10/27/2026
Explore the ACTIVITIES offered during your next family vacation at Arcadia Lodge on Big Turtle Lake 🐢!
Why is Arcadia Lodge known as a family resort? It's not only because 4 generations of the Jones family have owned and operated Arcadia Lodge since 1991. In fact there are too many reasons to detail in a single post! Spacious, modern and comfortable cabins. Laid back friendly environment. Amenities included with every cabin rental like a huge sand beach and floating playground. However if I had to pick just one thing that makes Arcadia Lodge the place for a family vacation it would be our weekly ACTIVITIES schedule. We strive to include amenities and activities with your cabin rental instead of charging extra for kids and in many cases adults to enjoy all the fun we offer. The following are activities we offer to every guest from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The following activities happen each week of the summer from Monday to Thursday. If you have photos and video clips of your crew participating in any Arcadia activities and are willing to share please drop them in the comments!
Tubing - All guests
Twice a week we hook up a tube behind our 17.5' Stingray speed boat and take any & all guests for a ride! All ages are welcome and we provide the life jackets. Guests line up at the end of the "slip" dock, this is our largest dock near the beach with our fleet of pontoons parked there.
Bingo - All guests
Our family BINGO night is one of our most popular activities! We put together a large assortment of prizes for the winners. From free ice cream to mugs to stuffed animals to sweatshirts. $400-$500 worth of prizes given out every week! 1 bingo card per player.
Art Class - Adults only
One evening we have an art teacher come into the lodge and teach an actual art class where you get to take home your creation. We supply all of the materials and cover the cost of the teacher. All you have to do is arrive and enjoy!
Wood Burning - Adults only
Customize a cutting board or sign built in our on site woodshop. This is our newest and greatest activity. During the winter I turn rough sawn locally cut oak, pine, maple and birch into various sized cutting boards and signs. You pick out the one you like the most and then turn it into your very own creation to take home!
Yoga - Adults and older teens
Imagine yoga with an amazing view! Spend a morning overlooking the lake with our yoga instructor. Beginner and intermediate classes available.
Tye Dye - All kids, small fee for adults
One of our oldest running activities! Kids and adults create their own tye dye tshirt. We make over 2500 t-shirts with our logo every year in sizes toddler 1t - 6t, youth extra small to extra large and adult small to 5xl. After you make your design the shirts are bagged for the day and then we rinse, wash and dry them so they are ready to wear the next day. Adults are $10, enough to cover the cost of materials.
Make A Souvenir Day - All kids, small fee for adults
Choose from dozens of designs and make your own Souvenir! Tshirts, mugs, tumblers, beach towels, hats and can coozies currently available. We have been expanding this activity over the past 4 years and we plan to continue offering new items for you to make and take home with you. The first Souvenir worth up to $10 is included for all kids. Each item is priced to just cover the cost of materials and staff time. The goal is for every guest regardless of means to take home a Souvenir or 4 from their favorite vacation!
Bouncy House Day - All kids, geared primarily to 12 and younger but all ages are welcome
We have a number of inflatable toys that we set up once a week for an afternoon for the kids to enjoy. 2 bounce houses, obstacle course with giant slide, velcro wall, maze, games and new for 2027 ZORB balls (giant hamster balls). Staff are on hand to supervise each toy so even the youngest kids can enjoy safely.
Root B**r Floats on the beach - All kids, small fee for adults
Join Karley on the beach for root b**r floats! Free for all kids and only $2 for adults.
Ice Cream Sundaes - All kids, small fee for adults
While we have never learned portion control when serving ice cream during our sundea activity we take it to extremes! Kids and adults line up out the door to choose from 24 flavors of ice cream, toppings and whip cream. Free for all kids and only $3 for adults.
The Great Hunt - All kids
Explore our almost 100 acres hunting for the animal statues for your choice of a prize. A great hunt champion t-shirt or ice cream! We also have a number of smaller animal statues hidden closer to the main lodge for the little kids.
Donut Day - All kids, small fee for adults
One morning during your stay I wake up at 4 am to make fresh donuts rolled in cinnamon sugar and delivered to your cabin. Each order has 4 to 6 donuts (depending on finished size). Free for all kids and only $2 for adults.
Karaoke 🎤 Night - All guests
Join Arianna one evening for karaoke in the main lodge!
Arts & Crafts - All kids 12 and under
This activity is meant for the youngest guests. Karley and Kaydin run this particular activity and each year they change up what they make with the kids. We supply all kinds of materials and the space for the kids to get creative!
Activities/Amenities
We also offer a number of activities available to all guests to enjoy at their leisure during their family vacation. These include the following.
Huge beach and safe bouy protected swimming area.
Largest floating playground in Northern Minnesota.
Our floating playground is made up of over 2 dozen Aquaglide water toys all joined together into an enormous challenge track. Trampolines, slides, swings, balance beams, climbing and more! Check the comments for a cool video clip of a family on the KAOS blast bag.
Paddle boards, pontoon paddle boats and canoes.
We offer a number of different pieces of equipment guests of all ages can use at their leisure. Everything is first come first serve and you don't have to worry about checking anything out or spending any extra money. All we ask is that you bring the item back to the beach.
Volleyball, basketball and gagaball courts.
Firewood for nightly campfires.
Arcadia now offers 22 fire pits! Each of our 13 private cabins have their own fire pits and another 9 are spaced out around the beach, main lodge and smaller cabins on the hill. We supply all the firewood! If the fire pit your using runs low we restock the shed (firewood is kept dry) upon request.
Arcade games in main lodge.
The activity schedule changes from year to year depending on popularity of individual activities along with staffing and material availabilities.
Check out our website to start planning your next family vacation at Arcadia Lodge on Big Turtle Lake 🐢, www.arcadialodgemn.com. All reservations are made in person by contacting Kylie at [email protected].
Arcadia Lodge on Big Turtle Lake offers 29 cabins for a Minnesota Family Vacation! A MN resort for since 1922.
