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.