I’ve been going to Grand Marais, Minnesota for as long as I can remember. I have many relatives living there, so there were many reasons to visit, including the beautiful scenery and accompanying activities.
My two favorite things about Grand Marais are Lake Superior and the Superior National Forest. Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and many of them are near Grand Marais and in the Superior National Forest, which is where the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is located.
If you like camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing, there is no better area in the United States. You can camp in the country or camp at one of the many campgrounds east of the city, climbing the Gunflint Trail, a scenic 50-mile road into the Superior National Forest.
In town there are a number of shops, galleries, and restaurants to explore, including the Ben Franklin store that still has 1970s wares and prices. This is also where you’ll find the Lake Superior shoreline, not to be missed. Since I was little, I have explored and wandered the breakwater and rocky ledges that make up the harbor. And if you want to enjoy a beautiful sunrise, this is the place to do it, watching the sun set behind the Sawtooth Mountains.
If you like ice fishing, snowmobiling, or skiing, this winter wonderland is an amazing place too, but for me I try to stay away in the winter. It’s cold with lots of snow.