Grand Marais Archives - Cascade Vacation Rentals

22 01, 2025

Scruffy Dog Vintage Emporium

Velena Addams2025-01-22T19:44:01+00:00Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

Step into Scruffy Dog Vintage Emporium, and it’s like opening a treasure chest full of stories located in Grand Marais. Nestled at the edge of town, the shop might be easy to miss—but for the curious and nostalgic, it’s a haven. Owner Annette Block-Valdivia has traveled miles across the country, most recently exploring Vermont. Her latest trip was so fruitful that her friend is shipping home an overflow of treasures she couldn’t fit in her car. Annette has a knack for spotting the extraordinary. Guided by her keen eye, she curates a collection that feels like a journey through [...]

22 10, 2024

Best Coffee Shops on the North Shore
Best Coffee Shops on the North Shore

Best Coffee Shops on the North Shore

Jaye2024-12-30T17:39:28+00:00Activities & Attractions, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail/BWCA, Local Businesses, Lutsen, Schroeder/Tofte|

Discovering the Best Coffee Shops on the North Shore If you’re heading to Northern Minnesota along Lake Superior, either for skiing at Lutsen Mountains or to explore the breathtaking North Shore of Lake Superior, one thing’s for sure: You’ll need a good cup of coffee to fuel your adventures. This scenic area may be known for its outdoor beauty, but it also boasts some fantastic local coffee spots. Whether you’re looking for a cozy cafe after a day of exploring or simply want to experience local Minnesota coffee, this guide will introduce you to some of the best coffee [...]

17 04, 2024

Lady Superior Bottle Shop and Harbortown Goods
Lady Superior Bottle Shop and Harbortown Goods

Lady Superior Bottle Shop and Harbortown Goods

Jaye2024-06-26T17:19:19+00:00Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

Are you enjoying a Sober Summer/Sober January/Sober life? If avoiding alcoholic beverages without sacrificing the social aspect of social drinking, stop in at the area's first non-alcoholic (NA) bottle shop: Lady Superior Bottle Shop. While you are there, check out Harbortown Goods, located in the same storefront. About Lady Superior NA Bottle Shop Lady Superior Bottle Shop is the brainchild of Abby Tofte, owner of The Big Lake, an artsy gift shop located in the same building. Last year, Abby, a sober sister, had the idea to dedicate a small portion of The Big Lake to a [...]

12 04, 2023

Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza
Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza

Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza

Jaye2024-07-09T19:09:26+00:00Grand Marais, History, Local Businesses, News & Updates|

Around 11:30 AM on April 10, 2023, a fire broke out at Sydney's Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza. On what was otherwise a beautiful spring day in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Responding fire departments fought the fire for over two hours, extinguishing it around 1:30 PM. Unfortunately, the intense fire destroyed the interior of this beloved downtown eatery. Luckily, through quick thinking and a little ingenuity, Sydney's reopen a short time later in a temporary location, not missing a season. Then, less than a year and a half after the fire, Sydney's Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza reopened at the [...]

22 11, 2022

Old Shore Road Beach
Old Shore Road Beach

Old Shore Road Beach

Jaye2023-02-06T17:26:55+00:00Beaches, Grand Marais|

Over the years, many visitors to Grand Marais have discovered a unique little beach just east of town. Driving to the end of Old Shore Road you will find a small parking lot where you will find a narrow path. Follow that path and you will find yourself at the Old Shore Road Beach, more commonly known as Passion Pit. Recently, this small, unassuming beach on Lake Superior has made history. For the first time in Minnesota, off-Reservation land belonging to the State of Minnesota has been returned to the Native tribe it belonged to. In this case, the [...]

5 08, 2022

Cook County Airport and Seaplane Base
Cook County Airport and Seaplane Base

Cook County Airport and Seaplane Base

Jaye2022-08-05T21:12:35+00:00Activities & Attractions, Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

Did you know that Cook County has its own airport? The Cook County Airport and Seaplane Base is a small municipal airport located about 8 miles from Grand Marais on Devil Track Lake. While you won't find commercial flights flying in and out of this one-runway airport, you will see small privately owned planes zipping in and out. The airport also offers private scenic flights that you can do during your next trip to Lake Superior's North Shore. Just imagine chasing waterfalls or enjoying the fall colors from above. Down on Devil Track Lake, seaplanes can land at the [...]

8 06, 2022

North Shore Summer Camps
North Shore Summer Camps

North Shore Summer Camps

Jaye2022-06-14T14:48:39+00:00Activities & Attractions, Duluth, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail/BWCA, Lutsen|

Are you looking for kid-friendly entertainment on your next vacation? Did you know that the North Shore is home to many great day camps and residential camps? In recent years, local day camps have reported more and more attendance by out-of-area kids. Families have learned how to incorporate north shore summer camps into their vacation. It can be a great way for kids to have a unique North Shore experience. And, for adults to have some kid-free time. Taking Advantage of Local Day Camps The North Shore, primarily in the Duluth area, has many summer camp offerings. Exploring the North [...]

3 05, 2022

Fall River Waterfall
Fall River Waterfall

Fall River Waterfall

Jaye2022-05-03T19:57:43+00:00Activities & Attractions, Grand Marais, Waterfalls|

On the outskirts of Grand Marais, you will find the Fall River Waterfall. This once-hidden waterfall is located just past Highway 61 about 2 and a half miles from Grand Marais. The Fall River Waterfall cascades down 30 feet just a few feet from the river's mouth flowing into Lake Superior. This waterfall is not found in a State Park and, until recently, was a well-kept secret. Previously visited mostly by locals and Lake Superior kayakers who would often camp at the mouth of the Fall River. As of 2021, this section became a little more well-known and less off-the-beaten-path. [...]

2 03, 2022

Sisu + Loyly Nordic Sauna
Sisu + Loyly Nordic Sauna

Sisu + Loyly Nordic Sauna

Jaye2023-09-21T15:50:06+00:00Activities & Attractions, Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

Located on the shores of Lake Superior, near downtown Grand Marais, you will find Sisu + Loyly Nordic Sauna. Opened in 2021, the sauna provides a unique experience complete with breathtaking views of Lake Superior's East Bay. A Sauna Revival Using a sauna for health and wellbeing has been a tradition in Nordic countries for centuries. The tradition came to the US with the many Finnish immigrants who decided to settle in the Duluth area. There was once a time when many traditional community saunas dotted the Duluth hillside as recent immigrants created the traditional sauna experience [...]

1 12, 2021

The Dark Sky Festival
The Dark Sky Festival

The Dark Sky Festival

Jaye2023-12-08T15:45:22+00:00Events & Holidays, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail/BWCA|

December is the darkest month of the year, and towns along Lake Superior's North Shore have some of the clearest night skies in the world. To celebrate the wintertime darkness, Visit Cook County presents The Dark Sky Festival. An annual event celebrating the stars, the moon, Northern Lights, and the area's dark skies. Cook County, home to the towns of Grand Marais, Lutsen, Schroeder, Tofte, Hovland, and Grand Portage, has one of the darkest skies in the entire world! Thanks to the absence of large cities and light pollution from our small northern county, visitors can enjoy clear views [...]