North Shore Scenic Drive Help!
 

We are planning a trip in September to the north shore area. We will start in Duluth and go to Grand Portage. How much time in each area will we need?

We will stay in Duluth just one night. We have 7 nights and we love to hike and go to state parks. We thought of spending three nights in Grand Marais. Is that too much time there? Then where do we go from there? Is there anything to do in Grand Portage? Any suggestions on lodging? Any help would be appreciated!

http://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Isle Royale Natural Park.

You could check this park out as I think there is a ferry from Grand Portage.

Thanks for the information about Isle Royale Natural Park but we wanted to stay between Duluth & Grand Portage or Grand Marais.

Is there enough to do in that area for 7 days and nights? We do not want to spend any time in Duluth. From there we are not sure what are good stopping points along the north shore.

I certainly don't think three nights is too long in Grand Marais. We spent three nights there in July of last year and left without getting to everything we'd hoped to see.

As to whether 7 nights is too long, I think that really depends on how much time you like to spend in one area. There's certainly plenty to see and do in the area. You mention state parks. There are 7 on the North Shore.

Personally, I'd be inclined to stay in one place (probably Grand Marais) and do day trips from there. But spending part of the time there and part farther south probably wouldn't be bad either.

There are lots of lodging options. We enjoyed the Best Western Superior Inn. If you haven't already done so, I suggest doing a search on this board. There have been lots of good lodging suggestions given. Also this website has good info:

http://northshorevisitor.com/

DH and I spent only a few days on the North Shore last summer as well. You could easily fill the 7 days with hiking.

Do you like to bike? There is a paved biking path at the Split Rock Lighthouse but you need to be prepared for hills.

We stayed in Two Harbors on our trip and had fun exploring. The AmericInn is a great place to stay. They have a pool, hottub and sauna for relaxing in the evening and free breakfast. I think there is another one up near Lutsen. They are a relatively new chain but we have been pleased with each one we've stayed at.

Have a great trip.

What if we spend 3 nights in Two Harbors and then 4 nights in Grand Marais? Yes, we like to bike, so it sounds like there is plenty to do in these areas. Would we want to spend a night in Lutsen? I am not sure how far away these towns are from each other. Thanks so much for everyone's help.

I am assuming there are some good restaurants in these areas also.

DH and I did Grand Marais as a day trip from Two Harbors. We stopped at a few spots for short hikes, toured the lighthouse, did a bike ride and walked around Grand Marais with lunch at the Angry Trout. Of course, there were a number of things we didn't do, so your plan sounds good.

One of the nice things about staying in Grand Marais is that you can walk to a variety of restaurants.

You could use Two Harbors as your base for sightseeing in that area (Duluth - 25 mi away), Gooseberry Park, Split Rock Lighthouse. However, I would stay in Grand Marais for several days and then you can go up to Grand Portage (and even to Thunder Bay, ONT), Lutsen, Gunflint Trail, Tofte and the surrounding Areas as day trips. There is a fort and casino and hotel in Grand Portage and a super gorgeous bay. You can take a trip to Isle Royale from there but I am not sure if they do the day trips in Sept. Grand Marais has quite a few restaurants, motels, condos, and a beautiful harbor with a great breakwater you can walk on to the lighthouse. We go up there a couple times a year (from california) and always have plenty to see and do. There are so many beautiful hiking trails and gorgeous scenery. You definitely want to go down to Canal Park in Duluth (there are many motels there so you might want to stay there) and check the time table for ships going in and out at the museum right at the ship canal. It is so much fun to stand right next to the huge ships as they come into or go out of the harbor. You can also tour the Irvin which is a retired ore boat and a retired Cost Guard Icebreaker (its name escapes me at this moment)and both are very interesting and well touring. We also love the Pickwick Restaurant which is on London Road next to Fitger's and right above the Lake Walk. All in all I think you can easily spend 7 Days on the North Shore. You might want to google both Duluth and Grand Marais and find their websites. I can't remember them off hand. I think the Gunflint Trail Assoc. also has a website. They have some other ideas for you. I agree with CAPH that the Best Western in Grand Marais is in a good location for walking all over town and a nice motel. There are a couple others that are also walking distance - Aspen Inn, Harbor Inn, East Bay Condos, Cobblestone Condos and Shoreline Hotel.
Have a great trip!!!!

Thanks so much everyone for all the great vacation tips. We will definately stay in Grand Marais and maybe Twin Harbors or Grand Portage. I'm not sure if we have time to go into Thunder Bay Ontario. I'll check that out.

I loved the Grand Superior Lodge at Two Harbors. http://www.grandsuperior.com/accommodations.htm
Call them to get the best rates
Depending on the "days of the week" the price starts at 99.00. It is a few miles north of Two Harbors...very peaceful along the shore. We stayed in the end unit in the building north of the main lodge...king sized bed and a huge bathroom

Patti

We like to spend 2 weeks at a time on the North Shore and never run out of things to do.

It's roughly 150 mi from Duluth - Grand Portage. But most is 2 lane so don't count on averaging 60 mph (wouldn't want to anyway; beautiful drive). We count on 3 hrs from Duluth to Grand Marais, including pit stops.

Grand Portage Indian Reservation puts on a tour and lecture series several times a day of the history at the reconstructed Fort used in 1700s when the french voyageurs would bring their furs from the interior to the Fort to transfer them to canoes for transpor to markets in Toronto, etc. Well worth seeing.

Nice day trip from Grand Marais to Thunder Bay, and gorgeous drive as well. Plenty to do in Thunder Bay.

If you stay in Grand Marais (which we always do) don't need to stay in Lutsen - only about a 20-30 min drive. Alpine Ride on Lutsen Mts. worthwhile. Also, easy access to Gunflint Trail & Lodge (excellent restaurant). As others have said GM is great place to base and then do day trips.

Favorite place to stay - Thompsonite Beach Inn (in between GM and Lutsen). Stop by even if you don't stay there - the jewelry they make (and sell) from the thompsonite stone is very nice.

Good place for lunch/breakfast/desert - Betty's Pies in Two Harbors (we regularly have to stop to pick up pies for relatives in MSP)

Others have mentioned several state parks along the entire Shore. All are worthy of stops - really nice hikes, waterfalls, picnicing etc.

Half-day sailing excursion on restored schooner out of Grand Marais also worthwhile. It's the biggest ship in the harbor; hard to miss.

Meant "Thomsonite" not "Thompsonite" - fingers not cooperating today.

Thank you so much everyone for all the great suggestions. I will check out everything today and get busy making reservations.

The sailing out of Grand Marais sounds great. The Thomsonite Beach Inn looks beautiful. Thanks again to Fodor's for planning my vacation. You guys are great!!

If you are going in September, it may depend on where you can get reservations as to where you center. That time of the year is POPULAR and most people make reservations way ahead. it is leaf season. Also dress warm. I don't know where you live, but it is early winter up there! it is also gorgeous . hve fun.

P.S IMO Two Harbors is the least interesting. it is almost a suburb of duluth. Try to get farther up if possible.

going_places,
you mention that Two Harbors is the least interesting, so glad to know that. Where else would you suggest staying?

We will stay in Grand Marais for 4 nights. Is that too far to drive in one day since we will be coming from Duluth? We have two more nights to stay somewhere else. Where would you suggest? Should we spend all of our time in Grand Marais.

Someone else suggested the Thomsonite Beach Inn between GM & Lutsen. Does that sound good or would we want to stay in Grand Portage?

I agree with bratsandbeer, if you haven't been to Isle Royale, you are missing something big there.

Isle Royale NP is a great place to go BUT NOT as a day trip from Grand Marais.

Grand Superior Lodge near Two Harbors has an excellent restaurant, which we tried during our trip last summer.

Betty's Pies is good but nothing out of the ordinary except for the pies.

Any one have any other ideas for lodging besides staying in Grand Marais? Maybe I'll just spend six nights in Grand Marais and do day trips from there. Any one have any ideas on staying in Grand Portage?

patti -

Bluefin Inn in Tofte

for something a little different, try Naniboujou Lodge about 10 mi north of Grand Marais. Historic. Built as lodge for private club in 1920s. Only access was by the Lake. 2 of the charter members were Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey. The stock market crashed doomed the original concept, but it's been restored. The main dining room looks like something out of English manor house. Worth having a meal there even if you don't stay.

Grand Portage doesn't really have a place to stay in other than maybe the casino. We always stay in Lutsen at Caribou Highlands(in a condo w/kitchen). That serves as our home base for Grand Marais, Grand Portage and all the parks in the area. I especially like being able to cook an easy meal after a long day hiking and not have to pay huge prices at a restaurant. You don't mention if you have kids, but the alpine slide at Lutsen Mtn is a blast and you can also rent mtn bikes, go horseback riding or take the gondola up to Moose Mtn and hike on the Superior Hiking Trail.

We also love to stay a night in Duluth at the Inn on Lake Superior on Canal Park. Great location and amenities.

You can easily drive from Duluth to Grand Marais in a day - actually only 2 hours unless you stop and tour. I would stop at Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse and Betty's Pies (just north of Two Harbors - an institution on the North Shore). You can look around Tofte and Lutsen as day trips from Grand Marais (Tofte is 30 mi and Lutsen about 18) or you can stop there on the way up or down the shore. I also recommend Naniboujou - possibly just for lunch or dinner as I don't know how the rooms are, but it is well worth seeing and the dining room is unbelievable. Food is good too. Grand Portage does have a lodge at the Casino but you can do Grand Portage as a day trip from GM if you want (about 35 mi). You can do a day cruise to Isle Royale as I have done it before. It goes from Grand Portage, not Grand Marais. I would only do it on a very nice and calm day on the lake. I also think it is fun to go to Thunder Bay - many people from Grand Marais go up there for the day and have lunch or dinner and look around. It would be fun. I also recommend going up the Gunflint Trail and checking out some of the lakes and lodges. We like to stop at Trail Service Center for lunch and usually have dinner at Gunflint Lodge. Both are very good.Personally, I would spend at least two days in Duluth - not just arrive one night and leave the next a.m. I love the harbor area in Duluth and you can enjoy the shops, restaurants, see the ships come and go and also tour the Irvin and the Coast Guard cutter. Whatever you decide, have a great time.

"Maybe I'll just spend six nights in Grand Marais and do day trips from there."

I wouldn't recommend this. I think your earlier idea to split time between Grand Marais and Two Harbors makes more sense. Look at the upper right hand section of this map:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/map.html

Grand Marais is about halfway between Cascade River and Judge C.R. Magney. Two Harbors is about 13 miles southwest of Gooseberry Falls.I think it would be more convenient to spend a few nights in Two Harbors and do day trips to the closest parks from there, then head up to Grand Marais.

This is assuming you really want to spend much of your time in the state parks. There are approx. 130 miles of hiking trails in the 8 state parks (including Grand Portage). Tettegouche, George Crosby Manitou and Temperance River each have over 20 miles of trails apiece. With that many trails to hike, you're going to want to cut down on your driving time as much as possible.

Thanks everyone for all of your help! I think I will spend several days in Two Harbors and the rest of the time in Grand Marais. Thanks for the info about no lodging in Grand Portage. We have to depend on the advice we get on Fodor's and it usually is great advice.