I've been a west-sider all my tripping life. I've had my routine and places I'd live to visit in Ely or close by for breakfast, beers, or a good meal. But I'm headed east this year and am looking for a little insight on the "can't miss" locations around Grand Marais. Looking for breakfast, beers, and good eats. Lodging would be nice too but honestly any place with a bed suffices.

If anyone has a "must stop" location, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks!

Are you staying in Grand Marais, or launching out on the Gunflint somewhere? There are places to see in town and all the way out to the end of the Trail.
The Harbor in GM and Artists Point, Gun Flint Tavern, Angry Trout, Dockside Fish Market.
As you climb the Gunflint, just before the top, look for the sign to Pincushion Point. Neat overlook of the town.

Further up the Trail on the Clearwater road, I always like the view off Honey Moon Bluff. Nice short hiking trail to top and view of Hungry Jack Lake.
The Trail Center is next....a must stop!
Near the end of the Trail is the Chickwauk Museum. Lots of interesting stuff and history.

Places for lodging may depend on where you are launching. Some nice bunkhouse options along the Trail at various outfitters.
There are many more things.....I just touched on a few of my favorites.

Trail Center is a must for a place to eat if you are up the Gunflint Trail. Its my favorite restaurant anywhere. Many good bunkhouses up the trail so just pick the one closest to your entry point. For example when I enter off of Poplar Lake I stay at Rockwood and push off from their beach at first light. In Grand Marais we always stay at Nelsons Travelers Rest. Inexpensive, clean cabins, with great owners that live on site.

Trail Center.

There is a lot to do and see on the North Shore drive to Grand Marais, if you're not just in a hurry to get there. Stop at some of the State Parks, see the waterfalls, etc.

The first place I stop when I return to Grand Marais after my trip is the Java Moose for the biggest ice cream I can get and a double espresso ;).

I love the Java Moose. I know there is a brewery in town as well, and have heard AMAZING things about Trail Center! I can't wait to head up there in October!

quote pamonster: "I've been a west-sider all my tripping life. I've had my routine and places I'd live to visit in Ely or close by for breakfast, beers, or a good meal. But I'm headed east this year and am looking for a little insight on the "can't miss" locations around Grand Marais.
Looking for breakfast, beers, and good eats. Lodging would be nice too but honestly any place with a bed suffices. If anyone has a "must stop" location I'd love to hear about it.
Thanks!"

My go to in GM is the Gunflint Tavern..great craft beers and an eclectic mix of people.

Another vote for the Trail Center.

Best food on planet earth! The trail center! Marc

Breakfast-south of the border
Lunch/dinner Trail Center
Beer Voyaguer brewing

We like breakfast at Bluewater Cafe or at Cascade Restaurant at the state park.

Sven and Ole's in Grand Marais. It's our traditional night-before-wilderness supper when we get to town. Full bar, interesting artifacts/décor and great pizza. Ice cream too!

I'll second Nelson's Traveler's Rest, Angry Trout, Gunflint Tavern, Bluewater Café, and add Crooked Spoon and My Sister's Place. I have also stayed at the bunkhouse at Rockwood, which is very convenient and had them shuttle me to Cross Bay entry. Also Pincushion Mountain overlook and Artists Point.

Sydney's Custard has the best pizza and frozen custard anywhere. The rooftop view of Artists Point and to the east can't be topped. Literally. Awesome place, they even have live local musicians.

Look here for some ideas.

The Red Paddle Bistro at the Gunflint Lodge on Gunflint Lake is a good place to eat towards the north end of the trail. A log cabin atmosphere with a bar for your beer and an awesome walleye chowder i have every time. Then you can stroll on the dock on Gunflint Lake. I have been pleased.

The Crooked Spoon. Get the French onion soup. Yum! Our granddaughter said the Pie Place's maple pecan pie was the 'best pie in the world.' She's a tall, skinny string-bean and I'm not sure how many of the world's pies she has actually sampled, but it did look darn good! :-)

Personally, we enjoy the "World's Best Donuts", too.

Trail Center and Honeymoon Bluff have already been mentioned. Trail Center is our very favorite.

And because we stay at a cabin for a week, we always plan at least one meal at the Gunflint Lodge, either lunch at the Bistro or dinner in the dining room. As was said, it's a nice atmosphere, too. And great food.

quote Spartan2:

Personally, we enjoy the "World's Best Donuts", too.





"

My wife's favorite place in Grand Marais.... how could I forget. We are up there every year for MEA weekend in Oct... each year their last day of the season is Sunday of that weekend. Kind of a neat tradition to get some of their last donuts every year.

For restaurants in Grand Marais... My Sisters Place is our favorite. IMO their pizza is way better than Sven and Oles.

Hughie's Taco House, for a puffy taco or three, and a Negra Modelo, or several, is a can't miss. Sadly, the restaurant has limited hours, and it's not open on Sundays, which seems like the owners are throwing away money. Also, I'll second whoever recommended the Crooked Spoon, which I think is the best restaurant in town. If you have the time, drive up Hwy 61 to Naniboujou Lodge. I've never eaten there, but it's a fascinating place founded by, among others, Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey.

Breakfast at South of the Border. Great food. Remember though, it's cash only.
Jake

And then after all the great food everyone is listing walk out onto Artist's Point. A great view of the bay and town, the Sawtooths down the shore and of course the Lake.

Bucks Hardware and D.Q. IF I stop at all.

You can have that town, everything that interests me is inland.

Bucks Hardware and D.Q. IF I stop at all.

You can have that town, everything that interests me is inland.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts!
The Trail Center sounds like a must! My EP is 44 so I'll be just south of it, sounds like a worthwhile trip up.
Also sounds like I need to spend a few years tripping on the east side too. I'm interested to find out how different the woods are. Seems like lots of smaller lakes. But with all the wind and rain I've had on my trips the past few years smaller lakes area a welcoming idea.

Naniboujou Lodge, near Hovland, is a treasure, in my opinion. We have stayed there several times and eaten there any number of times. The Sunday brunch is particularly good.

They do not serve alcohol, so if you must have that for a nice dinner, it won't be your place. But the atmosphere for a lovely dinner "out", to my way of thinking, makes up for it completely. And the food is good, too. It is fairly pricey--look online to see a menu if you are interested.

The interest in the dining room is in the beautifully maintained walls and ceilings, paintings that are said to be in the Cree Indian style, and are original. And the HUGE old stone fireplace. Photos don't really do it justice--it almost has to be experienced. As was said, it was a getaway lodge founded by the likes of Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey in the days before the "crash" of 1929, and it is almost a miracle that it has been saved for us to enjoy today.

Rooms are fairly small and not air-conditioned, no TV or phone. But pleasant enough. The sunrise over Lake Superior is stunning.

One of my very favorite places in the entire world. Our granddaughter agrees. :-)

I am a passionate Grand Marais person. Angry trout is a must. Artist point, first go to the tip of the point through the woods, back along the shore, then out to the lighthouse via the rocks, back along the break water. Stop at the trading post for a book and some salt water taffy, then at Joynes for anything else. Stay at the East Bay suites for a night either on the way in or the way out, better on the way out so you can soak in a hot tub, have dinner at the Trout, wake up to the waves crashing, get donuts and then go to the coop for bacon and eggs and fruit and make breakfast in your unit to eat on the balcony before another hot tub soak and packing up for the trip home. Stop at all of the things on the way home, even if it takes two days. I'm talking Glensheen, Cooter pottery, all the waterfalls and parks, and the fire museum in Hinkley too. If you do this on the way out, there is a great drive up and camp for free spot on a creek. I'll have to think of the name. Near Eagle Mountain? Cascade River? For the way in. That's so you can have dinner at the trout both on the way in and on the way out.

I used to live there. The best restaurant there is the Angry Trout for dinner and Trail Center for breakfast, but SOB is alright for breakfast too. I am not a big fan of the Bluewater or the Crooked Spoon.

I liked hiking the Cadunce river (wetfooting), and Judge Magney. The snowmobile trails, netting herring in Greenwood and Superior National are about the only thing that might draw me back some day.

quote rthompson: "I used to live there. The best restaurant there is the Angry Trout for dinner and Trail Center for breakfast, but SOB is alright for breakfast too. I am not a big fan of the Bluewater or the Crooked Spoon.


I liked hiking the Cadunce river (wetfooting), and Judge Magney. The snowmobile trails, netting herring in Greenwood and Superior National are about the only thing that might draw me back some day. "

Sounds like you are glad to be gone?

quote old_salt: "

quote rthompson: "I used to live there. The best restaurant there is the Angry Trout for dinner and Trail Center for breakfast, but SOB is alright for breakfast too. I am not a big fan of the Bluewater or the Crooked Spoon.



I liked hiking the Cadunce river (wetfooting), and Judge Magney. The snowmobile trails, netting herring in Greenwood and Superior National are about the only thing that might draw me back some day. "

Sounds like you are glad to be gone? "

Like they say, a nice place to visit.....

I do have some great friends that live there, and some good memories, but the locals never make you feel at home if you are not a multi generation resident.

Gunflint Tavern, hands down, best food. Also a nice tap selection.