Cascade Vacation Rentals Blog | A Guide to all things North Shore

10 07, 2020

Lake County Festivals
Lake County Festivals

Lake County Festivals

Martha Finley2024-03-22T14:53:55+00:00Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland, Events & Holidays, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Lake County comes to life during the celebration of two large festivals in the month of July. Bay Days (Silver Bay/Beaver Bay) and Heritage Days (Two Harbors). Both towns celebrate a weekend of fun, family-friendly activities that are worth checking out. Both festivals take place in mid-July, oftentimes on the same weekend. Making Lake County the place to be on the North Shore! Bay Days Bay Days celebrates the community of Silver Bay and Beaver Bay in the heart of Lake County. The festivities kick off on Friday night with a parade that runs from the Mary McDonald center [...]

3 07, 2020

Best Ways to Preserve Nature While Hiking
Best Ways to Preserve Nature While Hiking

Best Ways to Preserve Nature While Hiking

Jaye2021-02-25T16:50:42+00:00Nature|

Hiking is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Regular hiking gives you a full body workout that will help lower stress, lower your risk of heart attack and stroke, and help manage the symptoms of depression. Studies show that spending time in fresh air surrounded by healthy green plants, grasses, and trees is good for your mental health as well as your physical health. However, there are more than 40 million taking advantage of those health benefits each year and that puts a big strain on the natural world. Do these four things to protect the natural [...]

1 07, 2020

4th of July
4th of July

4th of July

Martha Finley2024-03-22T14:54:27+00:00Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland, Duluth, Events & Holidays, Grand Marais, Hovland/Grand Portage, Schroeder/Tofte, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

The 4th of July on the North Shore is as fun and festive as you can imagine. With activities, parades, and firework shows all along the Lake Superior shoreline. Wherever you are, you probably aren’t far from a 4th of July Celebration. Here’s a list of happenings around the area. In Cook County From Tofte to Grand Portage, there is a lot to do in Cook County on the 4th of July. Tofte: Rain or shine, you are sure to have a good time! Tofte is THE place to be in Cook County on the 4th of July! Join [...]

1 07, 2020

Biggest Blueberry Contest
Biggest Blueberry Contest

Biggest Blueberry Contest

Martha Finley2024-03-22T14:54:57+00:00Events & Holidays, Gunflint Trail/BWCA|

Each summer businesses up and down the Gunflint Trail get together to host the Biggest Blueberry Contest that runs from mid-July to mid-August during the peak of Blueberry Season on the North Shore. A Family-Friendly Contest Grab a bucket and take the whole family for a day trip up to the Gunflint Trail and find one of the area's many blueberry patches and see if you can win one of three cash prizes awarded for the person who brings the biggest blueberry into one of the weigh stations. There are only a few rules for the contest. The blueberry [...]

25 06, 2020

The North Shore Art Scene Blog
The North Shore Art Scene Blog

The North Shore Art Scene Blog

Martha Finley2021-09-30T18:49:31+00:00Activities & Attractions, Misc.|

I got asked a question the other day that resulted in quite the "ah-ha!" moment for me. Someone asked me "Where do you find all of this great info that you share in your newsletter?" The person asking it was just wondering what other resources they could use to help plan their trip. I usually refer people to Visit Cook County, Boreal Community Media, and WTIP Community Radio for resources that list upcoming events and news from around the area. But there's another resource that, for some reason, I haven't really mentioned before. Even though it's a resource I refer [...]

1 06, 2020

Lutsen 99er
Lutsen 99er

Lutsen 99er

Martha Finley2023-06-07T13:41:27+00:00Events & Holidays, Lutsen|

Every year, on the last Saturday of June, Lutsen plays host to a series of mountain bike races that take riders through the vast wilderness of Northern Minnesota known as the Lutsen 99er Mountain Bike Races. The race takes bikers cutting through dirt, mud, and weeds, and maneuvering around rocks. They start with a 1,000-foot climb up the Caribou Trail and then part ways through a challenging course along miles of bike trails, snowmobile trails, Forest Service roads, and single track. Racers often find themselves high on bluffs with beautiful views of Lake Superior before them. For this reason, [...]

1 06, 2020

Grandma’s Marathon
Grandma’s Marathon

Grandma’s Marathon

Martha Finley2024-06-06T14:45:24+00:00Duluth, Events & Holidays, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Grandma's Marathon is one of the largest events held annually on Lake Superior's North Shore. Held on the third Saturday of June, the race starts in the town of Grand Marais and leads racers along the Scenic Highway to Duluth. With the finish line located in Canal Park, the event brings thousands of visitors to the area each year. About the Marathon Grandma's Marathon welcomes an estimated 18,000 participants for its three-race weekend. The races include the 26.2-mile Grandma's Marathon from Two Harbors to Duluth’s Canal Park, the 13.1-mile Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon also on Saturday, and the 3.1-mile [...]

1 05, 2020

Organized Crime
Organized Crime

Organized Crime

Martha Finley2021-09-03T16:56:42+00:00History|

Organized Crime on the North Shore The North Shore of Lake Superior and areas up the Gunflint Trail served as a “secret hideaway” for many notorious Chicago-area gangsters of the 1920s and 30s. The area was also home to one of the most prolific bank robbers in US history. Being so far north, far away from major cities, and with Lake Superior in its backyard, the North Shore was the perfect place for making moonshine, running illegal liquor, and just a great place in general for someone to hide out, when needed. Al Capone and the Lutsen Resort Fish House [...]

31 03, 2020

Webcams: Your Connection to Nature
Webcams: Your Connection to Nature

Webcams: Your Connection to Nature

Jaye2021-02-25T18:22:15+00:00Animals|

These days, there are more webcams than ever before. These webcams are here to help closen your connection to nature from right at home. Discovering NatureCams Many years ago, I was going to college in New York City and my dad called me because he’d discovered a webcam outside of a camera shop in Times Square. He wanted me to go there, and let him know when, so he could see me waving on the webcam. I tracked down 42nd Street Photo and waved at my dad back in Minnesota. This was the first time I heard of webcams and [...]

24 03, 2020

Enjoy the Great Outdoors While At Home
Enjoy the Great Outdoors While At Home

Enjoy the Great Outdoors While At Home

Jaye2021-09-07T15:36:07+00:00News & Updates|

Social distancing and entire countries under "shelter in place" orders have resulted in many being stuck inside or with limited areas to move around. Ironically, I started this post a few months ago as a "things to do on a rainy day" post meant for springtime visits to the North Shore. With a bit of tweaking, I'm hoping it will help you pass the time and find little ways to enjoy nature and getting out as much as you can until we're all able to travel and get out as usual. So here are six ways to enjoy [...]