Boundary Waters: Family reunion lodging?
 

Hi,
We'd like to have a family reunion in the Boundary Waters area and don't have a clue where to start. We want to be able to canoe and fish, but can't go out with an outfitter since we'll have small children with us. A large cabin or individual ones would be best...maybe on a lake? There will be 8 adults and 8 children, ranging from 2 1/2 to 16. I'd read about houseboat rentals a while back but think that may be an issue with the little ones.
We've never been to the area before so don't know where to start. Thanks for your help.

Oh my...let's see...we vacationed in the Boundary Waters every summer for six summers in the late 90's when our two children were young and loved it...such a beautiful and relaxing part of the country. The lodge/cabin where we stayed is no more, unfortunately and I am not really up to date on other possibilities.

Ely is the nearest town and they have a very active and helpful visitor's bureau...I think the website is www.ely.org I would start there, or get the phone number and call them; whenever I stopped in, their visitor's center was staffed with older women who were so helpful and friendly. Ely is a nice little town with fun shops and some nice restaurants...you'll love it. Some of the resorts have been there for decades and are quite charming. Burntside Lodge comes to mind, for one...I may recall others as I think about it.

barefoot, try this site. Third generation outfitter, with cabins http://www.latourells.com enjoy Minnesota, ziggypop

Close friends of ours swear by the Gunflint Lodge.

Thanks musicfan, ziggypop, and lincasanova,
These all look great..I need to study them further for comparison. I've also found Timber Bay Lodge that looks promising.

We love Gunflint Lodge also.