The North Shore Scenic Drive from Duluth northward is a very pretty drive, with several worthwhile stops, like Gooseberry Falls & Split Rock Lighthouse. For great food & pie, stop at the Rustic Inn Cafe!
http://www.seeamerica.org/byways/htm...s/MNnorth.html

I think Paul Rabe meant Highway 61 between Duluth and Grand Marais or Duluth & Grnd Portage (You will go thru GM if you go to GP). The North Shore Drive of Lake Superior is gorgeous. We drive it a couple times each year (we live in CA too) and truly love it each time.

Oops!
I thought of looking at a map to confirm that the town you drive to is "Grand Rapids." But I thought, "Nah, I know the name of that town!"

The town IS Grand Portage. Sorry.

All of the state parks along this drive are worth a stop at, and the drive as a whole is remarkably free of commercial exploitation.

Sounds like a great trip . . I will print this for reference. We'll be knocking around that area in two weeks!

Thanks . . Rich