Best of the Lake 2014

We asked, and you answered. See what our readers chose as Lake Superior’s very best.

Minnesota's Split Rock Lighthouse was voted Best Spectacular View by LSM readers this year.

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors 

Photo: Dennis O'Hara

Minnesota's Split Rock Lighthouse was voted Best Spectacular View by LSM readers. See all of this year's winners below.

Best of the Lake 2014
         

Call it our Lake Superior list of bragging rights – each of the 110 winners in our 13 categories certainly can boast of earning their 2014 Best of the Lake ranking.

More than 1,200 voters from around the region and across the United States and Canada cast their choices for spectacular views, friendly service, family attractions, shopping, boating, toe-dipping beaches, fish dishes and other favorites. Votes came in via a mailed survey and directly online.

The top vote-getters for each state or province are indicated with a .

This can become your newest “to do” list as you travel around the Lake; take time to visit these businesses and locations and see if you agree with the voters. Or perhaps you won’t even need to travel much; on this list you may discover some unfamiliar top picks right in your own Lake Superior neighborhood. If you forget your list at home, you might see a Best of the Lake sticker in the windows of these high-quality establishments.

So congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to all the voters.

Best Spectacular Views

Best Toe-dipping Beach

Best Waterfall

Best Family Attraction

Best Local Fish Dish or Fish Sandwich

Best ShopBest Shopping Experience

Best Art Gallery/Museum

Best Staff, Restaurant or Lodging

Best Overnight Stay

Best In-town Hike

Best Annual Event

Best Boat Ride

Best Spectacular Views

MICHIGAN
Brockway Mountain, Keweenaw Peninsula
Contact: 906-289-4274, www.copperharbor.org, or 800-338-7982, www.keweenaw.info

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Contact: 906-387-3700, www.nps.gov/piro

MINNESOTA
 Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors
Contact: 218-226-6372, www.mnhs.org

TIE: Duluth Waterfront & Skyline Parkway
Contact: 800-438-5884, www.visitduluth.com

ONTARIO
Sleeping Giant, Sibley Peninsula
Contact: 807-977-2526, www.ontarioparks.com/park/sleepinggiant

Thunder Bay Waterfront
Contact: 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com

WISCONSIN
Bayfield Waterfront
Contact: 715-779-3335, www.bayfield.org

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Contact: 715-779-3397, www.nps.gov/apis

Best Toe-dipping Beach

Park Point Beach, Duluth

Park Point, Duluth  

Photo: Bob Berg / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Bete Grise Bay
Contact: 800-338-7982, www.keweenaw.info

Great Sand Bay
Contact: 800-338-7982, www.keweenaw.info

MINNESOTA
 Park Point, Duluth
Contact: 800-438-5884, www.visitduluth.com

Grand Marais Waterfront
Contact: 888-922-5000, www.visitcookcounty.com

ONTARIO
Terrace Bay Waterfront
Contact: 800-968-8616, www.terracebay.ca

Pancake Bay Waterfront
Contact: 705-882-2209, www.ontarioparks.com/park/pancakebay

WISCONSIN
Big Bay Beach, Madeline Island
Contact: 715-747-2801, www.madelineisland.com

Cornucopia Waterfront
Contact: 715-742-3232, www.cornucopiawisconsin.net

Best Waterfall

Kakabeka Falls, Ontario

Kakabeka Falls, Ontario  

Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Tahquamenon Falls
Contact: 906-492-3415, www.michigan.gov/dnr

Bond Falls
Contact: 906-353-6558, www.michigan.gov/dnr

MINNESOTA
 Gooseberry Falls
Contact: 218-834-3855, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks

High Falls of the Pigeon River
Contact: 218-475-2360, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks

ONTARIO
Kakabeka Falls
Contact: 807-473-9231, www.ontarioparks.com

Aguasabon Falls
Contact: 800-968-8616, www.terracebay.ca

WISCONSIN
Amnicon Falls
Contact: 715-398-3000, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks

Copper Falls
Contact: 715-274-5123, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks

Best Family Attraction

Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie

Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie  

Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie
Contact: 906-253-9290, 800-647-2858, www.saultstemarie.com

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Contact: 906-387-2607, www.nps.gov/piro

MINNESOTA
 Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth
Contact: 218-740-3474, www.glaquarium.org

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors
Contact: 218-834-3855, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks

ONTARIO
Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay
Contact: 807-473-2344, www.fwhp.ca

THREE-WAY TIE
Amethyst Mines, Thunder Bay
Contact: 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com

Lake Superior Provincial Park, Wawa
Contact: 705-856-2284, www.ontarioparks.com/park/lakesuperior

Paddle-to-the-Sea Park, Nipigon
Contact: 807-887-3135, www.nipigon.net

WISCONSIN
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Contact: 715-779-3397, www.nps.gov/apis

Madeline Island
Contact: 715-747-2801, www.madelineisland.com

Best Local Fish Dish or Fish Sandwich

MICHIGAN
Whitefish (grilled or Cajun) at The Vierling Restaurant, Marquette
Contact: 906-228-3533, www.thevierling.com

TIE
Pecan Walleye at Fitzgerald's Restaurant, Eagle River
Contact: 906-337-0666, www.eagleriverinn.com

Whitefish at Harbor Haus, Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4502, www.harborhaus.com

MINNESOTA
 Lake Trout Catch of the Day at Angry Trout Café, Grand Marais
Contact: 218-387-1265, www.angrytroutcafe.com

Fish-n-Chips at Dockside Fish Market, Grand Marais
Contact: 218-387-2906, www.docksidefishmarket.com

ONTARIO
Friday Night Fish Fry at The Voyageurs' Lodge & Cookhouse, Batchawana Bay
Contact: 705-882-2504, www.voyageurslodge.com

Pickerel Dinner at Drifters Restaurant, Terrace Bay
Contact: 877-825-1625, www.driftersimperialmotel.ca

WISCONSIN
Simply Fish Whitefish or Whitefish Liver Dinner at Maggie's, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-5641, www.maggies-bayfield.com

Smoked Lake Trout at Everett Fisheries, Port Wing
Contact: 715-774-3776, www.everettfisheries.com

Best Shop

Keeper of the Light, Bayfield

Keeper of the Light, Bayfield  

Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Copper World, Calumet
Contact: 906-337-4016, www.calumetcopper.com

Che Bello Boutique, Marquette
Contact: 906-273-1362, www.chebelloboutique.com

MINNESOTA
 Joynes Ben Franklin Department Store, Grand Marais
Contact: 218-387-2233, www.joynesbenfranklin.com

Lake Superior Trading Post, Grand Marais
Contact: 218-387-2020, www.lakesuperiortradingpost.com

ONTARIO
Agawa Indian Crafts & The Canadian Carver, Pancake Bay
Contact: 800-656-9676, www.pancakebay.com

Young's General Store, Wawa
Contact: 705-856-2626, www.youngsgeneralstore.com

WISCONSIN
Keeper of the Light, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-5619, www.keeperofthelight.net

TIE
Trout Run Art, Port Wing
Contact: 715-774-3799, www.troutrunart.com

Apostle Islands Booksellers, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-0200, www.apostleislandsbooksellers.com

Best Art Gallery/Museum

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Sault Ste. Marie

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Sault Ste. Marie  

Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point
Contact: 888-492-3747, www.shipwreckmuseum.com

A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Houghton
Contact: 906-487-2572, www.museum.mtu.edu

MINNESOTA
 Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais & Siiviis, Duluth
Contact: 888-880-4369, 888-815-5814, www.sivertson.com

Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth
Contact: 218-726-8222, www.d.umn.edu/tma

ONTARIO
Thunder Bay Art Gallery
Contact: 807-577-6427, www.theag.ca

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Sault Ste. Marie
Contact: 877-287-4752, www.bushplane.com

WISCONSIN
Madeline Island Museum, La Pointe
Contact: 715-747-2415, madelineislandmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org

Hoth-Lee Art Gallery, Port Wing
Contact: 715-774-3315

Best Staff, Restaurant or Lodging

MICHIGAN
Fitzgerald’s Restaurant, Eagle River
Contact: 906-337-0666, www.eagleriverinn.com

Harbor Haus, Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4502, www.harborhaus.com

MINNESOTA
Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Contact: 800-598-3221, www.covepointlodge.com

Grandma's Restaurants, Duluth
Contact: 218-727-4192, www.grandmasrestaurants.com

ONTARIO
Drifters Restaurant & Motel, Terrace Bay
Contact: 807-825-3226, www.driftersimperialmotel.ca

The Voyageurs’ Lodge & Cookhouse, Batchawana Bay
Contact: 705-882-2504, www.voyageurslodge.com

WISCONSIN
Old Rittenhouse Inn, Bayfield
Contact: 800-779-2129, www.rittenhouseinn.com

Maggie's, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-5641, www.maggies-bayfield.com

Best Overnight Stay

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor  

Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Landmark Inn, Marquette
Contact: 906-228-2580, www.thelandmarkinn.com

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4403, www.atthelodge.com

MINNESOTA
Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Contact: 800-598-3221, www.covepointlodge.com

Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior, Tofte
Contact: 800-258-3346, www.bluefinbay.com

ONTARIO
Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay
Contact: 807-577-1121, www.valhallainn.com

Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites, Thunder Bay
Contact: 800-267-2675, www.princearthurwaterfront.com

WISCONSIN
Old Rittenhouse Inn, Bayfield
Contact: 800-779-2129, www.rittenhouseinn.com

Bayfield Inn, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-3363, www.bayfieldinn.com

Best Shopping Experience

Canal Park, Duluth

Canal Park, Duluth  

Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Downtown Marquette
Contact: 800-544-4321, www.travelmarquettemichigan.com

Downtown Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4274, www.copperharbor.org

MINNESOTA
Canal Park & Downtown Duluth
Contact: 800-438-5884, www.visitduluth.com

Downtown Grand Marais
Contact: 888-922-5000, www.visitcookcounty.com

ONTARIO
Downtown & Waterfront, Thunder Bay
Contact: 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com

Downtown & Waterfront, Sault Ste. Marie
Contact: 800-461-6020, www.saulttourism.com

WISCONSIN
Downtown Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-3335, www.bayfield.org

Downtown Ashland
Contact: 800-284-9484, www.visitashland.com

Best In-town Hike

Artists' Point, Grand Marais

Artists' Point, Grand Marais  

Photo: Phil Bencomo / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Presque Isle Park, Marquette
Contact: 800-544-4321, www.travelmarquettemichigan.com

Sugarloaf Mountain, Marquette
Contact: 800-544-4321, www.travelmarquettemichigan.com

MINNESOTA
Duluth Lakewalk
Contact: 800-438-5884, www.visitduluth.com

Artists' Point, Grand Marais
Contact: 888-922-5000, www.visitcookcounty.com

ONTARIO
Sault Ste. Marie Hub Trail
Contact: 800-461-6020, www.saulttourism.com

TIE
Centennial Park, Thunder Bay
Contact: 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com

Mount McKay, Fort William First Nation
Contact: 807-623-9543, www.fwfn.com

WISCONSIN
Brownstone Trail, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-3335, www.bayfield.org

Lakefront Parkway & Walking Trail, Washburn
Contact: 715-373-5017, www.washburnchamber.com

Best Annual Event

Fisherman's Picnic, Grand Marais

Fisherman's Picnic, Grand Marais  

Photo: Phil Bencomo / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
U.P. Fall Beer Festival, Marquette
Sept. 6, 2014. Contact: www.mibeer.com

Art on the Rocks, Marquette
July 26-27, 2014. Contact: 906-250-6156, www.marquetteartontherocks.com

MINNESOTA
Fisherman's Picnic, Grand Marais
July 31–Aug. 3, 2014. Contact: 888-922-5000, www.grandmaraislionsclub.com

Grandma's Marathon, Duluth
June 19-21, 2015. Contact: 218-727-0947, www.grandmasmarathon.com

ONTARIO
Thunder Bay Blues Festival
July 3-5, 2015. Contact: 807-343-2309, www.tbayblues.ca

Live From the Rock Folk Festival
Aug. 8-10, 2014. Contact: www.livefromtherockfolkfestival.com

WISCONSIN
Bayfield Apple Festival
Oct. 3-5, 2014. Contact: 715-779-3335, www.bayfield.org

Port Wing Fish Boil
Aug. 30, 2014. Contact: www.portwingwi.com

Best Boat Ride

Apostle Islands Cruises, Bayfield

Apostle Islands Cruises, Bayfield  

Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine

MICHIGAN
Pictured Rocks Cruises, Munising
Contact: 800-650-2379, www.picturedrocks.com

TIE
Isle Royale Line, Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4437, www.isleroyale.com

Soo Locks Boat Tours, Sault Ste. Marie
Contact: 800-432-6301, www.soolocks.com

MINNESOTA
Vista Fleet, Duluth
Contact: 877-883-4002, www.vistafleet.com

Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Line, Grand Portage
Contact: 218-475-0024, www.isleroyaleboats.com

ONTARIO
Sail Superior.com, Thunder Bay
Contact: 807-628-3333, www.sailsuperior.com

Discovery Charters, Rossport
Contact: 807-824-3323, www.discoverycharters.ca

WISCONSIN
Apostle Islands Cruises, Bayfield
Contact: 800-323-7619, www.apostleisland.com

Madeline Island Ferry Line, Bayfield
Contact: 715-747-2051, www.madferry.com

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