Minnesota Peak Fall Color Week

Sawbill Trail,Shovel Point and HWY 60 just off the Gunflint Trail.
Just a few of over 200 pictures taken while touring around Nothing much can be better for me then clear sky and great fall color. Perhaps the dinners in the nice resorts!

Peak fall color is almost here on the NorthShore of Minnesota.

Last year I took this photo from Lookout Mountain in Lutsen Mn. We were there right at peak color and the weather was fantastic. I've got the cabin booked again for this year. Hopefully the weather is just as good. You have to guess the peak date for color of course as there are many factors in the timing. I have heard that the Pink Salmon are already running in the rivers. About a week earlier then last year. I'll be taking hundreds of photos again. I'm very excited, it's the best time of the year in my opinion.

Early fall on the Northshore this year?

Oh my the leaves are changing fast this year. A bit to my upset as I have reservations in the future for leaf viewing. It is a guessing game to time the peak. Last year we nailed it right on the head and were blessed with perfect weather. It's hard to do with drought and crazy climate this summer. But there will be leaves of some degree no matter what so it's always a good trip.This is a shot from Eagle Mountain looking at Moose Mountain at Lutsen Ski resort.

Blue Moon Weekend on the Northshore

A wonderful Blue Moon shining on Lake Superior.

Betty's Pie back when it was Betty's Cafe

Back before the modern Betty's Pies it looked like this, Betty's Cafe. Now there is a newer modern building just north of Two Harbors Mn. on HWY 61. Even the newer larger building is just jammed packed on summer weekends and fall. Ive not stopped for quite awhile as my Grandma used to say, it's so busy that nobody goes there anymore.But we knew what she meant by the comment. She would make Yogi Berra sounding quotes.

http://listverse.com/2011/04/13/25-funny-quotes-of-yogi-berra/

Research Vessel Kiyi is back in Grand Marais, Mn.

http://www.inlandmariners.com/Special/Special_Kiyi.htm

Very interesting what they do! Click on the link!

August in Duluth

This fellow in Duluth has the best idea on a Friday afternoon. A view, a book and a nice day.

Breakfast with a Caribou

When touring around the Northshore and visiting festivals you can have breakfast with a Caribou at the Cascade Lodge Restaurant. There is also a Moose mount, a wolf and a few bears.

Fisherman's Picnic Grand Marais, Mn

Something you don't see everyday, log rolling at the festival. Many activities to be seen as you walk around during the weekend. The young log rollers were so good it was hard to believe.

Sunset around the region tonight.....

Next week I'll be touring around the South Shore and North Shore of Lake Superior. It's peak summer season and now is the time. Festivals, events,cool clean water and air. Frankly you don't have to do anything. Just be.......

Here are sunsets from the region via live cams. Traveling by desktop tonight as I have to wait until next week to do it in person. The next best thing.

Cascade Creek at the Cascade Lodge, Lutsen MN.

Don't let Cascade Creek fool you, it looks pretty docile most of the time but it can roar. I have missed the flows twice this year. Too early in May and I missed it too late in July. A good downpour on the North Shore really gets the creeks and rivers rolling. Waterfalls are great in this area. You can rent cabins right on the creek at the Lodge and listen to the water at night from the deck or even the living areas of the cabins. Pretty pleasant considering the noise we put up with the rest of our daily lives.

Grand Marais Harbor sunset

Really a nice evening sunset at Grand Marais Harbor tonight. The site of the up and coming Dragon Boat Races.
http://www.northshoredragonboat.com/

Cool Weather Tourism

Everybody checking into North Shore lodging recently were making all the same comments. We are escaping the heat in the Cities. Oh is it hot! Even in Northern Wisconsin it's quite hot. Records are being set all over the country. It might go down as one of the hottest summers in history. This is a real bonus for the North Shore of Minnesota. It's not only the Festivals and events that are drawing people it's the cool blue waters and breezes off of Lake Superior. When on the harbor in Grand Marais people just linger by the shore. Artist Point is very popular in hot weather. There is a lyric from a Bluegrass tune I heard recently: Cool water is going to open up her arms and take you in......Steep Canyon Rangers....Open Country.

Big view of Downtown Grand Marais MN.

The best view in town is the roof top of the Gun Flint Tavern. Great place to have a margarita and just take in the wonderful weather.

Summer Holiday trip

Fourth of July week on the North Shore of Minnesota was simply wonderful. Weather was great while the rest of the country was setting all time record high temps. The blue sky and blue water at the mouth of the Cascade River was really stunning. Touring around, hiking and of course eating in the fine lodges and restaurants for a week really is pleasant. Lets play where is the moose game? Anybody make a guess? There are alot of moose mounts on the North Shore and Boundary Waters area. So where is this one? And we managed to see two real live moose on our tours. Always surprising to see a real moose as you just don't expect it. Both were cows.

Cooler by the Lake

Are the key words for me this Holiday week. So I'm off to the Cascade Lodge in Lutsen Minnesota. I'll be sure to take alot of pictures for future use on the blog of the adventures.

Another flood result.......

It all has to go somewhere and sadly it's into the beautiful lake. It will settle in time but for the time being it looks nasty from the satellite shot and the shoreline as well.

Another Waterfall season

Cascade Falls, Cascade State Park.

Waterfalls are roaring again on the North Shore of Minnesota. This is the third time this year starting with a early meltdown in March. Then followed by a late May storm and now this huge rain this week. Sadly the nice waterfalls come at a cost to Duluth Minnesota with flood damages in excess of 100 million dollars. Duluth is really a nice city and one of my favorites. Some of the damage is hard to believe. Huge sink holes and gullies washed into the hillsides.

Moose Mountain lunch

The best lunch spot in my mind is at the top of Moose Mountain at Lutsen Ski Resort. They have a new mountaintop Chalet that was built just a few years ago. It is fantastic with a deck that wraps around the building. The views are wonderful and that is Superior National Golf course below. While you might think the burgers and snacks are a bit heavy on cost you must remember that they have to haul it up the mountain and that included in the lunch is a 100 mile view on a clear day. You can see Upper Michigan sometimes. Also the Tram ride up is great fun. Better then any State Fair ride in my opinion. The kids just love it.

Along the shore you find interesting things.

Along the North shore you find these little pot holes worn into the rock. The power of the Lake Superior waves grinds them out with the friction of the rocks swirling in the depression. The only question I have is how long does this take! They are often called grinders and perhaps other names? It's quite fascinating indeed.