This Minnesota Resort Is a Craft Beverage Wonderland With Gardens and Epic Soaking Pools

This Minnesota resort has been a destination for relaxation for decades. But its beverage scene has become a major draw in its own right, turning it into a true wonderland for craft drink enthusiasts.

The property features multiple dining and drinking venues, each with its own character and charm. Beyond the drinks, the spa offers a true escape with soaking pools and treatments designed to melt away stress.

The gardens are lush, the pine-scented setting is peaceful, and the whole experience feels like a complete getaway. Book a stay, bring your curiosity, and discover why this Minnesota resort is so much more than just a place to sleep.

Coffee Culture at the Grand View Lodge

Mornings here start with a short walk and a very good cup of coffee. The on-site coffee house pours espresso, lattes layered with vanilla or maple, and seasonal blends that change as the seasons shift up north.

Regulars line up early, and the staff behind the counter seem to remember faces after a single visit. Pastries come out warm, and the smell alone is enough to convince anyone to skip the alarm-clock snooze button.

Grab a cup and wander toward the lake. That short stroll, mug in hand, past pines and flower beds, might be the most underrated ten minutes on the whole property.

Afternoon visits work too, especially when the north wind picks up and a hot chocolate sounds better than another round of anything else. Families often stop in between pool sessions, kids clutching steamers topped with whipped cream.

Bring cash or a room key, and expect to linger longer than planned.

Gull Lake and That Sandy Beach

Gull Lake is the reason this place exists, and the beach makes that obvious the second you step onto the sand. Water laps gently at the shoreline, docks stretch out toward deeper blue, and paddleboards lean against a rack waiting for someone brave enough.

Kayaking here is genuinely peaceful, particularly in the early hours when the surface goes flat as a mirror.

Boat rentals are available through a local outfitter, so a full afternoon on the water is easy to arrange without owning anything yourself. Pontoon rides suit larger groups, while a single kayak works fine for a quiet hour alone.

Chairs line the sand, and the lifeguard-free calm suits families who like keeping their kids in view.

Winter transforms the same shoreline into something completely different. Ice fishing houses appear, a derby draws crowds, and the lake becomes a walkable landscape rather than a swimmable one. Both versions are worth seeing at least once.

Soaking Pools That Steam Straight Through Winter

Snow falling on your shoulders while the rest of you is submerged in hot water is a specific kind of joy. The year-round outdoor hot tub at the North Park area draws guests in every season, and in January it becomes the unofficial social hub of the resort.

Steam rises. Pine branches sag under snow. Nobody wants to be the first person to climb out.

Two indoor pool complexes handle the rest of the swimming, complete with waterslides and additional hot tubs for anyone who prefers a roof overhead. The lakeside pool features a zero-entry edge, which means toddlers can wade in gradually instead of taking the plunge.

Parents tend to appreciate that design more than the kids do.

Towels are stocked near the entrances, and the shuttle can carry you back to your cabin if the walk feels long in a swimsuit. Evening soaks are quieter, especially after the dinner rush clears out and the lights come on around the deck.

Cabins With Fireplaces and Reading Nooks

Cabins are the heart of this resort, and there are a lot of them, ranging from one bedroom up to eight. Some sit steps from the lake, others tuck into the woods near the golf course, and several come with private fire pits out back.

Full kitchens mean groceries instead of restaurants, which changes the whole tone of a weekend.

Reading nooks show up in the nicer units, usually a cushioned window seat with a view of pine trunks. Add a fireplace, a board game, and rain on the roof, and the afternoon plans itself. Golf villas take things further with private game rooms.

Worth knowing before booking: the Main Lodge holds the original historic rooms, which carry plenty of character but feel older than the North Hotel accommodations. Ask questions and look at photos of the exact unit type when reserving.

S’mores kits are available for the fire pit, and yes, they are a hit with every age group.

Gardens Worth Slowing Down For

Flower beds spill along the walkways here, and by midsummer they are ridiculous in the best way. Perennials crowd together in waves of color, stone paths curve between them, and shaded benches show up right when your legs suggest a break.

Photographers love this part of the property, and it is easy to understand why once the light goes golden around seven.

The Garden Cottage sits nearby and often serves as a getting-ready space for weddings, though the surrounding plantings are open for anyone to admire on a slow loop. Groundskeepers clearly put in serious hours.

Early morning is my favorite window, before the lawn games start and while dew still clings to everything.

Autumn shifts the palette toward rust and gold, and the maples near the lodge put on a genuinely dramatic show. Winter buries most of it, but the shapes of the beds still trace lines under fresh snow. Walk slowly. That is the whole instruction.

The Spa Treatments and Quiet Rooms

Robes, slippers, and a hush that settles over you the moment the door closes. The full-service spa handles massages, facials, body treatments, and salon services, and the whole space is designed to make you forget what day it is.

Relaxation lounges give you somewhere to sit afterward instead of rushing back into the world.

Booking ahead matters, particularly on weekends and during peak summer weeks when appointments fill quickly. Couples often pair treatments, though solo visits have their own appeal. My honest tip is to arrive early. The extra twenty minutes in the quiet room is half the value.

Seasonal treatments rotate through the menu, drawing on northwoods ingredients like pine and birch. After a round of golf or a long paddle, a deep tissue session feels less like a luxury and more like maintenance.

Pair a treatment with a soak afterward and the day is basically complete. Nobody has ever regretted that particular combination.

Two Championship Golf Courses in the Pines

Golfers travel to Nisswa specifically for this, and after one round it makes sense. Two championship courses wind through pine forest and rolling terrain, with fairways carved between mature trees and greens that reward patience over power.

Deer wander across the edges in the early morning. Nobody complains about the delay.

The Pines and The Preserve each have distinct personalities, so playing both across a long weekend gives you variety rather than repetition. Tee times fill fast in July and August. Carts, clubs, and lessons are all available on site, which helps if you are flying in light.

What surprised me most was how quiet the courses feel, tucked away from any road noise. It is just wind through needles and the occasional distant thump of a well-struck shot.

Non-golfers in the group will not be bored, since the spa, pools, and lake are all a short shuttle ride away. Everyone gets their morning.

Dining From Pub Comfort to Lakeside Plates

Food options here stretch further than most resorts this size. Northwoods Pub keeps things casual with comfort plates and live music some evenings, while Char delivers a more polished dinner with lake views through the windows.

Takeout pizza exists for nights when nobody wants to change out of pool clothes.

Summer opens up additional venues, including a family-friendly Italian spot that keeps kids happy and parents fed. Off-season visitors should check which restaurants are running before arriving hungry. Service tends to be warm and genuinely helpful with recommendations.

Breakfast is worth building into the schedule, especially if a tee time or spa appointment anchors the rest of the morning. Reservations for dinner are smart during busy stretches.

My favorite setup was grabbing something casual and carrying it back to a cabin fire pit. There is no rule saying every meal needs a tablecloth. Ask about seasonal menus, since ingredients shift noticeably between the summer and winter offerings.

Winter Turns the Whole Place Into a Snow Globe

Holiday decorations go up and the property genuinely transforms. A lighted ice rink, a sledding hill, and sleigh rides through the snow give winter guests plenty to do beyond staring at a fireplace, though the fireplaces are excellent too.

Bonfires burn outside and the smell of pine smoke drifts across the grounds.

Ice fishing derbies pull families onto Gull Lake, and kids seem to love the novelty of standing on a frozen lake more than actually catching anything. Skate rentals make the rink accessible even for unprepared visitors. Pack real boots. Minnesota does not negotiate on this point.

Between outdoor activities, the indoor pools and the steaming outdoor tub feel like rewards rather than amenities. Warming up counts as an activity in December.

Rates tend to be gentler in the off-season, which makes a winter visit an easier decision for families watching a budget. Shuttle service runs across the property, so the cold walk between buildings stays short.

Planning a Visit Without the Guesswork

A little planning goes a long way at a property this large. Lodging spans historic lodge rooms, modern North Hotel accommodations, cabins, townhouses, and golf villas, so matching the right option to your group matters more than picking the cheapest listing.

Ask specifically which building and unit you are getting.

Pets are welcome in designated cabins, and families should confirm which pools and activities are running during their dates. Off-season visits mean fewer open restaurants but quieter grounds. Shuttles circulate regularly, which helps since the property is spread out.

Weddings and events use the grounds frequently, and the layout handles ceremonies, receptions, and guest lodging without much friction. Book far ahead for peak summer weekends.

Downtown Nisswa sits minutes away with shops and cafes worth an afternoon, and Brainerd is about sixteen miles down the road. The resort itself is located at 23521 Nokomis Ave, Nisswa, MN 56468, United States, tucked along the shore of Gull Lake where the pines do most of the talking.