Minnesota's Lutsen Resort is celebrating its 125th year of welcoming travelers to its ruggedly beautiful setting along Lake Superior's North Shore.  This rustic Great Lakes landmark is a popular spot for families, in part because it offers complimentary year-round activities from kayaking and swimming in the summer to night hikes and guided snowshoe tours in the winter.  

The resort offers a year-round  Minnesota Family Package that delivers some free meals for the whole family.  The package is valid on stays of at least two nights in any lodging style, from standard guest rooms to three-bedroom condos.  Is the offer a good deal for families?  We took a close look at the numbers to find out.  A family booking this package for two-night October weekend would get:

• accommodations (for an October weekend stay in a main lodge double room, worth $135/night x 2 nights = $270)
• breakfast daily in the lakeside dining room (worth $10 x 4 people  x 2 days = $80)
• one dinner entrée per adult in either the pub or lakeside dining room (worth $40/adult x 2 = $80)
• one kids' menu dinner per child under 12 (worth $15/child x 2 kids = $30)
• free lodging for kids (no added value, because kids always stay free)

When we price-checked an October weekend stay for a family of two adults and two kids under 12, the package rate was quoted as $175 a night for a main lodge room with two double beds.  So a two-night stay would total $350.  If the package components were purchased separately, the total spend would be $460, or $110 more than the package, for a difference of 25%.

Deal or no deal?  Deal. This package delivers two free breakfasts and one free dinner — which translates to an average added value of $55 a day.  Book online or call 888/881-6991 and ask for the "Minnesota Family Package." Note: the package is not available during certain holiday periods.