Strung along the Lake Superior shore like beads on a necklace, the communities of Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder serve as the southern gateway to Cook County, Minnesota. This region is the perfect vacation destination, whether you’re looking for romance, adventure, relaxation or family fun. It all happens here, where the great Lake Superior meets the ancient Sawtooth Mountain Range. There’s always something new to explore.

Artsy and quirky, the North Shore harbor village of Grand Marais welcomes creatives, families and adventure-seekers alike. The accolades almost speak for themselves. Grand Marais has been named America’s Coolest Small Town (Budget Travel Magazine), Top 10 Beach Getaways (Outside Magazine), and Next Great Adventure Town (National Geographic Adventure Magazine). In Grand Marais you’ll meet some of the most friendly, creative and talented people – both visitors and locals alike.

The number one question we hear from first time visitors is “what is the Gunflint Trail?” Do not let the name deceive you, once upon a time the Gunflint Trail was a primitive trail used primarily by foot or dogsled to move goods down to the port of Grand Marais on Lake Superior for trade. Flash forward several decades to today and you’ll find the Gunflint Trail is a 57-mile paved National Scenic Byway that winds through the heart of the Superior National Forest at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and Canada’s Quetico National Park.

At the very tip of Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region, right on the Canadian border, sits the community of Grand Portage. It’s a place of enduring tradition, vibrant culture and access to outdoor adventure. Home to the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, this thriving community is one of the earliest Ojibwe settlements in Minnesota. It has long been a legendary meeting place, bringing people from many cultures together for centuries. Come to meet, connect and enjoy the people and things to do in Grand Portage.

Millions of years ago, ancient glaciers carved out the oldest rocks in the world. These antique carvings now make up the thousands of crystal clear lakes, rugged cliffs, hills, rocky shorelines and pine studded islands that are located in the northeastern most tip of the US and Canadian border in Minnesota. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is where silence and serenity are here for you to discover. You will hear no traffic, ringing phones or notifications of any kind. Only the haunting call of the Minnesota loon lulling you to sleep.