Peaceful moments slide by, marked only by the slight splash of paddles swirling little eddies into some calm stretch of lake. Hushed mist lifts gently from the water as the predawn quiet is broken by the first sounds of birds and breezes called to life by the faint hint of morning sunshine. Here in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), the lure is long days in a watery wilderness, a paradise for canoers, kayakers and hikers.

If you're looking for a vacation that's all about golfing, Brainerd, Minnesota will fit your needs to a tee. Regularly ranking as one of North America's top golfing destinations, this pleasant city in central Minnesota has more than just greens to keep visitors occupied. Surrounded by sparkling lakes, outdoor opportunity is just a quick drive away, while a handful of historic sites are ideally suited for some rainy summer afternoon.

Verdant green vies with the breeze scuffed satin of dark blue lake in Minnesota's 1.6 million acre Chippewa National Forest for camera attention. The Mississippi River turns south here, and this natural paradise, composed of trees, river and lake, is the largest national forest in the east, a vast stretch of protected land that one might get happily lost in for a long time.

If you're planning a visit to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, take time first to stop and peruse the historic museum and North Country Museum of Arts in Park Rapids, billed the "Gateway to Itasca State Park". This might also serve visitors well as a base from which to explore the small towns and assorted attractions in the vicinity.

Those who equate escape with a week of watery rest and recovery won't want to make too many detours en route to northern Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park, a landscape almost more liquid than land. Running right up to the Canadian border, this stretch of American soil ? and wet stuff ? is within easy reach of major cities like Duluth, a convenient get-away at the edge of Ontario.