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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.

Lutsen

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.

RentMinnesotaCabins.com is a state specific vacation rental website that loves to share the word on awesome vacation properties and things to do in the area. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to our blogs to get new and interesting content!

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Ten Commandments for the Hunting Widow

Ten Commandments for the Hunting Widow.

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Have You Been to the Best Pumpkin Patches in Wisconsin?

This list is compiled by our followers of RentWisconsinCabins.com and written for other viewers to see where the great pumpkin patches are this fall. 

Anyone with children, or a child still inside them knows the excitement of a pumpkin patch, but do we really know where the best ones are in Wisconsin? We tend to ask other moms and peruse a little online, but if you know anything about pumpkin patches, it’s hard to experience the true nature of THE PATCH until you get there. You either leave unhappy or elated that you chose that particular patch. We asked our followers where their favorite patches are. Here is what they came up with:

Pecks Farm Market, Spring Green– The parking can be overwhelming but don’t worry, this patch is big enough for everybody. The market is supplied with traditional and nontraditional fall goodies such as jams, gourds, candy, cider, baked goods, taffy, licorice, mushrooms, fruits, vegetables and more but there is also a cute little store connected to it with your favorite Halloween decorations and fall décor, making even the craft maker and baker happy. Pecks also offers a variety of animals in its free animal petting zoo such as deer, goats, mini horses, sheep, rabbits, and can even get a glimpse of the chickens and peacocks. Be sure to stop by the kittens and give them some love. Kids can jump in the giant inflatable pumpkin, enjoy the corn maze, go on a hayride, pick pumpkins and tour the haunted houses. Check their website for additional attractions and events throughout the season. Pecks Farm Market East

Vesperman Farms, Lancaster– Have fun getting lost is what they like to say here! This farm has plenty of pumpkin picking but perhaps is looking for more entertainment? Enjoy the petting zoo, duck races, the pumpkin catapult, mini and large corn mazes, and hayrides. Pick your seasonal fruit and enjoy honey from the bee colony they have there. Don’t let fall pass you by and round up the kids in the minivan. Open 7 days a week and all major credit cards are accepted. Vesperman Farms

Busy Farms, Fort Atkinson– This is an outdoor, enhanced classroom for people of all ages. Enjoy feeding the animals, 4 acre trivia corn maze, pick your pumpkin, choose your favorite gourd or small pumpkin and see how far it can be thrown. Get your face painted and collect eggs. Enjoy a demo on sheep sheering, play plinko with your eggs, join in on a rat race, explore tunnels of fun, participate in a gunny sack race, shoo in the roosters, race a hog and watch a puppet play. The opportunities are endless and never ending. Busy Barn Farms

Pearce’s, Walworth– This locally owned farm stand stands by its produce and takes pride in its fresh produce. You can see the pride in their work as they also are a great attraction in the fall. Enjoy hay mazes, tunnel races, run through the corn maze and test your braveness at the new haunted houses and even ride a helicopter ride!!! Pearce Farms

The Little Farmer, Malone– This true authentic apple orchard and farmhouse offers a sense of fall comfort right when you walk in the door due to all the apple baking and that isn’t all the smells. They really should advertise free smells because it truly utopia when you set foot on this farm. Pick your pumpkin after you board the free hayride to the field or pick your own from the previously picked area. Enjoy the handicap accessible hayride that takes roughly 25 minutes through a beautiful area of color changing woods and lands you right in The Little Farmer- a barn with chickens, a cow, super hungry goats and sheep. Explore the corn maze where the boast they can “corn fuse” you for atleast 20 minutes or watch the little tikes on the playground. Be sure to stop in the shop for all kinds of goodies you can take home. The Little Farmer

Treinens Farm, Lodi– I was certainly blown away by this farm as this hardly a farm and more a paradise for the young at heart and the real young ones. Voted consistently as one of the best corn mazes by U.S. Today, MSN, The Travel Channel and many more, this is a must check out spot. This sports one of the largest corn mazes at 15 acres (that is equivalent to 15 football fields) and 12 different kinds of pumpkins, so for those that strike out lucky all of the time, you are sure to find “just the right one”. Enjoy activities such as pony rides, gemstone mining, pumpkin slingshot, Jacob’s ladder, 40 foot shoot tubes, a bounce house and milking contest. Don’t miss the zombie apocalypse on Oct. 25th!!  Treinen’s Farm

RentWisconsinCabins.com offers vacationers a great search experience. Our one of a kind “Narrow Your Search” tool quickly finds all the cabins, cottages, lodges and homes that meet your search criteria. Best of all, you always book directly with the rental owner or property manager to guarantee you get the best (no commission) rate. Travel On!

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Wisconsin Holiday Vacation Rentals…It’s Time to Start Thinking…

Wisconsin, Fall, Colorful, Road trip, Driving, Autumn

While we snuggle in to the warm indoors and relax by the fire, we begin to appreciate the comforts of fall. It is hard to ignore that soon the craziness of the holidays are going to encompass our world. What better way to unwind and be thankful for the people around us than to spend quality time with them? Enjoy your next holiday vacation at a cabin meant for just that. So grab a pumpkin latte and a bowl of popcorn and start your research with us. Listed below are PET FRIENDLY cabins with a furnished kitchen (perfect for meal time) and open during the holiday season:

Loon Call Lodge, St. Germain– If you are from Wisconsin or in a surrounding state, you probably have heard of St. Germain as a great summer getaway but that isn’t the only season that boasts beautiful scenery. St. Germain is dotted with lakes and fall color and when snow blankets this area, there is a charm about this town that doesn’t go unnoticed. This cabin gives you a true “Up North” feel and sleeps up to 13 people and has a fireplace to warm us up in the chilly nights after a day of exploring the adventurous ATV and snowmobile trails right outside your back door.

loon

 

Log Gables Lakefront, Lake Delton- This cabin is hardly small as it is 3,000 square feet but cozy it is! Gather a large group of family and and friends and enjoy this 9 bedroom, 3 bath vacation rental complete with a Jacuzzi and ample room for everyone. Take in the gorgeous landscape and lake! Just 3 miles away is Christmas mountain for some downhill skiing and ladies, there is Tanger Outlet Mall, a huge draw for families! Close to the Wisconsin Dells.

log gables

 

Kettle Moraine Farmhouse, Whitewater- This is truly for nature lovers as the landscape is in the heart of the Kettle Moraine Forest. This 3 bedroom vacation rental makes you feel right at home and offers a washer and dryer, furnished kitchen, fireplaces and even WiFi. Located right on an ATV/snowmobile trail, this farmhouse is 20 miles from LAKE GENEVA for unique shopping and rejuvenating spas.

kettle

 

Water’s Edge, Friendship- This 3,600 lodge opens up to 3 bedroom suites with full baths, TV and separate exit on to the outside deck, making you feel separate from the others but together at the same time. This lodge has WIFI, and a fireplace with a fire pit outside and right on the ATV trails so load up the snowmobiles and trail blaze ahead. Choose to have a dinner together? Use the fully furnished kitchen to make our meals together and catch up on the day.

watersedge

 

Cedaroma Lodge, St. Germain- We realize St. Germain is on here twice but with the criteria we had, this lodge was more than well-qualified to be on our favorites list. This Lodge has a playground, bikes, horseshoes, and a basketball hoop for the kiddos that keep them occupied while the adults catch up on quality time. It also has a fully furnished kitchen and sleeps 13, a perfect size for a holiday group. If there is snow on the ground have fun snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing, or cross-country skiing. Enjoy the WiFi and cable television at night or bundle up and get cozy by the outdoor fire pit.

cedaroma

 

RentWisconsinCabins.com is a website dedicated to making your search for your ideal Wisconsin vacation rental simple. We start you off with nearly 700 irresistible properties. You quickly “Narrow your Search” using our one-of-a-kind search tool & interactive map. Here’s the best part: you book directly with the rental owners or property managers. Booking direct assures you get the best rental rate. Why pay more for the same rental found on third-party booking websites.

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Quaint Cottage Near Lake Michigan Has Everything — Just ask Ken and Kelly

Do you remember the times as a kid where you didn’t have a care in the world and all you did was chase fireflies, push your friend in the lake, and played Cowboys and Indians? Don’t you wish you could go back to the simpler times where life was easy and your biggest worry was where you were going to catch your next thrill? While we may not be able to go back fully to those times, we can surely sit back and worry less. Crocker’s cottages can certainly remind you of this.

For the last 30 years, Ken and Kelly Crocker sure have made an effort in making sure that we simply admire and participate in everything that their cottages has to offer. Their long time family cottages sit right next to each other on a 208 acre lake 20 miles NE of Ludington in Fountain, MI. You can rent them separately as well as together to a large extended family. They each have their own private drives, frontage, playground, fire pit, dock and each come with 5 non-motorized boats. It is a quiet woodsy setting but still only 20-25 minutes from Ludington or Manistee and Lake Michigan. They even provide firewood for your nightly campfires, WIFI, games, large charcoal grill with your grilling tools you need and a sand volleyball court with rackets and balls, etc… Each has their own swim raft, L-shaped dock, boathouse, decks and swings overlooking beautiful Ford Lake.

Let your imagination run wild and while it is next to impossible to run out of stuff to do, these cottages are in a perfect area too. Situated close to the popular areas in Michigan and close to the lake can sometimes bring unwanted noise, traffic, tourist prices and crowds, these cottages are just far enough out to really enjoy the point of your vacation, and that is to relax. Sit back at night, roast your marshmallows by the fire pit and enjoy the vast night sky blanketed by stars, a vision you can’t get in crowded resort towns.

Take a day trip to Lake Michigan and read a book on the beach where the water is unsalted and shark free. Enjoy Ludington State park that has a unique marked canoe pathway or hike the many acres of woodlands, dunes, and marshlands. Check out the lighthouse or catch your dinner in the calm lake water.

Kelly and Ken’s favorite time of the year is fall and we couldn’t argue with that. The array of fall color and the warm waters welcome you with open arms. To book your next vacation, visit their listing here: Fountain Michigan Vacation Rental

At RentMichiganCabins.com, you always book DIRECTLY with owners and property managers assuring you get the best rental rate! Avoid booking through a 3rd party listing websites and avoid higher rates because of commissions.

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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.

bearskin_gen11

Safe travels.

RentMinnesotaCabins.com

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The 5 Best #Fall Roads in #Michigan

There is a part of us that really loves fall. We can’t kid ourselves. The crisp air and the hot cocoa invites us in for some football, comfort food, the slow switch to fall scent candles, and a warm fuzzy blanket. This fall, get outdoors and enjoy the reoccurring miracle of nature that happens when the leaves change color and give off vibrant hues that paint the perfect fall picture.

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1. Glen Arbor- take Highway 22 along Lake Michigan to view the serene lakeside and vivacious fall color that is a scene rarely replicated by other areas in the region. Experience a vast lake behind all the beautiful color that highway 22 can show off. Be sure to check out the Sleeping Bear Dunes as well!

2. Ludington- US 10 provides ample opportunity to check out the beautiful arrays of fall color ranging from yellows to passionate reds. There’s plenty of scenic lake views of Lake Michigan and other lakes as well that makes this one of the favored trips in Michigan. To view a map of the possible routes for your fall color tour, check out: Ludington Fall Color Tour

3. Eagle River- Hop onto M-26 and hit the cruise control button because you will need it. As you pass wineries, churches, and lighthouses, it will be hard to pay attention to the actual road. You will be under a blanket of mesmerizing fall colors. Don’t forget to roll your window down slightly to take in the fall smells as well!

4. Cadillac- Dubbed as an unforgettable experience,  Cadillac is home to  several train fall color tours. While fall is amazing and the trees stay mesmerizing for a couple of weeks, one thing you have to experience is the locomotive tour. Sit back and relax while taking in the color transformation. Tickets do sell out fast so prepare ahead of time. If trains are not your cup of tea, plan on the middle of October for the best scenic drive.

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5. Ironwood- Head north on 513 towards Black River Parkway that twists and turns by forests and flowing waterfalls and takes you straight to a harbor on Lake Superior.  Add Copper Peak, a ski flying hill to the itinerary because the view is majestic from the observation deck, 1881 feet above sea level and sits 18 stories high. You can see Minnesota, Porcupine Mountian and the Apostle Islands, weather permitting.

Generally, we say that all of Michigan is great and we encourage everyone to stay at least a week and travel around to experience everything each area has to offer; from the sugary sand beaches that stretch for miles, to the forests and wildlife areas and bustling cities like the Grand Rapids. Michigan is truly an unforgettable experience.

For a list of vacation rentals head to www.RentMichiganCabins.com. We invite you to book your Michigan vacation rental DIRECTLY with the rental owners and property managers! Booking direct guarantees you get the best rate AND you avoid ugly double-booking pitfalls.

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Here’s a UP bonus suggestion: Brockway Mnt. Drive. Upper Peninsula chose the road as the region’s “favorite natural wonder” in a poll conducted by WLUC-TV.

Relax. Enjoy your search. You’re on Michigan cabin time now.