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

2 01, 2020

Cedar and Stone Sauna
Cedar and Stone Sauna

Cedar and Stone Sauna

Martha Finley2021-09-30T21:50:16+00:00Activities & Attractions, Duluth, Local Businesses|

On a cold December afternoon, we pulled into the parking lot of Chambers Grove Park in the Gary/New Duluth area of Duluth. Duluth had recently received almost two feet of snow the weekend prior leaving behind massive snowbanks. Although the park sits on the St.Louis River right near the Minnesota/Wisconsin border, it wasn't the beautiful scenery we were there for. We were there to participate in Duluth's newest guided sauna experience: Cedar and Stone Sauna. Cedar and Stone Sauna is the brainchild of Justin Juntunen, a Duluth local of Finnish descent. Justin has been raised on the culture of sauna [...]

2 01, 2020

Blue Water Cafe
Blue Water Cafe

Blue Water Cafe

Martha Finley2024-02-01T16:51:23+00:00Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

“The Meeting Place in Grand Marais’, the Blue Water Cafe, has been sitting at the corner of Wisconsin Street and 1st Ave West since the 1970s. Before that, the building has always been a popular eatery in Grand Marais. The restaurant was a traditional American eatery- with pancakes for breakfast and burgers for lunch and dinner. However, in 2024, new ownership brought an Indian flair to the restaurant which now offers authentic Indian dishes alongside the traditional American menu.Tony's Eats and Du NordLongtime residents and visitors of Grand Marais may recall that Tony’s Eat, a small eatery with just a [...]

2 01, 2020

Voyageur Canoe Outfitters
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters

Voyageur Canoe Outfitters

Martha Finley2021-09-28T21:24:06+00:00Gunflint Trail/BWCA, Local Businesses|

Where the trail ends your voyage begins... That is the slogan for the Voyageur Canoe Outfitters at the end of the Gunflint Trail about 60 miles northwest of Grand Marais, MN. Located on Saganaga Lake, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters has been helping explorers plan their adventures for over 25 years. Owners Mike and Sue Prom, are Gunflint Trail residents, having moved to the area in 1993. You may remember Mike and Sue from our feature on the Voyageur Brewing Company. They became familiar with the area and opened Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. Mike and Sue wanted to help visitors enjoy the beautiful [...]

2 01, 2020

The Big Lake
The Big Lake

The Big Lake

Martha Finley2021-10-06T20:08:10+00:00Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

There are many things Grand Marais is known for. Being America’s Coolest Small Town, being a vibrant art community, a mecca for those wanting to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, and The Big Lake. When I say “The Big Lake”, I, of course, mean Lake Superior. However, “The Big Lake” can also now mean the quaint little artsy store located on 1st Ave in downtown Grand Marais. The Big Lake opened its doors in May of 2018. They opened with the goal of being an affordable shop for art and handcrafted items. You can find jewelry, pottery, [...]

2 01, 2020

Sawtooth Mountain Maple Syrup Company
Sawtooth Mountain Maple Syrup Company

Sawtooth Mountain Maple Syrup Company

Martha Finley2021-09-07T20:52:28+00:00Activities & Attractions, Local Businesses, Lutsen|

Take a drive up the winding Caribou Trail just north of Lutsen and you'll find yourself surrounded by large, mature maple trees. With its cold nights and warm(er) afternoons in the early spring, this area is the ideal location for a maple syrup farm. So it's no surprise that Lutsen is home to a large maple syrup company who is working hard to produce some of the best organic maple syrup you'll ever try! Started in 1996, The Sawtooth Mountain Maple Syrup Company tapped their first tree and would quickly grow into a massive operation. In the 2019 season they [...]

2 01, 2020

North Shore Winery
North Shore Winery

North Shore Winery

Martha Finley2021-09-30T16:45:53+00:00Local Businesses, Lutsen|

The North Shore Winery and the Sawtooth Mountain Cider House are a must-stop on anyone’s journey up the North Shore. It is located just off Highway 61 on Ski Hill Road near Lutsen and offers a unique experience for area visitors and locals alike. The winery was built in 2015 and opened in 2016 by owners, Chuck and Kim Corliss. They have been interested in all things wine (vineyards, winemaking, tasting, etc.) for many, many years. In addition to the couple learning about wine through many of their life experiences, Chuck was also trained as a sommelier. In 2017 fellow [...]

2 01, 2020

Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen
Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen

Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen

Martha Finley2021-09-09T19:59:58+00:00Local Businesses, Scenic Drive|

If you are traveling between Duluth and Two Harbors on your next North Shore Vacation, do yourself a favor and take the “long way” by turning onto Scenic Drive just outside of Duluth. This slower-paced road takes you right along Lake Superior and through some lesser-known lake-side communities. It is also along this road that you will come to the next shop we are featuring in our North Shore Sweet Tooth Series. For Part 4 of our Sweet Tooth Series, we bring you to the Great! Lakes Candy Kitchen. Toward the end of your journey on the Scenic Drive between [...]

2 01, 2020

Illgen Falls
Illgen Falls

Illgen Falls

Martha Finley2022-04-07T14:14:42+00:00Activities & Attractions, Beaver Bay/Silver Bay/Finland, Waterfalls|

Illgen Falls may not be the most well-known waterfall on the North Shore, but this waterfall makes the top of our waterfall list. This is because of the great vantage point for viewing the falls. This waterfall is approached and initially viewed from the top. Most area waterfalls are viewed from below. Also, if desired, Illgen Falls visitors are able to walk right up to the river and falls. From this viewpoint, you can experience the power of Illgen Falls. Even during dry periods, you'll likely find water rushing down the falls. Located in Tettegouche State Park, Illgen Falls is [...]

2 01, 2020

World’s Best Donuts
World’s Best Donuts

World’s Best Donuts

Martha Finley2021-02-25T20:25:27+00:00Grand Marais, Local Businesses|

The North Shore Sweet Tooth Series continues with Part 3: World's Best Donuts World's Best Donuts is another Grand Marais staple that has been around for a long time. Owner Dee's grandmother opened the donut shop in 1969 and ownership has been passed down from the women in the family ever since, with Dee being a third-generation owner. The cake donut recipe used is the same as the original 1969 recipe that Dee's grandmother started with. Over the years, the offerings have expanded from the traditional cake donuts to about 30 varieties of donuts. So, if fudge isn't what you [...]

2 01, 2020

The Devil’s Kettle Waterfall
The Devil’s Kettle Waterfall

The Devil’s Kettle Waterfall

Martha Finley2021-02-25T20:26:07+00:00Activities & Attractions, Grand Marais, Waterfalls|

The Devil's Kettle Waterfall. A scary-sounding name for the area's most mysterious waterfall. Located on the Brule River flowing through Judge C.R. Magney State Park near Hovland, MN, 20 miles north of Grand Marais, MN, the Devil's Kettle Waterfall has been baffling visitors for decades. One side of the river rumbles onto a stone embankment and down the rocks. As waterfalls typically do. The other side, however, flows into a geological wonder known as the Devil's Kettle, and… disappears? A Geological Wonder Well, perhaps not. The mystery of the Devil's Kettle Waterfall has been stumping visitors and geologists alike for [...]