BAUDETTE/ROSEAU/WARROAD

The northwestern border of Minnesota is all about the outdoors and year-round outdoor activities: fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, skating, cross-country skiing. There are some attractions and historical sites, but the emphasis here is outside, not inside.

To See and Do

Attractions are open year-round unless otherwise noted.

MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES Lake of the Woods County Museum (218-634-1200; lakeofthewoodshistoricalsociety.com), 206 8th Avenue SE, Baudette. Open Mon.–Sat. mid-May–mid-Oct.; off-season by appointment. No admission fee. This small but well-stocked museum has exhibits on various aspects of northern Minnesota’s history and development, including a re-created homestead kitchen, school, country store, and tavern, as well as information on the geology of the area.

THE PIONEER VILLAGE IN ROSEAU

The Polaris Experience Center (218-463-4999; polaris.com/en-us/polaris-experience-center), 205 5th Avenue SW, Suite 2, Roseau. Open Mon.–Sat. No admission fee. One of the leading manufacturers of snowmobiles, Polaris built this visitor center adjacent to its plant to showcase the company’s history. The exhibits range from the earliest snowmobile prototypes to today’s sleeker machines, as well as history and trivia from the age of snowmobiles. Free tours of the Polaris Plant itself are scheduled daily at 2 p.m.; call ahead or stop by the office to sign up.

Roseau Pioneer Farm & Village (218-463-1045 or 218-463-1118; roseaupioneerfarm.com), MN 11, Roseau. Open daily Apr.–Aug.; other times by appointment. Admission is free. This lovingly preserved village is a testament to the pioneer days of northwestern Minnesota’s agricultural history. Most of the 16 buildings are restored artifacts, done primarily byvolunteer labor (volunteer opportunities are available on Tues.; call the village for more information). Visitors are welcome to explore on their own or take a guided tour through the post office, parish hall, church, barn, blacksmith shop, and log cabin. Bathroom facilities are, fittingly, of an outhouse nature, in a vintage porta-potty.

THE MARVIN WINDOWS VISITOR CENTER

Fort St. Charles (218-223-4611), The Point, Lake Street NE, Warroad. Open daily 10–4, Memorial Day–Sept., weather permitting. Admission is free. In the early 1700s a French explorer and trader by the name of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de la Verendrye, established this fort as a base for trading and for launching expeditions. However, lack of food and hostility from local Sioux made the fort difficult to maintain, and it was abandoned after 1760. The buildings were discovered and reconstructed as a historical site in the mid-1900s.

Wm. S. Marvin Training and Visitor Center (218-386-4334; marvin.com), 704 MN 313, Warroad. Open daily. Admission is free. The Marvin Visitor Center is a historic and industrial exhibition featuring the growth and technology behind Marvin Windows and Doors. Theatrical highlights include a recounting of the fire that destroyed the Marvin plant in 1961 and how the Marvin company rebuilt and expanded. Tours of the Marvin plant itself are available by appointment Mon.–Fri. by calling 218-386-4333.

WILLIE WALLEYE

OTHER ATTRACTIONS Willie Walleye, Main Street and 1st Avenue NE, Baudette. No visit to the northern lakes would be complete without a photo op at the walleye equivalent of the Paul Bunyan statues in Bemidji (see page 176). Forty feet long and weighing 2 tons, Willie represents Baudette’s claim of being the Walleye Capital of the World.

Green Space and Outdoor Activities

The northwestern stretch of the state is geared primarily toward visitors who want to enjoy outdoor activities, including fishing (both summer and winter), boating, hiking, hunting, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Consequently, many resorts in this area are open year-round to cater to clients who favor activities in the different seasons. Note: Because winter can be unpredictable, don’t head out to this part of the state in the middle of January without a snow emergency kit in your vehicle, as well as a charged-up cell phone. Pay close attention to the weather, as snowstorms (complete with dangerous winds and wind chills) can arise quickly.

CANOEING Lake of the Woods, north through the Northwest Angle, makes for excellent canoeing, as does the meandering Rainy River.

FISHING Lake of the Woods is one of the nation’s largest lakes (after the Great Lakes and Salt Lake), and it’s become a favored place of anglers from all over the country and Canada. The region is proud of its walleye population (although its claim as Walleye Capital of the World is disputed by other walleye lakes), but there are many kinds of fish for the catching: Lake sturgeon, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, perch, and muskie are just some of the plentiful fish. You can bring your own boat and manage your fishing yourself, or you can hire a guide through one of the many guide services (and through many of the dozens of resorts throughout the area) available to assist you.

There is a separate summer and winter fishing season. Winter’s ice fishing has gained considerable ground as more resorts offer ice houses for rent, many of which are outfitted with propane heaters and cooktops. The popularity of “sleeper” fish houses, outfitted like rustic cabins, also continues to grow. Fish spearing is another activity that is increasing in interest.

Official seasons and regulations can be found through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367; dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html).

HUNTING Deer hunting in Minnesota begins in late October for bow hunters and early November for firearms. Besides deer, duck, grouse, and goose hunting are all popular activities. Because there is so much open land near Lake of the Woods, it’s easy to mistake private property for public hunting grounds. Check with the local tourist offices or with your resort owners, who can provide necessary information to help you avoid trespassing. Minnesota DNR (651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367; dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/hunting/index.html) has specific licensing and regulation information.

PARKS Zippel Bay State Park (218-783-6252; dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/zippel_bay/index.html), County Route 8, Williams. Fishing, swimming, camping, bird-watching—Zippel Bay State Park offers these and more in its 3,000-plus acres along Lake of the Woods. Six miles of hiking trails available during the summer are expanded to 11 miles in the winter for cross-country skiers.

GOLF

Golf’s charm is felt this far north, and there are several courses available to the public across the region.

Oak Harbor Golf Course (218-634-9939), 2805 24th Street NW, Baudette. Open May 1–Oct. 15, weather permitting. Nine-hole course.

Oakcrest Golf Club (218-463-3016; oakcrestgolfcourse.com), 310 5th Street SE, Roseau. Open mid-May–mid-Oct., weather permitting. An 18-hole championship course that winds along the river and through the woods.

Warroad Estates Golf Course (218-386-2025; warroadestates.com), 37293 Elm Drive, Warroad. Open Apr. 15–Oct. 15, weather permitting. An 18-hole course that straddles the US–Canadian border.

Northwest Angle Country Club (218-223-8001; pasturegolf.com), Angle Inlet. Open May–Sept., weather permitting. When a golf course’s location is described as “north of northern Minnesota,” you know you’re truly going “up north.” This nine-hole course may not be the most pristinely groomed course you’ve ever played, but you may never be able to see quite so much wildlife while golfing, either.

SNOWMOBILING There are more than 400 miles of snowmobile trails in the Lake of the Woods area, most groomed and maintained by a local snowmobiling organization, the Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club (lakeofthewoodsdrifters.org), in Baudette. The Drifters can provide maps and trail conditions during the winter season. If you’re going to be using the trails extensively, it’s worth considering a Drifters membership (annual individual fee is $25, family rate is $35) in order to participate in one of the many events they sponsor during the snowmobiling season.

Lodging

BED-AND-BREAKFAST Wildwood Inn Bed & Breakfast (218-634-1631; wildwoodinnbb.com), 3361 Cottonwood Road NW, Baudette. Five guest rooms, each with private bath in a historic former summer club house with easy access to lakes and woods. Rates start at $75.

HOTELS AmericInn Baudette (218-634-3200; wyndhamhotels.com), 1179 W. Main Street, Baudette. The nicest hotel in Baudette is the Americ Inn, which offers rooms and suites, an indoor pool, cold-weather hookups, a fish-cleaning area, and free high-speed Internet access. Upgraded rooms include a fireplace. Full breakfast is included. Rates start at $101.

AmericInn Roseau (218-463-1045; wyndhamhotels.com), 1110 3rd Street NW, Roseau. Like the AmericInn in Baudette, this is one of the nicest hotels in Roseau, offering rooms and suites, an indoor pool, and cold-weather hookups. Full breakfast is included. Rates start at $97.

North Country Inn and Suites (1-888-300-2196; northcountryinnandsuites.com), 902 3rd Street NW, Roseau. This motel offers 48 rooms and suites, all with refrigerators and microwaves, and daily continental breakfast. There is an indoor pool and hot tub as well. Rates start at $109.

St. Mary’s Motel Room (612-910-3678), 202 Roberts Avenue NE, Warroad. The most distinctive lodging in this part of the state is a room in a local historical church, in the former balcony area, with 22-foot-high ceilings and a kitchenette. Rates start at $79.

RESORTS Border View Lodge (218-634-1631 or 1-800-776-3474; borderviewlodge.com), 3409 MN 172 NW, Baudette. This year-round resort north of Baudette, located where the Rainy River meets Lake of the Woods, has several cabins, all of which are fully equipped and have the option of full daily maid service (i.e., bed making, dish washing). Border View also offers ice houses, both for daily use and for accommodation for that all-night ice fishing getaway. There’s a bar and restaurant in the lodge. Rates start at $106. Packages are available.

Wigwam Resort (218-634-2168 or 1-800-448-9260; wigwamresortlow.com), 3502 Four Mile Bay Drive NW, Baudette. The Wigwam offers both hotel rooms in the lodge and cabins for rental. Guests can book accommodations only, or they can reserve packages that include meals at the resort’s restaurant and charter fishing with a guide. Breakfast and dinner are served year-round in the resort’s restaurant, with lunch available in summer. Rates start at $95.

Zippel Bay Resort (1-800-222-2537; zippelbay.com), 6080 39th Street NW, Williams. Zippel Bay has both budget cabins and deluxe log cabins complete with fireplace and Jacuzzi; the log cabins are attractive and spacious, located on the water’s edge. There’s also an Out Post cabin, adjacent to Beltrami State Forest, which is an ideal location for hunters. The resort has an outdoor pool for the summer months and a restaurant. Packages are available with or without meals; during the winter, sleeper ice houses can be rented. (Not to mention the Zippel Igloo, an on-ice “igloo” offering catered food and drinks, and even a satellite TV.) Rates start at $65. Packages are available.

ZIPPEL BAY STATE PARK

Where to Eat

Because so many of the fishing and outdoor-activity resorts are located well out of city limits, many of the resorts offer restaurants or cafés themselves. Within the cities of Baudette, Roseau, and Warroad, there are several fast-food options, plus these selections.

EATING OUT Alice’s Family Restaurant (218-634-1165), 203 Main Street, Baudette. Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Extensive breakfast entrées and soups, salads, and sandwiches. Inexpensive.

Northlake Café (218-634-9807), 813 2nd Street NW, Baudette. Open Tues.–Sat. for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner, Sun. for breakfast and lunch. Abundant breakfast plates and massive burgers and sandwiches. Inexpensive.

Rosalie’s Restaurant and Lounge (218-634-9422; wiktel.com/menus/rosalies/menu.htm), 1229 W. Main Street, Baudette. Open daily for dinner, Mon.–Fri. for lunch. Chicken sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and ribs, with several lighter options. Inexpensive/moderate.

Williams Bar and Grill (218-783-6195; facebook.com/Williams BarGrill), 170 MN 11 NW, Williams. Open daily for lunch and dinner.Williams Bar and Grill has offers solid bar food, especially burgers. Inexpensive.

Brickhouse Restaurant (218-463-0993; mnbrickhouse.com), 205 5th Avenue SE, Roseau. Open daily for lunch and dinner. A full restaurant and bar located near the Polaris Experience Center (see To See and Do), Brickhouse has burgers, sandwiches, steaks, and ribs. Moderate.

Izzy’s Lounge and Grill (218-386-2723; patchmotel.com/lounge-grill), 801 N. State Avenue, Warroad. Open daily for lunch and dinner. At this local bar and grill, the bar is fully stocked, and the grill provides enormous meals in the form of burgers and chicken. Service is friendly, and the casual environment, with a large stone fireplace, is downright cozy. Inexpensive.

Special Events

June: Willie Walleye Day, Baudette. Held in early June, Willie Walleye Day celebrates Baudette’s claim that it’s the Walleye Capital of the World with a day of fun and frolic, including a 5K run/walk, lumberjack show, chainsaw carving, and, of course, food.

Scandinavian Festival, Roseau. Held each year in mid-June, the two-day Scandinavian Festival celebrates the region’s roots with events in the town of Roseau and at the Pioneer Village (see To See and Do).

August: Pioneer Village Festival (218-463-1045; roseaupioneerfarm.com), MN 11, Roseau. This event, held each year the last weekend of August before Labor Day weekend, re-creates pioneer entertainment by having a pancake breakfast, children’s games and activities, demonstrations of pioneer skills, and a parade.

Angle Days (218-395-0648; facebook.com/minnesotaangledays), Northwest Angle. An annual August event celebrating the fruit of the season—blueberries—with a pie-baking contest, fun run and walk, fish fry, clay pigeon tournament, and other events.