Minnesota's North Shore region is a real gem. However, of the numerous lodging places that stud the western shore of Lake Superior, Gitche Gumee is only a "diamond in the rough."
When checking in, my girlfriend and I were asked to select our preferred (gratis) omelet options, which are normal and "spicy." (More on this in a moment.) Given that IOGG is not technically a B&B, this option to have a free breakfast on the morning of our choosing was a charming and appreciated touch.
The building itself is... Unique. Our room offered a legitimately fantastic view of the lake (as do most of the available rooms), and contained everything necessary for a comfortable, extended stay: cookware, dishes, kitchenette, gas fireplace, etc. Our bed was huge and quite comfortable, and fresh flowers greeted us on entry. Much of the visible trim and fixtures appeared to have been lovingly -- if somewhat inexpertly -- made by hand. There were a lot of decorative tiles and rocks in there, too. The overall vibe reminded me of the DIY hippie houses of my childhood, and while certainly clean, everything was sort of adorably ramshackle. Also, SO MANY LOONS.
The couple that runs the place were helpful and pleasant, so I hesitate to share the following, but I feel it necessary. Basically, if you are of the evangelical Christian persuasion, the Inn On the Gitche Gumee will feel like home. If you are of any other (or no) persuasion, the Inn On the Gitche Gumee may feel a bit awkward. Various room decorations feature religious exhortations (as do the panca -- wait, I'm getting ahead of myself), and at one point, one of the owners referred to my girlfriend as my "wife." She's a great person, but we're not quite there yet, fella. I found this to be only mildly weird, but some may have stronger feelings on the issue than I do.
We chose to eat our complimentary omelets on our final morning. Not top-shelf, but not bad. My "spicy" version wasn't spicy, but it came with a surprise "God loves you" pancake on the side. Although this brought my soul no closer to redemption, I still thought it was a nice bonus.
On balance, I would recommend the Inn to those staying in the general Duluth area; the view is great, the rooms are odd but quite comfortable, and the price is not too inflated. read more