Best Snowmobile Trails in Minnesota

All of this snow has us antsy about snowmobiling in Minnesota. We want to pull our snowmobiles out from hiding, rev the engine, and veer off without a destination in mind, just pure bliss as the trails take us from town to town, over bridges, frozen lakes and open land. We get a glimpse of wildlife, pure white snow that blanket much of the region and glimpses of true beauty on the trails. Are you traveling to Minnesota and need to know the scoop on the snowmobile trails? This will be your trail guide!

Before we start, a word to the wise… Be sure to pack a flashlight, extra batteries, a GPS, hand warmers, a physical map and a cellphone. Always travel with another person and tell another where you will be. Cell phone coverage can be spotty in the North woods. If you can, be sure to also bring along an extra belt.

Let’s start with the Northeast corner of Minnesota with the snowmobile trail 60-the North Shore State Trail. The 146 miles of trail stretch from Grand Marias to Duluth. This is perhaps considered to be more exposed to wilderness and wildlife here, winding through forests, exposing the rider to many types of wildlife such as moose, deer, wolves and songbirds. Glide over river crossings and through remote areas of the Northeast. To find terrific lodging along this adventurous trail, check out this fantastic rental in Lutsen, MN.

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Sleeps 7, near Lutsen’s ski hills. Click for details: http://www.rentminnesotacabins.com/detail.php?id=976.

Paul Bunyan Trail near Brainerd stretches over 120 miles, allowing snowmobiles and even skidoos on the trail, allowing everyone in your group a perfect time. Pass through or stop at some of the 14 towns that dot the trail for food, shopping or gas and be on your way. Brainerd is considered one of the bigger towns along the way but  don’t forget to stop through baxter, ride by the Crow Wing State Park, through all the towns to Walker, ending your day trip to Bemidji State Park before returning back to your vacation rental back in Brainerd! Check it out!

6 bedrooms with rec room. Check rates here: http://www.rentminnesotacabins.com/detail.php?id=980

6 bedrooms with rec room. Check rates here: http://www.rentminnesotacabins.com/detail.php?id=980

Chippewa National Forest trails has to be quite possibly one of the most scenic trails in the state, allowing 330 miles to showcase forest life uninterrupted. Catch wildlife cohabitating with each other, observe the high tree line and zip over the wetlands. To warm up inside and re gather at night in your vacation rental, be sure to stay here!

Pet friendly and surrounded by the Chippewa State Forest. For details, click here: http://www.rentminnesotacabins.com/detail.php?id=1122

Pet friendly and surrounded by the Chippewa State Forest. For details, click here:
http://www.rentminnesotacabins.com/detail.php?id=1122

Always check current snow conditions and be sure to leave ample time to really explore the trails. Promote safe riding and always keep to the trails, without this advice, you can really ruin your vacation, and trust us. While it may make for an interesting story down the road, it may spoil your dinner.

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Experience #Minnesota #Fall #Color Road Tours

We all know the inevitable winter is sneaking up on us after a wonderful but short summer in Minnesota. One thing we can count on every year is the triumphant change in colors that transform landscapes throughout the country. Strap on that helmet, buckle up, however you choose to experience fall color tours, this blog post will guide you through some of the area’s best shows.

Hinckley- St. Croix offers some of the best fall foliage in the state, trees looking all too much like a perfect picture painted.  If you don’t believe us, book a cruise on the Afton-Hufton Cruise line and sail away down the river, giving you ample opportunities to steal a glimpse of this brief miracle that fall offers us every year. Book fast as this area sees the colors change late September to early October with Maples and Oaks changing fast. It is only 50 miles northeast of the Twin Cities so make this a day trip! St. Croix Cruise Fall Tour

Lutsen- We can’t say enough about Sawtooth Mountain. To sum it up blatantly, it’s just really, really cool. Experience a fall color scene from below! This tour is an experience of a lifetime. Ride the mountain tram along Moose Mountain, a 1,000 feet above Lake Superior’s coastline. From the top, admire the sprawled out Superior National Forest. There is no better way to go! For more information head to: Sawtooth Mountain Gondola

Detroit Lakes Area- a wonderfully diverse landscape exists here and with efforts to maintain the eco system here, there’s plenty to be thankful here. With forests, refuges and lots of lakes that dot the landscape, this wide area has many roads to travel on, each providing unique opportunities to see something new. Our suggestion is to hop on Highway 10 in Frazee and head due west until you get around Detroit Lake. From there, take a left on 59. This trip can be long or short, depending on how you want to do it but don’t miss this fall color tour for sure!  Be sure to bring binoculars for rare glimpse of endangered waterfowl and species. Click here for a map! Detroit Lakes Area

Lake Country Scenic Byway- This year, this road will not only lend you a look at one the best fall tours in the Midwest this year but will also be the biological home of the Christmas tree that the White House will decorate for 2014! The two different forests, deciduous forests and coniferous forests hug the 88 mile scenic road that will have you in awe of the striking orange and yellow hues. Be sure to stop at Itasca State Park, the oldest state park in Minnesota and cross the Mississippi, where you can brag that you have seen the beginning of this legendary river as it winds down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Brainerd- Look no further than Brainerd for a triumphant fall color tour as the leaves begin to change. This already spectacular area offers some of the best recreational pleasantries around and fall is no exception. Enjoy several tours in the area and let your mind wander along these winding roads that let you pass time without even noticing. Enjoy the beautiful lakes as an additional backdrop to the fall foliage that surrounds you. While there, take in the little unique shops and charm of the area.

Of course, you’ll want to visit RentMinnesotaCabins.com to check out our growing selection of MN vacation rentals (currently 237). You just can’t beat a fall getaway in a Minnesota cabin, cottage, lodge or home. Oh yeah, at RentMinnesotaCabins.com you always book directly with the areas best tour guides THE RENTAL OWNERS. This assures you get the best rental rate too.

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Safe travels.

RentMinnesotaCabins.com

Brainerd, MN – An Outdoor Mecca for Reel Livin’

Brainerd, MN may be a mecca for outdoor recreation, however have we really seen everything that Brainerd may have to offer? You can bike, hike, snowmobile, race, fish, swim, and much more!

Let’s just dive into it and what we mean by that is, diving with the Minnesota School of Diving in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation area. This school offers lots of different activities. One that stuck out to me is what they call all appropriately a Fun Dive. Fun Dives are offered throughout the season. These dives consist of underwater diving in different depths and sites – great for beginners and experts. Fun Dives also include a BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, etc. Spend the day on Minnesota lakes!

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Click here  to view a Dive from the Minnesota Scuba Diving School!

Diving isn’t the only thing you can do in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation area. This area has ample opportunities to go out and enjoy what you love to do. Thirty years ago this area was abandoned by the mining companies. With the neglect of these companies and the clean-up effort of the DNR, this area now boasts over 25 miles of sandy shoreline that kiss clear, pristine waters.

Looking for more noise and excitement? Brainerd is home to the “World Fastest Drag Strip” at the Brainerd International Speedway. This speedway has three world class race strips and also offers driving courses for all kinds of enthusiasts and also features racing for snowmobiles and motocross. One of the favorite events here is Lake Jams, in June. This is where you take the naturally beautiful backdrop of the Brainerd area and combine with the music industry hot shots such as REO Speedwagon, Bret Michaels, Clay Walker and Maggie Rose. Be sure to plan your next vacation around Lakes Jam or in August for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals.

Exploring the Paul Bunyan State trail is ranked as one of the best things to do in Brainerd — 120 miles of paved recreation heaven for the adventurist. The pavement definitely makes hiking and biking the long trail easier. Make this a day recreation trip and come back to stay at one of our cabins in Brainerd, right off of North Long Lake, one of Minnesota’s largest lakes.

North Long Lake is known for its walleye population, but largemouth bass and northern pike can be abundant in this 6,000 acre lake. Need a place to stay after all day in the sun? The Reel Livin’ Resort in Brainerd is the perfect place for you to stay! You can access to their 14 foot boat, or fish right off the pier! They have several cabins, outfitted with WIFI, outdoor grills and fire pits for evening enjoyment as well. Gather around the fire here to relax and recoup with loved ones! RentMinnesotaCabins.com helps you create these Cabin-Time memories!

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Another great asset to the Brainerd Lakes area is Deacon’s Lodge– Brainerd Golf Course. This stunning layout will spoil you! The lush green landscape translates into pure bliss when walking the course as you go through wetlands, lakes and forest scenery. There is also lodging on the golf course that accommodates up to 20 guests. Enjoy the wet bar, poker and pool table along with discounted golf rates if you stay at the lodge. August and September are the best months to golf!

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If you enjoy the winter recreation that Minnesota has to offer, check out the many options you have. Whether you take a liking to winter tubing, skiing or snowboarding the place to be is Mount Ski Gull. This is nonprofit facility that caters to everyone and leaves no one out and believes in compassion. This is a great facility to use for the family!

Whether you’re here for the summer, fall or winter; Brainerd has pretty cool opportunities for the entire family, so buckle up and head the Brainerd for a spectacular and memorable vacation!

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We recommend your start your search for Minnesota cabins, cottages, lodges and homes at RentMinnesotaCabins.com. Our one-of-a-kind Narrow Your Search tool and  interactive map will help you find Minnesota vacation rentals that fit YOUR needs. We believe your Minnesota vacation should start with the Search. And the best part is, you connect, plan and book directly with rental owners or managers to assure you get the best rate. Booking through 3rd party websites means you’ll likely pay more (for the same rental) to cover listing commissions.

Let’s go for an off-road #ATV ride in #Minnesota

ATVing and Off highway vehicles, OHV for short, are growing in popularity and is quite possibly one of the most popular outdoor sports in Minnesota. We want to share with you some of the best places to ride.

ATVing in Minnesota

Before we get in to all the good trail information, let us give you a few facts before you hop on.

  • riders born after July 1st 1987 has to pass a required safety course for ATVs and OHMs ( off-road motorcycles)  if you’re under the age of 16.
  • nonresidents will also need to posses registration papers if the vehicle is not registered in Minnesota. This registration costs 21.00*. riders also don’t need it if they are related to the person’s property if the trail is owned by a relative or spouse.
  • also be sure to check for current conditions on trails as this year’s roads could have been washed out due to heavy rain.

Rates could change, check with local DNR to see current rates.

Minnesota has over 1,000 miles of off-road trails and range from easy to difficult with challenging courses. One of the areas known for OHV riding is Iron Range. This area has over 4,000 acres of land and 36 miles of various types of trails. This park has no entrance fee currently and is open almost all year round except for Minnesota’s firearm deer hunting season. This area has 3 gas stations.

The next recreational area you should know about is the Moose Lake/Deer River area; called the SOO Line North Trail. This could be one of the easiest areas for ATVs and OHMs so bring the beginner or the kids along and hit the trails with ease. You will find food, gas and lodging. We suggest renting a Deer River cabin on Moose Lake for less of a hassle and the ultimate experience that this lodging can offer.

This old abandoned railroad trail unwinds its 15 mile course along many little ponds and hardwood forest.

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Our favorite trail for MN snowmobiling (or the ski-doo or Arctic Cat) is the Paul Bunyan Trail that leads us through 15 different towns. Of course, we recommend you rent cabins in Brainerd and cabins in Walker. The Paul Bunyan trail is free to access and is well marked for recreation users throughout its 112 miles. This makes it the longest trail in Minnesota and 19 of those miles are paved! With so many lakes alongside the trail, this trail offers fantastic views of nature, wildlife, and various Minnesota towns. Walker sits on Leech Lake, the 3rd largest lake in Minnesota. Walker has magnificent Pine trees, a great beach, and panoramic views of bluffs. This trail also offers many activities, contest, games and local events — make sure your next vacation stay is right alongside this trail. Get a group together, bring the snowmobiles and enjoy all that our Leech Lake vacation rentals have to offer.

A quick reminder about our RentMinnesotaCabins.com website. Once you find a vacation rental(s) you like, you inquire and book directly with rental owners – booking direct is the only way to assure you are getting the best rental rate. Booking through other 3rd party websites likely means your paying more for the same rental because of the booking-commission. BOOKING DIRECT JUST MAKES SENSE.

Views from the Boundary Waters in Minnesota

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The views from the boundary waters in Minnesota can tug at the very strings in your heart as you itch to be there so bad you calculate vacation days in your head. If you have never heard of them before, here is your unofficial guide to the most amazing vacation area in Minnesota, and a few boundary waters cabin rental options.

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With over a 1,000 canoe routes that are connected by incredible lakes lined with bedrock and many types of trees, this area is perfect for canoeing. This corner of the world is a perfect excuse to leave the clutter at home and focus on its grand magnitude of solidarity. This almost untouched area is perfect for the outdoor enthusiasts who love nature, bird watching, wildlife, fishing, hiking and camping. You could explore this great area for days and not see more than a few people, if any at all, depending on where you start at.

National Geographic called canoeing these parts “One of the 100 best American adventure trips” but before you go, there are a few things to know.

The general rules of thumb and recommendations are:

Take out what you bring in. That means everything. The Boundary Waters are still pristine. If traveling with kids or you don’t think you can manage taking your trash with you, maybe day passes are better. There are plenty of Minnesota cabins in the area to still experience the simpler life while being able to enjoy the goodness of the Boundary Waters. With that being said, there isn’t any form of electricity and campfires could be limited depending on the weather conditions. Bring a small stove if needed to make meals. All food should be packed away in plastic containers and leave no fish remains. Latrines are to be used at all times. If not close to a latrine, dig a hole in the ground 6 inches deep and then cover with pine needles.

No firearms are permitted and absolutely no fireworks. If your with a larger group, keep in mind only nine people to a campsite and only four watercrafts to each site. Only watercrafts meeting certain horsepower limits are allowed in the Boundary Waters. Please check with the local guides.

Another spectacular view from nearby in Cook county where several Grand Marais cabins are located -is the Northern Lights. A scene right out of a painting, this will take your breath away. It’s one of those hot chocolate and great company kind of nights when these come around, so check the forecast when trying to schedule a trip here. It is mostly popular in the fall.

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This natural beauty is unmatched in this part of the country and makes a great family trip. RentMinnesotaCabins.com is growing a selection of cabins, cottages lodges and homes. Perhaps the best reason to use our website is that you ALWAYS book directly with Minnesota vacation rental owners to assure you get the best rental rates. Why book through 3rd party websites and pay more for the same rentals listed here.

Relax. You’re on cabin time now!

The Minnesota Journey Begins

JM Creative Group is excited to have RentMinnesotaCabins.com up and running! Whether you are a MN vacation rental owner, or a Minnesota-bound vacationer — we hope you enjoy our new website. Vacationers; look for the rental selection to steadily grow over the next several months. Rental owners: our ‘flagship’ website, RentWisconsinCabins.com has 716 rentals listed – we offer affordable advertising and target AREA renters (those most-likely to rent from you).

How are WE are different than other rental listing websites? Why do vacationers choose our website versus the well-established national listing sites? Why would rental owners want to list their properties with us? Lets look at these separately:

What are we doing different?
Other companies have chosen to create ONE website to promote vacation rentals around the country (in some cases, world); we’re building unique websites for EACH state. Currently Live are; RentWisconsinCabins.com; RentMinnesotaCabins.com; and RentMichiganCabins.com. RentNewYorkCabins.com is going Live next month, and 15 more state-specific websites will roll out in 2014. Why this approach? Since the explosion of the Internet; vacationers have been searching for rentals by state. Here is the problem: Google has no choice but to give high rankings to national web portals whose focus is on presenting a massive selection of rentals that vacationers are not interested in. Here is our solution: Offer vacationers a niche website focused on their state-specific search.

Developing individual state-specific websites allows our team to use pertinent search criteria that is unique to each state. Once established, these state sites naturally rank on page 1, usually in the number 1 position. What is pertinent search criteria? Minnesota rentals don’t offer mountain-views, so you won’t see that as a search criteria. You WILL find pertinent criteria like “on large recreation lake”. The criteria is state-specific because the website is state-specific.

Why do vacationers choose our websites?
On RentMinnesotaCabins.com, every rental is IN Minnesota. On RentWisconsinCabins.com, every rental is IN Wisconsin. As soon as vacationers arrive at one of our websites, they are presented with an interactive STATE MAP OF RENTALS. The search begins on the HOME PAGE. No drilling down through several links to find a state. Vacationers would rather book directly with rental owners/managers – that is what we offer.

Why would rental owners want to list with us?
It’s affordable advertising with incredible ROI. With a single cabin listing starting at $95/yr — it’s a no-brainer to list your rental(s). Imagine your listing(s) in front of targeted consumers – that’s our advantage. We track listing views, archive inquiries, and give you full access to a log in Property Manager (which you use to update your listing). NOTE: We even set up your listing(s) for you. We write original content, upload pictures, add rates, link to rental business website and social websites. Then, when you have time, you can log in and review/update your listing(s)!

Please enjoy our growing website focused on Minnesota Vacation Rentals!

RentMinnesotaCabins.com is Launching July 2013!

Minnesota vacation rentals: cabins, cottages, lodges, and homes.

In 2009, Joe Mogensen founded RentWisconsinCabins.com. Since the launch of RentWisconsinCabins.com, the vacation rental website has taken off. Property owners love the niche website because we provide affordable rates and a huge ROI. Vacationers love the huge selection – we have a growing list of over 700 vacation cabins, cottages, lodges, and homes in Wisconsin.

Vacationers have asked, “Why isn’t there a similar website for other states?” We are responding to that request. WE ARE COMING MINNESOTA!

RentMinnesotaCabins.comOur mission is to shed light on vacation cabins, cottages, lodges, and homes in Minnesota, finding vacationers their next home away from home – not a hotel. The vacation industry is changing; vacationers want a peaceful oasis to relax, a private escape, all at an exciting location to have fun. That’s what we are all about!! Our goal is to connect vacationers to their perfect vacation rental.

We are excited to use our knowledge and online marketing expertise to launch RentMinnesotaCabins.com on July 20, 2013.

Stay tuned for more information! Travel on!