From Wikitravel

Grand Marais [1] is a harbor village along Lake Superior's shoreline in Minnesota.

[edit] Understand

Grand Marais is a small village built along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. Grand Marais is situated on a doubled-harbor stone outcropping of the shoreline. It is 110 miles from Duluth, MN and 40 miles from the Canadian border along Highway 61 (an All-American road and national Scenic Byway). Fully half of the full-time residents of Cook County, Minnesota live in Grand Marais -- that's about 1,800 people.

"Grand Marais" is from the French: "big swamp," to distinguish it from the town of Little Marais, which is about 60 miles down the road and apparently was built on a smaller swamp. This is apparently boosterism run amok, "you think you have it bad, we have it worse!" Never fear, the town is no longer swampy.

Grand Marais offers a great deal to multiple kinds of visitors. Whether you are interested in getting into the outdoors, shopping while your husband fishes or getting a great bite to eat, there is a lot to be had in this small town.

[edit] Get in

The only way in, and the only way out (at least by car), is US Highway 61, which parallels Lake Superior. There are other roads that leave town, but they just head into the woods and eventually stop. Highway 61 is the only paved through road in Cook County, so enjoy it. As a historical note, Highway 61 didn't open until the 1920s; before that, most travel to much of anywhere was by scheduled steamer on Lake Superior. This meant, of course, that between sometime in November and about April, there was no service due to ice. During that time, you had your option of horses or dogsled, but this was confounded by the fact that there was really no continuous road where highway 61 is now.

There is an airport [2] a few miles out of town, up on the ridges overlooking the lake, but no scheduled service.

And of course, you can boat in via Lake Superior. There is a municipal marina [3] to dock at and get fuel. The harbor generally has a few fair-sized sailboats or powerboats in it, often having sailed across the lake from the Apostle Islands. Boating on Lake Superior isn't necessarily dangerous but isn't for novices, either. The State of Minnesota has created about 15 "safe harbors" up and down the North Shore, because there are virtually no natural harbors along this 130-mile stretch. There's a reason they're called "safe harbors;" think about it before you just up-hook and set out.

[edit] Get around

As far as I know there is no public transport in Grand Marais, however the average person should be able to walk the entire town with no problem. Most people drive in and park their car and then proceed to window shop and walk around town.

[edit][add listing] See

Grand Marais is one of the principle gateways to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, via the Gunflint Trail [4], which starts in the middle of town and heads up and back into the woods. The Gunflint Trail is 65 miles of blacktop winding through very beautiful woods and lakes, with numerous resorts and cabins along the way. Deer, bear, and moose are often seen along (or on) the road at all hours, so keep the right foot light on the pedal. At resorts, or from outfitters, canoes and kayaks are available by the day or week, along with complete or partial outfitting and even guides, for day-to-week-long canoe trips. The BWCAW is one of only a few areas in the US where you can canoe back into a significant true wilderness for weeks at a time, and it adjoins the Quetico Wilderness of Ontario; if you want, you can canoe all the way to Hudson's Bay.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Fisherman's Picnic [5], the first full weekend in August (July 31- Aug. 2, 2008) is a fun event to be in town for. Fireworks on Saturday night of the festival.
• Walk out on the natural outcropping of stone that creates the harbor [6]. Great place for kids and dogs to run around in the lapping waves.
• Grand Marais is home to a thriving art colony [7], has lots of galleries with local and regional artists' work, and a well-attended summer arts festival [8]

[edit] Learn

• Take a class at North House Folk School [9], teaches traditional northern crafts, everything from wooden boat building to knife making to baking.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Betsy Bowen artwork [10]. The author and artist of many books (such as Antler, Bear, Canoe) calls Grand Marais her home and picking up one of her wood-block prints would be a great souvenir.
• Lake Superior Trading Post [11], a classic style trading post exterior houses pretty much anything you could need. Camping gear, maps, clothing, gifts, footwear, etc. Located downtown, on the harbor.
• Sivertson's Gallery [12], features Minnesota artists as well as northwoods themed artwork from Canada and Alaska.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• The Pie Shop, known for having great breakfast and pie
• Angry Trout Cafe [13], a cute waterfront restaurant that serves great food and supports local artists as well as local craftsmen. Anything seen in the restaurant was made in the area and is available for purchase. The building itself features indoor and outdoor eating in an old commercial fishing house turned restaurant. Open seasonally from May to mid-October.
• Gunflint Tavern [14], offers many vegan and organic choices, a fine wine list and a plethora of micro-brews. On weekends live music is often playing, reggae, jazz or blues. Great atmosphere for dinner and a couple drinks.
• Sven & Ole's [15], renowned for great pizza, they also offer salads, sandwiches, etc. Many Minnesotans have often seen the yellow S&O's bumper stickers around the area so feel free to pick one up from your visit as well. Great for groups, S&O's is the type of place where you order at the counter and they bring it out piping hot from the oven to your table.
• Johnson's Foods, a family owned grocery store known for their friendly smiles, located next to the only stoplight in the county!
• Blue Water Cafe
• World's Best Donuts (only summers)

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Gunflint Tavern (see above)

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Get out

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