What to do
Brandenburg Gallery Ely photographer Jim Brandenburg captures the best of Boundary Waters scenery and North Woods wildlife in print and film. See reviews and ratings. (877) 493-8017; jimbrandenburg.com
Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort You’ll find golf courses, ski runs, cross-country trails and hiking, 41 miles northeast of Hibbing. (800) 688-7669; giantsridge.com
Hull Rust Mahoning Mine The Grand Canyon of the North in Hibbing is an overwhelming example of the scale of mining on the Mesabi Iron Range. Free (218) 262-4900
International Wolf Center An impressive interpretive center near Ely lets visitors observe the exhibit pack up close. See reviews and ratings. (218) 365-4695; wolf.org
North American Bear Center See the Ely center’s bears and explore myths and truths. Skip it in winter—they’re hibernating. See reviews and ratings. (877) 365-7879; bear.org
Northernaire Houseboats Explore Rainy Lake by houseboat. (800) 882-7958; northernairehouseboats.com
Soudan Underground Mine State Park Tour the Underground Mine (Minnesota’s oldest iron ore mine) or U of M’s High Energy Physics Lab, 20 miles southwest of Ely. See reviews and ratings. (218) 753-2245; mndnr.gov/soudan
Voyageurs National Park A 218,000-acre park east of International Falls includes Kabetogama Peninsula, accessible only by boat in the summer. Travel by canoe, kayak or houseboat; spend days swimming and hiking. See reviews and ratings. (218) 286-5258; nps.gov/voya
Where to eat
Burntside Lodge This lakeside lodge offers the region's best fine dining. (218) 365-3894; burntside.com
Chocolate Moose Satisfying pie, bison burgers and walleye sandwiches draw visitors to an Ely cabin-cafe. (218) 365-6343
Ely Steak House A casual place on the main drag serves a solid bloody mary and a bacon-cheesemonster called a Bucky Burger. See reviews and ratings. (218) 365-7412
Italian Bakery Sample Italian, Finnish, Slovenian and American pastries. The specialty is potica—a sweet dough rolled with walnuts, butter and vanilla. In Virginia. See reviews and ratings. (218) 741-3464; potica.com
Sunrise Deli Try Italian and Iron Range specialties (sarma, stromboli, porketta and more) in Hibbing. (218) 263-5713; sunrisecreativegourmet.com
Where to stay
Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast Explore the Boundary Waters by day, then settle in for dinner and a comfortable rest in Ely. From $143. See reviews and ratings. (218) 365-4720; blueheronbnb.com
Grand Ely Lodge On Shagawa Lake, a year-round lodge offers canoeing and fishing. From $149. See reviews and ratings. (800) 365-5070; grandelylodge.com
For more information:
Crane Lake Visitor and Tourism Bureau (800) 362-7405; visitcranelake.com
Ely Chamber of Commerce (800) 777-7281; ely.org
Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce (800) 444-2246; hibbing.org
Iron Range Tourism Bureau (800) 777-8497; ironrange.org
International Falls, Rainy Lake and Ranier Convention and Visitors Bureau (800) 325-5766; rainylake.org
Kabetogama Lake Association and Tourism Bureau (800) 524-9085; kabetogama.com
Lake Vermilion Chamber of Commerce lakevermilionchamber.com