Agree in most part PJ.  But aome of us locals get tired of all the USUAL routes and I'd take a stab at the turtle, just for something different.

I've paddled the upper Mississippi alot and agree--would put in at the power damn east of Lake Bemidji (Stump Lake).  Big Wolf, Andrusia and Cass are all excellent in the spring.  As a kid I used to swim at the big "sand hill" (last hill before Big Wolf) all the time.  We have a place on Wolf still.  I certainly wouldn't characterize the Miss as "relativly few people".  I guess it's a matter of opinion.

I live on 6th Crow Wing in Hubbard County.  My favorite local trip is to put in at the small damn out of 5th, and paddle down to 4th or even 3rd in part of an afternoon.  It's all shallow, little fish, but good swimming holes on some bends. A great trip for kids.  It's also horse-fly haven parts of the summer.  This year I'm going to paddle it all the way to Huntersville. (a good day paddle).  You can paddle it all the way to the Mississppi if you want with plenty of "canoe only" campsites along the way.

Another nice days paddle locally is from Twin Lakes lnear Menhaga (just S of Park Rapids).  Put in at the bridge just East of the Twins and S of Hubbard.  Paddle the Shell river to it's confluence with the Crow Wing, and anywhere S of there.