North Shore
Life has been in full throttle this past month. Im excited for back to school and life to slow down a bit. It was so nice to be able to escape to the north shore to relax and enjoy a slow pace for a few days without lots of distractions. We always try to finish off the summer with a visit to Grand Marais each year.
Unfortantly the day started off not awesome because it was drizzling. Nobody wants to camp in the rain. I was just hoping by the time we get there it will be done. But if I had to choose I rather set up a tent in the rain rather then pack up a tent in the rain. We stopped off in Rush City to eat at a bakery that makes gluten free bakery items.
Then we hopped back on the the freeway and continued heading north. The next stop was Duluth to visit Ryan, and let the kids see his excavator machines. But he ended up having a rain day, so they were not working by the time we got there. He still let the sit in every machine and by the time we left Kate and Henry were completely covered in mud. Those shoes ended up in a plastic bag and they were on to there next pair of shoes I packed. Yep I brought three each for them because I know that they can't keep them clean. We had a quick picnic lunch before heading on the road again.
Next stop was Betty's Pie. We figured we would stop there on the way up because it would be much busier on Sunday vs a Thursday. Well to our luck they had no power so we could only chose from the baked pie list vs the cream pie list. They were also sold out of the gluten free pie. The last few times we have ate there we have been disappointed. I think we might try the rustic inn pie place next time.
We made it to camp and the rain had just finished up and we set up while the kids played in the park.
We picked the park spot rather then the shore area because I figured they can play while we were at our camp site. It worked out great because there was tons of kids there ages and they played hard with them all when we were not out hiking and biking around.
Our plan for this trip was not to spend much time in town. We know the town like the back of hand and we don't need any souvenirs and we only planned on eating at the custard ice cream place, and the fish market when we were up there. We also had our dog rosie so she was not able to go the stores anyway so that worked out perfect. We did a walk through town on the first day and sat by the beach for awhile, and lounged by the campfire for the rest of the night. We were in bed by 8:30 that night because we were all exhausted from our early rise and long drive day.
We drove up the Gunflint trail around 9 and didn't really have a plan in mind. Well we do that every time we go up that trail. We pull off on a road if it looks good or if there is a trail that sounds like a fun to hike on. We pulled off on the moose viewing trail and hiked to the lake that has a platform to look from and see the moose. Well they didn't have any moose in the lake that day that we could see.
We got back in the car and ended up at flour lake and climbed the voted #1 best trail called sweet heart bluff trail. It was a uphill stair climb to a amazing view of the the lake. It was gorgeous.
Then we stopped at the bwca area to have a picnic by the shore.
After lunch we headed back down the gunflint trail back to our campsite to go hike the bluffs in the campground. This was the first time we took the kids on this trail. It was a bit of a uphill rock climb for them and the dog but they all did great. We enjoyed the overview of the town and Lake Superior and we all sat by the water and enjoyed the sunshine and waves coming in before we head "I have to go to the bathroom". Ha life of parents!
The kids convinced up we needed to get ice cream from all that walking they did! Well you don't have to twist my hand to much for ice cream.
Saturday was a fun no plan kind of day. We rode our bikes around the outskirt of town and stopped by there farmers market, and a quick stop at the moose java shop. Nothing better then having a coffee while sitting on the beach, watching the kids throw a million rocks in the water. We then walked out to artist point and the light house. I have to say the light house experience this time was not my favorite. They removed the wire rail out to the light house and with a 4 year old and a dog in tow it was so nerve racking. We didn't make it to the light house we stopped just short of making it. We called it good and headed to the fish market for our smoked salmon and lounged around the camp site for awhile.
We started packing up our campsite after a quick breakfast and was on the road by 8:30. We were going to stop by gooseberry falls on the way home. I was so pleasantly surprised by the lack of people at the falls and I was able to take pictures without a million people in the picture. Henry assisted we walk around on the trails while we were there. We were there just over a hour and we left feeling great. Seriously it pays to get up early and see things before the floods of people show up. As you can tell we are early to rise people and start moving and shaking early.
We hit massive traffic on the way home with multiple times of stopping on the freeway. We made it home by 4:30. That is a long time of being in the car. We were all excited to get home and see our baby chicks, play on the trampoline, and have wifi- that was Bella!
Im so glad that I continued this tradition of going to the north shore each year like I did as a child. It's funny to see my kids doing some of the things I always did when I was there age.
Unfortantly the day started off not awesome because it was drizzling. Nobody wants to camp in the rain. I was just hoping by the time we get there it will be done. But if I had to choose I rather set up a tent in the rain rather then pack up a tent in the rain. We stopped off in Rush City to eat at a bakery that makes gluten free bakery items.
Then we hopped back on the the freeway and continued heading north. The next stop was Duluth to visit Ryan, and let the kids see his excavator machines. But he ended up having a rain day, so they were not working by the time we got there. He still let the sit in every machine and by the time we left Kate and Henry were completely covered in mud. Those shoes ended up in a plastic bag and they were on to there next pair of shoes I packed. Yep I brought three each for them because I know that they can't keep them clean. We had a quick picnic lunch before heading on the road again.
Next stop was Betty's Pie. We figured we would stop there on the way up because it would be much busier on Sunday vs a Thursday. Well to our luck they had no power so we could only chose from the baked pie list vs the cream pie list. They were also sold out of the gluten free pie. The last few times we have ate there we have been disappointed. I think we might try the rustic inn pie place next time.
We made it to camp and the rain had just finished up and we set up while the kids played in the park.
community vegetable garden inside the campground. I was so impressed with how well it was for such a short growing season they have.
We picked the park spot rather then the shore area because I figured they can play while we were at our camp site. It worked out great because there was tons of kids there ages and they played hard with them all when we were not out hiking and biking around.
Our plan for this trip was not to spend much time in town. We know the town like the back of hand and we don't need any souvenirs and we only planned on eating at the custard ice cream place, and the fish market when we were up there. We also had our dog rosie so she was not able to go the stores anyway so that worked out perfect. We did a walk through town on the first day and sat by the beach for awhile, and lounged by the campfire for the rest of the night. We were in bed by 8:30 that night because we were all exhausted from our early rise and long drive day.
We drove up the Gunflint trail around 9 and didn't really have a plan in mind. Well we do that every time we go up that trail. We pull off on a road if it looks good or if there is a trail that sounds like a fun to hike on. We pulled off on the moose viewing trail and hiked to the lake that has a platform to look from and see the moose. Well they didn't have any moose in the lake that day that we could see.
we found a car in the forest by the lake
We got back in the car and ended up at flour lake and climbed the voted #1 best trail called sweet heart bluff trail. It was a uphill stair climb to a amazing view of the the lake. It was gorgeous.
Then we stopped at the bwca area to have a picnic by the shore.
this was at a little diner on the gunflint trail!
After lunch we headed back down the gunflint trail back to our campsite to go hike the bluffs in the campground. This was the first time we took the kids on this trail. It was a bit of a uphill rock climb for them and the dog but they all did great. We enjoyed the overview of the town and Lake Superior and we all sat by the water and enjoyed the sunshine and waves coming in before we head "I have to go to the bathroom". Ha life of parents!
The kids convinced up we needed to get ice cream from all that walking they did! Well you don't have to twist my hand to much for ice cream.
kates gf option at the ice cream place
Saturday was a fun no plan kind of day. We rode our bikes around the outskirt of town and stopped by there farmers market, and a quick stop at the moose java shop. Nothing better then having a coffee while sitting on the beach, watching the kids throw a million rocks in the water. We then walked out to artist point and the light house. I have to say the light house experience this time was not my favorite. They removed the wire rail out to the light house and with a 4 year old and a dog in tow it was so nerve racking. We didn't make it to the light house we stopped just short of making it. We called it good and headed to the fish market for our smoked salmon and lounged around the camp site for awhile.
We started packing up our campsite after a quick breakfast and was on the road by 8:30. We were going to stop by gooseberry falls on the way home. I was so pleasantly surprised by the lack of people at the falls and I was able to take pictures without a million people in the picture. Henry assisted we walk around on the trails while we were there. We were there just over a hour and we left feeling great. Seriously it pays to get up early and see things before the floods of people show up. As you can tell we are early to rise people and start moving and shaking early.
We hit massive traffic on the way home with multiple times of stopping on the freeway. We made it home by 4:30. That is a long time of being in the car. We were all excited to get home and see our baby chicks, play on the trampoline, and have wifi- that was Bella!
Im so glad that I continued this tradition of going to the north shore each year like I did as a child. It's funny to see my kids doing some of the things I always did when I was there age.
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