Things To Do Along Minnesota’s North Shore

I am an Iowa girl who didn’t discover the beauty of Minnesota until a few years ago. Usually, if my family travelled we would head south for warmer weather. After discovering the beauty of Duluth and the North Shore I simply cannot get enough. We visit this area at least once a year which has lead me to create a list of my favorite things to do. 

1. Enjoy Nature

The North Shore is the area above Duluth and along Lake Superior. The highway runs along the the lake so it is nearly impossible to not enjoy the views. Long car rides aren’t so bad when for the majority of it you are admiring the splendor of Lake Superior. I always seem to forget how massive of a lake it is.

The scenic landscape makes you itch to get out and explore. Luckily, along the North Shore there are multiple state parks. My favorites areas to visit are Palisade Head, Tettegouche State Park, and Gooseberry Falls. 

Palisade Head

Palisade Head is within Tettegouche State Park but to me it seems separate from the rest of the park. It feels slightly less crowded than the other areas. I would say for that reason it is my favorite place to visit. The area we go to doesn’t have paved trails, we just walk through the trees and climb up the rocks. Once we get to the top we usually just sit and admire the beauty of it and watch the freight ships. 

Tettegouche State Park

The rest of Tettegouche State Park is my second favorite location to visit because of the grand waterfall. Sometimes I forget that waterfalls are in the United States and not only in exotic places. There are walking trails throughout this park that lead to the largest waterfall I think I have ever seen – obviously I’ve never been to Niagara Falls. It’s so beautiful it makes me forget we are in the Midwest. 

Gooseberry Falls 

Gooseberry Falls also has a waterfall, but it is not quite as impressive as the one at Tettegouche. I enjoy Gooseberry Falls for the walking trails as well, however, if you want to find a place to park (especially on a holiday weekend) you will need to go early to beat the crowds. 

2. See A Lighthouse 

Is it just me or is there something magical about lighthouses? Anytime I see one I wonder about it’s story. Who was the lighthouse keeper? Did a woman’s husband die at sea and she spent the rest of her life waiting for him at the top of that lighthouse? (Just kidding about that one). Maybe my love for lighthouses is because Hollywood has romanticized them. But regardless, there a couple cute lighthouses in the area. 

Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse is by far the most popular lighthouse in the area. There are regular guided tours that walk you around the grounds as well as up to the top of the lighthouse. I definitely recommend the guided tour at least once if your interested in the history of the area. I didn’t realize there have been so many shipwrecks on Lake Superior before taking the tour. 

The Two Harbors Light Station 

The Two Harbors Light Station shouldn’t be compared to Split Rock, but I still think it’s cute. It is now a bed and breakfast and I believe there is also a museum in it. I’ve never gone inside but I would love to! Regardless of if you go into the lighthouse or not this is just a nice spot to walk around. 

3. Unplug 

When you’re at the North Shore, make it a mission to unplug. Take your selfies and move on! This area is an amazing reminder of how beautiful our earth is and it is easy to feel one with nature. 

My boyfriend’s parents have a cabin in this area, which is why we visit so often. Just the smell of the wood-burning stove at the cabin helps me to relax. I leave my worries down in Iowa when I come up here. 

We are truly in the middle of the woods and it is so quiet at night, besides the sounds of the river and birds chirping. After I pour my cup of coffee in the mornings I often site a few deer in the yard. The days are filled with hiking and at night we gather around the campfire and enjoy some s’mores.

We are all crazy busy which is why it is so important to just stop and enjoy the simple things in life sometimes. 

Thanks for reading!