The whole family decided to come along to the North Shore for a quick overnight weekend trip last week (while I attended the Richard Thompson concert at Lutsen).
We left Saturday morning and stopped at Toby’s in Hinckley for some donuts and caramel rolls. Straight shot from there to Gooseberry Falls State Park, which was just spectacular with sunny, blue skies and incredible ice formations around the falls. We spent a lot of time there hiking and taking pictures (links below to the photo galleries).
From Gooseberry, we drove all the way to Grand Marais to get a late lunch at Sven and Ole’s Pizza. Tried a sausage and pepperoni thin crust for the first time (tasty) and kid two lost a tooth eating her cheese pizza. Lots of people in town for this time of year–the jewelry store and Ben Franklin both had lots of people in them.
After lunch, we drove down the Croftville Road and took some coastline and cabin shots. The ice along the big lake is so cool to look at (literally).
We drove back to Tofte and checked in at the AmericInn, where the kids spent the evening and next morning in the pool swimming. We all slept in Sunday morning, then drove to Beaver Bay after the last swim session, eating lunch at the Yellow Wolf Cafe and stopping for desert at Betty’s Pies. I had a walleye sandwich at the Yellow Wolf, which had to be the largest walleye fillet I’ve ever seen. Recommended.
On the way through Duluth, we drove to Canal Park, across the Lift Bridge and back again. Saw lots of restaurants, shops and buildings we hadn’t seen before, including the new Hell’s Kitchen on Lake Avenue (looked awesome). One final stop in North Branch at the Outlet Mall before we got back home in time for the Gophers hockey game.
