Travel Destinations Minnesota North Shore, Minnesota Two-Day Getaway Along Minnesota's North Shore From Tofte to Grand Marais, explorers share State-61 with lumber trucks, explore state parks and pause in a one-stoplight county known for great dining. By Midwest Living editors Midwest Living editors Midwest Living's experienced editors create best-in-class travel, lifestyle, food, home and garden content you won't find anywhere else. We're loudly, proudly Midwestern, and we're passionate about helping our audience explore and create through award-winning storytelling. Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 17, 2022 Artists Point. Photo: Jay Wilde Day 1 Cappuccinos and artisanal baked goods add big-city flair to breakfast at lakeside Coho Cafe in Tofte. Take a chairlift up Eagle Mountain, then zoom down the 1⁄2-mile-long alpine slide at Lutsen Mountains. A meal of barbecue ribs, chili or popular pot stickers is all the more enjoyable for the mountain views from Papa Charlie's deck. Temperance River State Park. Ginger Crichton Top-notch state parks line the entire North Shore; the trails of Cascade River State Park lead to Lookout Mountain (600 feet above Lake Superior) or to Cascade Falls, where the river drops several hundred feet over a series of rock ledges. Waterfalls also tumble through Temperance River State Park as the river cuts and curves its way down to Lake Superior. Potato-encrusted walleye and seared scallops please diners at the lakeside dining room of Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior; overnight guests choose from a lodge, private cabin, condo or townhome and take in beach yoga and guided sea-kayak trips. Top Things to Do Along Minnesota's North Shore Day 2 A day in Grand Marais, 28 miles north, starts with a maple-swirl pastry at the seasonal World's Best Donuts. Betsy Bowen Studio displays North Woods-inspired works by the owner and other area artists. Lake Superior Trading Post has been the go-to shop on the harbor for camping gear and backpacks for decades. Artists Point. Jay Wilde A 1⁄2-mile hike takes visitors over lava rock and through a forest to The Point, more commonly referred to as Artists Point, which juts out into Lake Superior. Forty miles north of Grand Marais, a 1/2-mile trail and boardwalk in Grand Portage State Park lead to Minnesota's highest waterfall, the 120-foot-tall High Falls of the Pigeon River on the U.S.-Canada border. At nearby Grand Portage National Monument, visitors learn about the partnership of the Grand Portage Ojibwe and the North West Company during the North American fur trade. Back in Grand Marais, guests delight in seafood chowder at The Fisherman's Daughter, alongside the Lake Superior harbor, or head to Angry Trout Cafe for the catch of the day served with wild rice. More information: visitcookcounty.com North House Folk School. Icon North House Folk School Explore your crafty side at this school in Grand Marais. Year-round lessons honor traditional crafts from around the world, including basket weaving, canoe building and Native American sewing. More to Explore The two-lane Gunflint Trail Scenic Byway winds 57 miles inland from Grand Marais and leads to hiking trails, fishing spots and places to see wildlife (including moose). The charming resort Loon Lake Lodge—one of the best-kept dining secrets—serves roasted duck with lingonberry sauce and almond-crusted salmon. Near the byway's end, a 1934 lodge perched on an inlet houses the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, which presents an overview of human history from Native Americans and voyageurs to current cabin owners. Gunflint Lodge offers horseback riding, moose-calling excursions and dining in Red Paddle Bistro. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit