15 GREAT THINGS TO DO IN THE BRAINERD AREA THIS WEEKEND

The Brainerd Lakes Area will see beautiful fall weather again this weekend so here are fifteen great things to do while we hold on to summer.

The weather forecast looks awesome again this weekend for the Brainerd Lakes Area giving locals and visitors another late September opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Although we #lovebrainerd in the fall we will hold on to summer as long as we can. Here are fifteen great things to do this weekend in the Brainerd Minnesota lakes area.

  1. International Antique & Classic Boat Show
    Bar Harbor will host the 2015 International Antique and Classic Boat Show featuring more than 100 boats from all over the World! The brainerd Lakes Area is proud to host the events first visit to Minnesota!
  2. Bracket Drag Racing Series at BIR 
    More than 250 drivers will be racing in the final of six races in this series. The series championships will be on the line in 10 classes for dragsters, cars, trucks, bikes, snowmobiles and Junior Dragsters.
  3. Corn Maze At St. Mathias Farm 
    6 1/2 acre corn maze, hayride, and maze. And of course the opportunity to hang out with the llamas and alpacas!
  4. Live Music At Gull Dam Brewing 
    The Sheet Rockers will be performing
  5. Fall fishing 
    Fall is a great time for multi species fishing in the Brainerd Lakes Area and as the water cools down the walleye bite heats up. Check out our Brainerd area fishing report for the latest tips and tricks.
  6. Biking or mountain biking 
    With the Cuyuna paved trail and the southern trailhead of the Paul Bunyan trail there is plenty of scenic bike trails for riders of any skill level. Ride to the Crow Wing State Park, Nisswa, or explore several mapped bike routes in the area. For those that like the red dirt and fat tires head out to the Cuyuna area for a day of mountain biking.
  7. Canoe the Mississippi River 
    Take a three our canoe trip from Brainerd to the Crow Wing State Park on the mighty Mississippi River. Bring your canoe/Kayak or rent one. Need a way back to your hotel, no worries, contact Easy Riders or Cycle Path & Paddle in Cuyuna for shuttle services to and from the river.
  8. Go Grouse hunting 
    The Brainerd Lakes Area offers world class grouse and Woodcock hunting with plenty of state and county land available to visitors. Enjoy a day of scenic beauty and great hunting and then an evening enjoying the areas great dining and the comforts of our hotels and water parks.
  9. Take a bird watching tour 
    On the contrast to bird hunting the areas trails and public land also offer excellent bird watching opportunities during the fall migration. It is not hard to find an area to explore in search of your favorite feathered species the best way to ensure you have a successful bird watching experience is with a guided birding trip. Our local birding guide Judd Brink would be happy to show you the best spots in the area.
  1. Enjoy lakeside dining  
    The warm weather will not last forever so be sure to get out and enjoy lakeside dining at one of our great retardants including Bar Harbor, Ernies, Zorbas, or Iven’s On The Bay
  2. Take the kids to an amusement park 
    Go see our 26 foot talking animated Paul Bunyan and let the kids spend the day on a variety of rides and exploring the this old farm antique village. After the rides head out to the new Safari North Wildlife Park or one of our great go cart tracks and mini golf courses.
  3. Head out on your ATV 
    Bring the whole family and explore the areas trail by ATV. After a day of riding you will have plenty of other activities and dining to ensure that everyone in the group has a blast.
  4. Golf one or more of our scenic courses 
    The Brainerd Lakes area is a top 50 world golf destination and the warm weather this fall makes for excellent days on the course. Explore one of the many scenic courses in the area available to any skill level.
  5. Scuba dive the Cuyuna mine pits 
    The beautiful weather and fall colors offer a great time to explore the Cuyuna mine pits. These clear water pits can be over 500 feet deep and offer a variety of fish and other wildlife. In addition there are standing underwater forests and abandoned mining equipment to explore. Need equipment or repairs, no problem, Brainerd is the home of the Minnesota School of Diving.
  6. Take a geocaching adventure 
    Instead of fighting with the kids about getting off their phones take them geocaching where they can use their phones to explore the area while going on a treasure hunt. Geocaching is quickly gaining in popularity as it blends the use of technology with explore nature. The Brainerd Lakes Area hosts hundreds of caches on scenic trails, parks, and even in town.

Fifteen reasons why we #lovebrainerd in the fall especially with the weather cooperating to let us hold on to summer. Be sure to stay at one of our great Brainerd/Baxter hotels or indoor water parks for comfort, convenience, and centralized access to the entire Brainerd Lakes Area.