Goin' To The Lake: Brainerd Lakes Area (Day 1)
Gallery: Goin' To The Lake 2014: Brainerd Lakes Area
CROSSLAKE, Minn. (WCCO) -- Even when record rains are falling, WCCO makes it to the lake. This summer, until the start of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, we're highlighting communities in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
This week, Esme Murphy and Chris Shaffer ventured to the Brainerd Lakes Area in northern Minnesota.
On Thursday, they arrived in Crosslake, which is about 2 ½ hours north of the Twin Cities.
Crosslake is, appropriately, on Cross Lake, which is part of the Whitefish chain of lakes - one of the most popular in the state. That means in the summertime, the town sees its population grow. About 60 percent of the homes here are used seasonally.
The Whitefish chain is made up of 14 lakes, all connected with more than 13,500 acres of water and 119 miles of shoreline.
It's perfect for fishing, boating and really anything you want to do on the water. And if you want to stay on the chain of lakes, you'll find plenty of campgrounds and resorts to choose from.
Esme And Chris Arrive In Crosslake
---
You'll find plenty of resorts, cabins and restaurants along Cross Lake, but now there's something new. There's a luxury cruise that sets sail from Moonlite Bay for brunch, lunch, dinner or moonlight cruise.
Destiny Cruises On Gull Lake
---
Just up the road from Moonlite Bay is a place you have to stop if you come to Crosslake - Lake Country Crafts and Cones. Just look for the big yellow house!
This place just feels like home, and mostly because of owner Pat Netko. She proudly serves up 44 flavors of Kemps ice cream. In fact, no one in Minnesota sells more Kemps than this place!
They've got 36 flavors in their counter at all times. And if you're having a hard time deciding what flavor you want, just ask WCCO photojournalist Carly Danek, who got to try all 36 in one sitting.
Crafts and Cones also serves up coffee and custom ice cream cakes. If that's not enough, try the Doozie - a quart of ice cream in a waffle cone. Finish it all and you'll get your picture on the wall.
Also, each cone starts with a jelly bean at the bottom.
Esme & Chris Visit Lake Country Crafts & Cones
---
As soon as Esme and Chris got into town Thursday, they got a chance to do something Esme hasn't done in about 15 years -- trail riding in the woods on horseback.
Esme & Chris Go Horseback Riding
---
After all that riding, Chris and Esme worked up quite the appetite. That's why they headed to Hassies Saloon and Eatery. As soon as they arrived, the owner had a challenge for them. And they weren't about to back down.
Chris & Esme Take The Hassies Challenge
---
Here are links to all the places Esme and Chris visited in Crosslake on Thursday, June 26, 2014:
Destiny Cruises
www.destinycruisesllc.com
Moonlite Bay
www.moonlitebay.com
Black Diamond Equine Center
www.blackdiamondequinecenter.com
Lake Country Crafts and Cones
www.lakecountrycrafts.com
---
For the full schedule for Goin' To The Lake: All Summer Long, click here. You can suggest places for us to visit here.
---
Watch the past "Goin' To The Lake" segments.
Watch the past "Goin' To The (Frozen) Lake" segments.
