Brainerd, Minnesota

Brainerd is located in the geographical center of Minnesota, along the Mississippi River, in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The city of 13,178 is the seat of Crow Wing County. Originally a railroad town, today, Brainerd's economy is diverse, and includes tourism, manufacturing, forest and wood products producers, and more. Brainerd is located 64 miles (103 kilometers) north of St. Cloud, 115 miles (185 kilometers) southwest of Duluth, and 132 miles (213 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis.

Fans of folk tales and legends – and anyone who lives around Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin, and Northwestern Ontario – will know that Brainerd is one of the communities claiming the great woodsman, Paul Bunyan, and his blue ox, Babe! Brainerd has a statue of Bunyan at Paul Bunyan Land at This Old Farm Pioneer Village. And the Paul Bunyan Trail, great for walking, biking, blading, or snowmobiling, stretches from Brainerd 100 miles (161 kilometers) down to Bemidji, another community that figures big in Paul Bunyan lore.

Brainerd is a four season community, with January highs averaging 19F (-7C) and July highs averaging 81F (27C). A great place to get outdoors in town, is at the Northland Arboretum, which encompasses 500 acres (202 hectares) and has 12 miles (20 kilometers) of trails. Brainerd Lakes Area is home to hundreds of lakes and vast tracts of forest, and some places to enjoy the great outdoors include: Pillsbury State Forest, located eight miles (13 kilometers) to the west; Crow Wing State Park, located nine miles (14 kilometers) to the south; Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, located 15 miles (24 kilometers) to the northeast; and Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast. In the winter, there are opportunities for ice fishing on area lakes, there are many areas for cross-country skiing, and there is downhill skiing less than a half-hour drive north at Ski Gull.

Finally, are you under the mistaken belief that there's no golfing in central Minnesota? I hope not! Brainerd Golf Trail is considered one of the top 50 golf destinations in the world, and includes 300+ holes of golf on 17 sites.

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