America’s Coolest Small Town With An Underrated National Park On Its Doorstep Is In A Surprising State

It takes a particular type of city to be nicknamed the “Coolest Small City In America.” This large title goes to a small city in a state that could be as shocking because the city. After all, there’s competitors from the “England of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a charming American mountain town” to a few of America’s prettiest Stick Season small towns.

Nestled on the coast of Lake Superior in Minnesota lies a vacation spot price including to your northern bucket record. One in every of Minnesota’s best small towns and referred to as the good in America by quite a few publications, Grand Marais is a cool city with an underrated nationwide park on its doorstep. Let’s dive in and be taught extra about what there’s to see and do in Grand Marais.

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There’s A ‘Phantom Island’ In This Lake Superior National Park

It was believed there was an island the scale of Isle Royale in Lake Superior.

Grand Marais, Minnesota, Is America’s Coolest City Close to Isle Royale Nationwide Park

Positioned close to Isle Royale Nationwide Park, does this small city have all of it?

Positioned close to the Canadian border in Minnesota, Grand Marais is a phenomenal coastal city boasting over 1,000,000 guests yearly. For a truly “great” Great Lakes small-town destination in the Midwest with a inhabitants of simply 1,300 folks, that is an enormous quantity.

The postcard-perfect pure environment have impressed artists and creatives for years, contributing to its nickname of “coolest small city.” It is also residence to the US’s oldest art colony, based in 1947.

With its location only a brief however scenic flight from the camping paradise of Isle Royale National Park in neighboring Michigan, it is little surprise it is such a preferred year-round vacation spot.

However you do not have to go away the state to see lovely surroundings. Grand Marais is surrounded by Minnesota’s highest waterfall, nestled inside the spectacular Grand Portage State Forest.

What Are The Greatest Issues To Do In Grand Marais?

Inventive vibes, pure wonders, and out of doors journey await on this small city

So, what’s there to see and do within the lovely city of Grand Marais? One of the best issues embody the good open air. Kayaking the northern shore of Lake Superior, climbing and tenting within the Grand Portage State Forest, and roaming throughout state traces to Isle Royale Nationwide Park are all nice issues to do, particularly in the summertime and shoulder season months.

Talking about the very best issues to do in Grand Marais is unimaginable with out mentioning the artwork scene. Grand Marais’ lovely Artist Level is stuffed with painters and creatives, and you may see the completed works at Silverton Gallery, Betsy Bowen Gallery, and Studio 21. There’s a mixture of native artists and folks impressed by the Grand Marais surroundings, so it is the very best place to discover a memento.

After an extended day exploring the city, carve out time to get pleasure from some scrumptious native seafood at one of many many harbor-front eating places. In case you’re visiting within the colder months, heat up within the native Scandi-inspired sauna. Excellent for these frigid Minnesota winter nights, and also you may even see the Northern Lights!

How Can You Get To Grand Marais?

This lovely city is properly well worth the effort of getting there

The closest main airport to Grand Marais is in Canada, and guests may must cross the border to go to this gorgeous small Minnesotan coastal city. From Thunder Bay Airport, it is round an hour and 40 minutes to Grand Marais.

In case you do not wish to journey by way of Canada, you possibly can fly into Duluth Airport, after which it is 2 hours and 35 minutes to Grand Marais. In case you drive, make stops alongside Lake Superior for a surprising street journey vibe.

Need to journey by public transport? Arrowhead Transit runs a bus connection between Duluth and Grand Marais. It is cost-effective, and you will not need to cope with these driving situations in Northern Minnesota throughout winter!

There is not a prepare to Grand Marais, however should you’re coming throughout the lake from Michigan, you may get a ferry from Copper Harbor by way of Isle Royale Nationwide Park after which onto Grand Portage. It is a scenic method to get to Grand Marais in the summertime, nevertheless it takes round 12 hours!

So, should you’re searching for the good small city in America, look no additional than Grand Marais, Minnesota!

On the shores of Lake Superior close to the attractive outdoorsy paradise of Isle Royale Nationwide Park, it is a creative and artistic place to go to with loads of pure magnificence to get pleasure from alongside the best way.