Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Head On Up to Grand Marais!

By Jason Rhein

Right when you enter the small town on the shores of Lake Superior, you see a large welcoming sign. As you drive into town, you see many unique shops, restaurants, and bed and breakfasts. As you get closer to the lake, you see a beautiful lakefront with parks and festivities. This is the unique town of Grand Marais, MN.


The Grand Marais Lighthouse at Artists Point

With a population of only 1,400, Grand Marais is one of the main tourist hubs on the Minnesota's north shore. It is located only a half hour south of the Canada and United States border.

Year round the city hosts festivals including the famous North Shore Dragon Boat Festival, the Fisherman's Picnic, and many more.

Whether you're interested in hiking, fishing, shopping or just relaxing, Grand Marais has something for you!


Recreation

On your visit to Grand Marais, one place you must visit is Artists' Point park. The park is located on a peninsula near downtown. Here, artists can create sculptures out of rocks and leave them on display. The peninsula also has many scenic trails and places to relax and enjoy the view.

If you are interested in bringing a boat to the Grand Marais area, a great place to go is the Grand Marais Marina & Harbor

Dining

When you get hungry, head downtown! Make sure you check out Sven & Ole's Pizza. Their world famous pizza recipes will be just what you are looking for. Also, the Blue Water Cafe has great options for everyone in the family.

Arts & Culture

Interested in the arts? Check out one of Grand Marais' many art galleries. They display many arts and crafts unique to the north woods. Also, check out the date and times for the Grand Marais Arts Festival.

The Grand Marais Area

Some great places to visit located in the Grand Marais area are:
  • Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA)
  • Temperance River State Park
  • Cascade River State Park
  • Judge C.R. Magney State Park
  • Minnesota Iron Range
  • Grand Portage Lodge & Casino
Want to spend the night? With the many lodging options in the area, you can stay in anything from a luxurious resort to a lakeside bed and breakfast. There are also many campgrounds in the area.

Downtown Grand Marais by Lake Superior

For more information on what Grand Marais has to offer, visit the Grand Marais tourism site.

Jason's Ratings:
scale (1 - 10)
Family Fun: 9
Adult Fun: 6
Lodging: 9
Dining: 8
Shopping: 6
Arts & Culture: 6
Outdoors: 10

Photo Credit: Jason Rhein, Andy Tinkham