On my way north to the Canadian border, I decided to make a quick return to Grand Portage to relive…read moreHigh Falls of the Pigeon River! Plus, lol, I have a new fascination with TikTok and needed to capture some noteworthy content for my next post, hehehe. Alright, so High Falls is the focal point. It's the main event. From the entrance, it's simply half a mile walk to two observation platforms. The 2nd overlook is better than the first, but still, they both offer fantastic opportunities to appreciate the 120 foot drop, which (I believe) makes High Falls the tallest waterfall in Minnesota! During both occasions I was here (once in early morning and the other in late afternoon) not many tourists were in attendance so it gave me a chance to snap some unforgettable photos without fighting for a prime spot at the viewing points. Also this 2nd time around for mid June, the mosquitoes were in aggressive attack mode. It was a race to the lookouts between myself and the mosquitoes. They were trying to eat me alive and I was destined to get pics and videos in and safely arrive back at my car without feeling significant torture. Not to fret though...if you're pressed for time, the entire visit takes a swift 30 minutes. In the end, the mosquitoes weren't the final memory. For traveling to such a remote part of the upper eastern corner of Minnesota, this High Falls is an absolute gem and deserves to be identified for having one of the best waterfall backdrops in the USA!

We moved to Minnesota nine years ago and I am still surprised how many Minnesotans have never been…read moreto our favorite state park. This was our fourth visit to Grand Portage. The High Falls is an easy hike for an unforgettable view. But on this visit we also included the Middle Falls. If your time is limited then be sure to visit the High Falls, but it you want to make Grand Portage a memorable hiking experience be sure to hike both the High Falls and Middle Falls both on Pigeon River. Middle Falls is a twenty feet high waterfall. We first climbed a steep ridge to a scenic overlook with a wonderful view of Lake Superior. The best part of this long steep hike were the trees- the winding paths through mature aspen, birch and spruce. The trail is very steep in places. You have to climb over 300 feet vertically each way. Beware of loose slippery rocks and tree roots- I slipped on these a few times. This is not a hike for young children, older people or faint of heart or those people in poor health. We measured our hike to be 5.5 miles RT if you include the High Falls. Is it worth it? Most definitely yes. Don't do this and Devils Kettle on the same day unless you are an avid hiker.

A great campground along the North Shore. We stayed at cart in site 17, you're right on the cliffs…read moreso the view is beautiful. It's a pretty spacious site as well with a private bench that overlooks the lake. The walk in is about 5 minutes but there is a slight incline towards the sites so not a bad walk but with a cart full of stuff you might be feeling it. Beware of the flies!! The flies were so awful at our site, not sure if that's the case with the other sites but we decided to do a hike mid day because we couldn't relax at the site without a swarm of flies around us. we probably won't go back to this site because of that. The site has a bear box but critters can still get inside!! we have some of our food nibbled on both nights so they definitely know there way around. Pebble beach is beautiful, busy at times but great for relaxing, dipping your toes in or enjoying a picnic. Speaking of picnics, they have a designated "picnic area" that has a pavilion, an inside multipurpose room, flush toilets and plenty of picnic tables along the shoreline. It's not my favorite campsite along the North Shore, but still beautiful and worth the visit.

I very much recommend paying to go through the lighthouse and gate keepers home. There is also a…read moreshort video that is quite informational. The views from the lighthouse are spectacular. After you see that, walk down to the shore and capture a beautiful picture of the lighthouse from there. It is worth mentioning that every staff member we interacted with was friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable.

Judge C R Magney State Park is best known for a unique waterfall known as the Devil's Kettle…read moreWaterfall. Why such an interesting name? Well, it's a waterfall, except half of it plunges into a pothole in solid rock! It used to be unknown where it emerges, with many legends and interesting speculations. However, now scientists have concluded that the separate stream of water reenters the river from underground pretty soon downstream. Boo. Regardless of what is actually happening at Devil's Kettle, the state park is still quite enjoyable. The parking lot has free wifi so if you forgot to pay the entrance fee, you can get it before you depart on your hike. Stop at the composting toilet at the trail head too, while you're at it. The hike itself is very pretty, going through the woods. It's well maintained with maps along the way so you don't get lost. Nearing the waterfall, there are about 176 stairs down heading down to the falls & up on return. There's a small area with river access, where you can view the falls and get sprayed by the mist. Of course, stay on the path and don't get close to the falls since it can get slippery.

This moderate hike 2mi RT out and back trail is well maintained and HEAVILY TRAFFICKED. I call it…read moremoderate as there are 176 stairs down heading to the falls & up on return, plus the uncounted step ups along the path. The trail itself is rather easy. Allow 1-1.5hrs for this section. The overlooks are small platforms & hikers politely wait their turn. If you are going to take a lot of pictures, it's courteous to step aside & let others go, then hop back up... as most people only spend a minute or 2 gazing and take a few quick selfies or snapshots. Prior to arrival at the main attraction, there is a staircase to the left that takes you to the lower falls view, with water access. A great place to relax, feel the mist and take some photos. This portion of the trail is dog friendly. If you have a fear of dogs, I would not recommend this section. All dogs were well behaved but many were off-leash, which could be a problem. As 2 miles is fairly short, we continued down the Superior trail, beyond the falls, along the water. It was far less populated, (aside from the mosquito armies once the trail curved away from the water), crossing paths with only 1 other hiker on the way. This area is not mainly at the same level & ramps up in difficulty/overgrowth in some areas.

This is one of the larger ranger stations of the handful I've visited. Entering the vestibule,…read moreyou're confronted with several taxidermy animals with a binder of information hanging nearby as a reference. Inside the station, there's a retired canoe propped up along one of the walls, which was used in the 20th century to fight wildfires. It's in remarkably good condition. The walls of the center are lined with maps and informational panels about the wildlife found here and interesting tidbits of geology and a display of rocks. The opposite side of the ranger station has a gift shop selling clothes and other swag. The information desk at the center of the building really ties things together. I didn't really have any questions, but the ranger was more than happy to run though the hikes and camping available in the region.

New T shirts in the store…read more Get your BWCAW permits here.

July 14, 2021 -- Had a blast being introduced to segways by Jim and Molly! They gave us a safe…read moreenvironment, were very patient with three newbies, and took us on a lengthy ride. An entirely positive experience. We highly recommend this company and Jim & Molly!! Dave, Carol, and Justin

Took a segway tour this weekend with my boyfriend and it was great! The tour includes a nice…read morevariety of sights and runs along the lakefront through downtown, cute neighborhoods, a nature trail with scenic views, and even a stop at the North House Folk School. It was my first time on a segway and the owners provided a really helpful training session prior to our ride. It was easy to learn how to drive, and really fun! Thumbs up!

As we continue our motorhome journey, we are staying in Grand Marais for three nights. Nice walk…read morefrom campground into town. We decided to go up to the Raven's Nest. Was surprised to see some live music taking place. The guitar player was so good, we closed the place. The bartender was very good. I started with two Old Fashions and his pours were very good, but this comes with a price. Cant remember the exact price, but considering the pour, not a bad deal. We ended up having several more drinks...we were into the whole vibe! Had some great conversations. Here's the kicker...got up the next morning and I was missing a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses. I looked everywhere. When we walked into town, I go into the Gun Flint and ask the bartender if she could check to see if anyone had found them. My wife and I were saying "right, in this day and time, who turns in a pair of found Ray Bans". The bartender, i think her name was Jennica, took the time to check in the office and then go upstairs to the Nest. I was in shock that she came back with my sunglasses! The guy who cleans up at night (Lennie?) found them and turned them in. The music was great, the drinks were great. Service was excellent.

We spent Friday and Saturday evenings at the bar for dinner, and what stood out most wasn't just…read morethe great food--it was the people. My husband loved the walleye, and everything we had was excellent. Sitting at the bar gave us a chance to watch your team in action. The food runners were so jolly and so interested in making sure you got exactly what you ordered. We noticed the same dishwasher working incredibly hard both nights, and it was obvious that every person plays an important role. The friendly bartenders, servers, kitchen staff, and support staff all worked together seamlessly with genuine pride and teamwork. Great restaurants don't happen by accident. It's clear the manager has built a culture where everyone supports one another and truly cares about the guest experience. We travel extensively, and seeing a team like this is rare. Gun Flint Tavern is a place we always recommend to anyone visiting Grand Marais, and after another wonderful weekend, we'll continue doing exactly that. We can't wait to come back!

Best art on the North Shore! Local artists and artisans well represented. My wife and I wear our…read morematching North Shore rings daily.

I can't go into the Sivertson Gallery without wanting to buy something. As a kid, it wasn't my…read morefavorite stop, though I did always love checking out the Betsy Bowen art and books. As an adult, from paintings to pottery, jewelry to prints, I'm always falling in love with some art. If your wallet is a little tight, you can find some great cards of some of the paintings and prints or a magnet or hook with a print on it. Even if you don't want to spend any money, it's a nice stop to view some great local artists.