Community spotlight – Perham
Written by Jenna Kvidt & pictures by Micah Kvidt of Wander the Map
Perham is home to more than 3,000 residents and it is located in the northern part of Otter Tail County. This adorable town has something for every interest, with an abundance of nature, restaurants, shopping, and more. During our time exploring Perham, we went biking on a couple of the town’s trails, explored the shops, soaked up nature at the parks and lakes, sipped on brews at the brewery, and ate at great restaurants. Keep reading to learn more about all of our fun adventures in Perham.
Where to Stay in Perham
If you are looking for a place to stay in Perham, the GrandStay Hotel and Suites is a convenient option. It is located right off of Highway 10, a short drive from Main Street, close to several stores and restaurants, and next to a fantastic coffee shop. They also offer guests a pool, hot tub, fire pit, and a playground.
Adventures and Things to Do
Walk and Bike the Trails
Perham has a variety of trails that are perfect for both walking and biking around town. Most of the 5+ trails are interconnected and run through Perham’s neighborhoods, parks, wildflower prairie grass, and downtown. You can find a map of the trails here.
We rode our bikes along the Arvig Trail and loved riding along the tree-covered paths, as well as through the open-aired, sunny parks. We also made our way over to the Wildflower Trail near Perham Health to check out some of the prairie grass and wildflowers.
Grab a Beer at Disgruntled Brewing
One of our favorite breweries in Minnesota is Disgruntled Brewing. They serve up a variety of tasty beers in a wonderful setting. The inside of the brewery is nice and cozy with a couch area and warm industrial feel. And the patio has plenty of tables, bonfire pits, and twinkly string lights. You can find around 12 beers on tap that include a range of sours, cream ales, lagers, pilsners, stouts, and IPAs. They also serve up a variety of pizza and snacks in case you get hungry.
Shop at the Many Boutiques
Perham has a fantastic array of more than 20 boutiques to shop and explore. Whether you are looking for home décor, clothing, furniture, books, snacks, or toys, Perham has you covered. We didn’t have time to explore them all, but some of the stores that we visited include Wild Goose, Nest, Back Porch, Gathering Grounds Coffee Café, North Threads, Dot & Minnie’s, Level III, Goose Gang Toys, P.S. I Love You Boutique, North Pines Market, The Willow Bookstore, Refreshing Designs, and Sitting Pretty Apparel & Gifts. Can you believe that’s not even the entire roster of stores in Perham?!
Relax and Play at the Town’s Parks and Green Spaces
Another thing that Perham has a ton of: parks and green spaces. You can find playgrounds at Arvig Park, Country Pine Park, East Park, Krass Park, Paul Miller Park, and more. In addition, there are nine picnic areas scattered throughout the parks around town, as well. Some other notable green spaces are the Frisbee Golf Park at Arvig Park, the swimming beach at Paul Miller Park, and the Perham Lakeside Golf Course. And you can’t forget about the weekly turtle races during the summer at Turtle Race Park in downtown Perham! Whenever we can explore green spaces, we are on it, and Perham definitely doesn’t disappoint.
Explore the Area Lakes
There are several lakes located near Perham, three of which include Big Pine Lake, Little Pine Lake, and Mud Lake. Head to Paul Miller Park to enjoy the parks swimming beach, fishing dock, and boat ramp. Or spend a day out on the water to soak up the summer sun via boat, jet ski, kayak, or pontoon. Don’t forget about ice fishing in the winter, too! No matter the season, there’s always a wonderful way to explore the lakes in Otter Tail County.
Learn About History at the Museums
The History Museum of East Otter Tail County is home to displays that talk about the area’s history through photos, motion footage, and exhibits. Other museums in Perham include the In Their Own Words Veterans Museum, the HACA Art & Events Gallery, and Perham Pioneer Village. Each place offers its own unique take on the region’s history.
Get Active at the Perham Area Community Center
The Perham Community Center brings back many good memories for us. We both held and attended several birthday parties here during our younger years, and they were always a blast! The community center features an aquatics center with a pool, two waterslides, a pool deck climbing wall, as well as basketball courts, a batting cage, gyms, racquetball courts, exercise equipment, and more.
Enjoy Bowling and Golf at The Cactus
If you are looking for another fun activity to do inside, The Cactus is the place to be. With eight lanes of bowling and a golf simulator, visitors can be entertained no matter what the weather looks like outside. The Cactus also offers a bar and a full restaurant menu with items like pizzas, salads, sandwiches, steaks, and pasta.
Where to Eat in Perham
Even though we only had time to dine at two spots during our visit, there are many great restaurants to pick from when you are in Perham. You can find everything from coffee shops to cafes to full service restaurants or bars. Here’s a roundup of some of Perham’s many restaurants: Brew Ales & Eats, Big Pine Lodge Pub and PIzzeria, Nest, Gathering Grounds Coffee Café, 1894, Silvermoon Lounge, Jin Hu Chinese Restaurant, Lakes Café, Lakeside Restaurant, Zorbaz, Mrs B’s Café, and The Cactus.
Big Pine Lodge Pub and Pizzeria
Big Pine Lodge is located on none other than Big Pine Lake. This pub and pizzeria has a large patio deck, as well as a sizable indoor dining room and bar. Appetizers, pizzas, wings, sandwiches, and burgers all grace the menu, and the pub even hosts events like meat raffles, holiday events, and live music. During our visit, we sat out on the patio to enjoy the sunset as we noshed on pizza and wings. We ended up ordering way too much food, but it was all delicious.
Nest
One of our favorite coffee shops in Perham is the Nest. First of all, the décor and design in the space is gorgeous—I absolutely love the cozy corner with big yellow chairs. To make it even better, they serve fantastic coffee, tea, smoothies, and a wide range of specialty drinks, as well as baked goods, soups, and a few different sandwiches. Plus, don’t forget to browse around the attached kitchen store while you are there.
Perham is a wonderful town with so much to offer both locals and visitors alike. Whether you are in town for a short period of time or enjoying a longer stay, there is a wide range of adventures to explore for everyone. Enjoy!
