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Goin' To The Lake Recap: WCCO Heads To Breezy Point (Day 1)

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For many, the Fourth of July is the peak of the summer season, and we're taking that attitude to Breezy Point and the Cross Lake area this week on Goin' to the Lake.

WCCO-TV's Natalie Nyhus and Ali Lucia and NewsRadio 830 WCCO's John Hines are all heading to the area to celebrate the holiday weekend.

Just as Amelia Santaniello and Angela Davis did last week, Natalie and Ali put together a playlist for the road trip (along with some songs from Natalie's WCCO Saturday Morning co-host Mike Augustyniak). Here's what they listened to on the way up:

Goin' To The Lake: Natalie & Ali's (& Mike's) Road Trip Playlist

[spotify id="spotify:user:ephender:playlist:3KZvWvf9HrWIBhskYlK1TF" /]

(Quite a bit of country in that list, huh? If the phone charger doesn't work, they can always flip to BUZ'N @ 102.9!)

When Natalie and Ali got up to Breezy Point, the first place they went was Breezy Point Resort, on the shores of Pelican Lake. It's a place people visit to enjoy swimming, fishing and boating on the lake's 8,200-square-feet of water.

It's also a great place to sit in a floaty with a drink in hand.

Natalie & Ali Visit Breezy Point Resort

And when you're up north in the summer, a popular place to hang out that isn't on a lake is the Brainerd International Raceway.

Natalie and Ali caught up with 12-year-old Chandler Niemeyer, who's been spending a lot of time there this summer as she perfects her new sport of drag racing.

So far the experience for her has been nothing but positive, and by the looks of it, this girl will likely be spending the rest of her life in the fast lane. She's also a competitive gymnast and spends time on the water as part of the newly formed Brainerd Ski Loons.

Drag Racing With Chandler Niemeyer

Breezy Point is about a 3-and-a-half hour drive from downtown Minneapolis. On the long ride up, Natalie and Ali stopped at Gull Dam Brewing in Nisswa. It's got great beer, a tap room and a food truck.

Mark Anderson and his wife, Barb, opened the place in October. They said business has been great ever since.

So if you're in the area this weekend, you might want to stop by for brewery's Fourth of July blowout. The taproom will open at noon on Saturday and the Lamont Cranston Band will start playing at 6 p.m.

Natalie & Ali Visit Gull Dam Brewery

Pelican Lake, of course, is great for fishing. So Natalie and Ali set out to catch some walleye, or maybe even a northern.

They found a friendly guide, Marv Koep, who took them out.

And they didn't go home empty handed.

Natalie & Ali Go Fishing On Pelican Lake

Every Thursday up at the Commander, it's bingo night.

As such, Natalie and Ali couldn't pass up the chance to win.

Watch as they hang out with and compete against the folks celebrating the holiday weekend.

Natalie & Ali Play Bingo At The Commander

Gallery: WCCO's Goin' To The Lake In Breezy Point

Here are highlights from other Goin' To The Lake trips:

-- Watch the past 'Goin' To The (Frozen) Lake' segments.
-- Watch the past 'Goin' To The Lake' segments.

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