Travel
Steve Isola
Features
Keith Meyers
You're Gonna Love Winter
Two Season-Loving ‘Newcomers’ Share Some Wise Words about the Season of Snow Read more
Gordy's Hi-Hat.
Gordy's Hi-Hat at 50
In 2010, the ever-popular burger hop, Gordy's Hi-Hat in Cloquet, Minn., reached a significant milestone. This story is from that year. Read more
ADAM JOHNSON, BROCKIT INC. / COURTESY THE VAULT
The Vault is Open
Lodging Luxury in Houghton, Michigan. Read more
Best of the Lake: 2020
We invite you to enjoy here the advice of nearly 1,500 people who responded to this year's Best of the Lake survey from around the country and by the shores. Read more
KRISTOPHER GRUNERT / CP
Christmas Spirit Rides the Rails
Before Santa's arrival comes the CP Holiday Train, marking for many the start of the season. Read more
JON OKERSTROM
The Story of Lake Superior’s Golden Treasure
In 2020, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore marks its golden anniversary. Read more
Landmark Conservancy
Developer Takes the High Road
When the Town of Bayfield's planning commission declined his subdivision plans for a property high on Fire Tower Road, Bob Davidson ended up working to make it a public recreation space. Read more
Best of the Lake: 2019
We wrap up another amazing year for Best of the Lake picks featuring many longtime favorites and quite a few surprise new winners. Read more
DAVID JOHNSON / EXPLORE MINNESOTA
Fisherman’s Picnic, Grand Marais’ 90-year-old festival still acts like a kid
The scent of fizzled fish and fried donuts clung heavy in the air – an odor both delightful and distracting. With the sun hidden behind a thick layer of Lake Superior mist, I took comfort in knowing the day was not lost to the clouds. A large, cement Read more
COURTESY BLUE WAVE INN
Familiar Places, Fresh Faces … New Owners at Favorite Spaces
When taking a spin around the Lake to check in with longtime businesses that have changed ownership this past year or so, a common thread emerges: The more things change, the more they stay the same. Read more
ALAN JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Rural Idyllic: Some of the Best Marriages May Be Born in a Barn
Jill and Kirk Clemmer are a dangerous match. She has exquisite taste and big ideas. He has a hammer and nails and knows how to use them. Read more
JENNIFER JOHNSON
Lake Superior Journal: Peninsula’s Final Voyage A Water Workhorse Sails Home
It started earlier this year with a phone call from Stan Johnson, president of the Marathon & District Historical Society in Marathon, Ontario. Read more
JILL JONES
For These Local Treasures … Stop the Car! Put Benoit Cheese Haus & Tetzner’s Dairy on Your Wisconsin Itinerary
Driving in the Ashland/Washburn area, plan two stops for a true taste of Wisconsin with regional cheese at Benoit Cheese Haus and couldn’t-be-fresher ice cream and milk at Tetzner’s Dairy and its self-serve store Read more
AmberBeth VanNingen / MINNESOTA DNR
10 for the Road Trip Discover the Rare Features in These Scientific & Natural Areas
FYI on SNAs: On Sugarloaf Point near Little Marais, a rugged shoreline testifies to basalt lava flows dating more than 1 billion years ago. On part of Minnesota Point in Duluth, red and white pines 150 to 270 years old dominate a unique nearly forgo Read more
RHONDA SILENCE / WTIP RADIO
Having a Blast in Red, White & Blue, Food, Fireworks, Fun & the Neighbors Make Fourth Traditions
Many Options for Holiday Events: Oohs, aahs and whistles from fireworks fans will be heard in waves along the western shores of Lake Superior on the Fourth of July. But perhaps the best part of celebrating independence is parading with the neighbors. Read more
BEATRICE RINGENBACK
Sassy & Classy. Pine Mountain Music Festival Enters Its Next Generation
In his first season as executive director of the Pine Mountain Music Festival, Doug Day realizes he’s inherited a lot of history for the organization born in Iron Mountain, Michigan, in 1991. Read more
BOB BERG / LAKES SUPERIOR MAGAZINE
Thompson Hill’s ‘Wow Factor’, Come for Visitor Information, Leave Astonished by the View
A Scenic Overlook to Start Your Trip: Many visitors stop at Thompson Hill Welcome Center off Interstate 35 near Spirit Mountain to pick up some information for their trip to Duluth or the North Shore. Read more
BOB BERG / LAKE SUPERIOR MAGAZINE
A Feel for Water, Interpretive Center Immerses Us into an Estuary
Hands-on in Superior: An interactive exhibit at the Lake Superior Estuarium on Barker’s Island encourages you to reach into cups hiding objects from nature. Read more
BOB BERG / LAKE SUPERIOR MAGAZINE
Exploring a Different Kind of Beach, Silver Bay Welcomes Beachcombers to Once-Private Shore
Unusual Landscape: For years, locals and tourists visited Black Beach near Silver Bay to hang out on the cool spot with the distinctive charcoal-colored sands despite the beach being privately owned by Cleveland-Cliffs. Read more
The Travel Guide
Planning a Big Lake trip? Updated annually by our editors, this mile-by-mile guide covers the entire Lake Superior Circle Tour, including side trips, and comes with a handy tear-out map. 136 pages, magazine format. $9.95.
The Ultimate Guide
The Ultimate Guide to the Region is filled with even more information, insider tips and photos. 294 pages, 5 ½" x 8 ½", softcover book. $19.95.
Best of the Lake 2019
The votes are tallied and the results are in. See what readers chose as their favorites in this year’s categories.
