Grand Marais, MN

Address:Grand Marais, Minnesota

Grand Marais, Minnesota, is a haven of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, with activities to suit everyone from the solitude seeker to the adventurous explorer, and perfect for families. Grand Marais is surrounded by forests and lakes, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which National Geographic Explorer listed as one of the top 50 must-see places in the world. Grand Marais is a year-round attraction, with opportunities for water sports, hiking, skiing, wildlife viewing and other outdoor activities throughout the seasons. The popular saying in Grand Marais is, "There is no bad weather here--just bad clothing and gear." Whatever your activity of choice, the town's friendly residents and outfitters are ready to guide you and provide you with the appropriate equipment rentals. Grand Marais prides itself on providing kid-friendly activities that the entire family can enjoy.

Year round, Grand Marais offers exceptional outdoor recreation. In the spring, hiking, biking, and fishing are recommended. As the weather gets warmer, outdoor festivals are frequent. Summer is great time to hike, sail, or fish. Canoers and kayakers can take ½ day to 7 day trips led by Superior Coastal Sports or Neptune's Paddling Club. Bear Track Outfitting Co. also offers group and individual boat rides. By mid-September, tourists are drawn to Grand Marais by the magnificent foliage and excellent photography opportunities. Winter is a great time to ski, dogsled, snowmobile, or enjoy other winter recreation. Bird and wildlife watching are rewarding pastimes in the region, especially during the spring and fall, when many new species migrate to the Superior National Forest and Lake Superior. The Boreal and Fall Migration Birding Festivals attract bird-watchers from all over the country.

Grand Marais offers outdoor activities for all levels and ages. There are plenty of easy and kid-friendly hikes, including the scenic and handicap-accessible Grand Portage State Park with a hike to the High Falls, a 120-foot waterfall. Other gentle hikes include Artist's Point, Pincushion Mountain, Kadunce Creek, Cascade River State Park, Grand Portage State Park, and Magnetic Rock Trail. More experienced hikers will enjoy the challenge of the 200-mile Superior Hiking Trail to Canada, the Kadunce River Trail, and the Devil's Kettle Trail at Judge C.R. Magney State Park, leading to a 50 foot waterfall. Biking is also possible along the Gitchi-Gami Trail. The hunting season (deer, bear, moose and grouse) opens in September. For more information on activities, routes and equipment rental, contact the Superior North Outdoor Center prior to your trip.

The area is a great outdoor vacation spot for families with kids. Children will find ample opportunities to play, with in-town mini-golf, playgrounds, and the Naturalists Program at the Grand Marais Recreation Area. On rainy days they may enjoy storytime at the Grand Marais Library, or an imaginative program at the Grand Portage National Museum, with a touch-play program where kids pretend they are explorers in the 1790s.

Grand Marais offers a lively collection of local art galleries, shops, restaurants and historical sites. Arts-and-crafts is a popular pastime in Grand Marais, and there are opportunities for tourists to both purchase and participate in the arts. Art classes are available at the Grand Marais Art Colony or North House Folk School, where visitors can build their own traditional Inuit kayak and paddle. Home-made gifts, jewelry, and clothing can be bought at local shops and festivals. Every year, the Grand Marais Art Colony sponsors an Arts Fair and Festival, a Pleine Aire Competition, an annual Open House, and an Art Sale during the August Fisherman's Picnic. Grand Marais is also supportive of the performing arts: At the Grand Marais Playhouse, local thespians perform a diverse array of productions. The non-profit North Shore Music Association sponsors concerts and events such as dances, songwriting workshops, the annual Bluegrass Masters Weekend and the Grand Marais Jazz Festival, as well as local performances at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. An excellent resource to find out about events and other local news is the independent radio station, WTIP North Shore Radio, 90.7 FM and 91.7 FM.

Camping-lovers will find ample locations to pitch their tents in nature. There are also several indoor accommodations, including bed-and-breakfasts, vacation condo-homes and cabins.

There are many ways to get to Grand Marais, located between Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountain range. One popular car route is to follow Highway 61 for a scenic drive of the North Shore: beginning in Duluth, Minnesota, the two-hour journey through waterfalls, cliffs, and interesting bedrock formations follows the northeastern edge of Lake Superior, and passes the gorgeous Sawtooth Mountains.