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.

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.

I'll start by saying the cart-in sites at Split Rock are top notch and I'd highly recommend them to…read moreanyone. But the backpacking sites unfortunately, I can't say the same. We stayed at Backpack Site #3, and the trail getting there were awful! I was genuinely surprised by how poorly maintained they were. Our site had a beautiful, private beach access, which was a highlight, but in my opinion, it wasn't worth the difficult trek to get there. The campsite was pretty small. It had a decent tent spot, but overall felt cramped, and there was only a half-bench for seating. I'm glad I got to experience a backpacking site--but honestly, I'll never do it again.

Beautiful place…read more Tough hike, lots of stairs. But a beautiful hike. The trail was in great shape. Spring must be a raging river.

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.

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!

We were touring the North Shore before my son's wedding and stopped in to Gun Flint Tavern in Grand…read moreMarais.The experience overall was a really enjoyable one. Our entire party of 7 ordered the Tavern Burger with garlic aioli and a side of their homemade kettle chips, and it did not disappoint. The burger was juicy and flavorful, and the garlic aioli added just the right kick without overpowering everything. Despite some medium wells,well done or still mooing ,the cooks got it right.The kettle chips were crisp, well-seasoned, and tasted fresh.It was definitely a step above your typical side.The waitress boasted about them not having fryers.It thought this was cool. They did lose a star for a filthy high chair and not having a table big enough for a party of 8. One of the highlights was the setting. From our table, we had a clear view of Lake Superior, which made the whole meal feel a little more special. It's hard to beat good food paired with that kind of scenery. The service here was great. Our waitress was kind, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. It was a relaxed, satisfying meal in a beautiful spot. Definitely worth a stop if you're in Grand Marais.We all agreed this is one of the best burgers we have eaten in a while.

This is THE place to go and hang out in Grand Marais. I think they call the top level the 'Raven's…read moreNest.' Music every night, a friendly staff, and great beer and cocktails.

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

Scullery had some beautiful art in it. There's a lot of different medium so you could choose…read moresomething for your fitting, but I will say it was absolutely gorgeous and beautiful and take any pictures inside the art gallery. The work was amazing. It definitely was something worth seeing. And if you need something beautiful it was the place to get it