Nature’s Portrait…..Minnesota’s North Shore
The smell of bonfire or maybe a wood burning stove…..The taste of warm apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte…..The colorful portrait of nature’s creations…..The cool breezes reminding us of the winter to come….. And of course, the time to bring out those chunky sweaters! Fall, what a season to get out and enjoy the fleeting days of summer before the upcoming winter’s sparkle.
Our family loves the fall for all of these reasons! Our favorite time of fall is our annual trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. For the past 12 years we pack up the family truckster and head North for a long weekend of hiking, fall weather and immersing ourselves into nature. For Amanda and I, the North Shore holds a very special memory for us…..for this is where we started our journey together.
For lodging we have found none better than Larsmont Cottages, located just South of Two Harbor, MN. The resort is comprised of two level townhomes that can be rented as one unit or portioned off for your lodging needs. Located right on Lake Superior, many of the townhomes are just feet from the water. The resort has an indoor pool with an attached outdoor hot tub area. There is also a great restaurant, Ledge Rock Grill, on site that will not disappoint. For the kids, there are daily activities and for the adults, maybe a massage? We think the the best amenity of the resort are their pre-made S’mores packets and pre-lit bonfires! The resort and their employees really know how to take care of their guests.
There is so much to do along the North Shore, with numerous state parks and trail systems to hike. There are plenty of areas right off the road to park and walk the beaches, skip rocks or hut for agates. When traveling though Duluth, take time and stop at Canal Park. You can enjoy a walk along the boardwalk, the light houses, lift bridge and maybe watch a cargo ship slip through the canal from the viewing area at the Lake Superior Maritime Museum.
The parks along the North Shore are well signed and have hikes for the novice and the adventurer. The parks are full of beautiful waterfalls and babbling brooks that meander through the forest as well as raging rivers, cutting gorges through rock as it flows into Lake Superior. You cannot go wrong picking any one of these parks to explore. One of our favorites is Gooseberry Falls, at this waterfall the kids can get up close to the falls and walk the stream below. If it’s a view for miles you want, Palisade Head and Split Rock Light House have all the views you need.
There are plenty of other fall activities to keep you on the go for the weekend. In Duluth, there is the Lake Superior Railroad Museum with historic engines, cars and tools used on the railroad years ago. For select weekends in the fall you can ride one of these historic trains to a pumpkin patch and pick the perfect pumpkin for your artistic carving design. There are also plenty of fun shops and wayside stops heading North along Highway 61 from Duluth. Other fun stops are Spirit Mountain in Duluth where you can ride the Timber Twister, relax on a chairlift or bike the trails. Lutsen Mountains in Tofte also offers an alpine slide, a gondola ride to a mountain chalet and plenty of hiking and biking trails. While traveling through the area, don’t forget to stop at North Shore Winery for a glass, Betty’s Pies for a slice or The Worlds Best Donuts (the name says it all).
The North Shore for us is a time to relax, get back with nature and soak up the last warm weather before the snow comes. Sometimes, even old man winter catches up with us……..
Where is your North Shore? Whether it is the forests of New England, the mountains of Colorado or the prairies of the plains, I’m sure it is full of memories that will be with you for a lifetime……
