Minnesota: Land of 10,000 + Lakes

9/21/2022: Minnesota may be known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but after doing some research I discovered that there are over 14,000 lakes (over 10 acres in size with wave swept shore) in the state boundaries. If you count bodies of water under 10 acres in size, Minnesota has over 117,000 waterbodies. Water is […]

The Land Between the Lakes: Wisconsin to Minnesota

September 20th: I spent most of the day working (thankful for remote work) but was able to go hiking in the Wisconsin backcountry on my work break before driving to Minnesota (prepping to return home to NC after a ‘superior’ trip). My Lake Superior Adventures could also be dubbed – ‘Land of Enchanted Waterfalls.’ Each […]

Lake Superior Adventures: Wisconsin to Michigan

September 19th, 2022: With several days of daylight left I decided to take a scenic drive along Lake Superior, south towards Ashland, WI – a lakefront ‘city’ of 7,000. There are several chain hotels as well as local inns in the area. Ashland has a major grocery store and other necessities if you need to […]

Lake Superior Adventures: The Apostle Islands

September 19th, 2022 At the tip of Wisconsin’s Bayfield Peninsula you’ll encounter a gateway to the majesty of Lake Superior’s wild island archipelago…The Apostle Islands. Most likely named in honor of the Apostles of the Bible by early missionaries in the area, the twenty-two islands of The Apostle Islands are some of the most unique […]

Lake Superior Adventures: North Shore to The Apostle Islands

September 18th, 2022: The gentle roar of Lake Superior’s waves crashing against the rock greeted me as I woke up just after seven-thirty. I could have stared at the lake all day from the comfort of The Best Western Superior Inn, but I have many miles to go on this adventure. In need of grace […]

Lake Superior Adventures: The Gunflint Trail

September 17th, 2022: Fog covered Grand Marais in mystic setting over Lake Superior. I enjoyed a restful night’s sleep at The Best Western Superior Inn, which I highly recommend. This hotel is right on the lake and my room has a view so close to Superior I can hear the waves as I write this […]

Lake Superior Adventures: The Grand Portage Part II

September 17, 2022: continued from previous post. Grand Portage is known as Kitchi Onigaming – The Great Carrying Place. A portage is the carrying of a boat between two navigable waters. The area of Grand Portage was one of the most important ‘portages’ and junctions for frontier trade between natives and the Europeans. The Ojibwe […]

Lake Superior Adventures: The Grand Portage – Part I

September 16, 2022: The lonely wind whistled and roared as I sipped on a cup of hot coffee in the Trailside Suites. *Coffee – I’m a ‘coffee snob’ aka a person who loves to try regional and local roasters over generic chains (although I do love my Starbucks). The most dangerous drinking game is how […]

Lake superior Adventures: Silver Bay to Tettegouche and Raspberry Pie

September 15th, 2022: A steady rain pounded on the Gooseberry Trailside Suite on Thursday morning. I took this as a sign to sleep in until ten and enjoy relaxing in the lakeside condo. I enjoyed solitude and quiet, taking time to think as I looked out the window at Lake Superior until just after eleven […]

Lake Superior Adventures – Split Rock Lighthouse

September 14th (continued from previous blog post) In the early 20th century, American novelist James Oliver Curwood deemed Lake Superior – “the most dangerous piece of water in the world.” Lake Superior is a dangerous beauty – calm and glorious or savage as a hurricane. At the turn of the century Minnesota was in an […]