FRIDAY
3pm | IT’S TIME TO GET MANHIGH – It’s best to educate before you recreate, so check out the story of Manhigh 2 where on August 1957, Major David G. Simons took a 32 hour flight up to 100K feet in a metal capsule that departed from a Cuyuna Mine Pit . The Soo Line Depot Museum (101 1st Street NE, 218-546-6178) in Crosby.
Soo Line Depot Museum is open from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00PM. From there, walk down main street and stop in at the Spaulding House (1 W Main St, 218-546-6060) to try one of the many craft brews on tap and try your luck at darts or pool.
7 pm | TEXANS WISH THEY HAD BBQ LIKE THIS – Louie’s Bucket of Bones will be the culinary highlight of your Cuyuna trip. The aroma from its scratch BBQ cooking with tantalizing hickory barbecue smell draws customers through the doors. It offers Jerk Pork, Chicken and Ribs. Louies’s Bucket of Bones (101 4th Street, 218-545- 3232) in Ironton. Open daily.
SATURDAY
8am | MIXED COMPANY FOR COFFEE & BREAKFAST – Mixed Company A Kava House imports its beans from the North Shore and serves eggs just like you want them. Its extensive drink and breakfast selections includes brewed coffee, espresso, pastries and breakfast entrees. The Homestyle Egg Bake at $3.49 will get you fueled for the day. It also has a great lunch menu. Mixed Company A Kava House (128 W. Main Street NE, 218-545-1010) in Crosby. Open daily.
10am | IT’S ALL MINE AND IT’S INCREDIBLE – A stop at the Croft Mine Park and Museum is a must. The info on the museum and the mine tour is incredible. The guides really know their stuff and full of fun facts! This 17-acre park, built on the Croft Mine site, was an active underground iron ore mine from 1916-1934; original shaft 630 ft. deep; enjoy guided simulated underground mining tour; museum has mining artifacts. Croft Mine Park and Museum (N 8th St & 2nd Ave E, 218-546-5466) in Crosby. Open Sat. & Sun. 10am to 6pm starting Memorial Day Weekend.
1pm | BERRY PICKING – Elm Island Lake Berry Farm offers pick your own strawberries on small fields surrounded by woods & natural hay fields. It schedules picking times for customers to avoid traffic & field congestion. Call to schedule your picking appt time. Pre-picked strawberries are available by ordering at least 2-3hrs before your desired pickup time. Picking late Jun-mid Jul: Mon-Sat hrs vary, call for picking conditions. Elm Island Lake Berry Farm (37815 309th Street, Aitkin; 218-927-3087)
6pm | WATER WARS, MINI-GOLF & BATTING CAGES – Traditions Mini Golf is a 18 Hole Premier Course, featuring a waterfall, fountain ponds, bridges, breath taking landscape and music plays throughout the entire course! It also has batting cages and water wars game. Traditions Mini Golf (24228 State Highway 210, 218-534-9250) in Deerwood. Open daily summer.
8pm | LOCALLY BREWED CRAFT BEER – Cuyuna Brewing Company has two goals: quality and experience. It promises to relentlessly pursue these goals, ensuring that every person walking through our door has the best quality beer in their hands and enjoys it in an authentic Cuyuna experience. (1 East Main Street Crosby, 320-894-4362) Open daily summer.
SUNDAY
8am |COFFEE & BREAKFAST AT THE RED RAVEN – Red Raven has a great selection of breakfast and lunch options. (2-3rd Ave W., Crosby, Minnesota 56441, 218-833-2788) Open daily.
10am | WHAT’S MY NAME PAUL? – A quick 20 minute drive will get you to see the real 26 ft. Paul Bunyan. Paul Bunyan Land is an amusement park that offers several recreational and entertainment services for children, youths and adults. It has several rides, including roller coaster, marry-go-round, apple ride and flying cage. Best of all, Paul will magically say your name. Paul Bunyan Land (17553 State Highway 18, 218-764-2524) in Brainerd. Open daily summer.
2 pm | WHO WANTS TO CATCH TROUT? – Angler’s North Fishing Guides know where the fish are biting in the Cuyuna Area. They specialize in lakes and rivers in one of the finest fishing and recreational areas in the Midwest. Your principal guide is Jesse Williams. Jesse is a local (from the Crosby area) who works part time at Oars ‘n Mine Bait and Tackle in Crosby, MN. When he’s not picking up the latest info at the bait shop, he’s catching fish. Angler’s North Fishing Guides (22640 MN-6, 218- 831-0267) in Crosby.
THE BASICS
The Cuyuna Lakes area is 120 miles from Minneapolis & St. Paul., and 100 miles from Duluth. It is served by Delta Airlines at the Brainerd Airport just outside of town.
True North Basecamp (835 1st Street SW, 218-833-2267) offers lakefront cabin rentals starting at $79 and campsites starting at $23. It is connected to the Cuyuna Lakes Recreation Area waterways & trails. Bike and stand up paddle board rentals available at Cycle Path & Paddle. Bikes also available at Red Raven.