar and breakfast bar-type kitchen table that seated four. There was a dining room that opened up to the living room with television and stereo. This room also had a coffee table that was well stocked with games and puzzles for a rainy day. The living room had a partial wall with a three-sided gas fireplace. Past this wall was a second sitting area with glass door access to a patio. There is a golf decor throughout the unit.

The patio was furnished with umbrella table and chairs as well as two lounge-type chairs. The patio area was fairly well landscaped and very peaceful. Very close to the unit was a children’s play area where the kids could climb and slide and expend some energy.

The unit also has a large laundry room with full washer and dryer as well as plenty closet space.

As part of Breezy Point, there is much to do for recreation at the resort. One could play tennis, golf or relax on the beach. We had access to two pools. The smaller pool in the Breezy Recreation Center was the most active. It was set up for pool volleyball and seemed to be the popular hangout for teens. There was an arcade with a pizza place there. The Recreation Center also holds the Marina Restaurant and bar. This is the hub for nightlife at the resort.

High Village is another section of Breezy Point and it has a larger pool which was our favorite. There were plenty of other people there, but it wasn’t quite so loud and wild and our children seemed to enjoy it better. Both pool areas have hot tubs and there is towel service at the Rec Center.

Breezy Point Resort is very spread out. We used our car to travel the one mile to the Rec Center area on evenings. One could also call the resort bus service and use it to get around.

There was a full menu of activities for adults and children throughout the week including sandcastle building, horse wagon rides, bonfires, ice cream socials, facial makeovers, and crafts.

Our week at Breezy Point White Birch was very enjoyable, and we’d recommend the resort to anyone.

Best Things Nearby:


Best Things About the Resort:


Resort Experience:
White Birch Estates is located just off the main entrance to White Birch Golf Course. White Birch Resort also is made up of the Eagles Nest units, which are all along the golf course. The Estates are near, but not on, the golf course. Our unit was a very easy walk to the course, which had a bar and restaurant with fine dining.

The unit had three bedrooms, the master with a king-size bed and two others with queens. There was also a pullout couch to make sleeping available for eight.

The unit was very well-kept and clean, and had a very new feel to it. A full kitchen had a center bar and breakfast bar-type kitchen table that seated four. There was a dining room that opened up to the living room with a television and stereo. This room also had a coffee table that was well stocked with games and puzzles for a rainy day. The living room had a partial wall with a three-sided gas fireplace. Past this wall was a second sitting area with glass door access to a patio. There is a golf decor throughout the unit.

The patio was furnished with an umbrella table and chairs, as well as two lounge-type chairs. The patio area was fairly well landscaped and very peaceful. Very close to the unit was a children’s play area where the kids could climb, slide, and expend some energy.

The unit also has a large laundry room with a full washer and dryer, as well as plenty closet space.

As part of Breezy Point, there is much to do for recreation at the resort. One could play tennis, golf, or relax on the beach. We had access to two pools. The smaller pool in the Breezy Recreation Center was the most active. It was set up for pool volleyball and seemed to be the popular hangout for teens. There was an arcade with a pizza place there. The Recreation Center also holds the Marina Restaurant and bar. This is the hub for nightlife at the resort.

High Village is another section of Breezy Point, and it has a larger pool, which was our favorite. There were plenty of other people there, but it wasn’t quite so loud and wild, and our children seemed to enjoy it better. Both pool areas have hot tubs, and there is towel service at the Rec Center.

Breezy Point Resort is very spread out. We used our car to travel the 1 mile to the Rec Center area on evenings. One could also call the resort bus service and use it to get around.

There was a full menu of activities for adults and children throughout the week, including sandcastle building, horse-wagon rides, bonfires, ice-cream socials, facial makeovers, and crafts.

Our week at Breezy Point White Birch was very enjoyable, and we’d recommend the resort to anyone.

• Unit Type: 3 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Best Things Nearby:


Best Things About the Resort:


Resort Experience:
Breezy Point Resort is a very large sprawling resort with many lodging options from hotel rooms to spacious and luxurious condominiums and private homes. Breezy Point Resort opened in the 1920’s under the ownership of Captain Billy Fawcet who became known for his Whiz Bang joke book which was very popular at the time.

Since those early beginnings, Breezy Point has seen continuous spurts of growth. While most of the original 1920s buildings were lost in a fire many years ago, there are a wide range of accommodations and amenities ranging from old to new.

The two primary attractions of the resort are the marina and golf courses. Located on Pelican Lake, and giving access to the Whitefish Chain of lakes, Breezy Point is a great launching point for fishermen. Many guests bring their own boats and dock at the marina or rentals of anything from fishing boats, jet-skis, or 12-25 foot pontoons are available.

Golf is definitely a highlight at Breezy Point. The resort hosts two great golf courses and is surrounded by many other world-class golf options. During the summer months, vacationers can take advantage of a weekly golf membership providing unlimited access to the Breezy courses.

A unique feature at Breezy Point is the Ice Arena. This is northern Minnesota and hockey and figure skating are important in this area. The Breezy Ice Arena is home to a couple of local hockey teams and has several nights each week available for open skating. As a timeshare guest, we received a coupon for free admission to the open skate for our group.

As with most other resorts, there are pools, tennis courts, and other recreation areas. Unique to Breezy is the nearby access to a very popular bike trail called the Paul Bunyan Trail. This well cared for, blacktop trail winds 75 miles from Brainerd to Bemidji, Minnesota and has stops in many smaller communities in between. An enjoyable bike ride for families is the four or five mile stretch from Pequot Lakes (a town right by Breezy Point) to Nisswa. Grab an ice cream cone at the Chocolate Ox in Nisswa for a treat at your halfway point.

The Breezy area has many places to hike. The Breezy Point cemetery and nature walk is about half a mile from the Breezy front gate and is a beautifully landscaped park to enjoy on a morning hike.

• Unit Type: 3 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

There are many restaurants in this area to choose. Breezy Point has two primary restaurants. There is the Marina Restaurant on the lake and Antlers located in the White Birch clubhouse. We’ve enjoyed both of these restaurants on previous trips, but chose not to visit either this time around. The Marina has a casual feel, with a popular bar connected. Antlers is fine dining and great for a formal dinner or date.

While we ate at the unit most of the time, we had two dining experiences at the resort we enjoyed. Rafferty’s Pizza is a fun family stop right in downtown Nisswa. The pizza we had was excellent. They claim to be voted the best pizza in the lakes area and have received the award of being among the top 100 pizzas in the country according to Pizza Magazine (or something on that order). I don’t care to subscribe to Pizza Magazine, but I will vouch for their pizza—thin crust, many varieties, good value. There is both indoor and outdoor dining available in this casual restaurant.

One other place to highlight is a little bakery just outside the gates of Breezy Point. This is a tiny little place with perhaps four or five tables, but the fresh-baked cinnamon and caramel rolls are simply awesome. There are also muffins, pastries, fine coffees, and teas, as well as wrap sandwiches available on the menu. If you’re just dying to check your email, they also have WiFi access. I recommend going to this place early when the rolls are fresh baked. It is a rewarding destination on a morning walk.

There are many, many other options, from casual to elegant, in the nearby area, and if you’re willing to drive a little farther, the city of Brainerd has virtually any of the chain restaurants. The Famous Dave’s Barbeque is worth noting and is on the south edge of Cross Lake, only about 7 miles from the resort.

We were joined for a portion of our week at Breezy Point by two of our parents, one of which needs wheelchair accessibility. Actually, what she uses isn’t a traditional wheelchair, but in essence an "electric chair." She uses it as a seat at the table and just as easily as maneuvers it down a walking path.

This issue makes us a little more aware of accessibility issues of a resort, and the purpose of this document is to highlight where someone else who would visit this resort would succeed or have problems.

First off, much of the resort is totally accessible. The lobby area and conference center building is totally accessible. All of the "hotel-type" rooms would be accessible. Some of the Whitebirch units are accessible with wheelchair ramps. Some of the units are accessible only by steps. Some of these units also have an upstairs, which would not be accessible at all by wheelchair.

Our unit at Whitebirch Estates was mostly accessible, but we had problems with the doorway. The resort maintenance crew quickly fashioned a ramp that would work for the doorway. They were very pleasant about this request and more than willing to help when asked. Our Whitebirch unit was large enough to easily accommodate the maneuvering of the chair.

The restaurants are accessible, as is the Marina bar. The swimming pool areas are not. From what we could tell, the High Village accommodations and pool area would not be able to be used by someone in a wheelchair. If this is not the case, it certainly was not clear as to where an elevator might be.

Outside the resort is a mixed bag as far as accessibility. Some of the shops in Pequot Lakes and Nisswa may be accessible, but most are small and have very narrow walkways between the merchandise. I would not recommend shopping for someone who needs a wheelchair.

Be sure to ask ahead of time as to how accessible your unit will be if this issue is of concern to you. There are many accessible options at Breezy Point and White Birch, but there are also several options that would not work.

Ole Man River… The mighty Mississippi… It rolls on and divides our country in two, creating a great boundary between east and west, spilling out into the Gulf of Mexico.

Where does this great river begin? What is its source? This was a great debate for many years as explorers attempted to discover the true source. Several options were considered over the years, but finally, scientists and geologists agreed—Lake Itasca was the true source of this great river.

Lake Itasca and Itasca State Park are great places to relax, hike, and make a trek to the humble beginnings of the great Mississippi. From Breezy Point, the park is about 70 miles to the northwest. It is a beautiful drive through this vacation land of fishing and hunting. You pass through great pine forests and by Leech Lake (once thought the source of the Mississippi and another very popular vacation area).

We entered through the southeast gate of the park. It was immediately evident that this is a very popular park for biking. There were many bikers and bike trails, as well as a full bike outfitter located in the park. The lake and woods are very beautiful, and there are several stops where one can enjoy the view. We parked at a lakeside stop with a museum that contained interesting information about the park, the river’s beginnings, the logging industry, and forest growth and regeneration. From this point, we could see that it was less than one-half mile to the headwaters. We could have driven but instead chose the very pleasant hike through the forest.

At the beginnings of this river, the water flows north out of the lake to the city of Bemidji and then winds south through Brainerd, on through the Twin Cities, and off towards the Gulf. While already at Brainerd, the river looks as one might expect it to look with its wide expanse. At the headwaters, it is narrow and shallow. All of us, including our children, could easily wade across the river’s beginning. There is a rock crossing as well as a bridge, so virtually anyone can cross and see both sides of this river’s headwaters.

While the Mississippi headwaters are a highlight of Itasca state park, there is much more to the park, including some great hiking, biking, and driving trails. A driving trail not to be missed begins near the headwaters area and continues for 10 miles around the undeveloped side of the lake. There are several stops with nice short hikes of about one-half mile each where one can experience the forest and wildlife.

The views and scenery of the park are incredible, and this is a place not to be missed and that can be enjoyed by young and old.

Vacation time is a great time to enjoy amateur astronomy, and this area has the dark skies needed to really enjoy this hobby. There are plenty of places to view the skies at the resort. The golf course right outside our front door was perfect for us. We used the driving range, which provided some benches and a wide-open expanse to look without the problem of yard and streetlights. The constellations were very vivid, and one could easily see the band of Milky Way crossing the sky—something we miss so greatly at our urban home. While just enjoying the view with one’s eyes or a pair of binoculars would be great, we planned to use some of our evenings for astronomy and brought our telescope with us.

The 8-inch Dobsonian reflector telescope brought the dark skies to life, and we had a clear view of the Whirlpool Galaxy, Ring, Eagle, and Dumbbell Nebulas, as well as many globular and open clusters. Our view off the driving range provided great views to the south, west, and east, so the treasure-filled skies near the constellation Sagittarius were easy to enjoy. The city of Brainerd to the south created a small dome of light pollution, but this stayed very close to the horizon, so it wasn’t much of an issue.

Even though our telescope is somewhat bulky, it was great to be able to simply walk from our unit to the site and allowed the family to enjoy the star watching more opposed to needing to drive out to a dark-sky site.

While this isn’t an activity everyone does on vacation, if you are interested in astronomy, it is just another reason to consider this area.

Our family enjoys going GeoCaching. GeoCaching is a high-tech scavenger hunt. There are caches hidden all around the world. The website www.geocaching.com is the place where one can find cache coordinates in any area.

I found the cache coordinates while at home and printed out the information we would need. There is a guest computer with printer available by the Breezy Point Resort office as well. The coordinates are entered into a GPS unit. The GPS unit then helps you locate what you are looking for.

The cache is a container—sometimes large, other times very small—that contains a logbook and often times small treasures to trade. At times, the cache container has been an old ammo box or a large plastic jug. Other times, the cache container has been as small as an Altoids tin or medicine bottle.

The GPS coordinates put you in the vicinity, and it is up to you to find the cache. We found two GeoCaches while visiting Breezy Point. The first was an easy find just a few steps off the Paul Bunyan Trail, although if you didn’t know it was there, you’d probably never find it.

The second was a little more difficult, but fun to find. Oftentimes cache containers are located in holes of hollowed out logs or trees. This cache was hung from a wire and hook above the hole. We had looked at that tree several times before actually finding the cache.

GeoCaching is popular and growing in popularity. We often run into others who are doing the same thing. This time, we ran into a couple of adults who had recently been introduced to GeoCaching on their trip to Sweden.

Our children have fun with the GeoCaching, and finding the trinkets and prizes (as insignificant as they may be) are an added bonus. It also gets us into the woods and enjoying nature and some great walks.

Have you ever watched Saturday afternoon sports and seen those logging championships where the guys chop, saw, climb, and try to knock one another off a log floating on the water? Scheer’s Lumberjack is a longstanding attraction at Hayward, Wisconsin. It is at Scheer’s stadium in Hayward, where the championships are held.

Scheer’s has another lumberjack arena just north of Pequot Lakes. Shows are held afternoons and evenings most days each week.

You’ll experience some impressive displays of strength and balance as you watch the friendly competition between two guys as they chop, climb 50 feet up a pole, and show off their chainsaw and hand saw skills. The highlight is the water portion of the show where they "run the line"—try to run across a straight line of five logs. They also balance on a log, trying to "spin" the other guy off—true log rolling. Both guys get plenty wet, and kids love the personalities and humor.

Talk about the northern forests of our country and you remember the legend of Paul Bunyan. Many of us grew up with tall-tale legends like Paul and Babe the Blue Ox. The folksy legends of how Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes came from Paul’s big footprints and how he could clear forest with one fell swoop of his ax. (No one ever said that he was the most environmentally friendly guy!)

The great pine forests that surround Breezy Point are an integral part of where these legends came from, and several places in this area capitalize on this. One of the great childhood memories for many adults is being taken to Paul Bunyan Land in Brainerd, MN. Brainerd is a small city located about a half-hour south of Breezy Point Resort.

For years, Paul Bunyan Land was located at the edge of Brainerd, near the junction where one would head north to the cabins and resorts. Now, that land has been claimed by the ever growing economic and business growth of the area. Paul Bunyan Land closed up for awhile—just a rustic memory from the past.

Now, Paul Bunyan Land has reopened in a new location east of Brainerd on This Old Farm. When one pulls into the parking lot, it almost feels like old times as Babe, the huge blue ox (okay, it’s a statue) still stands out greeting cars as they arrive.

As you enter the park, the old memories come back very quickly as you see the gigantic animatronically controlled Paul Bunyan sitting in his chair greeting guests. Just as in old times, he somehow is able to greet each child by name. The look and excitement this causes is magical for a youngster! Kids and adults can ask Paul questions: "What size shoes do you wear?" Paul answers, "Size 40." Ask Paul to sing a song and he’ll sing, "Timber, timber little tree. Please, oh, please, don’t fall on me!" to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

The rides are all there. Not much has changed since the ‘70s, but they are still great fun for anyone who is okay with the idea that a Tilt-a-Whirl, Bumper Cars, and a rocking ship called the Space Shuttle are what this park has for thrill rides. There is also a Ferris Wheel, a haunted mine, and several kiddie rides, including a small train that loops on one side of the park.

On the other side of the park is This Old Farm, and there is a petting zoo and large collection of antiques.

This park will never compete with the hypercoasters and other thrills of today’s theme park, but kids seem to love the simple folksy charm and adults will enjoy the nostalgic trip to the past. At about $10 a child and $9 per adult (yes, children have a higher admission than adults), you can’t beat the deal for a full day of fun. Paul Bunyanland and This Old Farm were open from 10am to 6pm the day we visited.

Golf is big in this northern vacationland. Breezy Point is home to two well-designed and well-kept courses. The Traditional Course is best for the recreational golfer or one who enjoys a course where a strong long game is not required. At 5,192 yards, this course plays well and is a great course to for the weaker player or for the experienced player to "warm up" on. White Birch is Breezy’s more advanced course. At 6,730 yards, a long game is helpful to get the scores you want. As with all courses in this area, the Breezy Point courses are carved into the beautiful landscape, and even if your game isn’t up to par, you’ll enjoy the beautiful vistas. Golf at Breezy Point averages about $50 to $60 per day, cart included. There are weeklong membership deals available for guests staying at the resort.

While the Breezy Point courses can keep you busy for your entire week, there are several other outstanding golf options located very close to the resort. Grand View Lodge is another major resort in this area and host to three courses that any serious golfer would want to experience. The Deacon’s Lodge course is located only a mile or so from the Breezy entrance. At 6,964 yards, this can be a tough challenge for any golfer. The Pines is 6,883 yards, and anyone would love the beautiful rolling hills and carved fairways of the Preserve at 6,601 yards. Golf at the Grand View courses runs at about $85 to $100, including the cart.

The final golf resort worth mentioning for this review is Craguns. There is the Dutch 18 at 6,879 yards and Bobby’s 18 at 6,755 yards. Golf at Craguns ranges from $50 weekdays to $100 weekends, including a cart with GPS a guidance system. Anyone would love these GPS units—sort of like having a pro caddy able to feed you the exact distance information you need.

These courses are the golf highlights of this area, and each course is within about a 10-mile range from Breezy Point. There are four or five short or casual course options for the beginner or to simply get some practice on. There are also many other great golf options available for those willing to drive a little farther away, but with so many good options close by, there certainly is no need to do so.

All courses listed are full-service, with pros, pro-shops, bars, and food service available. North Woods golf is an experience any golfer would love, and even if your golf game isn’t up to par, the scenery and overall experience is a hole-in-one.

There are several mini-golf options in the Breezy Point area. To the south by Baxter, there is Pirates Cove Adventure Mini-Golf. Perhaps you’ve seen this chain of pirate-themed mini-golf courses in other major vacation destinations, like Orlando.

Another course worth mentioning is Bump-n-Putt. They have a number of attractions for kids and teens.

We chose Wildwedge, located just north of Pequot Lakes, next to the Scheer’s Lumberjack Show. Wildwedge is actually a small par 3 golf course and mini-golf course. We did not experience the golf course, but it looks like a great place for a beginner or a child to try golf for the first time.

A local travel paper that we picked up free in a gas station by Breezy Point had a coupon for unlimited Mini-Golf for $4 after 6pm. This was the deal we chose. (As an added note, the same travel paper had an unlimited coupon for the nine-hole par-three golf course for $6 after 6pm.)

Wildwedge was much more creatively designed than I would have imagined. While not as elaborate as Pirates Cove, it is much more elaborate than the ordinary $4 or $5 mini-golf course. There was a lot of creative use of hills, tubes, water, different lengths of carpet, and angles.

We played the 18-hole course twice, as we had unlimited access. While our scores improved the second time around, we were still challenged by the course on the second round and I’m sure would have been on a third and fourth round had we stayed long enough to play more. (There would have easily been enough time to play a third round if we wanted to.)

This is a brand new course for 2005, so the putting surfaces are in great condition. There were a number of people playing, but it certainly was not crowded, and we typically did not have to wait for the group ahead of us too often, nor did people have to wait for us very often.

This is a great attraction to combine with the Lumberjack show, or find a coupon, as we did, and play a few rounds for the price of one.

So, is a Breezy Point vacation a good vacation option? Perhaps you’re looking for a vacation trade in Orlando or other major vacation market but haven’t found what you’re looking for.

We spent a week in Orlando this past June, so it is interesting to make some comparisons between this trip and our Florida vacation.

First off, a vacation here is not a theme-park vacation. Sure, there is Paul Bunyanland and some amusement parks, but if you are looking for Disney, go to Disney. This is not the uniformly packaged, themed vacation that you’ll find at some resorts. If you enjoy being active and doing things, you will love a vacation here.

Sportsmen and women: This one should be a no-brainer. You probably already know about the outstanding fishing and hunting in this area. You also probably already know that this is one of the best places for snowmobile or ATV-ing.

Golfers: This is a major golf destination with some very fine courses. This is a popular fly-in golf destination for many people. The courses are in great condition and can stand with the best of the rest. The scenic view of these courses cut through the woods stand second to only a few like Pebble Beach or Hilton Head.

Biking & Hiking: You’ll love it here. There are major bike trails and plenty of woods for hiking and discovering.

Families: If you love mini-golf, go-karts, waterslides, swimming, biking, hiking, boating, and shopping, it is all here. It is a relaxing type of vacation. You don’t feel you have to figure how to do the whole theme park in one day. You figure how you’ll enjoy your day.

I asked my children what they thought. What vacation did they like best? Our Disney and SeaWorld trip or this one? There was a long pause with no answer. Finally, my daughter answered, "That’s really hard." I tried to help them by asking, "So, did you like them both the same?" They readily answered "Yes!" to that question.

I can’t begin to delude myself that everyone will feel the same as my children, but I think that short unscientific measure was helpful for me. Personally, I relaxed more and tended to "enjoy" this vacation more, even though I am a tremendous fan of central Florida.

The Breezy Point area is a great place to slow down and take a vacation where you might read a book, golf a round, swim a lot, shop, eat, and, all in all, have fun. If this is what you are looking for in vacation, give Breezy Point or Breezy Point Whitebirch a try.

Breezy Ice Arena is a full-sized dedicated ice arena that is open year-round. It is used by a couple of local hockey teams and figure-skating clubs. There are numerous camps held throughout the summer for budding hockey or skating stars.

Breezy Point Guests receive a coupon with their welcome packet for admission to an open skate time. Skate rental is available at the pro shop, as is sharpening and anything else you’d expect from a skate pro shop.

Ice skating is a Minnesota tradition, and even in the summer months this is a fun diversion from the outdoors. We are not a "hockey family," and skating is still somewhat new to our family. I did not grow up here, so ice skating is new to me. Regardless, it is fun to try, and this is a nice place to give it a try.

Wear a sweatshirt or bring a jacket, because the arena gets cold. Having some gloves would be helpful as well. As we didn’t have gloves along, before we left the unit, my wife creatively grabbed some pairs of sport socks for our kids to wear on their hands. They came in very handy in the cool ice-skating climate in that building.

People were there of all levels of skating. There were other families from the resort skating for their first or second time. There was a young boy who had brought all his hockey gear and was clearly learning quickly to play this sport. There were a couple of youngsters who were quite good at figure skating. There were also a couple of guys (maybe from the community) who were skating laps for fitness. Regardless of our inexperience, we certainly didn’t feel out of place and had fun trying, falling, and trying again.

If you like to look through little shops, this is a great area for you. The towns of Nisswa and Pequot Lakes have many little shops filled with inexpensive and expensive treasures. For the interior designer looking to decorate with North Woods flair, this is a gold mine. You’ll fine tons of tasteful options.

Because of the wide range of people who vacation here, there is a wide range of merchandise. Some stuff is the typical souvenir-shop quality. But most of the shops specialize in much finer quality merchandise.

Kids will love the Lucky Loon. They call themselves "the coolest toy store on the planet," and they just may be right. They have a great combination of normal and unique toys and do very well with toys that will encourage creativity in children.

A place not to be missed is the Art Gallery of nature artist Jerry Raedeke. The artwork is beautiful, and he will paint a special "etching" on the corner of the frame of any original you buy in the gallery. Even if you aren’t in the market for art like this, it is fun to get to talk to the artist.

You can find candles, clothing, decorations, dishes, incense, afghans, wind chimes, and furniture in the wide variety of shops. While our favorite shopping town is Nisswa, the town of Pequot Lakes offers great shopping and is located even closer to Breezy Point. The shops are small and crowded, so you’ll enjoy these shops the most if you are able to leave your youngsters behind.

Adults and children will enjoy stopping at the Chocolate Ox. This candy store has barrels of traditional candies, as well as jelly beans, taffy, fresh fudge, and hand-scooped ice cream. It is always one of the busiest shops on the street in Nisswa.