Grand View Lodge is awarded Top 150 U.S. Mainland Resorts from Conde Nast Traveler's Readers.

Nisswa-based, Grand View Lodge has been awarded the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award for the top 150 U.S. Mainland Resorts.  Determined by a survey administered to all readers, winning hotels are rated on a variety of criteria, including Food/Dining, Location, Overall Design, Rooms, and Service.

“Receiving Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award means a great deal to us at Grand View Lodge,” said Mark Ronnei, general manager at Grand View Lodge.  “We strive to always provide our guests with the best, so being recognized by them for doing so is a huge honor.”

According to Condé Nast Traveler, these awards reflect the combined opinions of 28,876 readers rating the cities, islands and hotels they visited in the past year, and the airlines and cruise ships they traveled with. Stretching from Palm Beach to New Paltz, Grand View Lodge, the only Minnesota property to be honored, is among a list that profiles the country’s best places to stay, no matter the traveler.

Grand View Lodge is home to year-round offerings that include the luxurious Glacial Waters Spa, first-class wine tastings and culinary events located in the resort’s exclusive wine cellar, extensive kids programs and cozy cabins.  In the winter, there’s dog sledding, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.  In the summer, the resort fills with guests taking advantage of the property’s three championship golf courses (named as one of the top 125 Golf Resorts in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2011 Reader’s Poll), water activities and the views of beautiful Gull and Roy Lakes.  Furthermore, Grand View Lodge is equipped with the impressive Gull Lake Center with meeting rooms for all sizes as well as a Grand Ballroom, serving as the perfect backdrop for weddings and special events.

 This award, as well as the rest of Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice winners, can be seen online. To keep up with Grand View Lodge’s latest news, events and special promotions please visit the resort on Facebook and become a fan.  For additional resort information and to find out about vacation packages visit www.grandviewlodge.com or call 1-866-801-2951.

Golf Magazine's Gold Medal Award was awarded to Grand View Lodge again this year.

“We are thrilled that we have been selected as a Gold Medal Award winner two years in a row,” said Mark Ronnei, general manager at Grand View Lodge. “We are dedicated to providing quality golf and accommodations and are proud to be recognized as a premier golf and vacation destination.”

Under Golf Magazine’s guidelines, voters judge the properties on four criteria, including golf, lodging, food and drink, and service. The quality of golf accounts for 40 percent, with 20 percent allocated to each of the other categories. The golf criteria includes hole variety, course condition, course maintenance and the value of the pro-shop. The resort’s accommodations, such as room décor and non-golf recreation, are also considered in the selection process.

Grand View Lodge offers resort golf through a variety of packages or vacation options, a day of golf or single golf game on four distinct courses, including The Pines, The Preserve, Deacon’s Lodge and The Garden. The Pines, which is currently being renovated to include new tee boxes, rock walls and other features, provides three 9-hole courses in Minnesota’s rich forest landscape. The Preserve melds golf and nature in an 18-hole, par 72 championship course placed within forests and wetlands. It features beautiful views from eleven elevated tees. Deacon’s Lodge, designed by Arnold Palmer, is a par 72, championship course featuring 18-holes and Bentgrass greens, tees and fairways. It spans across 500 acres of forest, wetlands and lakes. The Garden, originally created in the 1930’s, is located on the main grounds and provides a relaxing 9-hole, par 35 course.

In celebration, Grand View is offering the Gold Medal Award Weekend package for only $299 per person, May 4^th – 6^th. This weekend includes two nights deluxe accommodations, one round of golf at each of our three championship courses, breakfast each morning, and a Friday and Saturday dinner buffet at Freddy’s Grille. For more information about golfing at Grand View Lodge, click here. For additional resort information and to find out about vacation and package options, visit www.grandviewlodge.com or call 1-866-801-2951 to book the Gold Medal Award Weekend package.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. While most will be caught up with hosting parties, others who would rather skip straight to the marshmallow toasting and caroling out in the snow will have the opportunity to do so with Grand View Lodge’s winter activities.  While Old Man Winter is often not welcome in other places, Grand View Lodge looks forward to that first snowfall and it’s not hard to see why.  From dog sled rides along Minnesota’s wintry landscape to cross country skiing through scenic trails, it’s hard to hibernate with the variety of options available.

There is something for everyone here. Families can grab an old fashioned sleigh ride taking them over the meadow and through the woods to one of Northern Minnesota’s most spectacular views, or, for the more daring, bundle up for ice fishing, snowmobiling or a snowshoe adventure. Furthermore, just down the road at Ski Gull, our Grand View Lodge guests can receive 15% off tubing, skiing, snowboarding and rentals then come back to the Lodge to cozy up with baking, crafts, a crackling fire or mug of hot cocoa.

Winter is the prime time for a unique Minnesota vacation, no matter your interests; you’ll find plenty of indoor and outdoor activities that satisfy both the winter enthusiast and the cold naysayer, for your next winter retreat at Grand View Lodge.

There is nothing more Minnesotan than eating fresh walleye caught from one of our sparkling 10,000 lakes.  If you are going through summer fish fry withdrawal, Grand View Lodge has a winter special incorporating our favorite fishy friend, Walleye Chowder.  If you can’t make it up to see us, at least we can bring a little bit of Grand View to you. Enjoy!

Click here to download the 4X6 recipe card for your use! Check www.grandviewlodge.com for the Resort’s latest culinary and wine experiences.

Teaming with our restaurant, Cru, Grand View Lodge invites our guests to experience the romance beginning with an intimate dinner at Cru featuring its extensive wine cellar, followed by a champagne toast while you and that special someone are whisked away through the property’s majestic landscape.  Whether you are celebrating an anniversary, trying to impress a first date, surprising your sweetheart or just looking to enjoy a moonlit ride through gently falling snow, un Cheval is the perfect ride to make your evening très magnifique!

We know, we know, getting out of work is tough and you only have so many vacation days… but no worries, here at Grand View, we are making it easy for you to do both. This winter, we are introducing the Lil’ Grand View Lodge on Gull, a creative meeting place where you can actually mix work and play.
That is the idea, at least, behind this newest addition, which is a unique high-tech ice fishing house where Grand View Lodge guests can plot business strategies while jigging for walleye through two feet of frozen lake.

With the look and feel of the property’s rustic lake cabins, the heated 8-by-16 foot conference center features wireless internet, a 32” flat screen LCD with Direct TV, DVD player (fully equipped with a plethora of fishing videos), microwave oven, sink with running water and a fully functioning private restroom.  Soon to be located on Gull Lake, the house sleeps eight using fold-down beds, and has eight fishing holes with lines affixed to the cabin’s built-in seating.

A Plexiglas conference tabletop suspended by cables and attached to a set of pulleys can be raised and lowered as needed. The rest of the decor reflects Grand View Lodge’s “up North” style. The exterior is constructed of hand-carved, insulated white pine logs, reflecting the traditional northern setting, and at 128 square feet, it’s more than twice the size of a typical fish house.

Fisherman or not, the Lil’ Grand View Lodge on Gull offers its guests a unique meeting place that spawns creative thinking and where, even if you work late, are still able to catch dinner.

Although originating from the Bordeaux region of France, Malbec only found its fame in the sun-drenched climate of Argentina.  This is Argentina’s signature grape and it is quickly making a name for itself with red wine lovers.

Gascon Malbec, Terrazas Reserva, Trivento Reserva are other Malbecs Cru carries.

Grand View Lodge’s newest dining venue, Cru, is featuring Famiglia Meschini’s Malbec Reserva 2009. This wine represents a very authentic style of Malbecs from Argentina.  Full-bodied and fruit forward yet plenty of depth, the taste has a very smooth integration of oak into flavors of plums and blackberry.  The round tannins and the earthly, wood-like appeal make for a fairly rustic, yet versatile wine.  A classic Malbec is a great accompaniment with red meat; consider giving Famiglia a try with roasts, grilled meats, stews, and duck, or come into Cru and we will walk you through how to pair featured wines with our extensive menu.

Enjoy a relaxing massage while you're at Glacial Waters.

Winter skin is often dry and flaky; our trained therapists will rejuvenate and replenish dull skin through deep exfoliation then gently wrap you in warm blankets as you let your body succumb to the natural benefits of seasonal organic ingredients.  While your skin goes through this transformation, relax in the serenity of Glacial Water’s calming atmosphere, forget about the temperatures that await you and immerse yourself in the warmth and healing being performed. Pay homage to your body and reconnect with nature’s calm, Glacial Water’s treatments will hydrate your body and revive your mind.

For a full listing of treatments available visit Glacial Waters Spa.

Out of thousands of qualified properties and organizations, Grand View Lodge was among the few chosen by readers as one of the top meeting hotels in North America. According to the press release issued by Smart Meetings, “winners earn this recognition by setting exemplary standards in a range of categories, including ambience, amenities, breadth of resources, facility quality, guest services, meeting space, meeting packages, recreational activities, restaurant and dining facilities, staff attitude and technical support.”

“It is always an honor when our guests are the ones who acknowledge our service and amenities as outstanding,” said Mark Ronnei, general manager at Grand View Lodge. “We strive to make our customers’ stay special. Whether it be for a meeting, special occasion, or pure leisure, we want them to leave feeling they received the best of everything, and this award just further confirms we are doing something right.”

Marin Bright, founder and publisher of Smart Meetings

“Our 2011 winners set the bar high in every way, not the least of which is having staff with a positive, can-do attitude that allows them to exceed expectations across the board,” said Marin Bright, founder and publisher of Smart Meetings.

Winners were chosen by readers, who voted for their favorites over a two-month period, with additional input from editors and industry experts.

Grand View Lodge will be part of an elite group of honorees celebrated in the December issue of Smart Meetings magazine and on its website, smartmeetings.com. To keep up with Grand View Lodge’s latest news, events and special promotions please visit the resort on Facebook and become a fan. For additional resort information and to find out about meeting and event spaces, visit www.grandviewlodge.com or call 1-866-801-2951.

About Grand View Lodge
Grand View Lodge is a family, golf and spa resort located on Gull Lake in the Brainerd lakes area. Since 1919, Grand View Lodge has provided guests vacation experiences with a wide variety of restaurants, seasonal activities and lodging options. Owned and operated by the Cote family, Grand View Lodge has Grand View Lodge has provided guests with relaxing vacation experiences for more than 90 years. Its roots grow deep in the history of the Brainerd Lakes area. Selected in 1979 for the National Registry of Historic Places. Grand View Lodge’s Main Lodge offers one of the most well-preserved examples of early resort log construction in existence today. For more information, please visit www.grandviewlodge.com.

About Smart Meetings
Smart Meetings is published monthly, in print, digitally and online, by Bright Business Media, LLC, a multimedia company based in Sausalito, Calif. BBM also hosts smartmeetings.com, an award-winning, interactive website, and produces The Smart Meeting and The Smart Mart, live events connecting meeting planners with hoteliers and destination representatives.

Preparing for culinary creations with Chef Mike Shannon from COCH

In response to a growing demand, Grand View Lodge Resort in Nisswa, Minnesota, has announced its plans to host a second culinary weekend with its partner, Cooks of Crocus Hill, on the weekend of September 16-18, offering seasonal inspired cooking education and demonstrations as well as an intimate wine dinner.

“Because of the success experienced the first time around, we were anxious to invite Cooks of Crocus Hill and their expertise back to the Lodge,” said Mark Ronnei, general manager at Grand View Lodge. “Food and wine is such an important aspect of our resort, this weekend further emphasizes this by allowing our guests another point of view; giving them the opportunity to celebrate and learn about the art of food.”

Aligning with the theme, “Harvest Table,” the weekend will kick off with an introduction to olive oil tasting and demonstration class where Cooks of Crocus Hill Chef, Mike Shannon, will teach guests how to prepare a colorful and flavorful harvest frittata and green salad, introducing guests to preparation skills and ingredient information using Grand View’s kitchens and dining areas.

Later in the afternoon, Cooks of Crocus Hill and Grand View Lodge will pair up for a mid-afternoon snack, teaching guests how to make a variety of bruschetta, while enjoying a signature smoke-infused Bloody Mary.

A wine dinner will culminate the day’s events with a final cooking demonstration and wine pairing among the Lodge’s newest dining experience, CRU. Participants will enjoy discussions about wine distinctions and trends along an elaborate three course meal created and demoed by Cooks and prepared by Grand View Lodge Executive Chef, Mike Manders.

“We are very much looking forward to returning to Grand View Lodge for this second event,” said Karl Benson co-owner of Cooks of Crocus Hill. “Just like we started the summer off in May, we can’t think of a better way to ease into Fall than with great food that represents the changing of the season.”

For more information on how to sign up for the Grand View Lodge Cooks of Crocus Hill weekend, please visit www.grandviewlodge.com or www.cooksofcrocushill.com. Space is limited, so reservations are on a first come, first serve basis.

To keep up with Grand View Lodge’s latest culinary news, events and special promotions please visit the resort on Facebook and become a fan. For additional resort information and to find out about vacation and food and wine packages, visit www.grandviewlodge.com or call 1-866-801-2951. To book direct for the Cooks of Crocus package click here. http://www.grandviewlodge.com/pages/FallPackages/