Just a two-hour drive northwest of the Twin Cities, Douglas County is a unique cabin-country destination for springtime fun. It offers captivating outdoor recreation in Lake Carlos State Park and abundant activities in and around the county seat of Alexandria, home to roughly 14,000 of the county’s 39,006 residents.
Lake Carlos is a large, deep lake perfect for boating, fishing, and canoeing. Fishers will find a wide range of northern pike, largemouth bass, and walleye in the 150-foot-deep lake. The surrounding Lake Carlos State Park offers more than 200 campsites, most of which are available from April through October (shower and other sanitation facilities become available in mid-May). However, you don’t have to camp—there’s also a handful of year-round cabins with heat and electricity.
Sculpted by ancient glaciers, the park offers a unique mix of landscapes to explore within its 1,231 acres—visitors move quickly from bogs and ponds to coniferous forests and classic prairies. Those traversing the park’s 14 miles of hiking trails can often spot beavers and deer, as well as more than 150 bird species. Horseback riding is also a popular pastime at the park, which includes 9 miles of horse trails and an equestrian campground.
Courtesy of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Douglas County becomes a golfer’s hub in the springtime. In addition to the county’s 13 nine- and 18-hole courses, the esteemed 27-hole Geneva Golf Club in Alexandria, built by acclaimed course architect Joel Goldstrand, is a must-visit. Designed to assure top-caliber golf, playability, and preservation of the land’s natural beauty, the course consists of three nine-hole courses—The Ponds, Island, and Marsh—each offering its own challenges for golfers of all skill levels.
The towns of Douglas County offer a range of eateries to fuel up for your adventure. Herby’s Bar Grill & Cafe in Carlos offers a top-notch breakfast; LJ’s Food & Liquor in downtown Miltona is known for its excellent fish sandwiches; and Northwoods Cafe in Alexandria is a classic American diner. For something a bit more upscale, La Ferme in Alexandria focuses on farm-to-table offerings.
Spring is also a great time to sample local wineries and craft breweries, for which the county has become quite a hot spot. Two of its most-loved are Alexandria’s Carlos Creek Winery (which also features 22 Northmen Brewing Co. on its grounds), known for its family-friendly atmosphere and award-winning wines, and Copper Trail Brewing Co., a community hub on Broadway Street in the historic downtown area.
Courtesy of Carlos Creek Winery
“Alexandria hits the sweet spot of being a small town where you’re familiar with the people you’re working with. At the same time, I think we’re large and forward-thinking enough that it doesn’t feel like you’re limited,” says Tyler Bredeson, co-proprietor of Carlos Creek Winery. Bredeson’s parents bought the winery in 2008 from its original owners, and he and his wife Michelle expanded operations after taking over in 2018.
Weekend tours of the vineyard and production facility begin on Memorial Day and include two wine samples and a souvenir wine glass. Food offerings include Stoke’s artisan wood-fired pizzas, elevated pub fair at Jack’s Public House, and grilled creations from the Sizzle food truck (opening Memorial Day weekend).
Courtesy of Carlos Creek Winery
“We’ve always wanted to treat wine with a very approachable feel,” says Bredeson. “We want you to be able to come in learn about wine, ask questions, and discover wine as part of your own journey. We’re meeting you where you’re at and not making you feel uncomfortable.”
The Bredeson family started 22 Northmen Brewing Co. as a response to customers who loved visiting Carlos Creek with their significant others but weren’t wine drinkers. “We’re not in the Twin Cities where there’s a more fervent craft beer scene, and people are used to these larger or heavier flavors. The lagers are in many ways where we hang our hat,” says Bredeson, noting the Norse Lager is their most popular offering. He describes it as a light, approachable, and clean American lager. Bredeson finds visitors are making an afternoon of their time at Carlos Creek—taking the tour, doing wine and beer tastings, enjoying the outdoors, and having a meal. Couples and groups will often split up to get their preferred wine or beer tastings and then meet outside to enjoy their beverages in the lovely spring weather, he says.
Copper Trail Brewing Co. is the pride of downtown Alexandria, located near the city’s bike trail, boathouse museum, and farmers market, which is hosted inside the brewery during the colder months. “Copper Trail was started by two guys in a one-stall garage,” says founder Dave Gibbons. The brewery opened its doors in a strip mall in 2016 before moving into a remodeled lumberyard, outfitted with a brewery and taproom. Two years ago, they added the 205 Grill, which pairs homemade food with Copper Trail’s handcrafted brews. Gibbons crafted much of the furniture in the taproom and 205 Grill with the remaining wood from the lumberyard, adding to the space’s charm.
Courtesy of Copper Trail Brewing Co.
“It’s very much a handmade, unique atmosphere,” Gibbons says—which could serve as an all-purpose descriptor for the vibrant cultural life of Douglas County.
