Resort handbook

Details: 12 cabins and 55 campsites (45 are occupied year-round; 10 available for reservation) on Lake Shamineau, 26 miles south of Brainerd (www.augerspineview.com; 1-888-705-5253; 1-218-575-2100).

Rave: "Beginning in August 1997, my husband and I have hosted a family gathering at Auger's Resort ... The grandchildren, some of whom were 5 years old when they came to Auger's for first time, are now in college and they still treasure coming to Auger's. [The owners] converted a large building with windows facing the lake known as the arcade into a Family Reunion Center. Then they built an attractive log house to house the arcade on the first floor and a loft apartment on the second level. They also took down two cabins and replaced them with side-by-side cabins with A/C, larger sleeping accommodations, and kitchen/eating areas. But they kept the 'Tin Can,' a three-bedroom mobile home which our high school- and college-age grandchildren have stamped as theirs because they can stay up until 2 a.m. (or later) and sleep until noon. ... The first summer we were there, we celebrated the marriage of one of our five daughters. I brought used bridesmaid dresses with me and a wedding dress. The women put them on, jumped into the lake, and then went down the long red slide, Auger's signature beach fixture."

RUTH BARTLING, MINNEAPOLIS

Details: Eleven cabins and seven rooms on Agate Lake in Nisswa (www. birchbaygolfresort.com; 1-800-450-4481; 1-218-963-4488).

Rave: "Our favorite resort is a little mom-and-pop golf resort. ... Out your cabin door to the right is a great little nine-hole golf course. Out the door to the left is a wonderful sand beach perfect for kids. We'd been going to this resort for over 18 years. After a few years' lapse -- time for kids to go to college, get married and have families of their own -- we are all congregating back at Birch Bay this June. We can't wait."

MARY OTT, WILLMAR, MINN.

Details: 133 units, from guest rooms to townhouses, on Lake Superior, 80 miles northeast of Duluth (www.bluefinbay.com; 1-800-258-3346; 1-218-663-7296).

SHELBY KOHNER, MINNETRISTA

Details: 28 cabins on Two Inlets Lake, 15 miles northwest of Park Rapids (www.brookside-resort.com; 1-800-247-1615; 1-218-732-4093).

Rave: "At least 35 years ago, our family and my husband's sister's family would travel two weeks every year to two different locations looking for the perfect resort. When we found Brookside, we quit looking any further. ... Several years ago the grandchildren were old enough and we started back. ... I'm not sure if it is the indoor/outdoor pool, the soda fountain and ice cream counter, the game room, the water activities or just the freedom to run from one event to the other that captivates them. ... They like it better than Mexico."

MARY ANN JOHNSON, DELANO

Details: 30 units, from cottages to lodge suites, on Lake Koronis in Paynesville, 35 miles west of St. Cloud. (www.bugbeehiveresort.com; 1-320-243-4448).

SARAH NIETFELD, LAKEVILLE

Details: 13 cabins on Medicine Lake, 20 miles north of Bemidji (www.crlodge.com; 1-800-233-8562; 1-218-243-2487).

Rave: "CRL is the only resort on Medicine Lake, so the resort is quiet, safe and away from the hustle and bustle of other vacation spots. ... We started going there before some of our children were born, then brought them there as babies, and now they're coming with their friends and spouses. ... Once you find the perfect resort, you never give up your spot. And for our family, Cedar Rapids Lodge is that perfect spot."

JULIE FLICEK HALVORSON, MADELIA, MINN.

Details: 47 lodge rooms and 25 cottages on Lake Superior, 50 miles northeast of Duluth (www.covepointlodge.com; 1-800-598-3221; 1-218-226-3221).

JOANNE BERG, BROOKLYN CENTER

Details: 13 cabins on Lake Florida, 6 miles west of Spicer and 10 miles north of Willmar in the Little Crow Lakes Area (www.dickersonsresort.com; 1-320-354-4272).

Rave: "The beach is beautiful and runs in front of all but three cabins. The cabins are immaculate and kept up-to-date. Lake Florida is a quiet lake and sitting on your private deck you can hear the loons. ... There are a number of beach toys, lake toys, swing sets, and bikes available and free for use by the guests of the resort. [The owners] go out of their way to make you feel at home, including homemade donuts on Sunday morning, a pizza party Monday night and a hayride for the kids. No child catches a fish without having their picture taken for the wall of honor in the resort store."

TAMI RILEY, REDWOOD FALLS, MINN.

Details: 16 lodging options, from a four-bedroom cottage to townhouse studios, on Lake Geneva 2 miles from downtown Alexandria (www. genevabeachresort.com; 1-320-763-3200; 1-877-891-3200).

DON BECKER, SIOUX FALLS, S.D

Details: 23 cabins on Gunflint Lake, 43 miles northwest of Grand Marais (www.gunflint.com; 1-800-328-3325; 1-218-388-2294).

Rave: "I went for the first time in 1999 with a friend to one of their Women's Weekend getaway packages, and have made the trip with friends and family at various times of the year. One year in particular stands out; it was the first year I took my son. We went for a weekend at the end of May, and he was 8 years old. I wanted to get him to appreciate, and hopefully love, the outdoors and nature. We had a sunny weekend. ... We went horseback riding, fed ducks, threw rocks, canoed, took a pontoon ride and hike to Bridal Falls and joined naturalist-guided activities over the three-day weekend. I even hired a half-day fishing guide that provided a fantastic adventure, complete with poles and bait for four hours on the lakes. ... We saw beavers and loons on the lake while fishing, and the day was 70 degrees and full of sun. On the morning of our Sunday departure I told my son that we would head down to breakfast and start our trip home. All of a sudden, tears welled up in his eyes and he started to cry. He said, 'I don't want to go home.'"

MELODY WEST, MINNEAPOLIS

Details: 13 cabins between two bodies of water, Gull Lake and Lost Lake, 17 miles northwest of Brainerd (www.lostlake.com; 1-800-450-2681; 1-218-963-2681).

JEAN WYATT, SAVAGE

Details: 170 units, including lodge rooms, cabins, condos and townhouses, on Lake Superior, 90 miles northeast of Duluth (www.lutsenresort.com; 1-800-258-8736; 1-218-663-7212).

Rave: "Lutsen's totem-style sign off Hwy. 61 tempts you ... when you make the drive down the hill and see the big red lodge resting in a protected cove on Lake Superior, you are charmed. We were made welcome inside the gracious lodge that became ours, from the hand-hewn mantel over the fireplace to the cedar-scented paneling of the upstairs rooms. ... One of the first things we do after the long drive is to cross the covered bridge to take the trail along the Poplar River to see the waterfall. ... Eating in the dining room, we anticipate the raisin rye bread and Swedish pancakes, but mostly the view out the small-paned windows."

DEBRA PALMQUIST, PLYMOUTH

Details: 17 cabins on Big Mantrap Lake, 10 miles north of Park Rapids (www.mantraplodge.com; 1-800-424-0901; 1-218-732-5405).

MITCHELL HEILMAN (10 YEARS OLD), Shoreview

Details: 11 cabins and eight lodge rooms on Elephant Lake, 60 miles north of Virginia (www.melgeorges.com; 1-800-205-9001; 1-218-374-3621).

Rave: "Cut out of the beautiful forest near Voyageurs National Park, Melgeorges is ... formerly a logging camp in its third generation of Mom and Pop proprietors. The lake is large enough for skiing yet small enough for a great canoe ride around beautiful Buzzard Island, in the middle of it. The lodging ... was all constructed by the family and ranges from quaint older dwellings to brand new log cabins large enough to accommodate the whole family. ... My visits to Melgeorges defined the phrase 'Summer Vacation.' Biking on the logging trails, hiking the wilderness, fishing and canoeing are what I've always envisioned a summer vacation should be. Having moved here 15 years ago from Colorado I wondered what 'going Up North' meant. Now I know."

BRAD G. BRIDWELL, MINNEAPOLIS

Details: 24 rooms with no television, phones or Internet in the historic lodge on Lake Superior, 15 miles north of Grand Marais (www.naniboujou.com; 1-218-387-2688).

LARRY AND SUSIE VOELLER, ROSEVILLE

Details: 21 cabins on Potato Lake, 6 miles north of Park Rapids (www.nor thernpinelodge.com; 1-218-732-5103).

Rave: "Staying at Northern Pine Lodge is like stepping back in time. It is the classic old-school Minnesota lake cabin resort with modest but clean and comfortable cabins on one of the best lakes in the state. The resort itself sits on a sort of dead-end peninsula of Potato Lake with no noise or through-traffic of any kind. It has a super-safe swim beach, paddleboats, kayaks, bicycles, mini-golf, an old clay tennis court, docks for fishing and several rowboats for rent. The heart of the resort is a beautiful 100-year-old log building with pool tables, just enough arcade games and an impressive stone fireplace for those rare chilly mornings. There is also a log sauna building. ... Every day at a certain time, an old school bell rings and kids run from all over the resort to take part in that day's special activity. ... In the evenings, there are family-centered activities like Bingo Night and Movie Night in the lodge. It truly is an idyllic place."

AMY HAGEN, ST. PAUL

Details: 11 lakeside cabins on Moose Lake, 26 miles east of Bemidji (www.paradiseresort.com; 1-218-835-6514; 1-800-845-9124).

KIM WAGNER, FARGO

Details: 25 cottages, including five large "reunion" cabins, and 24 rooms on Lake Minnewaska, 17 miles southwest of Alexandria (www.petersresort.com; 1-800-356-8654; 1-320-634-4501).

Rave: "It all started over 20 years ago when my mom called me and asked what I thought about them giving all of their adult children and families a long weekend at a resort instead of another sweater, and our family tradition began. Peter's Sunset Beach Resort ... has been our favorite part of June every year. ... Peter's offers an unbelievably beautiful golf course. ... There's the beach with great inflatables in the water for the kids (all ages) to enjoy, tennis courts, shuffleboard and a clubhouse where we play pool."

JULIE O'SHAUGHNESSY, BURNSVILLE

Details: 186 units, from lodge rooms, cottages, condominiums and new villas, on Bay Lake, 20 miles east of Brainerd. (www.ruttgers.com; 1-218-678-2885; 1-800-450-4545).

ANN MCGOWAN, MINNEAPOLIS

Details: Eight cabins and eight campsites on Hardy Lake, just west of Brainerd (www.shadyhollowresort. com; 1-218-828-9308; 1-800-450-9308).

Rave: "Shady Hollow has been a wonderful getaway for several summers. I have three grandsons, now 16, 15 and 12, and they still look forward to going to our own little resort with just a few cabins and easy access to a small lake where they can kayak, fish, swim, motor or just play in the sand."

PATRICIA BANWART, WEST BEND, IOWA

Details: 103 units, from cabins to lodge units, on aqua-colored Sugar Lake, southwest of Grand Rapids. (www.sugarlakelodge.com; 1-800-450-4555 or 1-218-327-1462).

MATT SANNES, WACONIA

Details: Six cabins on Echo Lake near Voyageurs National Park, 60 miles north of Virginia (www.timber wolfpoint.com; 1-218-993-2310).

Rave: "For my money, the best 'Minnesota Getaway' is this a rustic little resort on the Echo Trail. One of only two resorts on Echo Lake, this is 'mom and pop' in the truest sense of the phrase. ... [The owners] provide clean cabins at very reasonable prices with all the necessities, boat rentals, boat docking if you bring your own, free canoes to registered guests, all with a friendliness and personal interest that is all too rare these days. Echo Lake itself offers great fishing. ... Bring your camera as well as your fishing gear; wildlife is abundant with deer, moose, otter, beaver, eagles and the occasional bear. There's a phrase at the top of the resort's Web page that says it all: 'We don't have to get back to nature. We never left.'"

BILL PREPODNIK, OWATONNA, MINN.

Details: 13 cabins on Two Inlets Lake in Park Rapids (www.twoinlets.com; 1-800-843-7453; 1-218-732-5434).

LISA BAKKE, ANKENY, IOWA

Details: 19 cabins on Lake Vermilion, on the spillway where the lake forms Vermilion River, 22 miles north of Cook (www.vdl.com; 1-800-325-5780; 1-218-666-5418).

Rave: "The smell of pine trees captivates my senses ... pine fresh room spray has nothing on the real thing. ... Hiking along the dam trail is such an adventure. The rocks and the constant rushing water are refreshing and gorgeous. ... The swimming pool and the top of the dam were Mom's favorite spots. ... Hiking, swimming, rock climbing, dam walking, fishing, paddleboating, pontoon rides with picnics on the bay. A walking trip to the DNR tower was incredible. ... For my dad, well, we hardly saw him during the day. He went out fishing early mornings, then came home for lunch, napped and went right back out again in the afternoon."