Cascade Vacation Rentals Blog | A Guide to all things North Shore

31 03, 2020

Webcams: Your Connection to Nature
Webcams: Your Connection to Nature

Webcams: Your Connection to Nature

Jaye2021-02-25T18:22:15+00:00Animals|

These days, there are more webcams than ever before. These webcams are here to help closen your connection to nature from right at home. Discovering NatureCams Many years ago, I was going to college in New York City and my dad called me because he’d discovered a webcam outside of a camera shop in Times Square. He wanted me to go there, and let him know when, so he could see me waving on the webcam. I tracked down 42nd Street Photo and waved at my dad back in Minnesota. This was the first time I heard of webcams and [...]

24 03, 2020

Enjoy the Great Outdoors While At Home
Enjoy the Great Outdoors While At Home

Enjoy the Great Outdoors While At Home

Jaye2021-09-07T15:36:07+00:00News & Updates|

Social distancing and entire countries under "shelter in place" orders have resulted in many being stuck inside or with limited areas to move around. Ironically, I started this post a few months ago as a "things to do on a rainy day" post meant for springtime visits to the North Shore. With a bit of tweaking, I'm hoping it will help you pass the time and find little ways to enjoy nature and getting out as much as you can until we're all able to travel and get out as usual. So here are six ways to enjoy [...]

4 03, 2020

Bear Rescue
Bear Rescue

Bear Rescue

webservices2022-09-14T19:37:27+00:00Animals, Lutsen|

Bears Rescued at Cascade Vacation Rentals The text came in at 7:31 AM. “I just went to the dumpster and both bars were on it and when I opened it the bear was sitting in the dumpster!! Wonder how that is even possible with it being barred shut?!? I ran off with my trash but didn’t put the bars back on or look to see if the bear jumped out.” Bara, a Cascade Vacation Rentals housekeeper, got quite the shock when going to dispose of her garbage in the CVR campus dumpster early Wednesday morning. By 9 am the [...]

4 03, 2020

LutZen Reflections
LutZen Reflections

LutZen Reflections

webservices2021-09-30T21:05:23+00:00Local Businesses, Lutsen|

About LutZen Reflections Feeling stressed out? Sore? Needing to be pampered and soothed on your next North Shore Vacation? LutZen Reflections Massage Studio is a full-service spa that aims to do just that! With a full array of services offered from the area’s top massage therapists, you are sure to walk out with your cares melted away. LutZen’s Grand Marais spa is located right on the shore of Lake Superior in picturesque downtown Grand Marais. Get a LutZen Signature Massage or Zen Sweetheart Couple’s Massage while the waves of Lake Superior lap against the shoreline just feet away. Their Lutsen location [...]

3 03, 2020

Lake Superior Pancake Ice
Lake Superior Pancake Ice

Lake Superior Pancake Ice

Martha Finley2022-12-29T17:20:40+00:00Nature|

Would you like some syrup with your Lake Superior Pancake Ice? Unlike regular pancakes made with flour and buttermilk, pancake ice is formed when surface slush thickens and swirls caused by a current or light wind, a process known as rafting. The circular pads of ice form anywhere from 1-10 feet in diameter, and up to 4 inches thick. That's a big pancake. A signature feature of Lake Superior's pancake ice is its raised edges on the perimeter which is caused by continued crashes into one another from the waves. Recipe for Lake Suprior Pancake Ice The process begins [...]

14 02, 2020

Winter: Things To Do on the North Shore
Winter: Things To Do on the North Shore

Winter: Things To Do on the North Shore

webservices2021-02-25T18:25:08+00:00Activities & Attractions|

Winter might seem like the ideal time to stay inside to read books and play board games. However, we know that there is much more to do during the day than sitting inside. We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 winter activities to do on the North Shore. How many of them have you tried? 1. Ski/ Snowboard: Rising more than 1000 feet about the coast of Lake Superior, the Sawtooth Mountains are home to some of the most rugged terrain you can find in the Midwest. Perfectly located on the North Shore, these mountains let you enjoy a [...]

3 01, 2020

SS William A Irvin
SS William A Irvin

SS William A Irvin

Martha Finley2021-02-25T18:28:35+00:00Activities & Attractions, Duluth, History, Spooky Places on the North Shore|

The SS William A Irvin is a freighter that was named after William A Irving The Vice President of U.S. Steel. She was a flagship of the company fleet from her launch in the depths of the depression in 1938 until 1975 and then was a general workhorse of the fleet until her retirement in 1978. The SS William A. Irvin is a well-maintained example of a classic laker, and a prime example of a straight decker, as she has no self-unloading system. History She was launched 21 November 1937 at the yards of the American Ship Building Company in Lorain, Ohio. [...]

2 01, 2020

Cook County Whole Foods Co-Op
Cook County Whole Foods Co-Op

Cook County Whole Foods Co-Op

Martha Finley2021-09-06T14:29:49+00:00Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

More than 40 years ago, the Cook County Whole Foods Co-Op started on the front porch of a local artist in Grand Marais. The idea was to put donations into a coffee can and people could take the number of bulk coffee beans, grains, and other items for an amount they felt was fair. In 40 years, much has changed. Now located in downtown Grand Marais, the Cook County Whole Foods Co-Op is a bustling enterprise that's open seven days a week. It features an assortment of fresh, organic produce, meat, dairy products, grains, bulk products and homemade soups, salads, [...]

2 01, 2020

Root Beer Water
Root Beer Water

Root Beer Water

Martha Finley2025-04-16T16:35:56+00:00Activities & Attractions, Lutsen, Nature, Waterfalls|

Cascade Falls and Root Beer Water The beautiful stair-step waterfalls that cascade down the river are what give this park its name: Cascade River State Park. With a nice waterfall near the footbridge on Highway 61 and additional waterfalls two miles inland, the views make the hike very worthwhile. Whenever we talk about Cascade State Park, one question frequently comes up. Why does the water in the Cascade River look like root beer? If you have explored rivers and lakes along the North Shore, you’ve probably noticed that the water is often the color of root beer. Why? Most [...]

2 01, 2020

Lake Superior Trading Post
Lake Superior Trading Post

Lake Superior Trading Post

Martha Finley2021-09-07T15:20:07+00:00Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

No trip to the North Shore can be truly enjoyed without the right equipment. And in these parts, ‘equipment’ often means outdoor gear and clothing. And for many, stocking up on these accessories begins at the Lake Superior Trading Post. Featuring an assortment of high-quality clothing for all four seasons, outdoor gear, footwear, trail maps, and camping supplies, the Trading Post is a must-visit during your trip. For those less inclined to venture outdoors, there are sections for books, kitchenware, jewelry, Scandinavian gifts, and other home and personal accessories found in the Trading Post. The Trading Post is conveniently located [...]