1. Go to a game- High Schools’ weekly have soccer and football games throughout the duration of Fall. Cheer on your team and grab a cup of coffee to stay warm while enjoying the game.
2. Take a scenic walk- In the Brainerd Lakes Area you could always find a park, the Northland Arboretum (for a fee if you’re a non-member), or the Paul Bunyan Trail. Within all these areas lie many different species of trees, of which most differentiate in color greatly during the months of Fall.
3. Visit the Farm on St. Mathias- At the Farm there is a corn maze for adults and children, a tractor ride and a shop which you may purchase souvenirs & produce. Open September 15th- October 28th, on Saturday’s from 10am-6pm and Sunday’s from 12pm-5pm.
4. Visit a Museum- The Crow Wing County Museum is a great place to stop by on a day where the weather may not be going your way. Dive into the local history of the Railroad and logging industries, which helped bring people to the area.
5. Attend a harvest festival- Oktoberfest is a thing celebrated greatly throughout Minnesota, and locally we have Deerwood celebrating their way on Oct. 18-20. Check out the schedule of events for more info at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge website.
6. Local drinks- Visit Jack Pine Brewery to taste their take on an Oktoberfest beer, as well as some of the many other local breweries to see what’s brewing.
7. Attend Halloween Events-You could head to the Northland Arboretum on the 18th-19th from 7pm-9pm for a 1.5 mile walk full of good scares and costumes. You also may head to Paul Bunyan Land on October 11th-12th, 18th-19th, 25th-26th from 7mp-10pm for something that will scare the yell out of you.
8. Go Grouse Hunting- Throughout the fall in Minnesota there are many opportunities to hunt a vast variety of animals. The Brainerd Lakes Area offers plenty of state forests, wildlife management areas and county land in which the grouse thrives in. Leaving plenty of birds for everyone to get in on the fun.