Best of the Lake: 2018

You might think that when we tally up the votes for our annual Lake Superior Best of the Lake survey that we find that the same names keep coming to the top. It’s true, we have some perennial favorites like the Old Rittenhouse Inn for Best Overnight Lodging in Wisconsin or Young’s General Store as a favorite shopping stop in Ontario. You read those and think, “Yup, I knew that.”

But this year, when we gathered the votes from our readers, online supporters and social media followers, we got some delightful surprises – the kind of local and visitor insights that encourage us to make even more time to travel around the Lake’s vast shores to see all that’s out there to discover. Take the Best Local Music category. People chose as their favorites everything from the riproaring, off-beat musical humor of

Da Yoopers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to locally born and now nationally prominent performers like Trampled by Turtles and Low from Minnesota and Coleman Hell from Ontario’s shores.

We were tickled to see, too, that our open category – Reader’s Choice – generated numerous one-off personal favorites, but also some businesses that earned multiple mentions like the Jampot in Michigan, World’s Best Donuts in Minnesota and Apostle Islands Booksellers in Wisconsin.

What you won’t see here, but amused us equally well, were the number of “my fishing hole” responses … people who bluntly indicated “I won’t tell,” imagining that their favorite Walking Trail might remain a secret. For us, the purpose of this survey each year is not just to point out favorites (there are so many we can’t list them all), but also to share the secrets and to encourage you to find new favorites on your travels or right in your own hometown.

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BEST WATERFALL

MICHIGAN

• Tahquamenon Falls, Paradise, www.facebook.com/TQFalls
• Bond Falls, Paulding, www.michigandnr.com

MINNESOTA

• Gooseberry Falls, Two Harbors, www.dnr.state.mn.us
• High Falls of Pigeon River, Grand Portage, www.dnr.state.mn.us

ONTARIO

• Kakabeka Falls, Kakabeka Falls, www.ontarioparks.com
• High Falls of Pigeon River, on the border, www.ontarioparks.com

WISCONSIN

• Big Manitou in Pattison State Park, Superior, dnr.wi.gov
• Copper Falls, Mellen, dnr.wi.gov

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BEST LOCAL LANDMARK

MICHIGAN

• Brockway Mountain, Copper Harbor, copperharbor.org
• Quincy Mine, Hancock, www.quincymine.com
• Whitefish Point Lighthouse, Paradise, www.shipwreckmuseum.com

MINNESOTA

• Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors, www.mnhs.org/splitrock
• Aerial Lift Bridge, Duluth, www.duluthmn.gov

ONTARIO

• The Sleeping Giant, Sibley Peninsula, www.ontarioparks.com
• Wawa Goose, Wawa, wawa.cc

WISCONSIN

• The Apostle Islands, Bayfield, www.nps.gov/apis
• Ashland’s Waterfront, Ashland (e.g. the artesian wells, marina and ore dock piers), www.visitashland.com

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BEST LOCAL MUSICIANS

MICHIGAN

• Da Yoopers, Ishpeming, dayoopers.com [national, folk humor]
• Gail English, Copper Harbor, www.facebook.com/gail.english.92 [local vocalist]
• Flat Broke Blues Band, Marquette, flatbrokeblues.com [powerhouse blues]
• Frank an Da Beanz, Marquette, www.facebook.com, search band name [local rock/bluegrass/pop band]

MINNESOTA

• Trampled by Turtles, Duluth, trampledbyturtles.com [national bluegrass/folk band]
• Low, Duluth, www.chairkickers.com, [national indie rock band]
• The Northwood’s Band, Duluth, www.facebook.com/thenorthwoodsband [local rock/pop band]

ONTARIO

• The Reptiles, Sault Ste. Marie, www.facebook.com/pg/The-Reptiles-142149325850108 [local R&B band]
• Coleman Hell, Thunder Bay, www.colemanhell.com [national R&B singer/songwriter]

WISCONSIN

• Big Top Chautauqua, Bayfield, www.bigtop.org [not a group, but it is a musical phenomenon]
• Randy Sabien, Hayward, www.randysabien.com [national jazz/rock/blues violinist and vocalist and Big Top Chautauqua performer]

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BEST ‘LOCALLY MADE’ STORE

MICHIGAN

• Laughing Loon, Copper Harbor, www.thelaughingloononline.com
• Beth Millner Jewelry, Marquette, www.bethmillner.com
• Copper World, Calumet, www.calumetcopper.com

MINNESOTA

• Duluth Pack, Duluth, 906-289-4502, www.duluthpack.com
• Lake Superior Trading Post, Grand Marais, www.lakesuperiortradingpost.com
• Sivertson’s, Grand Marais, www.sivertson.com
• Joynes Ben Franklin, Grand Marais, www.joynesbenfranklin.com

ONTARIO

• Young’s General Store, Wawa, www.youngsgeneralstore.com
• Agawa Crafts & the Canadian Carver, Pancake Bay, pancakebay.com

WISCONSIN

• Ehler’s Store, Cornucopia, www.ehlerstore.com
• Madeline Island Candles, La Pointe, www.madelineislandcandles.com
• Harbor House Sweets, Washburn, www.harborhousesweets.com

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BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION

MICHIGAN

• Copper Harbor, copperharbor.org
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising, www.nps.gov/piro

MINNESOTA

• Duluth, www.visitduluth.com.
• Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks

ONTARIO

• Thunder Bay, visitthunderbay.com
• Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, T-Bay, www.ontarioparks.com/park/sleepinggiant

WISCONSIN

• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield, www.nps.gov/apis
• Bayfield, www.bayfieldcounty.org

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BEST WALKING TRAIL

MICHIGAN

• Hunter’s Point, Copper Harbor, copperharbor.org/hunters-point-park
• Sugarloaf Mountain, Marquette, www.travelmarquettemichigan.com/sugarloaf-mountain

MINNESOTA

• Superior Hiking Trail, 310 miles of it, superiorhiking.org
• The Lakewalk, Duluth, www.visitduluth.com/attractions/parks-and-trails/lakewalk

ONTARIO

• Sleeping Giant Provincial Park trails, Sibley Peninsula, www.ontarioparks.com/park/sleepinggiant
• John Rowswell Hub Trail, Sault Ste. Marie, www.hubtrail.com

WISCONSIN

• Big Bay State Park, Madeline Island, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/bigbay
• North Country Trail, local section, northcountrytrail.org/trail/wisconsin

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BEST 1-HOUR STOP ALONG THE ROUTE

MICHIGAN

• Brockway Mountain, Copper Harbor, copperharbor.org
• Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, www.lre.usace.army.mil

MINNESOTA

• Canal Park, Duluth, canalpark.com
• Temperance River State Park, Schroeder www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/temperance_river

ONTARIO

• Terry Fox Monument & Tourist Info Centre, Thunder Bay, www.visitthunderbay.com
• Old Woman Bay, Wawa, www.ontarioparks.com/park/lakesuperior

WISCONSIN

• Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland, www.nglvc.org
• Bayfield Waterfront, Bayfield, www.bayfieldcounty.org

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BEST OVERNIGHT LODGING

MICHIGAN

• AJ’s Walleye Lodge, Bergland, www.walleyelodge.com
• Dapple-Gray Bed & Breakfast, Copper Harbor, www.dapple-gray.com
• The Landmark Inn, Marquette, www.thelandmarkinn.com

MINNESOTA

• Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior, Tofte, www.bluefinbay.com
• Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay, www.covepointlodge.com

ONTARIO

• Serendipity Gardens Guest House, Rossport, www.serendipitygardens.ca
• KOA, Sault Ste. Marie, koa.com/campgrounds/sault-ste-marie

WISCONSIN

• Old Rittenhouse Inn/Le Chateau, Bayfield, www.rittenhouseinn.com
• The Bayfield Inn, Bayfield, www.bayfieldinn.com

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BEST BREWERY/ DISTILLERY/ COCKTAIL BAR

MICHIGAN

• Brickside Brewery, Copper Harbor, www.facebook.com/bricksidebrew
• Keweenaw Brewing Company, Houghton, www.kbc.beer

MINNESOTA

• Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors, www.castledangerbrewery.com
• Voyageur Brewing Company, Grand Marais, www.voyageurbrewing.com

ONTARIO

• Outspoken Brewing, Sault Ste. Marie, www.outspokenbrewing.com
• Sleeping Giant Brewing Company, Thunder Bay, sleepinggiantbrewing.ca

WISCONSIN

• South Shore Brewery, Ashland & Washburn, www.southshorebrewery.com
• Earth Rider Brewery, Superior, earthrider.beer
• Thirsty Pagan Brewing, Superior, www.thirstypaganbrewing.com/

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BEST CAFE / RESTAURANT

MICHIGAN

• Harbor Haus, Copper Harbor, www.harborhaus.com
• Fitzgerald’s, Eagle River, www.fitzgeralds-mi.com

MINNESOTA

• Angry Trout Cafe, Grand Marais, www.angrytroutcafe.com
• Grandma’s Saloon & Grill, Duluth, www.grandmasrestaurants.com
• Rustic Inn Café, Castle Danger, rusticinn.cafe
• Betty’s Pies, Two Harbors, bettyspies.com

ONTARIO

• Drifters Restaurant, Terrace Bay, www.facebook.com/DriftersRestaurantAndMotel
• Bight Restaurant & Bar, Thunder Bay, http://bightrestaurant.ca

WISCONSIN

• Maggie’s, Bayfield, www.maggies-bayfield.com
• Anchor Bar & Grill, Superior, anchorbarandgrill.com
• Landmark Restaurant, Bayfield, www.rittenhouseinn.com

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BEST SANDY SWIMMING BEACH

MICHIGAN

• Great Sand Bay, between Eagle Harbor and Eagle River, www.keweenaw.info
• Bete Gris Preserve, Bete Gris, www.keweenaw.info/attractions/parks-beaches/

MINNESOTA

• Park Point, Duluth, www.duluthmn.gov/parks/parks-listing/park-point
• Black Beach, Silver Bay, www.silverbay.com

ONTARIO

• Lake Superior Provincial Park, near Wawa, www.ontarioparks.com/park/lakesuperior
• Pointes des Chenes, Sault Ste. Marie, www.saulttourism.com
• Terrace Bay Beach, Terrace Bay, www.terracebay.ca

WISCONSIN

• Cornucopia beaches, Cornucopia, cornucopiawisconsin.net
• Wisconsin Point, Superior, www.ci.superior.wi.us/226/Wisconsin-Point

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BEST DOGGY DESTINATION

MICHIGAN

• Copper Harbor (e.g. Hunters Point & Lake Fanny Hooe ), copperharbor.org
• Marquette (e.g. Canine Park & Presque Isle), www.travelmarquettemichigan.com

MINNESOTA

• Duluth (e.g. Brighton Beach, Minnesota Point and the waterfront – just ask Teague and Breccan Shaw and their pup, Ella), www.visitduluth.com
• Grand Marais (e.g. Artists’ Point and nearby Gunflint Trail), www.visitcookcounty.com

ONTARIO

• Sault Ste. Marie (e.g. Hub Trails & nearby Mount Pleasant Trail), www.saulttourism.com
• Terrace Bay, (e.g. beach & Casque Isles Trail), www.terracebay.ca

WISCONSIN

• Superior (e.g. Municipal Forest & Wisconsin Point), www.superiorchamber.org
• Cornucopia (e.g. nearby Meyers Beach Trail) cornucopiawisconsin.net

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THE BEST … READER’S CHOICE

MICHIGAN

• Jampot, Eagle Harbor, poorrockabbey.com
• “Coffee and breakfast in the morning on the deck at Roy’s Pasties, in Houghton.”
• “My favorites would be all the waterfalls in Ontonagon County, it would take you a week just to see them all.”

MINNESOTA

• World’s Best Donuts, Grand Marais, www.worldsbestdonutsmn.com
• Best Coffee/Lunch Stop: Cedar Coffee Company, Two Harbors, cedarcoffeecompany.com
• “Lutsen Mountains Alpine Slide & Gondola for best ride with a view in the Great Lakes region.” www.lutsen.com

ONTARIO

• Nipigon Ice Fest, Nipigon, www.facebook.com/nipigonicefest
• “Just the outdoors of water, mountains and trees with fresh air and open spaces.”
• Best Scenic Drive: Kama Bay to Marathon

WISCONSIN

• Apostle Islands Booksellers, Bayfield, www.apostleislandsbooksellers.com
• Best Ice Cream: The Candy Shoppe, Bayfield, www.bayfield.org/business/candy-shoppe-the/
• “Saxon Harbor, even if it is presently under construction for a new marina.”

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Do you have suggestions for new Best of the Lake categories or want to add your voice to our votes for next year? Keep watch on our website for the next survey: www.LakeSuperior.com