I was in Brainerd for a Farm to Kids Roadshow - with my Renewing the Countryside hat on connecting…read morefarmers to schools for local food sourcing. So I thought I'd check in on one of my favorite chefs Matt Annand (featured in the MN Homegrown cookbook) and sadly Prairie Bay is closed. But he's now running the show at Notch*8. He's still bringing the good stuff - elevated but recognizable supper-club style wedge salad, tender brisket on focaccia with an onion soup jus that was so satisfying. (Literally- I could make a post about the jus) The show stopper? This off menu (but I'm told it could become a regular) desert has no name as of yet - but I'll give you my take... Zabaione takes a trip to the lakes region and cosplays as a roasted marshmallow - falls in love with the local berries and settles down in a house with a view. Make sense? The zabaione had a perfect balance/consistency- but the brûlée at the end was brilliant. I was here "out of season" for local fruit but I know Matt is committed to local sourcing - so an excellent dish will only get better with "in season" fruit. (I'd love to have seen a kernza flour + hazelnut cookie on top - but that may be gilding the lily) great job crew!

We stopped at Notch 8 to check it out. We sat at the bar and Ryan waited on us. We ordered the…read moreDumplings, which were fabulous. Also we ordered the Ahi Tuna Asian Bowl, another delicious meal. I do have to say that Ryan made our experience perfect, he was very helpful with the specials and service! He is a gem!

I just had my daughter's wedding here this past week end. What a FANTASTIC venue!…read moreThis was a perfect place to have her DYI celebration. We were able to create an event that was totally personal. THANK YOU BACK SHED!

From the owner: Introducing... The BackShed!…read more We wanted to bring something bigger & better to Royalton for all of your events, and we are doing just that! We purchased the old Smieja Implement in Royalton and are in the process of transforming the "BackShed" (a 40' x 105' pole shed) into a beautiful venue for all your party needs! We are planning to be open in April, 2023! Contact us by email (thebackshed@yahoo.com) or telephone (320-247-5109) with questions and bookings!

We had our wedding ceremony and reception here (Sept 2014) and it was AMAZING. We got married on…read morethe lawn between the barn and the lake, afterwards our guests headed inside for drinks and dinner. We ended our night playing yard games outside and making s'mores around a fire. It was a great time! Larson's Barn has a beautiful dance floor that we used for our first dance. Kathy is very easy to work with, even when we got there late to set-up the day before. There was a frost warning the day before the wedding and Kathy was sure to cover all of the flower beds. The next day although jack frost had come through all of the plants and flowers looked great. Since our entire group was from out of the area we also rented the small cabin and the under the barn apartment for the weekend. It was great for all of the bridesmaids and groomsman to be onsite, less stressful for everyone. We even had a hairstylist come out to the barn to do the girls hair. Everything was very convenient for being in the country of MN.

So many frustrations for my sister's wedding..breakers blowing causing us to have to plug some food…read morein on the stage and other places, no clear place for guests to pay for camping, no handicapped access ( so make sure all your guests can climb sever steep stairs), among other things. This biggest frustration was my sister paid a pretty hefty price for this place for the weekend and we couldn't get in until noon the day the wedding...why you ask, because they were showing it to another couple after we spent the entire day before decorating it for my sister's big day...I would not recommend this place to anyone

Prime Rib on Friday night was excellent. Garlic mashed same. Salad bar was so good. Great…read moreatmosphere. Service was excellent and food was served quickly.

The food was average at best. Looked homemade but wasn't. Service again was not great…read more Unfortunately it was a lot of young people that were more interested in hanging out then serving customers or checking in. It is decorated fairly cute.

I have been waiting also 2 weeks for a reply from them. My son's wedding is fast approaching and I…read morecan not get my questions answered. Beautiful venue, but not worth the added stress from poor communication.

From the owner: Stone Hill Farm is a unique destination among the venues in central Minnesota. We embody rustic…read moreelegance highlighting intricate details through custom designs, repurposed-woodworking, and genuine craftsmanship displayed over massive square footage of indoor event space. Our farm is a hidden sanctuary showcasing some of the most scenic hill-side views rural Minnesota has to offer. From weddings to graduations, to board meetings and business dinners, Stone Hill Farm is a fresh location, and we look forward to hosting you.

WEDDING VENUE SUPREME !…read more What a lovely lovely establishment to have your wedding at. Easy to find, picturesque, comfortable, low pressure, friendly, competent, accommodating, and all around good vibes. Did I say it was just lovely? Despite all the restrictions, we all adhered and had a successful ceremony and reception. I wish that the reception hall was a little more light. Overall, a good day with good people. G E T M A RR I E D H E R E

From the owner: Creating extraordinary events and memories that last a lifetime is what we love doing at Crooked…read moreWillow. Located just 1-hour west of St. Cloud and 10 minutes from Alexandria, we are your premier wedding venue in Osakis, MN, which is the ideal setting for your most memorable occasion. Whether you're planning a wedding ceremony/reception, corporate outing, or another special event, look no further than our year-round facility that is loaded with classic charm and numerous modern amenities. We're proud to offer a unique indoor/outdoor venue that is whimsical, romantic, and private. You'll have an exceptional level of support, tools, and resources throughout your special day. Contact us today to book your tour for your wedding or special event.

The resort is beautiful! The cabins are clean and very nice. We love the kids activities. The…read morestaff are beyond nice! We have fine ro Hiawaufoe many years and LOVE it!

We love the pool, the lake access and recreation provided, and of course the cabin!…read more It's pretty expensive but boy is it a wonderful place to visit.

We usually avoid staying at Wyndham properties because we often get pulled into timeshare or upsell…read moreconversations, and unfortunately that happened again this time just when calling to confirm our reservation and request early check-in. I called multiple times about early check-in and got a different answer each time. We did end up being able to check in early the same day, but it cost an extra $60. They also mentioned we were the only guests requesting it, which felt a bit odd. The water park was a highlight our kids had a great time. The only downside is that the water is freezing and there's a noticeable cold draft throughout the area. Our room was spacious and worked really well for our family of five. Wi-Fi was spotty, but the TVs were nice. Overall, some frustrations, but the space and water park kept the stay enjoyable for the kids.

We had a nice room; there was barely any shampoo and body wash in the shower. We had a birthday…read moreparty and a lot of children. The pool needed 2 or more life guards vs one (the life guard had ear buds in & rarely left the chair-not a safe position)! We wanted to order food later to the room but was told the restaurant could not make any food. The breakfast was so so. I recommend the pool area be inspected and get more information about the limitations of the restaurant and why we could not get room service based on the menu included in the room.

Had a great experience making our own wine! Great location close to the brained lakes area! The…read moreowner Sharon is very knowledgeable and has many unique varieties of wine to choose from! The shop is adorable, many unique gifts! Great girls trip idea! Our wine was delicious and I can't believe we still have 29 bottles to drink this winter!!

From the owner: We are wine making on premise business that offers customers a choice to craft their favorite wine…read morefor a fraction of the cost of store bought wines. One kit produces approximately 30. Our store also carries unique wine related accessories and gift item.