The One Minnesota Town Everyone Should Visit At Least Once
Minnesota has some of the most serene waters in the world. Sitting on the border with Canada, it is called the land of 10,000 lakes, but the biggest lake it shares a shore with is Lake Superior. As the biggest of the Great Lakes, visitors from the U.S. can only see it by going to the very northern borders of the country.
Alongside the shores of Lake Superior, one can find the beautiful small town of Grand Marais. Not only can you swim the waters of the lake here, but you can also see one of the oldest art colonies in the U.S., stroll through a ghost town, see exhibits at a historic lightkeeper's house, or purchase art to take home. Grand Marais combines one of the best art scenes in the Midwest with great fish dishes and gift shops. This is one Minnesota town everyone should visit at least once.
History
The name Grand Marais itself has an intriguing history. The French were the first Europeans to come to the area in the 1700s, and they named it the Big Marsh. However, despite the town's location on the shore of Lake Superior, there was never a marsh here. The most likely explanation is that French mapmakers meant to choose the word mare, meaning sheltered body of water. However, the land was little more than a palace name until the 1860s, when settlers began to arrive. With the onset of the railroad in the 1880s, the population grew to around 3,000 people before plummeting in 1911 thanks to the end of a lumber boom.
Of historic places worth visiting in Grand Marais, one of the most interesting places is a ghost town east of Grand Marais called Chippewa City. It used to be the home of 100 families from the 1880s and 1890s during the lumber boom. Now, the only thing remaining is the Chippewa City Church. Built in 1895 with hand-hewed dovetailed timber, it was originally a Catholic Church that echoed earlier French styles.
Another great spot is the History Museum, contained within a 1896 lightkeeper's house. It has exhibits on the Civilian Conservation Corps. who helped design the parks in Grand Marais during the Great Depression, and those on Grand Marais' maritime activities.
Speaking of commercial activities, you can learn a lot about historical careers in Grand Marais at the Bally Blacksmith and Metal Fabrication Shop, which was built in 1911 to serve the community, and a replica 1930s Fish House and Fishing Tug-Nee.
Outdoor fun
As to be expected for a Great Lakes town, Grand Marais has a beautiful shoreline with grand parks to boot. It's one of the best places in the U.S. to enjoy Lake Superior, especially at Harbor Park.
This shoreline park is close to the downtown area of Grand Marais and provides a beach, resting spots, and views of the Grand Marais Lighthouse. If you're looking for a more extensive outdoor experience, then the Grand Marais Recreation Area is right for you. This area contains the Grand Marais Tourist Park along with a marina, and the Gunflint Hills Golf Course with 9 holes.
Grand Marais also has access to several fun trails with cool places to explore. For example, you can walk from downtown Grand Marais to Artist Point and the Grand Marais Lighthouse. Artists Point has inspired artists throughout the North Shore area with its beautiful views of Lake Superior within a peninsula. To the south of the town, you can see seven waterfalls at the Cascade River State Park.
One of the best trails in Grand Marais is the Gunflint Trail. It begins in Grand Marais and goes through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It cuts off into many subtrails to explore, such as the steep Honeymoon Bluff Trail, which leads you up to an overlook over Hungry Jack Lake, or the Caribou Rock Trail, which winds around for nine miles through Bearskin and Moss Lake and up to Rose Falls.
Arts
With the beautiful Lake Superior and other natural landmarks, Grand Marais has inspired beautiful art for a long time. In fact, it has the oldest art colony in the entire state of Minnesota. The Grand Marais Art Colony first opened in 1947 by Birney Quick, who was an instructor at the Minneapolis School of Art, today the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
When it began, he trained students to paint in the open air. Today, it still provides classes on all manner of art styles, ranging from mug making, still life, ceramics, Zentangle Pattern, and much more for all ages. The colony hosts the Grand Marais Arts Festival each year in July, where many of its works are put on display.
Outside of the art colony, the community hosts several galleries and studios, including the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery and the Silvertson Gallery.
If you're more interested in folk arts and crafts, you can sign up for a class with the North House Folk School, such as woodwork, fiber work, and other folksy crafts.
Shops/restaurants
Other than the galleries listed above, Grand Marais has several quaint country stores to check out that will make you feel right at home as you browse their wares. Within a small home, you can purchase a good read from Drury Lane Books, or you can pick up clothes, shoes, souvenirs, camping gear, and other necessities from the Lake Superior Trading Post.
Another great spot for gifts is The Market, which sells clothes, candles, kitchen items, and fun Minnesota-style trinkets to take home.
Grand Marais's food scene offers a mixture of fast cafes, seafood spots, and breweries. For breakfast, try out the South of the Border Cafe (named for being south of the Canadian border), which has great omelets. For lunch or dinner, there's the Angry Trout Cafe, which serves Lake Superior fish along with locally grown produce.
The Voyager Brewing Company keeps a variety of beers on tap alongside fine bar food like tacos, flatbread, and sliders.
Beauty radiates out from Lake Superior into its shoreline and the surrounding area. Residents in Grand Marais have long been inspired by this landscape, as can be seen at its Art Colony. By visiting this small Minnesota town, you can take a little piece of the lake back with you, whether that's a piece of art, a souvenir, or a memory. If you live in the Midwest or are looking to come here, consider flying into the North Shore of Minnesota to the charming town of Grand Marais.
