Lake Superior North Shore. Perfect Family Vacation.
Long week? Tired of the proverbial rat race? Are kids too addicted to their screens? Are you too addicted to your screen??
With summer only halfway done, my guess is you’ve already been thinking about what kind of vacation to take to escape it all. Probably want to fly to the sandy beach like all your friends on Instagram uh?
Well, I have a cure for your blues.
It isn’t expensive. It’s a hidden gem free from the maddening crowds.
Imagine this.
Cool-weather in the middle of summer, a balmy 65 degrees. Tall pine trees shade your path everywhere you wander. The incessant sound of waves slamming against a rocky and rugged shoreline.
Waterfalls thundering down rocky creeks that look to be hewn out of stones by some long-forgotten dwarves.
More parks and trails than you could possibly hike in an entire lifetime. Cabins and AirBNbs to rent, campgrounds galore for the more hardened adventurist.
The North Shore of Lake Superior is the perfect weekend getaway for any weekend warrior or average flatlander. The key is to keep driving farther north than you want to.
Sure, you can be like the other people and stop in Duluth for a weekend of reasonable fun and adventure. But, if you use it as a rest stop before you push another 1.5 hours north along the coast, you will be rewarded for your extra umph.
The Perfect North Shore with a Family Itinerary.
So you’re not sure if you can pull it off, won’t everyone get bored? Here is the perfect itinerary for a North Shore of Lake Superior weekend.
Getting There.
- Drive to Duluth, stop at Canal Park
- Shop
- Eat
- Watch boats go through life bridge, walk along Shoreline
- Drive North (somewhere around Two Harbors or farther north and book an Airbnb).
- (get one with a view)
- Eat super and go to bed
Day 1
- Drive to Grand Marais
- Stop by Cascade Falls on the way
- short hike to great waterfalls and an easy trail
- Shop
- Trading Post
- World’s Best Doughnuts
- Walk out to Artist Point
- Checkout Art Galleries
- Shopping for everyone (even dudes at the Outdoor Adventure and Supply Companies)
- Buy more food (like ice cream)
- Drive north to Grand Portage
- Stop at random shops on the way
- Short walk to Minnesota’s tallest waterfall.
- Throw rocks at Canada
- Stop at Lake Shore beaches along the drive back. Pick up rocks and relax.
- Arrive back in Grand Marais.
- Eat at the Angry Trout or Fisherman’s Daughter.
- Do this a little after 5 PM to avoid big crowds.
- Go home and pass out because you are so tired.
Day 2
Put your game face on, it’s time to get tough.
- Drive south to Two Harbors
- Checkout whatever you want, maybe get breakfast
- Drive back North and start the sightseeing
- Stop at Gooseberry State Park .. see the falls, look for agates, etc.
- Stop at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
- See the lighthouse and/or go hiking at the beautiful rock beaches
- Get pie at Betties Pies
- Stop at Iona’s Beach
- Look for agates and go for a swim (don’t be scared, cold plunges are all the rage)
- Stop at Palisade Head (big cliff, watch people climbing it, get the willies)
- Eat lunch at Baptism River State Park
- visitor’s center, hike, river, beach, do it all.
- Stop by Temperance River State Park
- quiet and smaller, wonderful beach to look for rocks and relax.
- Head to Lutsen and check the Arial Skyway/Summit Express to get the 1,000-foot view of the North Shore.
- Eat lunch or dinner at Coho Cafe & Bakery
- you can shop in Tofe as well.
Go home and pass out.
Of course, there are a plethora of more adventurous and expensive things to do if you want. Go for a boat ride, or rent some canoes, kayaks, or bikes for your family. It really comes down to how adventurous and hardcore you want to be. You can sit at a beach and pick through rocks and eat snacks all day, that’s cool.
Or you can drive up and down the North Shore like crazy stopping at the myriad of parks and shops that dot it’s entire length, getting a taste of every little spot.
