After my agent at Fusion Artists (http://www.yelp.ca/biz/fusion-artists-toronto) chastised me for…read morenot telling her I was heading to Thunder Bay for a day, she told me to say hello to the Sleeping Giant for her. I learned that day that she was not only from Thunder Bay, but that there was a giant. And apparently he nods off from time to time. So, I figured, heck, when in Rome... This being Thunder Bay, however, I elected on going to look at a rock that looked like a snoozing Goliath. One of the best vantage points is Marina Park. Right on the shore of Lake Superior, you're able to walk the length of the park right by the water, taking in the boats moored on the pier, or if so inclined, you can use the skateboard park that's available. I didn't. Being on the west side of Lake Superior, you can well imagine that sunrises here would be fantastic. Of course, there's the Sleeping Giant. As soon as I saw it, I knew what she meant. I saw the head, the body, the whole thing that looks like a big guy taking a nap. My buddies that were with me saw nothing but rocks. But that's okay. They suck at Magic Eye as well. And have no imagination.

My primary goal for visiting Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada was to check out 130-foot tall "Niagra of…read morethe North"...Kakabeka Falls. Since I had free time afterwards and still searching for more places to discover...Fort William Historical Park looked like a worthwhile place to finish out a fun filled day in Thunder Bay. Fort William Park lies 24 kilometers (15 miles) southeast of Kakabeka Falls. I arrived at 4pm back in early June and thought I could walk the grounds at my own leisure and learn some history about the park. But entering inside the Visitor Center, you actually are required to sign up for a guided tour. That's the only way to see things. Fortunately, I was able to grab the last remaining tour for the day at 4pm. It lasted 1 hour long till 5pm, when Fort William closes. And according to Google, Fort William is open Monday - Friday from 10am - 5pm. They are closed on weekends. It is $15.82 entrance fee - Canadian, or just under $12 US. Coming to Fort William blindly, I knew nothing about what to expect about the visit other than being a park fanatic. Plus, upon entering Canada from the nearby border with Minnesota, the Ontario Welcome Center mentioned this place as being a popular Thunder Bay attraction. In my own words, Fort William Historical Park is the preservation of land that once was the epicenter for 1800's Canadian fur traders. The park recreates early Thunder Bay indigenous peoples' lives. Stories are resurrected detailing how natives used locally sourced materials from the land to prosper. These recounts exhibit human relationships coexisting and thriving among an everchanging landscape of peoples. Now, lol, according to fwhp.ca..."Fort William is an accurate re-creation of the fur trade era inland headquarters of the North West Company. Each summer, French-Canadian voyageurs, Scottish businessmen, Indigenous Peoples, and others from around the world gather at Fort William for the Great Rendezvous to discuss business, share news and renew friendships". Being from the USA, I had no expectations. And even though I was unfamiliar with any Canadian history, I still appreciated the cultures and stories while being transported back in time. Over the 1-hour tour, the guide takes visitors around the working farm, inside cabin buildings and shares details from life back when. The tour ends back at the Visitor Center. There's a small gift shop to purchase souvenirs before leaving. Overall, the experience was an interesting way to catch a glimpse into early Canadian life. I'm glad I made the effort to stop by. Thank you, Fort William, for having me.

It's not the original site so think of this as more of a movie set. We went last week and did not…read moreknow that is "off season" so everything is sort of shut down. The gal who gave us a tour kept asking us what we wanted to see... Uuummm..... we have no idea what to ask to see since we have never been there. They apparently have a Halloween event at nights so there was a bunch of décor and zombies being stored in a number of the buildings so we only went into a couple of buildings. The tour guide, although very nice, did not pace things well at all. We sat in the merchant building for near 40 mins which left no time to see much else. It was like there was no plan for off season tours. I am sure it is great for kids in the summer but this was not worth the $25 we paid.

How many times have I driven by and NOT stopped? Too many, definitely too many!…read more Thankfully, the parents were wanted a restroom stop after exiting Canada and before starting the drive to Betty's. (Our camel bladders would have held out for the next planned stop.) We roamed about while they used the facilities & browsed brochures, only to discover some of what we were missing through all of our travels in the area, going back to 2006! The footpaths are easy to navigate and accessible. There are overlooks that provide great views & photo ops - be sure to check out the falls! It's a short walk - great way to stretch the legs & please the eyes.

We drove up to Grand Portage while camping in northern MN. This is absolutely worth the drive. The…read morevisitor's center was full of Indigenous historical and cultural information including the Anishinaabemowin language. We hiked a bit to the falls and then down by the water (I believe it's Pigeon River) that separates the US and Canada. The views are stunning. Heads up - on your way north, the state park is the last opportunity to turn before the border crossing (and it's on the left).

After checking out of our hotel in Thunder Bay, knowing we were in for a LONG day of driving, we…read morewanted to start off with a leg stretch & falls. This was a relatively close option & was recommended. There is a charge. You choose your duration, with rates based on time: 2hrs, 4hrs, all day We opted for 2hrs at about $6USD, after conversion. There are several paths with boardwalk and viewing platforms. You can view the falls in a matter of minutes, with minimal walking, or put a fair amount steps on the clicker, if you so desire, with the other trails available. If you just want a good view of the falls & some pics, 2hrs is ample time. If you want a better stretch without a full day, 4hrs should do ya. The parking lot is large, plenty of spaces & restrooms The falls are pretty amazing & definitely worth a stop

I'm really surprised Kakabeka Falls only has 2 reviews. It's deserving of some better recognition…read more And...lol, I guess that's why I'm here today, to share in the experience. Alright well, Kakabeka Falls is actually a provincial park located on the outskirts of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. If you're making the 150-mile North Shore Scenic Drive up Minnesota's eastern coast, you'll eventually encounter the border with Canada and if you have a passport, you might as well gain entry and make the 38-mile drive north here. I had a pretty high outlook for Kakabeka Falls, and it didn't 100% fulfill my expectations. During my research, I had read that the 131-foot waterfall is known as the "Niagra of the North". So...I assumed that it'd be similar to Niagara Falls, but...this is just one specific waterfall, (majestic to some degree) that's viewed from a few different observation areas. There's not much to the park other than short hiking trails in nature and a campground. While in comparison, Niagara Falls is one of the great world destinations with an abundance of exploring options. You can use multiple days to admire the magnitude of such an iconic landmark. Although I expected a lot more from Kakabeka Falls, coming to see this with a clear and open mind, overall, I still found it impressive and would recommend it to outdoor and waterfall enthusiasts, lol. There are 3 forms for visiting. You can pay for times... - 2 hour visit - 4 hour visit - All day visit Kakabeka Falls sits right beside the entrance/parking lot so you don't need the entire day to see it. I paid for the 4-hour option which was $8 Canadian or around $6 US. I also purchased a souvenir magnet for $2 as well. There's a boardwalk pathway that navigates around the falls. All you have to do is casually stroll it. It takes 20 - 30 minutes to walk. And just stop at your own accord when you feel like taking a picture. This is the main highlight/feature of the park. For those wanting more hiking/exploring time, here were 3 paths recommended to me by the park ranger... - Mountain Portage Trail - 1.1 km loop - Little Falls Trail - 2.5 km loop - Poplar Point Trail - 3.8 km loop There's also a campground inside the park. They accept travelers with and without reservations. I'd also like to point out the setting. I visited yesterday for the early part of June and the surroundings were perfect. It wasn't hot or humid and simply stopping at different points on the Boardwalk Path to appreciate the sights was worth the small price of admission. Lastly, looking away from the falls was scenic. The river flows down in between a rugged valley gorge and when you're standing high above along the boardwalk path, it makes for special views. Kakabeka Falls can be categorized as an under the radar attraction located just north of the US/Canada border. It's not difficult to access and having time to appreciate a beautiful waterfall backdrop is a winning formula, from my pov.

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.

Beautiful! And well worth the stop. Day pass costs $7 dollars. Really enjoyed my visit to this park…read more10/10.

Cascade is a gem of a state park on the North Shore that truly has something for everyone…read more If you're looking to just visit the waterfalls, it's an easy walk less than a mile from the roadside parking into the falls! Great for children and folks who don't want to walk far. If you're looking for more, there are several trails you can take! We ended up doing a 4-mile moderate hike to the lookout point in the park - and it delivered with stunning views of Lake Superior and the trees from up high. I'll definitely be doing this one again in the fall for foliage views! I'll let the photos do the talking for this review :) The trails are mostly well-maintained, the scenery is wonderful, and we're so lucky to have yet another stunning, waterfall-laden State Park on the North Shore.

This is a great national monument that teaches about the history of fur trade and native American…read more(Ojibwe) relation in the area. The visitor center is two stories and according to the rangers there, has the highest rated park film of any in the parks. There's also a fort about a hundred yards outside the visitor center which has events and other info. It's all free to visit.

A charming natural area with a faithful recreation of the early North West Company trading post. We…read moreenjoyed a eyngaging presentation from an enthusiastic guide, in which he demonstrated how the early fur traders made fire. Our kids were enthralled (ok, I was too!).

Stopped here specifically for Devils kettle and it was quite the sight to see!…read moreAlthough this is only a 2 mile hike, I would say it is not easy. You're pretty much on an incline the whole mile then have to descend ~200 stairs and back up another small incline to get to the kettle. Then climb those stairs to head back home. Make sure to take your time and bring water. Along the way there are plenty of lookouts and rest stops. The only bummer was that the access to the bottom of a smaller waterfall was closed. It looked like there used to be steps and a walk down but it was roped off. Another more adventurous couple scaled down to get some pics but we played it safe. If you're up north, this is a must do hike.

The favorite of the state parks near Grand Marais! The Devils Kettle trail is intense! They warn…read moreyou before you hit the trail, bring water, and a good idea to bring a snack, first aid kit, and your hiking poles!

This was a fun little hike that we were recommended by an employee at the place we were staying. He…read morehad recommended it because we were looking for a flat and easy hike that would be doable for someone with limited mobility. While it was pretty flat, I don't know if I would've recommended this hike to someone under our circumstances. It's basically a lifted concrete path that's about 3 feet wide with no railing most of the way right over the lake and rocks. For someone with bad balance, this is definitely a risk and my dad wasn't able to make it to the end of the hike because we were too nervous about him falling off the trail. All that said, the views are beautiful and the lighthouse is really cool, though you can't go up into it. The wind was brutal and none of us had enough layers because we didn't realize it would be that intense, but everything was gorgeous so still worth it. It was also interesting reading the billboards about the history of the area, including the tragic shipwreck that resulted in the construction of the levee.

All I can say is, take the hike out, it's worth it even on a cloudy day. You get the whole…read morepanoramic view of grand marais.