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Fall in the upper Midwest is often seen as a time to pack away the summer toys and take in the delights that come with the change of seasons. Taking the kids apple picking or a romantic fall colors getaway takes the place of time spent on the water.  However, one of the most over looked opportunities is fall fishing.   As the lakes cool down in October they begin to turn over, bringing many of the monster fish out of their deep ... More
Owning a cabin at the lake is truly a satisfying feeling. How does Fractional Real Estate maximize your enjoyment and satisfaction? After saving, shopping and sacrificing for many years to buy your cabin at the lake – don’t you think you deserve something really special? Fractional Real Estate assures that you will get something really special. How is this so? Consider for a moment two different cabin owners, each who spent ... More
Newlyweds basking in the glow of love together experiencing all the newness of being first married, by yourselves, having your own place, thinking about the future, dreaming about the adventures you may have together... reminiscing about how you started dating, the first introduction by your sister, the spark and then the conversation goes… Did you go to camp? Yeah, I went to some Bible camp over in Wisconsin, called Wapo when I was ... More
Christmas Eve, 1940, Uncle Sam called my father, Dr. L.G. Idstrom, to report for duty in the U.S. Army. His final orders came on November 1, 1941, Fort Snelling. We moved back to Minneapolis, and on December 3, 1941, my brother, John, was born four days before Pearl Harbor! I finished third grade in Minneapolis even though Dad was transferred to Camp Crowder, Missouri. In May, we were on the move again, this time to Neosho, Missouri, ... More
A certain percentage of lake shore properties in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin are essentially family legacies, handed down from generation to generation. These cabins and lots are not only set in beautiful and peaceful places – they also have years (even sometimes many decades), of precious family memories attached to them. In such cases, the lakeshore dream is not only about owning your own up-north vacation. It is about ... More
Ron Schara is a writer and television personality, including host of Minnesota Bound, who has been sharing stories with readers and viewers for four decades. He brings to life the joys of living the outdoors through nature watching, fishing, hunting, camping and the like. Ron’s introduction and knowledge of the outdoors began as a boy growing up in a small town, Postville, located in the rugged northeast corner of Iowa. Ron has been ... More
Many of us think when winter comes to the northern states, we can only hibernate and slowly begin to dream of our vacations for next summer. Actually, there are many all-season vacation spots within a short driving distance that can provide a fun filled vacation for the entire family. From water parks and snowmobiling trails to bear, moose and wolves, from ice fishing to bird watching, from sleigh rides to dog mushing – it’s all ... More
The forests and woodlands of the Upper Midwest will soon explode into a vast and breathtaking myriad of color. Whether traveling north, south, east or west you will be amazed at the brilliant hues that have been created by nature’s paintbrush. Be sure to take a few days to relax and enjoy the majesty of the forests as well as the beauty of our lakes and rivers.   Following the Mississippi Nature has provided the perfect tour guide ... More
Visualize “If you are going to dream, dream big.” When it comes to making choices for your home, the advice to dreaming “big” is priority. Most of us start out with rather humble beginnings, out on our own, purchasing our first home. As the years progress, a dream for the future evolves around careers and children, during which time we put the plans for our dream into action. Taking shape in many different ways, each person’s ... More
Jason Davis, an award winning broadcast journalist, has been informing and captivating viewers since he first started in television news in 1964. As host of KSTP’s “On the Road,” Jason shares positive stories about interesting people and fun destinations. Jason was born in London, England and lives with his wife of 40 years in the Wisconsin countryside, he is the father of four grown children, and has six (soon to be seven) ... More
In 1922, Ralph Samuelson from Minnesota thought that Skiing could also be done in water. His first few attempts were unsuccessful. He used barrel staves and tried being pulled by a boat. When this did not work, he used Snow Skis, all to no avail. At this point, he decided to make his own pair of skis that would enable him to effectively ski on water. He managed to make skis out of two 8x9 inch boards in which he attached leather straps to ... More
Learning to water ski successfully depends on two things; what you do while you’re in the water, and while you rising out of it. Unfortunately, it isn’t as simple as strapping on two skis and hammering down the throttle. But if you can follow a few tips listed below, I can assure you that you’ll spend more time out of the water, than in it.   Starting Position Guidelines: Sit in a chair The chair position is the ... More
Modern waterski and wakeboard boats offer more performance, quality and ease of use than ever before. Like the ski boats of years past they provide the utmost in wake quality by putting out soft and flat slalom wakes for waterskiers and large rampy wakes for wakeboarders and wakesurfers. However, modern ski boats have evolved into so much more. They provide more room, smoother rides and many other amenities never before thought possible. With ... More
There are very few areas in the nation that can compare with the beauty of northeastern Minnesota’s breathtaking scenery and clear, calming lakes. Located in the heart of this natural wonderland at Biwabik, Minn., is Giants Ridge, a top quality golf and ski resort. In fact, Golf magazine has rated Giants Ridge as a Premier Resort for 2010! Densely wooded hills, glassy, clear lakes and rolling, scenic golf courses all blend together to ... More
Families today have more options than ever before. Although, most families are limited by time, what they choose to do with that time is a buffet of movies, museums, picnics, parks, classes, vacations, and so much more. With all of these options, why should families choose camp?   Camp is an experiential education like no other. Children and youth learn life lessons like independence, leadership, and self-confidence in an environment ... More
A stable of Minnesota organizations is succeeding at  introducing young people to golf, which is making the world a better place one golfer, and caddie, at a time. It wasn’t all that long ago when many kids and teenagers didn’t have access to the game of golf. About the only kids who had a chance to play were those lucky enough to be members at a country club, or those who had a parent or adult to introduce them to the ... More
Most camps offer a general program of outdoor activities of hiking, swimming, sports and games, arts and crafts, and nature awareness. Some camps have special emphasis on programs such as horseback riding, water sports, music, or adventure challenge activities. While camps provide facilities and services for a broad range of children, youth, and adults, some camps provide services to special groups: There are programs for seniors, ... More
We know it’ll happen. The walleye season opener in May signals the time for warm weather and everything bites. That is, if we can fire up the outboard.  Boat problems do occur; most are self-inflicted. The cause for these break-downs (or not starting or not running smoothly) was explained by Pete Johnston, service manager at Bay Lake Marine. He said, “At least 90 percent of the problems are caused by ... More
I understand that Fractional Real Estate is real estate subdivided by time, how is it different from a timeshare? Fractional Real Estate is found throughout the United States and the world. In Minnesota, Fractional Real Estate is governed by the Subdivided Lands Act  – even though it is real estate subdivided by Time. Whenever the word “Time” and “Real Estate” appear in the same sentence, the ... More
Unique summer experience even more valuable in this summer’s down economy It’s common knowledge that summer camps are a place where children can have the time of their lives, but it’s not just the kids who stand to benefit. This summer, 1.2 million young adults across the country have joined the ranks of camp counselors and staff and are developing a pretty impressive – and wide-ranging – set of skills, ... More
You are considering a summer camp, but how to choose? There’s a camp that is ideally suited for every child, providing a summer of growth and fun whether your child attends a day or overnight camp, a specialized or traditional camp. With a little help from the camp professionals at the American Camp Association, here’s some sound advice that helps parents sort through the choices and benefits that camp delivers. As spring approaches, ... More
218-568-5648 www.hopkinswellness.com   One of the answers might be the sun. In the summer we are out boating, fishing, gardening, or just enjoying the sun. Our skin is exposed to a good amount of sun. During the winter in Minnesota, even if we are outside, we are all bundled up and our skin gets very little sun. Without sun, our bodies do not make Vitamin D. And, while we all know that Vitamin D is crucial for our bones, what ... More
Just minutes from downtown Alexandria, Minnesota, the Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center is located on beautiful Lake Darling, and offers an incredible array of resort amenities right outside your doorstep. In a setting of natural splendor, featuring the Big Splash indoor water park and new luxury townhomes, and voted “Best 2004 Lakeshore Resort” by MN Meetings & Events Magazine, Arrowwood is your ideal choice for a ... More
One of my favorite places to visit in northern Minnesota is the Iron Range and one of my favorite towns on “the range” is Biwabik. Often, people would ask me where I was going and I’d say,  “Biwabik,”  “Where?” They would say, with a quizzical look.   “Biwabik.”  “Bi-what?”  “Biwabik,” “Where’s that?”  “About 10 miles east of Virginia.”   “Ooohhh.”  I had ... More
It’s November 7, 2009 in Wadena, MN at 4:30am. I just woke up and I’m getting my gear on. My dad and I are driving to a relative’s farm. When we get to Jim’s we get a warm welcome from their short and stocky yellow-lab named Peanut. We got our backpacks on and took our cold rifles out of the cases. We met up with the others and said a prayer and discussed what stand to take. We got the central stand. We started to walk into the cold, ... More
1st Place We purchased, along with our son and his family, two small cabins that had been part of a resort. We had been out of the cabin scene for several years and decided to get back into it, more for our grand children and all the wonderful memories that would come. Our cabins are small and cozy, but our cabin gets used not only buy us, but our daughter/husband/three children and a big yellow lab. To say space is at a minimum would ... More
When I think about our family I think we have always loved being close to water… We have always had Lakeshore Dreams… My parents Chris and Thora Eriksen both imigrated from the little European country of Denmark, A peninsula surrounded on 3 sides by water. My father’s family farm bordered on the North Sea and has been held by family members since the 1600’s. It is a lovely place, with green fields that reach down to the ... More
Fathering is the toughest, most heartbreaking job in the world. Yet, at the same time, it is the most uplifting, exciting and rewarding job ever designed. I love my kids, as I am sure all fathers do, and I’ve managed to learn a few lessons along the way. Even as I look ahead, I know that the learning will not end here. Lesson #1: God gives us kids so we can get a glimpse of just how much He loves us When I used to watch parents ... More
I have often wondered if a person can write objectively when they are emotionally entranced by the subject of their writing. I mean when you really love something, how do you think critically? I believe that the answer lies in the fact that until you became acquainted with it, you didn’t love it. I have yet to talk to a person, and I have the good fortune of talking to many, who has not loved Mark Harlow’s work. In fact, I can say ... More
Only in Minnesota can a person find themselves bundled in a sweatshirt and rain jacket, coming in from the lake with numb fingers and toes during the fourth of July. And only in Minnesota will you see the spirit of a sportsman who finds joy in that kind of weather during the fourth of July, because “It brings out the big fish!” In a part of the country where it can be 80 degrees one day and 40 the next, you need to be ready ... More
I want to encourage you all to invest time, effort, and finances in to what’s most important. The main reason we promote Lakeshore properties and experiences is because we ardently believe in its ability to promote healing and restoration within families. To illustrate this point I want to tell you a little bit about what my family has been experiencing. My Dad is dying. In truth we all are. I’m not trying to be morbid, it’s ... More
When Fredrick Weyerhauser moved his family to the shores of Lake Nebagamon in the 1890s, money grew on trees. More precisely, for the Lumber Baron, trees meant money and there were plenty of them in Northern Wisconsin then. Weyerhauser’s empire was already well established. Even so, he apparently felt that this area, with its abundant pines and the nine-hundred and fifty acre lake nestled in the hills near the southern coast of ... More
Jim Morgan is basically related to Walker Lake by marriage.  For four generations, his wife’s family has been either living on the lake, or vacationing there, with some of them doing both. Walker is just one of the one thousand or so lakes in Otter Tail county, but to the Morgan family, it is home, and home away from home. So, when Morgan heard that a big developer was bidding on a chunk of land on the western shoreline, ... More
It is said that “A man’s home is his castle”. Whether there is a moat around it or not, when it comes to your home, you want the best; the best craftsmanship, the best view, the best workspace, the best, the best, the best. But who defines the best? Simply put, you do.  Keith Waters and Associates has been designing and building homes for well over twenty years, and they couldn’t agree more. There is only one way to ... More
Last July, my husband asked me to reserve some time to take a trip to Crosslake, MN. He was going to be touring some homes and wanted me to be with. I never know quite what I’m getting myself into when my husband wants to take me on a “tour”, as I don’t always have the same vision that he does, but what an experience I had! I vaguely remember the moment that I walked in the front door. However, once I was inside, what I saw ... More
Minnesota’s lakeshore property owners face a significant challenge to their right to the use and enjoyment of their lakeshore. Most owners are currently unaware of proposals to discard “ excess” dock sections, boatlifts, and potentially, watercraft. As required by the legislature, the Minnesota D.N.R. is proposing revised regulations governing the placement of “private structures” in the public waters. Although ... More
Spring is here in full force and its time to use the beautiful, bug-free weather while it lasts! I’m sure we won’t have many weekends before the mosquitoes appear and if you are like me, your motivation for gardening is at its peak right now! The following list has simple, easy to do tips. Each item should take half an hour or less to do, that is, depending on the size of your yard! Try to keep your plantings simple and it will ... More
With so many diets on the market why do so many people still struggle with leading a healthy lifestyle and weight problems? I believe it is because the weakness with most weight loss programs is that they only focus on eating healthy. A healthy lifestyle depends on a number of factors: stress diet weight exercise hereditary factors If we only focus on what we eat, our weight usually see-saws because ... More
Mike Larson can hear the sound of stress draining away from a person. It's not that he's a psychic.  It's just that, after twenty years on Minnesota’s North Shore, he has a keen eye for the signs. "They walk up to the check-in desk, and it’s like I can see the world lifting off their shoulders," says the Lutsen-based real estate broker. "They get here and look around, and you can see the light come on.  They know they can ... More
It is a strange thing. Many people desire to own property in a beautiful place but a lot of them don’t like the words “developer” or “development.” There seems to be a contradiction between the natural beauty of the wilderness and the necessity of building on it in order to live there. For most of his career, Phil Taylor has been working to help address that problem. In fact, in 2005, Taylor changed the name of his company to ... More
As you drive north of Brainerd on Highway 371 and take a right on County Road 107, you may want to keep going straight ahead on Wilderness Road. If you do, you will quickly feel like you’ve stepped back a few years into a more relaxed time. You’ll start driving much slower as you look to your right and left at the towering old -growth forest. Then you’ll notice that the road continues to get darker, and as you look skyward ... More
There's a story about a pastor who developed an overwhelming passion for golf. He became very good at it, and he loved to boast of his drives, chips and putts.  As time passed, his love of the game grew into an obsession. He could talk longer about his game than he could preach. Eventually, he lost all perspective, and one Sunday he told his parishioners that he was sick, and instead of preaching, he went golfing. One of ... More
When Sherman and Mae Kavanaugh purchased a small Minnesota family resort in 1969, their goal was to provide a high-quality, special place to get away. They ended up creating a family tradition of excellence that shows in everything they do – immaculate vacation lodging, world-class recreation, excellent service, and warm inviting hospitality. Located on beautiful Sylvan Lake in Brainerd’s renowned Pine Beach Area, Kavanaugh’s ... More
Back in the summer of 2003, my wife and I started to aggressively look for a lake property. We were told that what we were looking for would be impossible to find, but I had been to too many PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) Seminars and read too many Zig Ziglar books to be deterred. And really, how hard should it be to find a private lake with quality water, firm shoreline, and five hundred acres of good hunting land? My dream was born out ... More
For generations, many rural Minnesotans have burned their own garbage on-site; usually in a burn barrel. It was free, convenient, and easy to do. The problem is, burning your garbage is far more harmful to your health, our health, and the environment than previously thought.  Whether it’s done in a traditional burn barrel, wood stove, fire-pit, or at the cabin… if you’re burning garbage, you’re making poison.  Fifty to a ... More
Preserving Nature It's easy for a company to say it protects the land and preserves places for you to enjoy. It is much more challenging to not only accomplish this, but also to be the leader in designing environmentally responsible lake escapes. Legacy Land Group does both. Legacy Land Group is earnest, almost obsessive, about its mission to create the finest affordable lakeshore getaways while protecting the land's natural beauty. They do ... More
Humble Beginnings “I don’t think the cows would mind being closer to the water!”  In that moment of simple Norwegian stubbornness, Olaf Treland set a family standard of preserving what was truly important. Four generations later, what began as a simple saw mill on a cattle farm, has now grown into the four separate luxury resort properties that make up Treeland Resorts.  Great-grandpa Olaf came from Norway with his ... More
Have you ever looked at a shampoo bottle where it says, lather, rinse, repeat, but the directions never tell you when to stop? If you are a cabin owner your life may be a little bit like that shampoo bottle. Monday through Friday you work really hard at your job and somehow, someone during the week manages to get groceries, mow the lawn, and pay the bills. Friday, you repack some of those groceries and head Up North, arrive at the ... More
Every home comes with a story. And all homeowners have a tale or two, as well. But it’s not every day that homeowners actually make the home’s story. A romantic Vergas couple with a penchant for preserving their personal histories has created and re-created their own legend in the voyage that has become their home.          While preparing to retire from years of work as a civil engineer and a ... More
Have you ever dreamed of living on a lake, but couldn’t envision how to make everything else in life work if you were living in a more remote location.  There are all of the kid’s activities, the thought of a long and difficult commute to work each day, medical considerations, or any of the other obstacles that life brings our way.    Added to these is the frustration that comes with spending most weekends locked ... More
Over the last 20 years it has become increasingly difficult to find good lakeshore property at an affordable price, and prime lakeshore opportunities are rarer still. Private parties, developers and investors have all recognized that the purchasing of lakeshore property is a good investment that pays dividends well beyond a generous financial return. This recognition has led to a scarcity of premium lakeshore opportunities. However, there is ... More
I grew up in Kansas, where the summers were hot and muggy. As kids we played in the rivers to stay cool but usually by late August they would be a deep rust color from the surrounding clay. They also had a strong odor to them, making them very unpleasant to swim in. So it was an extremely pleasant surprise when our family moved to Minnesota and I got to experience the fresh clear water of Minnesota lakes at age 13. The contrast was both stark ... More
When it became essential to add more storage space at the cabin, the Dahlstrom family decided to not just build a garage but to build out the area above the garage as well.  And what began as a simple, and rather ordinary, building project, soon became a delightful journey through family memories and an exploration of their Swedish heritage.  Their property, which is located on Ten Mile Lake near Hackensack, MN, has been in the ... More
While many people prepare, plan and save for securing the dream of life on a lake, many overlook the importance of preparing for the financial demands and upkeep once cabin ownership is secured. That’s why it’s important to keep one eye on the prize – buying a cabin or lake home – and another on the reward – being able to purchase a boat or pontoon, new dock or boat lifts, or other “toys” such as a personal watercraft or ATV ... More
PARK RAPIDS — Standing in the great room of her log home on Elbow Lake near Itasca State Park, Kay Miede can’t help but be pleased. Kay and husband Rick, of Andover, are seeing the final touches completed on their Golden Eagle Log Home, built by Best Properties, Inc. “This home is the culmination of years of planning,” Kay says. “Now we’re at the point where we can enjoy it.” The Miedes developed several different floor plans ... More
In this second article of our three-part series detailing log homes, the focus is on the details: the nuts and bolts, so to speak, of building a log home. From choosing the type of log to deciding which walls are drywalled, the basics behind the wood are explored. First things first: your budget The first step in basic research is to determine what you can afford and the average cost per square foot for custom homes in the region where you ... More
After months or even years of searching, you’ve finally found the perfect site on a serene lake among dense pines. It’s time to build the lake home or cabin of your dreams, and the hardest part is over. Or is it? The search for the right designer and builder for your lake home or cabin should take as much time as the search for the right location. And when you’re building that second or vacation home, having the luxury of time can make ... More
American pioneers were driven by an unquenchable thirst to explore the new and unknown: to be free. To find that special place in the new world that would support them and their families. A place that they could — through honest labor — make their very own and pass along to their children. Today’s pioneers are those who still want to go out into the world and make their mark, leaving something of themselves for those who follow. They ... More
Instead of worrying about how to afford a lakefront home or cabin, consider making your cabin or lakefront home your primary residence. Think it can’t be done? Consider these factors before making a decision. When Stan and Marcia Kulbitski decided to move from their St. Paul Park home to their newly purchased lake home on Lake Wapogasset in Amery, Wisconsin in the mid 1990’s, they knew there would be a trade-off. They were giving up ... More
When pioneers settled this country their first homes were predominately log cabins, which were generally small one or two room buildings. Today, it’s a whole new story. Cabins can be as large as upscale houses made of conventional building materials, and equipped with all of the amenities of any high end modern home. Logs are excellent materials for recreational homes. They blend well into woods, or lakeside settings, so that the general ... More
Visiting the Northwoods of Wisconsin is a treat everyone should experience. Expansive forests and glacial lakes provide an unforgettable vacation or a permanent change of lifestyle. A great choice for summer or winter activities includes the crystalline waters of the Lake Minocqua chain. The five popular lakes provide 5600 acres of sporting thrills and remote relaxation wrapped into one liquid package. Tourists enjoy the attraction of the ... More
  One of the most stressful things any young family can do (besides getting the all relatives together for Christmas dinner) is buying a home especially if it’s their first one. But with careful planning, diligent research, and plenty of patience, most families are able to find the home that best fits their personal and financial needs. The same goes for finding a lake home. By crunching your numbers, defining what you want, and ... More

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