Christian’s guidebook
Food scene
This is our favorite local restaurant. We always receive friendly, fast service and the food is excellent! Our favorites are the burgers and sandwiches. Enjoy a lakeside meal in the summertime. Here in the winter? They are accessible on the 'Richwood North' snowmobile trail.
Sunlite Bar and Grill
21001 Co Hwy 21This is our favorite local restaurant. We always receive friendly, fast service and the food is excellent! Our favorites are the burgers and sandwiches. Enjoy a lakeside meal in the summertime. Here in the winter? They are accessible on the 'Richwood North' snowmobile trail.
The best place in town for barbecue. We love the texas egg rolls, walleye, BBQ beef brisket wrap and sweet potato waffle fries.
Spitfire Bar & Grill
1100 N Shore DrThe best place in town for barbecue. We love the texas egg rolls, walleye, BBQ beef brisket wrap and sweet potato waffle fries.
We love coming here in the summer and sitting on the patio. You get a great view of Lake Eunice! It's a great atmosphere. There is ample seating, but be mindful it is a popular place!
Tjs Bistro
21105 Co Hwy 22We love coming here in the summer and sitting on the patio. You get a great view of Lake Eunice! It's a great atmosphere. There is ample seating, but be mindful it is a popular place!
SEASONAL - Open April to October.
This is my wife's favorite restaurant in the area! Cozy seating indoors, and a newly renovated patio. We love their fried pickle spears, hotel wings, and sweet potato fries. (And if you order the sweet potato fries, make sure to order a side of maui sauce. You can thank me later!)
16 locals recommend
Hotel Shoreham
24110 Co Hwy 22SEASONAL - Open April to October.
This is my wife's favorite restaurant in the area! Cozy seating indoors, and a newly renovated patio. We love their fried pickle spears, hotel wings, and sweet potato fries. (And if you order the sweet potato fries, make sure to order a side of maui sauce. You can thank me later!)
Centrally located near all of the main shops, La Barista is a great place to stop and get a fancy coffee or a delicious bite to eat as you're shopping!
La Barista
808 Washington AveCentrally located near all of the main shops, La Barista is a great place to stop and get a fancy coffee or a delicious bite to eat as you're shopping!
If you're looking to shake it up a little, El Loro is a great place to get Mexican food. We love the unique, circular interior and the food/drinks are excellent!
7 locals recommend
El Loro Mexican Restaurant
720 W Lake DrIf you're looking to shake it up a little, El Loro is a great place to get Mexican food. We love the unique, circular interior and the food/drinks are excellent!
Our list would not complete without Zorbaz! Our visiting friends and family absolutely love Zorbaz for the fun atmosphere (inside and out), great pizza/drinks and live music in the summer. It's basically a requirement that you must visit Zorbaz at least once.
23 locals recommend
Zorbaz
402 West Lake DriveOur list would not complete without Zorbaz! Our visiting friends and family absolutely love Zorbaz for the fun atmosphere (inside and out), great pizza/drinks and live music in the summer. It's basically a requirement that you must visit Zorbaz at least once.
If you are looking for fine dining, look no further than Spanky's! With a beautiful view of Rose Lake, a cozy and romantic setting, and excellent food and service, Spanky's ticks all the boxes. It can be pricey, but you get an awesome experience that is truly priceless.
20 locals recommend
Spanky's Stone Hearth
34785 County Highway 4If you are looking for fine dining, look no further than Spanky's! With a beautiful view of Rose Lake, a cozy and romantic setting, and excellent food and service, Spanky's ticks all the boxes. It can be pricey, but you get an awesome experience that is truly priceless.
City/town information
Detroit Lakes is truly a gem. There is so much to see and do all year round. Summer time has its charms, but one thing we love about DL is that wintertime is just as celebrated. We love attending the different Polar Fest activities each year, as well as ice fishing (our favorite lakes to ice fish are DL, Sauer and Melissa). Of course, snowmobiling is also a popular activity, and there are many trails to get around on.
In the summer time, some of our favorite things to do are fish on the boat, go to Shady Hollow flea market (their mini donuts are the best), walk along DL beach and shop downtown.
15 locals recommend
Detroit Lakes
Detroit Lakes is truly a gem. There is so much to see and do all year round. Summer time has its charms, but one thing we love about DL is that wintertime is just as celebrated. We love attending the different Polar Fest activities each year, as well as ice fishing (our favorite lakes to ice fish are DL, Sauer and Melissa). Of course, snowmobiling is also a popular activity, and there are many trails to get around on.
In the summer time, some of our favorite things to do are fish on the boat, go to Shady Hollow flea market (their mini donuts are the best), walk along DL beach and shop downtown.
Sightseeing
Maplewood is a beautiful state park with plenty to do all year round. Snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. In the summer there is even more to do (horse riding, kayaking, fishing, geocaching, etc). Our favorite time to visit? Fall time, when all of the maples have turned!
31 locals recommend
Maplewood State Park
39721 Park Entrance RoadMaplewood is a beautiful state park with plenty to do all year round. Snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. In the summer there is even more to do (horse riding, kayaking, fishing, geocaching, etc). Our favorite time to visit? Fall time, when all of the maples have turned!
Just 6 minutes north of us! Relax as you immerse yourself in 117 acres of gorgeous woods.
Greater Sucker Creek
290 AvenueJust 6 minutes north of us! Relax as you immerse yourself in 117 acres of gorgeous woods.
Shopping
You never know what treasures you might find at Shady Hollow Flea Market! We love walking around and listening to the live music while we munch on our mini donuts. We have heard their wood fire pizza is good too! Open every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
7 locals recommend
Shady Hollow Flea Market
12673 Co Hwy 17You never know what treasures you might find at Shady Hollow Flea Market! We love walking around and listening to the live music while we munch on our mini donuts. We have heard their wood fire pizza is good too! Open every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend.
Red Willow is my wife's favorite shop! Lots of cooking items, a section for baby clothes, all sorts of scented candles, and plenty of unique gifts to buy for yourself or others! The upstairs also has themed rooms for holidays, spirituality and cabin essentials. There are two locations, both on Washington Ave. The stand alone location has the most to offer, but the mall location has a larger clothing/pajama section!
Red Willow and Whitehouse Interiors
1160 Washington AveRed Willow is my wife's favorite shop! Lots of cooking items, a section for baby clothes, all sorts of scented candles, and plenty of unique gifts to buy for yourself or others! The upstairs also has themed rooms for holidays, spirituality and cabin essentials. There are two locations, both on Washington Ave. The stand alone location has the most to offer, but the mall location has a larger clothing/pajama section!
Recreation
This is the ultimate winter 'must visit' in DL. Detroit Mountain has hills for snowboarding, skiing, and tubing. (They also have 'Laser Tubing' after dark some nights. How cool is that?) The fun doesn't stop on the slopes - enjoy live music and drinks as you let your muscles relax at the end of your fun day!
In the summer, they have beautiful mountain biking trails you can ride on and a natural play area for the kids!
21 locals recommend
Detroit Mountain Recreation Area
29409 170th StThis is the ultimate winter 'must visit' in DL. Detroit Mountain has hills for snowboarding, skiing, and tubing. (They also have 'Laser Tubing' after dark some nights. How cool is that?) The fun doesn't stop on the slopes - enjoy live music and drinks as you let your muscles relax at the end of your fun day!
In the summer, they have beautiful mountain biking trails you can ride on and a natural play area for the kids!
Otter Berry Farm may be known for their berries, but come fall time we can't get enough of the interactive corn maze! You'll definitely want to do the maze on one of their 'Light Nights' - bring your flashlights, headlamps and whatever light up apparel you have! Once you get out successfully, enjoy the live music, corn pit and beer garden!
Otter Berry Farm
38132 470th AvenueOtter Berry Farm may be known for their berries, but come fall time we can't get enough of the interactive corn maze! You'll definitely want to do the maze on one of their 'Light Nights' - bring your flashlights, headlamps and whatever light up apparel you have! Once you get out successfully, enjoy the live music, corn pit and beer garden!
Are you a certified scuba diver and wish to explore the local lakes? Tri-State Diving has all of your equipment needs! Just make sure to call ahead!
Tri-State Diving
28300 Little Floyd Lake RoadAre you a certified scuba diver and wish to explore the local lakes? Tri-State Diving has all of your equipment needs! Just make sure to call ahead!
We are located right along Snowmobile Trail 272!
Just take a left out of the driveway and you'll meet the trail at the corner (about 1/10th of a mile from the driveway).
This is a beautiful, groomed trail that will connect you to the entire Minnesota trail system!
Snowmobile Trail
Snowmobile TrailWe are located right along Snowmobile Trail 272!
Just take a left out of the driveway and you'll meet the trail at the corner (about 1/10th of a mile from the driveway).
This is a beautiful, groomed trail that will connect you to the entire Minnesota trail system!
Events
WeFest is the largest country music festival in the US. Held at the Soo Pass Ranch (only 11 minutes from our place), WeFest accommodates up to a 50,000 person crowd and has hosted such entertainers as Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and Toby Keith (just to name a few).
7 locals recommend
WeFest
25526 Co Hwy 22WeFest is the largest country music festival in the US. Held at the Soo Pass Ranch (only 11 minutes from our place), WeFest accommodates up to a 50,000 person crowd and has hosted such entertainers as Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and Toby Keith (just to name a few).
City advice
What to pack
Depends on the time of year...
IN THE HOT MONTHS, DON'T FORGET...
- sunscreen
- boat/kayak/paddleboard
- cooler packed with favorite beverages
- bluetooth speaker
- polarized sunglasses
- fishing gear
IN THE FRIGID MONTHS, DON'T FORGET...
- winter gear
- snowmobiles
- ice house
- ice fishing gear
- snowshoes/skis