Grandview Lodge

 As many of you know we LOVE Grandview Lodge and have been traveling there multiple times per year since JJ was a baby.  During 2020 this was one of our ONLY vacation Destinations.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the resort but I will do my best to summarize below.

WHY DO WE LOVE IT? We Love Grandview Lodge because it is 2.5 hours from the Twin Cities and there are tons of activities year round to do.  Most cabins have full kitchens so you have the option to cook your meals (which we did for the pandemic) or eat at one of the many restaurants on-site.  We always have a great time at the pools, restaurants, enjoying outdoor activities, and kids club.

WHEN TO GO: Our favorite time is the SUMMER.  During the summer you can enjoy boating (Kayaks, paddle boards, fishing, pontoon rides, walking, bonfires, etc.)  We love going for the 4th of July when the Saturday prior to the 4th there is a Party on the Pines with Bounce Houses, Live Music, and Fireworks!

We also love going in the FALL-- we typically go each year for Thanksgiving to enjoy the catered buffet but have also gone over MEA and enjoyed pumpkin carving, horse drawn carriage rides, and Bingo.

In the WINTER we love sledding near the Garden Cottages, Ice skating, Snow shoeing, Carriage rides, and skiing at nearby Mount Ski Gull.  We have done the tree lighting at the Nisswa Lights Festival.  

In the SPRING we enjoy the FREE golf course on the Garden for kids, and my husband enjoys golfing at the Pines for a full 18 hole course.  We also enjoy the painting classes (for a fee) and wine/ beer tastings (if they have them)

For the summer I recommend booking 1 year in advance (minus 2 weeks) and other times of year can book 3 - 6 months in advance.

WHERE TO STAY: There are 3 main areas at Grandview: Gull Lake, Roy Lake, and East Side.  Our favorites are Nokomis & Garden Cottages, and Roy Lake Cottages. 

1) Main area near Gull Lake

    a) Cabins near Gull Lake are variable-- can be very rustic or more modern.  These are my least favorite due to the inconsistency of the lodging but great for location to Gull Lake and the Lakeside Pool.  Near the Lakeside pool is the Taco restaurant and a small arcade that my kids enjoy.  The Lakeside pool features a waterslide and splash pad area that is great for small children.  The ones we have stayed at have been very "classic" with small kitchens and very small communal spaces.

    b) Linden cabins.  These are newer and are good for smaller groups.  The location is good for the Lake and Lakeside pool.  I have not stayed in these yet, but they definitely look like they would be nice.

    c) Nokomis Cabins. We LOVE the Nokomis cabins.  They are closer to the new North Park center with indoor & outdoor pool, fitness center, and kids club.  These are across the street from the Gull Lake Center which has our favorite restaurant Cru.  Many have screened in porches which are lovely.

    d) Garden Cottages.  These are very far from the lake but large and newer with huge community spaces, game rooms, and 3 - 4 bedrooms.  These are a great location near the Garden golf holes and in the winter sledding.  We see deer around these areas and other wildlife.  Also close to the Hotel and North Park center.

2) Roy Lake and Golf Villas - will need to drive to get to main property (5 minutes) for restaurants and other pools etc.

    a) We love the Roy Lake Cottages and Cabins.  The Cottages are 3 bedroom and have a loft with two twin beds, a screened in porch (many with lake views) and a walkout basement with games (pool or foosball).  These have a full kitchen and grill so easy to prepare own meals.  You are down the hill from a smaller pool by the Golf villas and walking distance from Roy Lake which is great for kayaking and paddleboarding due to the smaller size.  The Cottages have 2 bedrooms one with bunk beds and one with a queen and are great for 2 - 4 people.  These are right on the water and feature private docks. The villas are up the hill so further from the lake but better for larger parties.

    b) The Golf Villas and 8th Fairway townhomes are again more "rustic"  Some have very weird configurations and seem to be where groups of guys go to have golf weekends.  

    c) Fairway Pines (North Pines and West Pines coming soon) are the newest units that are very spacious, modern, and have game rooms and modern amenities.  The fairway pines is near a small pool that my children enjoyed but may be too small for older kids.

3) East Bay: Gull Haven & Interlochen Townhomes. I have heard that the townhomes are nice but this is even further away from the main property so we have never stayed on the East side.

POOLS:  There are 3 pools available

1) Waterfront Pool. This is great for younger kids and features a waterslide, splash area, basketball hoops.  It is mostly indoors but they can open up the side to make it partially outdoors.  There are 2 hottubs.

2) North Park Pool.  This is a very large pool that has a waterslide, lap lanes, 2 indoor hotubs, an outdoor pool with basketball and outdoor hot-tub that is open year-round.  This is more popular for older kids and adults

3) Fairway Pines Pool-- this is a small pool that is good for lounging but is pretty much for the Pines/ Roy Lake.

RESTAURANTS: There are 4 main restaurants now:

1) Char- 4/5 is the steakhouse that is in the main lodge.  All restaurants are family friendly so it's fine to have your kids come there are kids menus at every restaurant.

2) Cru- 5/5 this is the winebar restaurant that features a wine cellar that you can tour.  Excellent food and wine as well as fun cocktails

3) Cantina Lareda 3/5 is the taco/ mexican restaurant by the Lakeside pool.  

4) Northwoods Pub and On the Rocks 4/5 is the indoor/ outdoor menu with burgers, salads, sandwiches.  The outdoor space is beautiful if you have good weather.  

You can also order Pizza Delivery.

SPA: 5/5 We love the spa.  The space is small but the massages were excellent. It looks like they have an expanded space now which should improve the crowds we experienced last time.

KIDS CLUB: We have done the Kids Club in the past and the kids loved it!

AMENITIES: Free rental for tennis rackets, pickle ball, bikes (even with baby carriers), kayaks, paddle boards, canoes, free pontoon tour, bonfires with s'mores.

WHAT TO BOOK AHEAD: Spa, Restaurants, Boat Tours









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