Solsite Co. Creative

Author: Tracy Blowers

Best Gull Lake Minnesota Resort

Quarterdeck Resort on Gull Lake, Minnesota

Quarterdeck Resort on Gull Lake in Minnesota feels like home. It’s laid back, easy, and comfortable. And IMO, winter is the best time to go! This year instead of road-tripping to the Southwest in January and February, we stayed in Minnesota. We are in the honeymoon phase of our new house. ❤️ Instead, I got away to Quarterdeck Resort and have been enjoying winter in my backyard. As I drove around to the west shore of Gull Lake, I got that quintessential Minnesota up north feeling. It’s nostalgic and reminds me of road trips to see my Grams and Gramps. The tree-lined two-lane road, the random spotting of wildlife, the frozen lake, and the anticipation of fun to come.

Getting away to the Quarterdeck cured my winter blues. It doesn’t always have to be going someplace warm, it’s about the change of scenery and embracing the beauty around you. There is something special about the winter season that we can take for granted and that some don’t ever experience. From the soft blankets of fresh snow to the cold crisp air cleaning out your lungs. It’s invigorating! Plus the crunch sound of the snow beneath your feet, slowing down, warming up by the fireplace, a good book, yummy food, and hot drinks.

The winter sunrises at Quarterdeck Resort are out of this world. I stayed in one of the Lakeside Lodge Rooms and took these photos from my deck. The Main Lodge is literally steps from the water’s edge.

Things to Do in the Brainerd Lakes Area

The Brainerd Lakes Area is not only a water recreation playground but a winter one too! Mount Ski Gull is right next door to Quarterdeck Resort for downhill skiing and snow tubing. There are many nearby trails and parks for Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing. Including full moon snowshoe hikes at the Northland Arboretum encompassing 400 acres to explore. Also, Quarterdeck now rents snowmobiles and you can go ice-fishing right out your door!

The winter events are one-of-a-kind including Gull Lake’s Frozen Fore and the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza which is the world’s largest ice fishing contest.

The Quarterdeck Resort is going through a transformation while staying true to their laid back roots. It’s going to be insane with brand new lake lodging that is unrivaled in Minnesota plus a new YEAR-ROUND pool, hot tub, and sauna (see more details below). The lofts are going to have floor to ceiling glass AND a private ROOFTOP BAR 35 feet up from Gull Lake with a gas fire pit, refrigerator, table with seating for ten, and grilling station. I can’t wait to go back and see the progress! You can be the first to stay in one of their Lakefront Lofts this summer– see more HERE.

© Quarterdeck Resort

They also are adding Club Quarterdeck! Club Quarterdeck includes a YEAR-ROUND outdoor pool, sauna, and hot tub, plus an indoor fitness center, comfy lounge with big screen TVs, Cafe, and Retrocade with pinball games, vintage video games, shuffleboard, billiards, ping-pong, and more.

© Quarterdeck Resort

Speaking of wild winter fun, if you’re road tripping west for snowmobiling, check out Sportsman’s Lodge in Ennis, Montana.

Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers

March 8, 2023
Lindstrom, Minnesota

Best Small Towns in Minnesota

Happy first day of fall! Holy moly, summer zoomed by, and I still have so much to share from our Minnesota road trips. As we’ve been exploring our home state, we find ourselves drawn to the Chisago Lakes area and recently visited Lindstrom. We’ve driven through many times but have never stopped to check out the town.

Most people know Lindstrom by the adorable teacup water tower.

Lindstrom, Minnesota

First, we started with breakfast at Gustof’s On Main Eatery. We enjoyed the food and feeling of community in this historic house turned eatery. Next to us, a friendly couple started up a conversation and gave us suggestions for fun things to do in town. It felt like breakfast with a bunch of friends that we have known forever.

After breakfast, we needed a little extra pick me up so we walked to Northwoods Roasterie. This coffee shop is awesome! We really enjoyed the outdoor seating and the coffee is delicious. It was very busy but the service was great and the line moved quickly.

Next, you can’t go to Lindstrom and not stop at the Lindstrom Bakery! Food & Wine Magazine named the Lindstrom Bakery as having the best donuts in Minnesota. The donuts are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, perfect for dunking in your coffee. The owner, Bernie Coulombe, has owned the bakery for 48 years. She recently sold the bakery but the sale fell through and Bernie is back!

Minnesota State Parks

Then we were off to Wild River State Park for a hike. We stopped in the Visitor Center where a lovely woman helped us figure out the best hike for the amount of time that we had. When you stop at the Visitor Center, make sure to walk out the back and take in the views of the St. Croix River. There is also a lot of interactive experiences for the kids to learn about the park.

The park offers over 30 miles of hiking trails. There is a paved 3-mile trail that links the trail center, visitor center, picnic area, and campground. In the winter, they offer cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing.

We wrapped up the day at The Northern Tavern & Grill. Obviously, we were so hungry after our hike at Wild River State Park! The Rueben with house smoked corned beef melts in your mouth and their skin-on fries are amazing. And guess what? We ran into the couple that we sat next to at breakfast! It was such a perfect small town moment and reminded me of when I lived in Nisswa, Minnesota.

For more Best Small Towns in Minnesota, see my Taylors Falls blog post.

Life is short, never stop searching for What Stirs Your Soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers

September 22, 2022
Goulding’s Lodge & Tours – Monument Valley

Do you remember this spot from the Forrest Gump movie? There have been many movies filmed in Monument Valley which makes for fun trivia when road tripping through!

Best place to stay in Monument Valley, Arizona

Speaking of movies, staying at Goulding’s Lodge in Monument Valley on the Arizona/Utah border, feels like you’re on a set. The lodge is located approximately five miles from the Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center, which allows you to get up close and personal with the monuments. Plus, you can set up exclusive tours right at the lodge or drive the 17-mile Tribal Park Loop on your own. This iconic view!!!

Goulding’s offers a variety of lodging options, including spacious rooms, suites, stand-alone villas, and a campground/RV park. Amenities include the onsite Stagecoach Restaurant, Grocery Store, Laundromat, and Gas Station. We loved the convenience of having everything we needed so close. Some rooms are dog friendly, and we loved that each unit has its own door. It makes it so much easier when traveling with the dogs. The views of the monuments are incredible; both sunrise and sunset were spectacular. There is easy access to hiking right out your door and not to mention all the onsite attractions. There is so much to do and see at the lodge and beyond.

Sunrise views from our room.

Things to do in Monument Valley

The dogs loved the trails and hiking around the Goulding’s property. Other onsite attractions include the Goulding’s Museum, Gift Shop, Earth Spirit Theater, Navajo Culture, and history, including “John Wayne’s Cabin” filled with movie memorabilia.

You have to try the traditional fry-bread at the Stagecoach Restaurant! Mouthwatering.

Monument Valley is magical. This was our second time visiting, the first time we just drove through and this time we stayed a couple of nights. I didn’t want to leave. Here are more incredible views…

Check out my Southwest Utah and Monument Valley blog post from a few years ago for more places to see: https://solsiteco.com/2020/03/08/monument-valley-southern-utah/

Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers

August 30, 2022
Taylors Falls, Minnesota

Best Small Towns in Minnesota

We’re exploring Minnesota looking for a new home! Summer is winding down but there’s still plenty of warm weather days to get out and enjoy the season. Taylors Falls is popular day/road trip from the Twin Cities. We’ve been to Taylors Falls, Minnesota a few times but this time, we are seeing the area with new eyes thinking of a move. Below is a fun day itinerary!

We made it to Interstate State Park in the morning before the park got too busy (which I always recommend).

First on the list, checking out this very unique natural attraction.

The Glacial Potholes! Did you know there are over 200 potholes and one is the deepest explored in the world? I love this short 1/2 mile trail because you can see so much in short time. There are beautiful overlooks with breathtaking views of the St. Croix River.

The St. Croix River has been designated a National Wild and Scenic Riverway, giving it special environmental protection.

There are 4 miles of trails to explore at the park. The trails are pretty rugged with lots of steps. You can also rock climb! There was an REI class going on while we were there. REI offers many helpful outdoor classes, events, and adventures.

Or take a boat tour on the Taylors Falls Queen. The offer 45 or 80 minutes excursions. See more details on their website here: https://www.taylorsfallsboat.com/boat-tours/daily-excursion/

After our hike, we stopped at Juneberry Cafe for some watermelon. I love their healthy, quick, and fresh options.

This snack was perfect to get us back on the road driving the St. Croix Scenic Byway to Marine on the St. Croix for lunch.

Places to eat in Marine on the St. Croix

Such a cute town! The General Store has everything that you need from clothes to a deli. There’s also a yummy coffee shop. We had lunch at Brookside Bar and Grill. The nachos were so good!! They layer the cheese between the chips not just on top. It’s a huge portion! The patio in the back is so cozy and is dog-friendly.

Of course we needed dessert. Nita Mae’s Scoop is adorable. You can get over 24 flavors of soft-serve ice cream! It is the perfect treat.

Make sure to stop at Franconia Sculpture Park too. We didn’t this trip but have in the past and they offer such cool exhibits.

For other best small towns in Minnesota, see my Afton, Minnesota, blog post.

Life is short, never stop searching for What Stirs Your Soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers

August 26, 2022
Buffalo, Minnesota

Best Minnesota Cities to Explore

We are exploring Minnesota this summer! Buffalo, Minnesota, is a city that’s been on our list not only for fun but a possible move location. Buffalo is only 45 minutes from Minneapolis and is a beautiful city nestled on Buffalo Lake. As we explored, we got a sense of community here. From the Buffalo, Minnesota, city website, “Buffalo is a mix of small community charm and suburban amenities with a charming downtown area and various large retail located on the main highways of Highway 55 and Highway 25.”

We started the day at the Forget-Me-Not Cafe. The food is delicious, and they offer excellent service. This cafe started with an adorable love story. See their website to read more. ❤️

Things To Do in Buffalo, Minnesota

After breakfast, we walked over to the Buffalo Farmers’ Market. The market is every Saturday from 8am-Noon through October. It looks small, but there is a lot to choose from…fresh produce, meats, homemade bread, BBQ sauces, coffee, crafts, and more.

Next, we headed over to Sturges Park to find Musical Trail. The park is such a great spot by the lake and we loved playing all the instruments along the trail. Such a great idea! There are two park shelters, picnic tables, benches, cooking grills, basketball court, playground, 1,297 feet of lake frontage, a fishing pier, and a boat landing. The park also offers a super cool HealthBeat® Outdoor Fitness System. We’ve only seen one of these in Sedona, Arizona, so it was cool to see one here in Minnesota. Great way to workout!

There are also free concerts at the Sturges Park bandshell throughout the summer. See the calendar here.

You have to get a shot in the big chair!

I didn’t get a picture but we stopped at Buffalo Nickel Antiques too. This is a must stop if you like antiques!

We ended the day at Hayes’ Public House Brewery & Taproom. The taproom is cozy with really cool antiques, tables, and chairs. The rooftop gives you a fantastic view of Buffalo Lake. Hayes’ offers a lot of events and live music; keep an eye on the Hayes’ Public House Facebook page for more. Cheers to adventures!

For another fun day trip from the Twin Cities, check out our Afton, Minnesota, blog post here.

Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers

August 13, 2022
Afton, Minnesota

Best Small Towns in Minnesota

Historic Afton, Minnesota, is home to Afton State Park on the beautiful St. Croix River and is only 45 minutes from the Twin Cities. This summer, we’ve been exploring Minnesota in search of our new home base. We sold our house in 2020 and have been renting due to the crazy housing market and because we weren’t sure where we wanted to land. It’s been a fun summer visiting new cities and returning to our favorites. By doing so, we have a renewed appreciation for where we grew up. Minnesota is filled with incredible small towns, history, restaurants, nature, state-regional-and national parks, and endless recreation.

Best Restaurants in Afton, Minnesota

We started our day in Afton at the Lumberyard Pub. We sat at the bar to take in the open air (see pic below) and loved the atmosphere and excellent service from the bartender. The house-made chips and french onion dip are crazy good! The summer salad was fresh and bright and a perfect companion to the chips and dips. Terry loved his burger. Yes, I know you’re shocked he had a burger. 😉

*Note: you can call ahead from your boat and pick up your food curbside to-go.

The next stop was Selma’s Ice Cream Parlor. You can’t go to Afton and not stop at Selma’s! They offer so many unique flavors and we enjoyed the nostalgic candy for sale. *Tip: walk along the river while eating your ice cream.

Afton State Park

After fueling up, we headed to Afton State Park for a hike. The park offers 20 miles of trails including a variety of habitats and walking the old railroad bed. Three bridges remain from the line that once ran along the river to Stillwater. The river views from the bridges, bluffs, and lookouts are beautiful! Especially surrounded by all the wild flowers.

“Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. Trails pass through remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines, and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. The trails are perfect for hikers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. The park offers visitors a swimming beach, backpack campsites and a visitor center with interpretive displays.” – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Did you know that Afton State Park has goats?! They brought the goats in for prescribed-grazing of their 42 acres. We visited in June so I’m not sure if they are still there but make sure to keep an eye out for them.

We didn’t have the dogs with us on this trip but the state parks are dog-friendly.

Add Afton to your Minnesota day trip list!

Another fun spot to explore and camp close to the Twin Cities is Whitetail Woods Regional Park. The camper cabins are amazing!

Life is short, never stop searching for What Stirs Your Soul. ❤️

©Tracy Blowers

August 4, 2022

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