north shore vacation with 3yo (Duluth, Rochester: coupons, rent, campsites)

[geomom]

Hi- We are fairly new to MN (Rochester) and want to get out and explore a bit this summer. We were thinking of taking a week to visit the north shore. We're going in early June, and would enjoy a mix of outdoors activities and kids' museums, etc. I was thinking of maybe starting and ending the trip in Duluth, and spending the time between travelling north to visit waterfalls, etc (we enjoy easy/moderate hiking with our 3yo, and would like to try some boating and maybe camp a night or two) Can anyone suggest any specific towns/parks along the shore that would be neat? I've also noticed that there are a lot of resorts, etc. in that area, and I don'tknow if it would be worth the $$ to go that route, or better to move aorund a bit. Thanks in advance! It looks like a beautiful area, and we're really excited!

[Clifford63]

If you are going to camp, I suggest you get a reservation in soon. North Shore campgrounds are very popular. Tettegougche, Split Rock, and Goosebury Falls are probably the most popular State Parks, but there are several others and private campsites too. You could probably pick and area anywhere between Two Harbors and Grand Marais and be happy. Lot of stuff to see and being in one location for the entire time is probably an advantage for most people.

There are resorts right on the north shore where you can rent a cabin but Lake Superior is a force to recon with and I would not recommend that anybody go out on a boat unless they have experiance, and large enough boat. There are charter boats available on Lake Superior as well. Not sure if the Grandpa Woo is still runing. Plenty of inland lakes to consider for boating, and I am sure you could find a cabin on one of those lakes if you looked.

It will be cooler on the NS than Rochester, so don't forget to bring some warmer stuff and rain gear.

[Kebinminn]

I don't know if this would interest you but abouta mile north-east of Two Harbors is a rest area where you can walk down to the lake. We were there when our son was three and it was one of the best stops we made. The beach is covered with river rock, it was in a cove so it wasn't that windy and there was also even some smooth sea glass (not a lot of that though). We were there for a couple hours because our son just had a blast tossing rocks into the river, looking for different rocks and sea glass.

I know it's not a major destination but on a nice day it's a good spot to just enjoy the lake without a lot of people around. That spot is one of the best memories of that trip.

[Lady of the 10,000 Lakes]

My parents would take us up to Duluth all the time when we were kids and I have lived there for a few years as well. Split Rock Lighthouse is really fun for kids if you go on an interpreted tour, you get to climb to the top and look out over the lake and sound the foghorn (I thought it was the coolest thing ever when I was little) The Lake Superior Zoo is excellent! Gooseberry Falls is beautiful and full of hiking trails (make sure to make it out to Agate Beach!) I remember the children's museum at the Depot being fun, in fact, the Depot is fun to begin with, trains, train rides, good times! A Vista sightseeing cruise is a little bit of a splurge (depending on your budget) but there are good coupons out there and its a fun way to get out on the lake (you get to go under the Aerial Lift Bridge) and learn a bit about the history and shipping industry. Definitely head down to Canal Park and watch a ship come in, its pretty awesome when you're 3 years old!