Rich in history and natural beauty, the Mille Lacs area is only a short drive from the Twin Cities and a great spot for a getaway. From water activities to games of chance, to learning about the history of the area, there are plenty of things to do in the Mille Lacs.

Things to do when visiting Mille Lacs

Explore Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post

The Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post in Onamia tell the story of the area’s first settlers, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, with a variety of interactive displays, exhibits, and learning stations. Exploring the large collection of artifacts and art is a wonderful way to learn more about the history of the area. The Four Seasons Room, which is not to be missed when visiting, is home to dioramas with life-size figures depicting the life of the Ojibwe people through the changing seasons.

Next door, the Trading Post offers a large selection of traditional and contemporary American Indian art and crafts from tribes across North America.

Learn more about the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post »

Take a hike

Grab a pack and head out for some outdoor exploration at one of the Mille Lacs area state parks. With 35 miles of trails and a 100-foot observation tower offering spectacular views of Lake Mille Lacs, Kathio State Park near Onamia is a perfect spot to spend a few hours or more. On the southeast shore near Isle, Father Hennepin State Park’s 320 acres includes trails that wind through hardwood forests and along the Lake Mille Lacs shoreline.

Go fishing with McQuoid’s Inn

One of the largest lakes in Minnesota, Lake Mille Lacs has 132,500 acres of stunning waters and is the place to catch four different species of trophy fish: smallmouth bass, walleye, muskie, and northern pike. It is also the spot where I caught my first fish – a walleye, quickly followed by a smallmouth bass! Guess I can check off two of the trophy fish species! Our fishing adventure on Lake Mille Lacs was with McQuoid’s Inn, which offers private and public charters aboard their comfortable, clean boats captained by expert fishermen. Bait, tackle, and equipment are all provided by McQuoid’s Inn – you just bring a camera to capture the pic with your catch.

Learn more about fishing with McQuoid’s Inn »

Try your hand at a game of chance

With 1,500 slot machines, table games, video games, and a bingo hall, there’s something for everyone desiring to partake in a bit of gaming at Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Onamia. For the kiddos, the Grand Arcade has more than 80 arcade machines and when hunger strikes, there are four dining options ranging from coffee and snacks to steaks and seafood.

Shop ’til you drop in four quaint communities

Whether you’re interested in antiques, art, or unique gifts, there’s a wide assortment of quaint shops and boutiques throughout the four communities in the Mille Lacs area: Isle, Wahkon, Onamia, and Garrison. Stroll along main streets, explore specialty shops carrying clothing, gifts, wines, and more, and pick up a few souvenirs, art, and local craft items.

Where to stay when visiting Mille Lacs

From campgrounds to resorts, Mille Lacs has a variety of lodging choices. For our visit, we stayed at the recently renovated Eddy’s Resort on Mille Lacs Lake. Cool and eclectic, Eddy’s has stunning lakeside views, comfortable, stylish design, a great restaurant and bar, the Launch Bar & Grill, and is easily accessible to the many activities and attractions throughout the Mille Lacs area.

Learn more about Eddy’s Resort on Mille Lacs Lake »

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Disclosure & disclaimer: Special thanks to Explore Minnesota and Mille Lacs Area Tourism for hosting us as their guests. The opinions expressed are entirely our own. Reviews are based only on our assessment and we accept no responsibility for how the information is used. We do not accept paid posts although some posts may contain information regarding businesses where we have previously been compensated.