The Gunflint Trail – A Photo Tour

IMG_4409 The Gunflint Trail is a scenic byway that travels from the North Shore town of Grand Marias, MN, northwest up into Boundary Waters country for almost 60 miles.  At the end of the road is a dead end, where you can continue traveling on foot or in canoe, or turn around and head back the way you came.  It’s a beautiful drive, climbing into elevation away from Lake Superior and zigzagging through pine forests and past pristine lakes, rock outcrops, and scenic overlooks. The Gunflint is one of the two most common entry points for the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area in the state.     Continue reading

Jackson’s Hole, Lawler, MN

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There truly isn’t much in the near-ghost town of Lawler, MN, except a handful of dilapidated buildings and one lone business, Jackson’s Hole Bar. In fact, the whole area is pretty remote, somewhere off the highway between Aitkin and Duluth. But the little dive bar, a popular stop for the biker crowd which occasionally passes through, has something that no one else in the state has: hand-carved wooden barstools which are designed to look like little trolls, each of them different and quirky. Continue reading

10 Amazing Beaches on Minnesota’s North Shore

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The North Shore of Lake Superior is a 150-mile stretch of beautiful, rugged, shoreline that often feels more coastal than Midwest, with lighthouses, rocky cliffs and outcrops, waterfalls, and tourist towns. And one thing that always delivers is the beaches.   From Duluth to Grand Portage, there are countless beaches waiting to be explored, all unique in their own way.  We got a chance to explore them a few weeks ago, and here are our Top 10: Continue reading

Naniboujou Lodge, Grand Marais, MN

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The Naniboujou Lodge on Minnesota’s North Shore outside of Grand Marais, MN, has just as an interesting backstory as it does decor and architecture.  Located in an absolutely beautiful setting on Lake Superior, the storied history of the Naniboujou dates back to the Jazz Age of the 1920’s. The dazzling interior, especially in the iconic Dining Room, still maintains that original and unique feel. Continue reading