Grand Marais, MN

 

Wednesday Aug 30, 2023 - We're headed out to Cascade River State Park today which is just 15 minutes from the town of Grand Marais on Lake Superior.  We stopped in the town of Virginia in the middle of our three hour drive for lunch and enjoyed a walk through the town's botanical garden.

As I was putting away the blocks that we use to level the van, I found this little guy enjoying a comfy spot to sleep. 

We stopped early for a quick rest stop at this little log cabin bar.  Kev decided to have a quick beer and and an interesting chat with the bartender 

love the redneck doorbell at the entrance to the bar

pretty cool looking plant in the town of Virginia's botanical garden

Our drive from Voyageur NP to Grand Marais was pretty remote most of the way

Our first view of Lake Superior in the distance

Wildflowers at Cascade River SP

Thursday Aug 31, 2023 - Today was an early morning laundry day and then we spent the afternoon exploring Grand Marais.  It was a cute little town, with funky little shops, art galleries, restaurants and beautiful views of the Grand Marais harbor.  We walked out to artists point and then to the light house.

Nice spot to hang out while doing laundry

Donut case at The World's Best Donuts

A donut picnic

Yum

Kev the viking

We stopped in here to look around and bought a few lures that the guy said were  guaranteed to catch fish anywhere anytime.  He gave his cell phone number to call if we had any problems

It was quite an eclectic place

beautiful harbor

Artists point

the walk to the light house

view of Grand Marais 

Lunch at Voyageur Brew Pub

Perch Tacos and we finally got to try cheese curds

Chilly evening for a fire

Friday, Sep 1, 2023 - We hung around the campground today and did a few hikes.  There was a beautiful hike along the Cascade River, which falls 120 feet before joining Lake Superior.  We then hiked along Lake Superior, which was a very overgrown trail but had a picnic table at the end, which was a perfect spot for a picnic lunch.  Kev and I then did a hike back to the ranger station and then a pretty hike through the woods.  It was a 4.5 mile day.

The campground has  a "Trail Center" at the main trailhead, which has trails going in all directions.  In the winter the trails are used for cross country skiing and the Trail Center cabin has a wood fireplace and picnic tables inside.  I was happy to get to see the stuffed loon up close, since we heard them so much while at Kabatogama Lake.

Nice bench in the Trail Center

Let's go for a hike

There are lots of pretty wildflowers out now

Mirabelle is ready for a hike

The view of our first falls from the bridge over the Cascade River

more falls

and more falls

we made it to Lake Superior

which looks like an ocean

lunch with a view

a grouse or a quail?

We scared a group of them that were hanging out next to the trail, or maybe they scared us...they sure made a big racket when we got close.

It's starting to look a little like fall

lots of chokeberries along the trails here

another nice night for a campfire