Vikings And Lakes After our days-gone-by exploration , our next stop was Lake Miltona , a 5,724-acre lake that ’ s lined with resorts and vacation homes — a big contrast to depopulated Spruce Hill and Rose City .
We pulled up to the shore , which was steep and lined with mighty , jagged piles of ice that accumulate through the winter . Like similar , large Midwestern lakes , Miltona had a few plowed driving paths , snowmobile tracks in all directions and a hodgepodge community of ice fishing shacks from shore to shore .
After a slow ride down the shore , trying to find our night ’ s lodging , we spotted the Viking Bay Resort and Lodge a few minutes south of the landing . Recently renovated , and perfectly suited toward visiting groups of riders or other tourists , Viking Bay has a beautiful
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hotel , large suites and
individual cabins .
True to local style ,
the rooms are lined with
gleaming woodwork , pine
furniture and mounted
trophy fish . There ’ s a
comfortable lounge , whirlpool
tubs , fireplaces and
game room — our suite at
Viking Bay was a step or
two above what us writers
were used to . Vikings
were to become a theme
of our stay in the Alexandria
area .
After lightening our
Originally built for the 1964 / 1965 New York World ’ s Fair , Big Ole was shipped to Alexandria and represents the area ’ s Nordic heritage .
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loads at the resort , we set out after sunset in search of dinner on a trail that ran south to Lake Carlos State Park . Lake Carlos is the northernmost of an interconnected chain of lakes that is an easier , quicker way to get to the area ’ s many lakeside destinations .
On the next lake , Lake Le Homme Dieu , we pulled up to Zorbaz , a unique and well known Minnesota bar and restaurant that ’ s known for its good food
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and quirky atmosphere .
After a gigantic Greek
pizza and some trail talk ,
we were ready to get back
on the sleds for a latenight
northbound cruise
among the lakes . After
more than an hour alternating
between tight trails
and wide-open lakes , our
brains and bodies started
shutting down and it was
time to head back .
We crossed Lake Miltona
under a full moon ’ s
light . The wind was calm ,
the snow cover was deep ,
all the ice shacks were
empty for the night , and
we again searched the
shore for the blue light
that sets apart Viking Bay .
Alexandria And Back The weather shifted during
the night , and we
awoke to roaring wind
gusts and towering pines
creaking and swaying
violently on the grounds
of the resort . With such
dramatic weather , it was
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clear our daylong marathon back to Brainerd — after exploring nearby Alexandria — would be a much different experience than the blue skies and warm temperatures on the ride over .
We grabbed a greasyspoon breakfast and then motored a half-hour south to the city of Alexandria to check out the sights . A city of 12,000 surrounded on three sides by water , Alexandria has two curiosities — the first we saw was a
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25-foot-tall Viking named Big Ole standing beside the snowmobile trail that cuts through town .
The next was the Kensington Runestone , which is certainly worth a visit , even if the origins of this 200-pound stone are shaky . Taking the runes at their word , it was carved by eight Swedes and 22 Norwegians who visited the area in 1367 . The English translation says that some of the party went out on a day ’ s fishing trip and
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