Lakeland Fun in North-Central Minnesota

North-central Minnesota's resort country is a land of tall tales: leviathan lumberjacks, wily shoppers and golfers who lament the hole-in-one that got away. The area from Brainerd (125 miles northwest of the Twin Cities) to Detroit Lakes (200 miles northwest) to Bemidji (225 miles northwest) is a magnet for families looking to create their own vacation legends.

Year-round outdoor recreation in this land of lakes and forest is a natural, but the area also offers great shopping, festivals and other diversions. Lodgings run the gamut from rustic cabins to all-inclusive luxury resorts.

Click ahead to read about some of our favorite Lakeland experiences. Want to share yours? Leave a comment below.

Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce

Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism

Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce

Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

Visit Bemidji

A partnership among 10 area courses, the Brainerd Golf Trail's 180 holes run through a unique blend of forests and lakes. Look for special packages through resorts and hotels (brainerdgolftrail.com).

Considered a premier area for golfers, central Minnesota offers many other courses as well; click on the Minnesota Golf link below for a listing by region.

Brainerd Golf Trail

Minnesota Golf

Old-fashioned carnival rides might not impress the thrill-seeking set, but they will keep the little ones (and kitsch-hunters) happy. A lumberjack greets kids at the entrance. In Brainerd. paulbunyanland.com

A 110-mile converted rail bed goes from Brainerd north to Bemidji. Bikers and strollers fill the level, surfaced route of the Paul Bunyan Trail in summer. Snowmobilers zip past in winter, braking for hot drinks in the area's small towns. Plenty of rental places dot the 110-mile trail (paulbunyantrail.com).

Paul Bunyan Trail

Just 15 miles northwest of Brainerd, Nisswa hosts the weird and wonderful Wednesday afternoon turtle races, a tradition that draws crowds (pictured). Youngsters can rent turtles or bring their own and feverishly urge them on, while onlookers cheer. nisswa.com

Nisswa also offers several good choices for shopping and restaurants. Cool off with an ice cream cone at The Chocolate Ox or try handmade scones and a cup of strong joe at StoneHouse Coffee and Roastery. Lundrigans Clothing sells casual, up-north resort wear; Turtle Town Books and Gifts offers children's books, puzzles and toys.

Tucked among north-central Minnesota's trees and lakes, you'll find generations-old resorts built around screen-door cabins and a refusal to gentrify. Downtown Detroit Lakes (population: 8,100) features a mile-long beach near streets of everyday shops, not just gift stores. Throw in simple pleasures such as waterskiing lessons, a huge flea market and a county fair, and you don't get much more Parent Trap (Hayley Mills version) than this— and that's why people love it. Pictured: Detroit Lakes' Fair Hills Resort.

Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce

Read about Midwest Living's trip to Detroit Lakes

About 18 miles northeast of Detroit Lakes, this 43,000-acre sanctuary, in the transition zone between northern hardwood and coniferous forests, has more than 250 species of birds and 50 types of mammals. A visitors' center overlooks marshland and has exhibits and a theater presentation about area wildlife. Explore the refuge on a 5-mile self-guided scenic drive and or hiking trails. fws.gov/refuge/tamarac

Twenty miles north of Park Rapids, old-growth forest holds the burbling, clear source of the Mississippi river. Most people come to Itasca State Park to walk the Mississippi headwaters, but the forest's massive pines, sparkling Lake Itasca and miles of hiking trails and paved bike paths might steal the show. Visit both the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center and the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center, which offer exhibits, maps and gift shops. dnr.state.mn.us

Popular Leech Lake is part of the Chippewa National Forest (east of Bemidji), a 1.6-million-acre swath of lakes, wetlands and forests. Activities in this vast area include hiking, biking, fishing, berry picking, boating and eagle-spotting. fs.usda.gov

About 100 miles north of Brainerd, this town of 13,000 is the northern gateway to the Paul Bunyan Trail. Visitors to Bemidji come for the abundant outdoor recreation -- as well as to see the iconic statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox next to the visitors center along Lake Bemidji. visitbemidji.com Another popular stop is Bemidji Woolen Mills, an 88-year-old company that sells lumberjack gear and other woolens. bemidjiwoolenmills.com

Summertime festivals celebrate blueberries, raspberries and other Minnesota bounty. And there are many places for visitors to pick berries and buy locally grown, fresh produce. The free Minnesota Grown Directory lists nearly 800 farms and markets that sell berries, wild rice, fresh milk and eggs. You can also browse the website for farms to visit, searching by city or ZIP code, product or service, or seasonal favorites. minnesotagrown.com