Posts Tagged ‘Grand Marais’
Winter Snow Sculptures in Grand Marais
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Last weekend my boys and I took advantage of the beautiful February weather and shook off the winter blues with a stroll around Grand Marais. We got some yummy hot treats at Java Moose and then walked around the harbor. We loved the snow sculptures. Skyler’s favorite was of course the giant cupcake. He now wants me to make a real cupcake that big. I am always amazed at the skill of the sculptors. We decided we would make a snow block in our back yard and try our hand at it. It probably won’t look like much but it will be fun trying. -Tala Joy
Tags: Grand Marais, Java Moose, Lake Superior, Minnesota
Posted in Winter Events |
A Ski Through George Washington Pines
Thursday, January 26th, 2012
The weather last weekend was perfect – no wind and mild winter temperatures. What better to do on a day like that than go cross country skiing at George Washington Pines. This quiet ski spot is a little less than 7 miles up the Gunflint Trail. You still have cell phone reception in case you are alone (or want to post a great skiing picture to your friends back home on facebook). It is a 3.5k loop that runs through some of the larger pines in our area. When I got to the parking spot, there was only one other car. The trail itself didn’t have a lot of snow, but was well groomed. It is mostly a flat ski with 1 medium size downhill and one large downhill. It is a great spot for people who are new to skiing or just want an easier ski. -Kris
Tags: Cross Country Skiing, George Washington Pines, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail
Posted in Outdoor Activities, Uncategorized |
Ssshhhh…A secret hike right in Grand Marais
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
The Map of Sweetheart's Bluff
A secret hike in Grand Marais – what? Yes, it is true! I was thinking about not telling anyone about it so I would have it all to myself, but that would not be very nice. A few years ago Grand Marais made a formal hiking place with a larger packed trail for the elderly, stroller and wheelchair bound. It is named Sweetheart’s Bluff and it is right in the town of Grand Marais – just past the swimming pool and municipal campground.
It is a place that I believe not many people, except those at the campground or the locals may know about. Today when we arrived, our car was the only one in the parking area and there was one more when we left.
This trail has 3 main areas – the larger packed trail, a longer, larger hiking loop, and a spur off the loop that goes to an old forest service tower. I would take a look at the map before heading out. I would also caution anyone hiking on these trails that they are not very well marked. The ground was also a bit slippery on the first real ascent up the hill.
We started on the packed trail – which I might say is a great trail for those who many need to use it due to wheelchair or stroller. It was easy to navigate. I could also see it as a great small hike for a young toddler. We did not walk on the path too long before heading to the larger loop – up a small hill which was not very packed and the ground felt rather slippery. We made it to the top and kept hiking on what we thought was the trail (and it was) through some great pine trees, yellow birch and very small red maple. Winding around I did notice other smaller trails, but kept on the main trail.
Up, up, up we hiked and finally came to a GREAT overlook of the Grand Marais Harbor and colorful hillside. It was so beautiful. We paused and took some time to check out all the sights and take some pictures. Who knew this was here?
We then continued on what I thought was the rest of the larger loop, but turned out to be the spur trail to the old forest service tower, which is only ½ there. Oops, a little off track, but as I said before, it is not very well marked at all. We then back tracked to the main trail and made our way back down the rest of the loop, over some fascinating ledgerock. The rock had small ridges which I had never seen before and some great large areas of moss. There was a wonderful Lake Superior view on the way down. We came to a nice picnic area that again overlooked the Grand Marais harbor. It was nicely covered to keep off any unforeseen rain. After many attempts at a timed picture of Carson and myself, we headed down the path (along a cliff) to another picnic area overlooking Lake Superior, but the picnic table was missing – a large blanket would do just fine.
We hiked back along the lake and met up with the packed trail again. There were two memorial log benches to rest on and look out over the lake. Then back to our car – and a plan to make it back to this secret place again soon so we can have a picnic and look out at the harbor!-Kris
Packed Path
Path on the Larger Loop
Overlooking Lake Superior
Colorful Fall Hillside
Kris and Carson at the Covered Picnic Area
Lake Superior Shoreline in Grand Marais
Tags: Grand Marais, Hiking, Lake Superior, Minnesota, sweetheart's Bluff
Posted in Stories and Pictures |
Best Lake Superior Beaches for Kids
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Sugarloaf Cove, Schroeder – The ideal, sheltered cove perfect for rock throwing. As a bonus, there are very manageable trails and plenty of historical info.
Paradise Beach – A long stretch of pebble beach north of Grand Marais, this is the perfect stone-skipping beach.
Grand Marais Harbor/East Bay – Two great beaches for the price of one. The Grand Marais Harbor has restaurants, shops and wide stretch of cobble beach to sit on and watch the boats and the lighthouse. Right across the point, the East Bay has a pebble beach and lots of great boulders for climbing. Plus, easy access to both World’s Best Donuts and Sydney’s Frozen Custard.
Kadunce River Wayside – This little beach is perfect for a picnic. The river lends extra excitement, a perfect place to hold a stick boat race.
Cut Face Creek Beach – This wide stretch has a lovely beach and a nice park-like picnic area above it. Although it’s not often warm enough to swim in Lake Superior, this shallow stretch can be fun to splash in on a hot day. – Kate
Tags: Grand Marais, Lake Superior, Minnesota, Schroeder
Posted in Summer Events |
A Nice Weekend on the North Shore
Thursday, July 14th, 2011
We took in all the North Shore had to offer last weekend and boy was it fun. Saturday started off a little slow with lots of rain. My in-laws were up and we wanted to enjoy donuts and the Grand Marais Art Fair, so we waited for just the right time to sneak out in between downpours to get everything in. World’s Best Donuts had a line out the door, but we were ok to wait – they are the best in the world after all! We then ventured down the road to check out all the great artists – sticking it out through the rain! There was pottery, photography, painting, jewelry and so much more. As the rain started again we hurried through the artists and made our way down to the lake and threw in some rocks, just for good measure. I call that hard core North Shore living!
Later that afternoon my husband and I went to the first annual Hopped Up on Caribou Beer Festival. When we arrived we were given a glass sampling cup to try the various brews. There were 9 brewers each with 2-4 beers to sample. My personal favorite was Fitger’s Apricot Wheat, which won the best beer contest. They provided great food, and lively beats from Eric Frost. A good event – no rain – a great way to end the day.
Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day, but rather hot for our standards. I spent some time in our garden and then headed to the shade for some relief. With the shade dwindling, we packed up and headed for the Caribou Lake public boat landing for some water time. Our dog Kendall loves to jump off the dock, so we brought her tennis ball along. The water felt warm and was rather refreshing.
After lunch and a nap for our 3 year old, we headed back to Caribou Lake with our canoe. The lake was just right for a paddle – not too windy, not too many boats around. We paddled around the peninsula to meet up with some friends, passing a loon shelter along the way. It was a great weekend, a little rain didn’t slow us down! That was just a little sneak peak into what a local North Shore resident does during the summer! – Kris
Tags: Caribou Beer Festival, Caribou Lake, Grand Marais, Grand Marais Art Fair, Lake Superior
Posted in Stories and Pictures, Summer Events, Uncategorized |
The Solstice Pageant
Tuesday, June 21st, 2011
This past Saturday evening, we took the kids to annual Solstice Pageant that is part of the Wooden Boat Show at the North House Folk School. The Good Harbor Hill Players start months ahead of time making elaborate costumes, puppets and backdrops. Community members of all ages participate to play the roles of everything from bugs to ducks to the Sun King. Local musicians and the drum circle provide the audio for the performance. Each year has a different theme. This year’s theme focused on proposed sulfide mines in the area. Memorable past themes include last year’s “counting” theme in honor of the census, and a re-enactment of the time an out-of-control truck plummeted down the Gunflint Trail, through the fish house and into the harbor. (No on was hurt in the real incident or the re-enactment – except for the fish house.)
By far the best moment is always the end of the performance, when the musicians ramp up the rhythm and the entire company (many on stilts!) comes together for a final dance. Click here to watch a great video of a recent pageant.
Tags: Grand Marais, north house folk school, solstice
Posted in Stories and Pictures, Summer Events, Uncategorized |
March Gales On Lake Superior
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
Instead of receiving the predicted blizzard on the North Shore last week, we were visited by the Gales of March on Lake Superior. The picture of our Great Lake was magnificent, painted with dark blue, green and sometimes brown. The waves came crashing in with an enormous white cap topping. To add to this beautiful and surreal scenario, was the magnificent artistry of ice sculptures found on rock ledges and cliffs. This scene, I am certain, can only be created by Mother Nature herself. Watching the waves on the shores made me daydream about the tales of Lake Superior. My speculations are that if Lake Superior could talk, the stories would fill the Lake itself. Lake Superior was named Gichigami by the Ojibwe for ‘big water’ and is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is truly the greatest of the Great Lakes measuring to be the largest, deepest and coldest of the five with an average temperature of 40 degrees in the summer (brrrrr!). The best part about Lake Superior is that it is ‘right out the back door’ and for miles and miles and miles! -Cindy
Tags: Cascade Vacation Rentals, Duluth, Grand Marais, Lake Superior, Lutsen, Minnesota, North Shore, Northern Minnesota, Tofte
Posted in Outdoor Activities, Specials, Spring Events, Travel, Views and Scenery |
Guided Winter Tours
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Now it’s time to really get started with winter fun. This year, a new sort of winter adventure will be available through Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply in Grand Marais. They will be offering guided day trips including dogsledding, ice fishing, skijouring, ice climbing and snow kiting. Never tried (or heard of) these things before? No problem. Their expert guides will show you the way. For those who are interested in half-day trips, they also offer guided snowshoeing and cross country skiing treks. For more information, including pricing, visit their site.
If you would like help planning your winter vacation, from purchasing lift tickets to choosing a dogsled trip, just give our staff a call at 1-800-950-4361. (Of course, we can also help you find a place to stay.)
Tags: Cascade Vacation Rentals, Dog Sledding, Grand Marais
Posted in Outdoor Activities, Winter Events |
MEA Weekend Activities
Thursday, September 30th, 2010
The MEA weekend is a school holiday and the last long weekend before winter. There’s plenty of fun stuff to do on the North Shore for everyone – from kids to grandparents. Here are a few to try:
Moose Madness Festival: Grand Marais goes crazy for Murray the Moose with fun activities for all ages.
Fall Birding at North House Folk School: see the rare birds of the late fall migration.
Take the “Autumn in Pastel” class at the famous Grand Marais Art Colony.
Listen to different music every night at the Gunflint Tavern.
Take in the wonderful local art exhibits at the local galleries and restaurants.
Want more…? Check out the Cook County Events website.
Tags: Cascade Vacation Rentals, Grand Marais, moose
Posted in Events, Fall Events, Fun for Kids |
Education Vacation
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
Want another excuse to visit the North Shore (as if you needed one)? Take a class! Grand Marais boasts not one, but TWO totally unique learning opportunities.
The Grand Marais Art Colony is the longest-lived art colony in Minnesota, established right after the Second World War. Its founders, Birney Quick and Byron Bradley (also known as the builder of the Spirit Haven rental home) originally called the colony The Outdoor School of Painting. Outdoor painting is still part of the Art Colony’s mission, with a Plein Air painting competition every fall. The Art Colony holds classes year round featuring all types of media and taught by artists from around the country.
The North House Folk School has not been in existence as long as the Art Colony, but has already shaped the culture of the town. As you drive into Grand Marais, you pass the campus on your right, a collection of brightly colored halls and fishing buildings. If you wander inside, you’ll find big rooms heated by woodstoves and people gathered around long tables. They might be building traditional snowshoes, making bread, felting wool, making a birchbark canoe or a host of other traditional northern crafts. There really is not anyplace else like North House Folk School, and people of all ages and ability levels can find a class to enjoy. You can head home from your vacation with a sense of renewal and a brand new skill!
After you book your class, be sure to call us to reserve the perfect spot to relax afterwards.
Tags: Cascade Vacation Rentals, Grand Marais
Posted in Events, Travel |
