Border Country

Lutsen Resort
The grande dame of North Shore resorts. The hand-hewn log homes, perched on a cliff, are our choice. In the Scandinavian-inspired dining room, you’ll find well-prepared comfort food. 218-663-7212

Lutsen Mountain and Sawtooth Mountain Park
Mountain biking, guided kayaking, and relaxing on the sun deck at the Mountaintop Restaurant. 218-663-7281

Caribou Highlands Lodge, on Lutsen Mountain, offers four great options: lodge rooms, condos, townhomes, and Poplar Ridge homes. The latter two sleep up to twelve. 218-663-7241

Lutsen Lodging Company
Select from a wide variety of rental vacation homes, ranging from retro Bailey’s on the Lake to a couple of beauts in the new Heritage development. 218-663-7244

Lockport Marketplace
Don’t miss the superb apple fritters. Hwy. 61, 218-663-7548

Kah-Nee-Tah Gallery
The quaint red and white cabins contain a great collection of original pieces by Minnesota artists. Hwy. 61, 218-387-2585

Cascade River State Park
Hike up Lookout Mountain and capture five waterfalls in a single photo. 218-387-3053

Grand Marais

The Pie Place
Outstanding pies, homemade maple sausage, and the best breakfast spot in town. 2017 W. Hwy. 61, 218-387-1513

North House Folk School
A panoply of courses, on topics ranging from one-day raku-fired pottery to twelve-day Inuit kayak-building. 500 W. Hwy. 61, 218-387-9762

Dockside Fish Market
You can’t go wrong with any of the smoked items. 418 W. Hwy. 61, 218-387-2906

Sivertson Gallery
An eclectic mix of work by regional artists, Native Americans, and Canadian Inuit. 14 W. Wisconsin St., 888-880-4369

Lake Superior Trading Post
From handmade jewelry and regional literature to hiking boots and hammocks. 16 1st Ave. W., 218-387-2020

Angry Trout Cafe
Locally sourced fare so good it rivals the waterfront scenery. 416 W. Hwy. 61, 218-387-1265

Gun Flint Tavern
Menu includes Southwestern fare and small-batch microbrews. 111 Wisconsin St., 218-387-1563

Sven & Ole’s
Kneel at the altar of Minnesota kitsch—and grab a slice of pizza. 9 W. Wisconsin St., 218-387-1713

East Bay Suites
Concierge, waterside location, state-of-the-art appliances, and in-room washer/dryer come standard. 1 Wisconsin St., 218-387-2800

World’s Best Donut
These beat Krispy Kreme any day. 10 E. Wisconsin St., 218-387-1345

Betsy Bowen Studio
Beloved for her bold woodcuts. 301 1st Ave. W., 218-387-1992

Superior Coastal Sports
Book a guided kayak trip, update your gear, and order an espresso. Free WiFi. 20-B E. 1st St., 218-387-2360

Cobblestone Cove Villas
In-floor radiant heat and unobstructed views of the harbor. 218-387-2633

Chez Jude
Alice Waters protégé Judi Barsness uses fresh local ingredients to prepare some of the region’s prettiest and most inspired food. 411 W. Hwy. 61, 218-387-9113

Devil's Kettle

Judge C.R. Magney State Park
Take in Devil’s Kettle Falls and surrounding forest. 218-387-3039

Naniboujou Lodge
Lots of history, a spectacular dining room with a Cree Indian mural, and great food. 218-387-2688

Grand Portage

Sweetgrass Cove Guesthouse & Bodywork Studio
Rick Anderson’s charming guest quarters promise gorgeous gardens, an outdoor hot tub, a wood-burning sauna, delicious food, and on-site spa services. You’ll never want to leave. 6870 E. Hwy. 61, 218-475-2421

Grand Portage National Monument
Reconstructed on original eighteenth- and nineteenth-century foundations, the Northwest Trading Company depot and great hall honor the voyageurs and Ojibwe who made their livelihoods here. 218-387-2788

Grand Portage State Park

At 120 feet, Minnesota’s highest waterfall, High Falls, is the claim to fame. 218-475-2360

Isle Royale National Park
Take the ninety-minute boat ride from Grand Portage to the pristine wilderness park. 906-482-0984

Gunflint Trail

Bearskin Lodge

Hand-hewn log cabins nestled along Bearskin Lake have state-of-the-art appliances, wood-burning fireplaces, and great screened-in porches. Solitude defined. 218-388-2292

Clearwater Lodge
Basic cabins, a historic lodge, dependable outfitting, and mighty palisades across Clearwater Lake make for one of the most dramatic entry points into the BWCAW. 218-388-2254

Hungry Jack
One of the best canoe outfitters on the trail. 800-648-2922

Trail Center Lodge
Beyond the Northwoods bric-a-brac hanging from the walls, you’ll find great malts, burgers, and other stick-to-the-ribs fare. 218-388-2214

Gunflint Lodge
Saunas, hot tubs, a great kitchen, impeccable service, full-time adventure concierge, gorgeous setting, and top-notch outfitting. Hardly roughing it. 800-328-3325

Kekekabic Trail
Winds forty-two miles past abandoned mine shafts and remote wilderness. A section makes a nice out-and-back day-hike.

Magnetic Lake Trail
The highlight of the three-mile trail is a sixty-foot-high rock that will make your compass run amok.

Seagull Outfitters
Debbie Mark’s passion is custom-designing trips to the BWCAW and Quetico. 218-388-2216

Trail’s End
No trip up the trail is complete without taking a picture of the scenery here.