Sharon at Kompelien Krafts makes high quality sewn goods for all my every day needs! She is now…read morealso crocheting nifty problem solvers for all my needs. You have to check them out on her website! You can often find her items at Smith's Infusion pop up events in northern Minnesota!

My friend was craving ice cream, so we stopped by crossing thru Ely…read more As soon as you walk into the store, you are greeted by a bunch of bright smiling young people ready to serve you. It appears that they are kids or teenagers at most in age, but they are running the whole store operation - scooping ice cream/manning the cash register, which is very cool to see. This ice cream shop has tons of options to choose from. I ended up going with a small scoop of Burntside "Rich & Famous" (oreo/reese inside), which they said was popular here. I was glad to see that their scoops were very generous. They serve a single scoop in a whole bowl and it's very worth the price I paid for. So, it's a 5 star in my books.

So many choices! As soon as you walk in the door your senses are overwhelmed with the amazing aroma…read morefrom the homemade waffle cones. 34 different flavors of ice cream. Make it into a shake, malt or cone. Service was fantastic. Smiling and happy teens. Cute "up north" store attached. Definitely worth the trip!

We loved our little visit of Dorothy's museum. We thought it would be just a kitschy, niche little…read morelocal experience, maybe like visiting Paul and Babe, but it was so much more than that. We didn't do any formal tours but opted to explore the cabins on our own. You could really get to know the kind of person Dorothy was through her purposeful misspellings and quirky home decor. As we finished looking through the first cabin, it really sunk in with us that Dorothy had become a pillar of her community and the communities in and around the BWCA. She served such a unique role as the last non-Indigenous person to live in the Boundary Waters, offering emergency medical care when needed due to her nursing background or offering lodging or root beer to those passing through. I can tell you we did not expect to be crying at the Root Beer Lady's museum, but the eulogies for her hit us right in the heart. I aspire to be such a firecracker and build that beloved of a community. If you're humble, work hard, and share your gifts and fortunes, the world will be a better place. As we imagine our own futures and purpose, we will definitely ask ourselves, what would Dorothy do?

Considering my maiden name is Molter, I am a little partial. :)…read moreMy family and I enjoy taking trips to visit & pick up root beer every few years. Every single time, we look over everything & read it all again as if it were the first time. We truly enjoy it & even submitted some magazines and photos the last time we were there. We had to leave the items with the museum to make copies and entrust them to return them to us, and they absolutely did. Jess is wonderful and our family is super thankful for her.

Up in Ely again and hit Back on the Rack twice. Picked up some plates, glasses, and a very nice…read moresilver plated serving platter for the cabin, plus some books for the kiddo. One of my favorite places in Ely

Great to have a place like this in Ely. The owner was so helpful to us and even went out of her way…read moreto call me back when she missed my call. Nice selection of items at fair prices.

We stayed in the Sheridan House for two nights and did a morning canoe trip with Jake. As novices,…read morethis was a great and easy trip where you feel a little rugged for a measly city slicker. The location is about 9 minutes from town. He is very knowledgeable and adventurous. He had a lot of good stories, was a good teacher with paddling and was very chill. I would definitely organize another trip with them. Because we are novices and were in a three-person canoe, Jake did all of our brief portages. Safety was the highest priority. He was very mindful for us to not rush the experience.

My sister and I went on 2 half day canoe trips with them. Jake and Tommy were great guides! From…read moreour first contact with them the service was personalized and professional. Not only were our trips beautiful, safe, and fun, but they were educational as well. Jake was very informative about the flora, fauna, and history of the area. We learned a lot more than we expected to! I had high expectations for our trips and I am happy to say that my expectations were exceeded. I would highly recommend this outfitter to anyone looking to spend time in the Boundry waters!

Amazing collection of herbs that you would find in a big city nursery that chefs would drool over…read more Sure they have basil but the wasabi and spivia was quite a suprise to find. Here fishing for the governor's opening weekend, hoping the walleyes are as bountiful as Gracie's garden.

This is a must stop for anyone visiting or living in Ely. The owner (a Master Gardener) can select…read moreexactly what you need for this climate and issues with our furry friends. The shop/greenhouse itself is a delight to visit with one of the best gift shops and definitely the best plants in Ely. Snow Birds should order early, before returning, and she will have all your hanging plants and pots ready for you when you arrive before everything gets picked over.