Grand Marais, MN

Stroll to the tip of Artists' Point and you'll understand why so many visitors make this an annual pilgrimage. Some come to the reddish-brown expanse of shoreline past the Coast Guard station to paint or photograph the lakeside landscape. Others picnic along the rocky jut separating the two crescent-shaped bays of this natural-harbor village. As the breeze tickles your face and gulls swoop the waves, you'll see how Grand Marais has been singing its siren song to art lovers, outdoor adventurers and other vacationers for more than a century. Though a tiny town of 1,300-with almost as many moose as people in the region-it bustles as the liveliest hub of Lake Superior's North Shore between Duluth (110 miles southwest) and the Canadian border. Backdropped by the wooded slopes of the Sawtooth Mountains, and with the vast expanse of Superior lapping at downtown, this friendly village of galleries, boutiques, coffeehouses and restaurants encourages you to relax and savor the setting. Near the center of town the Gunflint Trail (County-12) begins its winding route of 60 paved miles through the heart of Superior National Forest. From Grand Marais it's just a 24-mile drive and a one-third-mile walk to Gunflint's Moose Viewing Trail. Whether you spy a moose or not, you can't miss them at stores throughout Grand Marais. Moose motifs decorate everything from doormats to lamps to pajamas to picture frames. You'll feel like you're immersed in the rustic north woods, even if you never leave town.

TRIP GUIDE

Northwest Airlines flies into Duluth (110 miles southwest). Contact: Grand Marais Visitor Center (888/922-5000; www.grandmarais.com). Attractions Moose Viewing Trail, Superior National Forest (218/387-1750). Bear Track Outfitting Co. Canoe, kayak and camping expeditions (800/795-8068). Cook County Historical Society Museum of local history in a vintage downtown house (218/387-2883). Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters On the Gunflint Trail for Boundary Waters canoeing and lodging (800/942-2922). Superior Coastal Sports Kayak rentals and tours (800/720-2809). Shopping Blue Moose Jewelry, pottery, folk art and garden accessories (218/387-9303). Joynes Ben Franklin Department store stocked with plenty of souvenirs and outdoor apparel (218/387-2233). Lake Superior Trading Post A variety of camping gear, clothing, books and gifts (218/387-2020). Sivertson Gallery Local and regional art focusing on northern nature themes (218/387-2491). Good Eating Angry Trout Cafe Seafood in a lakeside setting (218/387-1265). Blue Water Cafe Local favorite for home-style cooking, plus lake views from the upper deck (218/387-1597). Birch Terrace Supper Club Steaks and seafood, lake view (218/387-2215). Harbor Light Burgers and steaks served in an informal family atmosphere (218/387-1142). Sven & Ole's Pizza For pies with a North Shore twist, including wild rice as a topping (218/387-1713). Lodgings Except where noted, rates are per room per night, based on double occupancy. East Bay Hotel Lakeside lodgings in a historic hotel with a mid-1990s addition. From $45 (800/414-2807). Jagerhaus German Bed & Breakfast German-themed inn serving hearty breakfasts, with hiking trails. From $85 (877/387-1476). Naniboujou Lodge Resort with Native American decor and gourmet restaurant 15 miles east of Grand Marais. From $75 (218/387-2688).

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