Brainerd Lakes 2008 Relocation Guide - (Page 44) RECREATION Groups like the Mounted Eagles offer recreational opportunities for those with special needs. Bunyan State Trail, for convenient rentals on that popular route. She also offers seasonal rental of cross-country skis and snowshoes. Motorized boat rentals are also available through many Chamber members, including LakeFun4Rent.com. They offer jet ski and boat rental by the day, week, or month with the flexibility of renting them on the water, on the trailer, or delivered to you. Another way to gain a unique perspective of the Lakes Area is to see it on horseback. Two full-service riding stables offer close-up views of our exceptional terrain, flora, and fauna. Outback Ranch in Pillager offers 80 wooded acres with access to nearby Cass County land and the Pillsbury State Forest. “You could ride for days,” says owner Sheree Evenson. Trails connect and interconnect to offer one- to two-hour rides, where you get a close-up view of hidden lakes, prairies filled with wildflowers, deer, turkeys, porcupines, coyotes, and sometimes even bear. “We have people who ride with us all four seasons,” she says, explaining that their hay rides and sleigh rides are another way for people to enjoy the horses and the scenery year- round. Add lanterns as dusk falls and a sleigh ride turns into a facsimile of a “Victorian Christmas.” Outback Ranch also offers overnight boarding and camping for people who prefer a more private setting than the Pillsbury horse camp. At Pine River Riding Stable, you can also enjoy horseback adventures, many of which include a cookout in the woods along the way. The ranch encompasses 240 acres, including a sizeable section of the Pine River. Trails wind through woods and fields and riders see beaver dams, waterfowl, and lots of wildlife. They have a team of Percherons that provide hay rides throughout the year. They will also trailer horses, supplies, and a trail guide to off-site locations of your choice. “We do anything that involves a horse,” says owner Deborah Rowell. “We do boarding, selling, and training.” Kids love their petting zoo, which is home to sundry goats, donkeys, emus, and a potbellied pig. For winter sports, you can headquarter right at Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake. Cragun’s is Minnesota’s largest snowmobile outfitter. Rentals include the machine and a basic safety course. You can also rent all of the warm winter clothing you might need. Groomed trails take you through the nearby Pillsbury State Forest and, at night, a lighted trail takes you the length of Gull Lake. For the kids, there are kitty-cats, children’s snow machines that run on a specially created terrain track right at Cragun’s. There are also dog sled rides, ice skating, and cross-country skiing. Rentals include all the necessary equipment and trained staff to provide instruction and guidance, as needed. The resort’s many fish houses, all stocked and ready, offer hours of ice fishing enjoyment, and a horse-drawn trolley ride along the shoreline includes an entertaining tale of the resort’s history. You can also build your own “soft adventure,” utilizing the many amenities available for rent in the Lakes Area. Spend the day fishing, water skiing, hiking, downhill skiing, snowboarding, sailing, or kite boarding. It’s all right here, year-round. So explore. Try something new. Get a group together and plan an adventure. As they say at Outback Ranch, “We want you to come out, enjoy the outdoors, have a good time, and come back. Happy trails!” Photo courtesy of Mounted Eagles Photo courtesy of Cragun’s Resort on Gull Lake Winter fun abounds throughout the Lakes Area. 44 Brainerd Lakes Area Business & Relocation Guide http://LakeFun4Rent.com
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