Star Tribune Names Grand View Lodge to 2013 “Best of Minnesota” List

 Grand View Lodge recognized as Minnesota’s “Best Kid’s Resort” 

Grand View Lodge was named to Star Tribune’s 2013 Best of Minnesota list in the category “Best Kid’s Resort.” With over 100 categories, from the best Minnesota getaways and fitness activities to the best food and drink, Star Tribune’s Best of Minnesota awards highlight businesses and destinations that stand out as the best Minnesota has to offer. 

“We are very thrilled to receive this award, as the children that visit Grand View Lodge play a very big role in our guest experience,” said Andrew Huebner, Director of Resort Amenities. “We make every effort to expose our young guests to all of our resort offerings such as golf, tennis or water sports while they stay with us. We believe this is the very essence of our mission of creating memories that will last a lifetime.”

While Grand View Lodge is a premier golf and spa destination, generations of guests have returned time and time again for it’s activities offered all four-seasons – from the Kid’s Club and Adventure Club, which offers supervised daily children’s programs for guests ages 3-12, to the activities for all ages such as dog sledding, paddleboard yoga or the Star Tribune’s Best Off-Road Cycling pick for 2013 – The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails.

The Best of Minnesota listings were thoughtfully selected by the 265 Star Tribune journalists who comprise Minnesota’s largest newsroom and subscription base.

“Our beat reporters, cultural critics and lifestyle experts are able to provide measured and thoughtful reasons for designating our Best of Minnesota winners, as they cover these topics day in and day out,” said Nancy Barnes, editor and senior vice president of Star Tribune.

The complete Best of Minnesota listing was featured in the May 19 Star Tribune newspaper, which is distributed state-wide, and is also featured on StarTribune.com, which is visited by more than two and a half million Minnesotans every month.

Grand View Lodge and Brainerd Lakes Area to host 2014 Governor’s Fishing Opener

It’s official – the 67^th Annual Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener event will be held at Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake and will be highlighting the Brainerd Lakes Area, May 8-11, 2014.

While the governor’s fishing opener has been a Minnesota tradition since 1948, the last time it was last held at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa was in 1976. “The Fishing Opener will provide a great fishing experience and a glimpse into all that there is to see and do, ranging from world-class golfing to extreme mountain biking, in this outdoor paradise of the Brainerd Lakes Area,” said Mark Ronnei, Grand View Lodge General Manager.

With Minnesota’s hospitality and leisure industry grossing $11.9 billion annually, the fishing opener is just one of many Minnesota traditions that will help boost the area’s success next year and hopefully years to come.

As the 100 year anniversary of Grand View Lodge is right around the corner, this event has the opportunity to bring in “300 plus media personalities to the grounds of Grand View Lodge to cover not only the Fishing Opener, but also highlight the area’s long standing history,” said Frank Soukup, Director of Marketing at Grand View Lodge.

The theme for the event is a Grand Fishing Opener. Steve Mau, owner of Brainerd General Rental, and Soukup, are serving as co-chairs of fishing opener and Nate Grotzke, of Close-Converse Real Estate, is a sponsor chairman. “The Grand Fishing Opener will be a great way to pull the community together with a state-wide event while showcasing the great staff and amenities that Grand View Lodge and the area has to offer,” said Soukup.

While the Grand Fishing Opener committees and activities will be decided over the next couple of months, there are several known activities that are guaranteed to be a component of the exciting weekend. Grand View Lodge will be offering a golf tournament at the Pines Golf Course, as well as host the Shore Luncheon, Kids Fishing Tournament and the actual Governor’s Fishing Event on it’s beautiful, sandy shores. In addition, the Community Picnic will be held in Nisswa, supported by hundreds of volunteers with the ability to provide and serve a free Community Picnic and showcase downtown Nisswa in an evening celebration.

For more information, please click here to see our interactive Grand Fishing Opener Magazine.

The MN Monthly All-You-Can-Spa in a Day!

In cooperation with our friends at MN Monthly Magazine, Grand View Lodge will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Glacial Waters Spa with the most amazing package focused on indulgence, relaxation, and refreshing of your skin, face and body from the harsh elements of winter.

This weekday only spa package is available April 14 through May 23 and offers unlimited 50-minute services from several categories – facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, body therapies and make-up application with their new make-up line, Jane Iredale.

Whether you want to make a getaway out of it, or just come for the day, the All You Can Spa package is available for guests Monday through Thursday. For those that want to spa and stay, the package is available for $319 per person and includes 2 nights deluxe lodging with breakfast buffet daily AND your one-day of 50-minute unlimited spa services. If you can only getaway for the day, the package is available for $250 per person, which includes your 50-minute unlimited spa services.

With spring right around the corner, Glacial Water Spa also is changing their hours!  It will now be open Monday through Wednesday 9a.m.-7p.m., Thursday 10a.m.-7p.m., Friday and Saturday 8:30a.m.-8p.m., and Sunday 9a.m.-5p.m. Make sure you stop in and check out all their new specials, products and their recently released make-up line, Jane Iredale.

 For more information, or to book this celebratory spa package, please call (218) 963-2234 or 866-801-2951. Rejuvenate your skin and body from the harsh winter and get it ready for long, warm days of spring!

Mountain Biking the Brainerd Lakes Area

Discover a whole new way to explore the beautiful, Brainerd Lakes Area with a “not-so-new technology” – the mountain bike.

While the origins of the mountain bike have been claimed to come from the mid-1800’s when Colorado’s Buffalo Soldiers tested the bicycle for military use in mountainous terrain, it has now a modern day Minnesota recreation favorite. According to PedalMN.com, biking in Minnesota generates more than 1 billion dollars, as much revenue as hunting and snowmobiling – combined.

While Minnesota is riddled with lakes and forests, it also offers hundreds of miles of paved and procured trail ways out of the 1,500 miles of paved bike trails in the state and is a landmark for several of the states best biking trails! Click here to view Brainerd & Baxter’s Mountain Biking Guide.

The Paul Bunyan State Trail runs more than 100 miles from the trailhead in Baxter to Bemidji and has bragging rights for being the longest paved bike trail in Minnesota. Along the 112-mile stretch, are many pit stop areas for swimming, picnics or to rest and enjoy the nature of northern Minnesota. The trail also goes directly through several communities, offering some of the best camping, lodging and dining in central Minnesota. The Paul Bunyan is the perfect trail for a leisure-filled ride with friends and family. Click here for a map of the bike trail.

On the Cuyuna Range, you will find the newly opened Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Biking Trail system that dips, dives and weaves across more than 800 acres of the Cuyuna Recreation Area, located just outside of Crosby.  These trails are not for the weak at heart – it will be sure to get your heart pumping and adrenaline rushing. The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail offers over six miles of paved trail as well. There are also a variety of historical points of interest scattered along the trails. Click here for a map of the bike trails available!

During the spring months, mountain biking is an excellent way to explore the outdoors and see the emerging wildlife and blossoming foliage as winter melts away. Grand View will be once again offering it’s weekly scheduled mountain biking excursions, complimentary to guests. If you don’t have a bike of your own, you can use of Grand View’s bikes,  or rent bikes, gear and accessories from our local providers for you next trek! All ages, level of experience and actual physical fitness ability are invited to join! So gear up and get movin’! Let’s ride!

The Woods – Reclaimed!

After celebrating the 20th anniversary of the opening on the Pines in 2010, renovation plans were laid for the golf course. From 2011 through 2012, a transformation took place at The Pines—starting with the Lakes 9— reconstructed tee boxes on all nine holes, scenic rock walls, added yardage and major enhancements to the property’s signature hole, Lakes 7.  In the fall of 2012 the Woods underwent a similar renovation and had impressive results.

The first major change was the reconstruction of all main tee boxes and leveling of all the other tees. All the cart paths have been resurfaced for a smoother ride through the course. The removal of several trees has opened up sightlines and allows for better sunlight and air movement around the tees. This spring, the pond on #3 will be expanded and the team will be leveling the rough on a number of holes, as well.

 “Players will definitely notice the much larger main tees, particularly on the par threes. By removing a number of trees and opening them up to sunlight, the larger tees will give us the ability to maintain a better teeing surface,” said Mike Bohnenstingl, Director of Golf Maintenance. “The tees have been squared off and re-aligned to the fairways, as well.  The pond on #3 is being enlarged to bring it more into view from the tee, and offer players a more scenic challenge to that hole.”

Golfers ready to challenge The Woods will have to wait till Memorial Day weekend, which is the projected completion date if everything goes as planned. “We are always about the experience at Grand View and we want to make sure that the course is ready to be fully played at its best potential when opened,” said Bohnenstingl.

Grand Opening of The Woods will take place during the 22nd Annual Fred-Mark Charity Invitational, taking place Monday, May 27th through Tuesday, May 28th at the property’s championship courses, The Pines and The Preserve.  Proceeds from this event will benefit Bridges of Hope, a faith-based nonprofit organization, which links families to community supports and resources. The two-day tournament will feature putting contests, tee prizes, and a silent and live auction with some great items including sporting event tickets, resort stays, memorabilia and leisure packages.

Pasta Carbonara from Cru Wine Bar

Be inspired to create something new in the kitchen this spring! This delicious Pasta Carbonara has been a guest favorite at Cru, Grand View’s Bistro and Wine Bar, and is a soon-to-be family favorite in your household. Just click here to print out the recipe cards.  Happy Spring from all of us here at Grand View Lodge!

Spring in Central Minnesota

As the saying goes, “April Showers bring May Flowers, “ and with any luck, the hope for warm weather, blue skies and the smell of flowers and trees blossoming will soon become a reality. And as the days grow longer, so do the amount of activities and events in central Minnesota.

An exciting way to kick off spring is to grab the fishing pole, a bag of shiners and head to the lake for the annual fishing opener, set for May 11, 2013. What makes the area perfect for fishing opener is that Gull Lake ranks as one of the top ten walleye lakes in the state of Minnesota. Not only that, but since 1959, the Nisswa Chamber’s Welcome Wannigan serves hot coffee and donuts to the fishermen on Gull Lake boat to boat. Traditionally, Miss Nisswa also is on board the pontoon—rain, shine or snow—¬to welcome the fishermen!

Another exciting event is the May 11th Nisswa Shop, Drop and Stroll – a day where shopping and supporting a good cause are fused together! The day kicks off at 10a.m. and runs through 5p.m. where attendees can shop their favorite stores and stroll the streets where they will enjoy treats, discounts and giveaways. All that is required is to drop a non-perishable food item to the Nisswa Chamber office to show support for the Lakes Area Food Shelf (cash donations accepted as well). For more information, please visit the Nisswa Chamber.

 If you love food and wine, then this April 4 through May 9, Grand View Lodge is the place to be! In cooperation with Minnesota Monthly Magazine, our Fork-N-Cork package is back for spring! Join us for 2 nights lodging, a delicious breakfast each morning, a bottle of Grand View’s Signature Wine, and a $200 Dining Card for our fabulous dining venues or wine tasting classes.  Packages start at only $299 per two people, for two nights. Additional nights start at $79 per two people. To book your spring wine and culinary experience, please call (866) 801-2951 today to reserve this limited time experience.

No matter what your fancy is, there is always something going on this spring at Grand View or in the area. Check out the Grand Offers page and the Nisswa Chamber to find the perfect spring getaway for you!