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Cottages & houses

Ensconced in Ely

A guesthouse overlooking Bear Head Lake is just one of the hideaways in Minnesota state parks.

In Bear Head Lake State Park near Ely, there are three places to spend the night: a tent, a rustic camper cabin and a modern split-level.

On a subzero day in winter, one is better than the others.

Minnesota's state parks are sprinkled with houses or cabins that can be rented. Some are marvelously atmospheric, such as the log cabins built in Itasca for the tourist trade. Others came with annexed land and the state remodeled them; in Tettegouche, the Illgen Falls "cabin'' is handicapped-accessible, with a big deck, gas grill, gas fireplace and kitchen with microwave, full refrigerator-freezer, computerized oven and glass-ceramic range.

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Renting a vacation house

If you have pets, small children or teens to feed, try making someone else's home your castle.

My niece loves a big Rottweiler named Rza, so her travel opportunities are limited.

But one October, I rented a lake house near Cable, Wis., that allowed dogs, and both of them came. And we all had a great time: When Rza's happy, everyone's happy.

"This is probably the best weekend of her life,'' said my niece, after we’d spent the day romping on the lawn and in the nearby forest.

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A cottage of one's own

If you like privacy and want to treat yourself, consider these spots.

It’s not every inn that makes a guest feel like a Rockefeller.

But when my husband and I walked into the Wilson Schoolhouse Inn, we figured we’d really risen in the world.

“Hey, for once I feel like a millionaire,’’ Torsten said, bounding around the restored Prairie-style school. “This is unbelievably cool.’’

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