Nisswa and Brainerd: The Complete Guide to the Gull Lake Area's Best Towns

Nisswa is the charming small town at the heart of the Brainerd Lakes experience. Brainerd is the regional hub. Here's how to make the most of both.

The Brainerd Lakes Area has two distinct personalities. Nisswa is the boutique, charming, small-town experience — a walkable main street with independent shops, excellent restaurants, and the kind of community feel that makes people want to move here permanently. Brainerd is the regional hub — bigger, more commercial, and the place you go for everything Nisswa doesn't have.

Nisswa: The Main Street Experience

Nisswa's main street is one of the best in greater Minnesota. The Nisswa Turtle Races on Wednesday afternoons in summer are a genuine local institution. Zorbaz on the Lake is the quintessential Brainerd Lakes dining experience — pizza, Mexican food, and a dock you can pull up to by boat. The Nisswa Farmers Market runs Thursday mornings through the summer.

Brainerd: The Regional Hub

Brainerd has everything you need and some things you didn't know you wanted. The Brainerd International Raceway draws motorsports fans from across the Midwest. The downtown has been revitalizing steadily, with new restaurants and a growing arts scene. For practical needs — groceries, hardware, medical — Brainerd is where Gull Lake residents go.

Golf: The Brainerd Lakes Advantage

The Brainerd Lakes Area has more championship golf courses per capita than almost anywhere in the Midwest. Madden's on Gull Lake, Grand View Lodge, and Cragun's Resort all have courses that rank among the best in Minnesota. If golf is part of your lake life, this region is hard to beat.