Lakeside resorts offer a front-row seat for taking in the beauty of Lake Vermilion and its expansive waters northeastern Minnesota. With 40,000-plus acres of sparkling waters, 12,000 winding miles of heavily wooded shoreline, and hundreds of pine- and stone-studded islands just waiting to be explored, it's easy to see why the National Geographic Society put Lake Vermilion on a list of the nation's ten most scenic lakes back in the 1940s. The scenery is particularly stunning in the fall, when the predominantly pine forests are set off by colorful stands of birch, aspen, basswood, maple and ash.

Lake Vermilion is home to several of the state's better-appointed resorts, with whirlpools, saunas, restaurants, fireplaces and the like. Many more resorts and campgrounds cater to more rustic tastes, and virtually all have cabins or campsites near the lake, which, after all, is the point of coming. Almost all have boat/motor rentals, and dock space if you bring your own boat.

Another lodging option is a houseboat, available for daily or weekly rentals. These are floating lodging facilities with everything you need for a day or a week on the water. Various models sleep from 6-12 people comfortably, all are heated, and amenities may include multiple outdoor decks, oven, refrigerator, barbecue grill, fishing boat, stereo, satellite TV with VCR, microwave oven and wet bar.

Fishing here is exceptional, and September tends to be particularly good. The lake offers fine fishing for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, big bluegill sunfish, and eating-size yellow perch.

There's plenty to do off the water as well. Fortune Bay Casino and Resort has blackjack, slots and other games for high-rollers. There are 18-hole golf courses in nearby Cook and Virginia, a new championship course at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, and several 9-holers throughout the area. Pier 77 is a fun mini-golf course with 18 northwoods-themed holes, plus an ice cream shop. Several lakeside restaurants are accessible by water�just hop in a boat and zip over to the restaurant's dock.

Bear Head Lake State Park offers camping and 17 miles of hiking trails in a Boundary Waters-like environment, but with easy access and simple amenities. The 11.5-mile Tower City Trail offers an easy hike through red pine forests and mixed terrain.

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Media Contact: C - J Johnson +1 651-297-3488 curt.johnson@state.mn.us