North Shore Activities - Minnesota Vacation Blog

1 01, 2020

Palisade Head
Palisade Head

Palisade Head

Martha Finley2021-09-27T15:23:22+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland|

Located within Tettegouche State Park is the enormous rock cliff known as Palisade Head. Palisade Head was formed almost 1.1 billion years ago and is visited by many. It is said to have been formed from a lava flow that pushed the rock outward into the lake. Shovel Point, the main part of Tettegouche State Park, was also formed from this extremely hard volcanic rock. The rock formation sits right on the edge of Lake Superior in Silver Bay, MN. Palisade Head offers one of the most spectacular views you can find of the North Shore. Enjoy dangling your feet [...]

1 01, 2020

Whispering Giants Statue
Whispering Giants Statue

Whispering Giants Statue

Martha Finley2021-08-10T17:12:18+00:00Activities & Attractions, History, Two Harbors/Castle Danger|

Peter Wolf Toth is a well-known American Sculptor known in Minnesota for his impressive statue built in Two Harbors. He built and erected the Whispering Giants Statue in 1977. But Peter was drawn back to it when he heard it needed repair. Spending weeks camped out next to the statue, Peter was unpaid and basically unnoticed. He was determined to give the previous inhabitants back what he had once been so proud of. The statue is part of a larger collection known as The Trail of Whispering Giants. The 71 statues that make up the collection are cataloged by the [...]

1 01, 2020

Rocky Taconite
Rocky Taconite

Rocky Taconite

Martha Finley2021-08-10T17:03:12+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland, History|

Rocky Taconite is a unique monument that welcomes people to Silver Bay. It’s one of those fun, quirky monuments that makes you want to pull over on the side of the road and snap a photo in front of it. One that you see and won’t soon forget. Rocky is made up of a black spherical head and body (resembling taconite pellets). And he holds a pick which is believed to have come from old Sweden. The Swedish pick represents the many Scandinavians who settled in the area. Built in 1956, Silver Bay was a planned housing community that was [...]

1 01, 2020

Fall Drives
Fall Drives

Fall Drives

Martha Finley2022-09-01T16:38:16+00:00Activities & Attractions, Nature|

Fall is an incredibly beautiful time on the North Shore. Fresh lake breezes blow in from Lake Superior and the hills are ablaze with color. Maple leaves (which are typically found inland) begin to change from green to fiery shades of orange and red while the aspen, poplar, and birch trees add to the display with vibrant shades of yellow. If you're looking for a destination for fall color drives, the North Shore is it! Some of our favorite routes are below. 1. Seven Bridges Road (1.9 miles), Duluth This 4-mile route passes over a series of Amity Creek bridges. [...]

1 01, 2020

Caribou
Caribou

Caribou

Jaye2021-02-25T21:30:56+00:00Animals|

Some time ago, caribou were roaming the North Shore but were driven out. These large deer species prefer mature pine forests. So when logging started removing their habitat, they left. Over-hunting and the appearance of the whitetail deer also all took part in the disappearance of caribou in Minnesota. They left behind only pictures and stories of those who had once seen them. How Whitetailed Deer Lead to the Caribou Depopulation When the timber located in northern Minnesota was removed by loggers, young trees appeared. This provided an ideal habitat for whitetail deer. Their population started to soar. Why would [...]

1 01, 2020

Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Martha Finley2021-10-06T16:06:43+00:00Activities & Attractions, Gunflint Trail/BWCA|

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a 1-million-acre wilderness area that is found within the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. As a designated wilderness area, the BWCA is void of motorized vehicles (except in the event of an emergency) and modern comforts like electricity and plumbing since the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act was passed in 1978. No one can live in the BWCA, and entry to the area requires a permit for both day use and overnight use. You can access the BWCA from several places around Northern Minnesota. Entry Points (EP), which are numbered and [...]

1 01, 2020

Aerial Lift Bridge
Aerial Lift Bridge

Aerial Lift Bridge

Martha Finley2021-08-10T16:59:10+00:00Activities & Attractions, Duluth, History|

Duluth became the proud home to the United States’ first transporter bridge when construction on the Aerial Bridge was completed in 1905. It was later converted from a ferry bridge to the Aerial Lift Bridge in 1929. The bridge spans the Duluth Ship Canal which leads iron ore ships into the Twin Ports from Lake Superior. It also connects the areas known today as Canal Park and Park Point. Why Was it Built?: A Little Bit of History Park Point, also known as Minnesota Point, is a neighborhood of Duluth that is separated from the city by the Duluth Ship [...]

1 01, 2020

Gales of November
Gales of November

Gales of November

Martha Finley2021-10-06T15:32:02+00:00Nature|

You’re wrong if you think there isn't anything to do on the North Shore during the late fall/early winter season. As the season changes and the temperature drops, Lake Superior becomes alive with the Gales of November! Gales are winds that exceed 39MPH, an occurrence that happens usually once a week during the month of November. The differences in air pressure between low-pressure and high-pressure systems cause them. The greater the difference, the higher the wind speeds are. These winds create enormous white caps just like you’d see in the ocean. You haven’t seen Lake Superior until you’ve seen what [...]

1 01, 2020

Cross Fox
Cross Fox

Cross Fox

Jaye2021-02-25T21:43:09+00:00Animals|

The cross fox has a color that is similar to the red fox, but what sets it apart from the other species is its distinct long dark stripe. The stripe runs down its back, intersecting another stripe to form a cross over the shoulders. If you’ve ever seen one of these fascinating creatures, you are one of the few lucky people to have had that chance. They are much rarer than a standard red fox. Although not as valuable as silver foxes, the coats from cross foxes were often traded among fur traders. The value of the pelt depended largely [...]

1 01, 2020

McQuade Small Craft Harbor
McQuade Small Craft Harbor

McQuade Small Craft Harbor

Martha Finley2021-02-25T21:43:43+00:00Activities & Attractions, Scenic Drive|

If you’re looking for a day to watch ships on Lake Superior but don’t want to deal with the large crowds of tourists in Canal Park of Duluth, look no further. McQuade Small Craft Harbor is the perfect place to enjoy a calm, but interesting day watching small crafts come in and out of the harbor. Although they might not be the biggest vessels, this harbor has seen increased boat traffic for many years. This public access facility was developed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the US Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis County, and the City of [...]