Nature Link Resort — Hotel in Nisswa

As I rely heavily on reviews to make informed choices, I hope this feedback helps future guests and provides constructive suggestions for the management.||PROS: 5 Stars |Location: The natural surroundings are incredibly peaceful. It’s a balance of nature with some modern touches.||Pet-Friendly: This is an ideal spot if you're traveling with your dog. My dog loved lounging by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the serene lake view.||Amenities: While I didn’t personally use them, there are a variety of amenities available—bikes, canoes, a sauna, fire pits, grills, and hammocks. While they do charge an amenity fee, it still feels like great value with plenty included.||In-Room Snacks: There are snacks available in the cabin, which came in handy since there's no on-site restaurant. These were a nice touch and enough to tide me over until I could find food.||CONS: Reason for subtracting 2 stars|I had hoped to book a Spruce cabin since it’s larger and has a kitchen, but unfortunately, it wasn’t available for my dates. The Cedar cabin is quite small, lacks a kitchen, and only has a tiny fridge—it's best suited for a short stay of one or two nights. I understand the minimalist approach, but I feel there should be a bit more attention to comfort, especially at this price point. A few simple changes could significantly improve the experience. For example:||Signage: Cedar cabins are the only ones without parking directly next to them. You’ll have to park in a lot and walk to your cabin. While this is manageable, it would be helpful if the cabin number was visible from the BACK of the cabin. Right now, you have to walk all the way up to the cabin to check the number by the door, which isn’t ideal, especially when lugging your bags over gravel. A cabin number displayed on the BACK of the building would be simple and make a huge difference.||Room Setup: The room is very compact with room for only one nightstand, and it’s completely occupied by a large lamp. A smaller lamp with a charging port for cell phones would make a big difference. A dimmable option on the lamp would also enhance the experience, especially for reading in bed.||Hangers and Water Quality: There were only 4 hangers in the closet—more would be helpful. Especially during a season when coats or heavier clothes are needed. Also, the water had a strong sulfur smell, so I kept the bathroom door closed. The smell seemed to come from the drains, and I had to keep the door closed to avoid it.||Window Shades: for such beautiful floor to ceiling windows, the shades were cheap white roller shades, and one had a rip in it. It seems like an off choice for the setting and a $500/ night room. A nice shear curtain with blackout shades behind it would work so much better. With a shear, you could still enjoy the view without feeling exposed, and the cheap white shades just look bad, frankly.||Service: The staff didn’t leave a strong impression. Upon check-in, there was no one at the desk, so I had to wait 20 minutes with no seating in the reception area. When someone did show up, the check-in process felt rushed. The key code provided to enter the cabin didn’t work during my entire stay, so I ended up leaving my door unlocked. ||Noise and Weddings: The resort promotes a peaceful, nature-focused experience, but if there’s a wedding happening, the noise can be disruptive. Since weddings are a major part of their business, be prepared for some noise, especially on weekends.||Final Thoughts:|As you can see from my other reviews, I’ve stayed at many places and sometimes you have that “wow, they thought of everything” experience. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here. While the setting is beautiful, there are several areas that could use attention to enhance the...

This was a great vacation location especially for the winter. Absolutely beautiful views from inside the cabin. Which looked very pretty, inside and out. We stayed in a 2 bedroom cabin with another couple. The bedrooms were comfortable and spacious. The downstairs room had great views and it had a bed just smaller than a queen of the forest outback with the main floor bathroom off of it. It was a single vanity with a tight shower. The upstairs bedroom had a king size bed with a small window without a view but where it made up for that was the bathroom. The upstairs bathroom was very high end feeling with a European shower room where the shower and free standing bathtub are shared. It had a double vanity and a ton of space. While the upstairs of the cabin was more of a sauna if you used the fireplace the downstairs stayed at a warm temperature. The kitchen was a great size and looked nice. It had a large breakfast nook that could seat a lot. The living space had a comfortable couch by the fireplace. With that being said it's not a good space for gathering and hanging out. With having four people in the cabin it wasn't the most comfortable to hang out and sit together. So we basically just sat around the table to be able to hang out and talk. We also happened to visit during a wedding, which was quiet and really didn't bother us. The only downside of being there during the wedding was parking. They do not reserve parking for people staying in the cabin so our spot was taken and people were parked in the path making it difficult to get back to our cabin. Especially with all of the snow and ice. We also like to cook and based on the Airbnb information it said everything was there that we needed. We had to run out to the store for a can opener, spatula, paper towels, and tissues. There were only 5 plates, bowls, and micro sized silverware. So you have to make sure you are keeping up with the dishes. (There is a dishwasher) besides that it was a great stay. We were happy to get into the lobby early both days to get snowshoes and walk...

Unplugging, Reconnecting, and Making Memories in Northern Minnesota

I recently had the chance to take a “boys’ weekend” with my two sons—just us three, heading up north to enjoy some time on the water and away from the usual distractions.

We started our trip on Lower Hay Lake, just outside Jenkins, MN (part of the Whitefish Chain, for those familiar), where we met up with close friends for some serious waterskiing and all the water sports you can imagine.

But the real bonding happened on day three, when we drove 20 minutes south to Nature Link Resort in Nisswa, MN. It was our first time there—and what an incredible place. The setting was stunning, the accommodations were top-tier, and the staff couldn’t have been more welcoming.

We made the most of it: kayaking, paddleboarding, biking into downtown Nisswa via a scenic nature trail, and—yes—playing board games. One of the most refreshing parts? No TVs in the cabins. As surprising as that was, it was even more fun to watch my 17- and 20-year-old sons completely unplug and laugh together—without phones in hand.

10/10 experience. Whether you're planning a family trip, couples getaway, wedding, or corporate retreat, I can’t recommend Nature Link highly enough. Huge thanks to Sam Morrow and the entire team for helping us create memories we’ll be talking about for years.

Already looking forward to the next visit—this time we’ll be sure to enjoy the beachfront sauna, plunge pool,...