Unusual but Fun Places to Visit (Duluth, Ely: 2009, house, purchase)

[demtion35]

Restored Fort St. Charles occupies the exact site of the original fort and fur trading post, built in 1732.

The reconstructed fort is located on Magnusons Island at the Northwest Angle, near Angle Inlet in Lake of the Woods County, Visitors may access the Island by boat from Angle Inlet at the Northwest Angle.

Grand Mound, at the mereging of the Big Fork and Rainy Rivers. Large burial mounds of the Laurel Culture

Koochiching Museums Smokey Bear Park, International Falls. Earley area history interpreted.

Ranier Rail Port, showing the oldest Cantiliever Rail Bridge in the United States or Canada.

Gold Mine District, Rainy Lake Vistitor Center, Voyagers National Park. Self guide tours of the historic gold mines that brought many to Rainy Lake.

[demtion35]

Lake Shetek State Park, located in Murray County, home of the Shetek Monument where 15 early settlers who died in the 1862 Dakota Conflict are buried. Several pioneer cabin sites are found inside the park, including Duley, Wright, Smith and Eastlick, however the only cabin surviving is the 1857 Koch cabin.

[demtion35]

Lake George, Minnesota
Where 2havefun - Lake George, Minnesota

[newcastle]

I just was at Cass Lake the other day and stoped at their rest area off Hwy 2. I did not have time, but would love to have rented a boat to go out to the little Island on their lake that has a lake on the Island called, Lake Windigo. There was some historical information regarding making birch bark canoes and a history of the Anishinabe People. Very interesting. This is all right next to the Chippewa National Forest and is full of resorts and all about 15 miles from Bemidji and Lake Itasca State Park. Great area of the state.

[RangerDanger]

I'd say during the summer attend a street dance on the Range, they are fun and unique also a great gateway to some of the mining museums in Chisholm and grab a pastie for the ride home.

[newcastle]

You should also check out the Sudan Underground Mine-super cool experience.

[whatnow]

OP - Your idea of seeing MN is something I also want to do. I think MN and WISC are beautiful states and would be happy to travel in them the rest of my life.
Here is something that is really cool to do.....Each year on November 11th the Split Rock Lighthouse, on the north shore, has an outdoor ceremony to honor those who perished on the Edmund Fitzgerald. The really cool part is that the lighthouse light is lit for one hour at 5pm. Many people go to this and it is fun to walk along the trails right by Lake Superior with a flashlight and the glow of the lighthouse. When I lived up there I attended 5 yrs in a row. Love it!
Also, while going up the shore the best place for PIE is The Rustic Inn (not Betty's) on Hwy 61 in Castle Danger. All the food is good there.
The best agate shop is Beaver Bay Agate Shop & Museum - great displays, merchandise, and very friendly owners. This shop has something in everyone's price range.
Happy trails! P.S. I know these aren't "unusual" but what is anymore? ha-ha!!

[slamont61]

Ok, I can't believe no one has mentioned Dorset yet. Of all the small towns I've visited in my travels around the state, this one takes the cake. Wait for summer of coarse..

Dorset Minnesota - Restaurant Capital of the World ! - Park Rapids, Dorset, Nevis, Minnesota, MN

[demtion35]

Chainsaw Sisters Saloon, Now on the National Registory of Historic Buildings Mn.

Small cemetary at Sawbill Landing, Mn.

Pictographs at North Hegman Lake at least day use permit required, canoe, just off Echo Trail Northern Mn

Pictographs on Island River, in Superior National Forest, canoe required passes into the B. on part of the paddle.

[demtion35]

Wrenchall, Mn just south of Duluth a bit has a 30 foot high statue of a beautiful 8 point buck in full running leap over a large log.

The Rose Garden, known as Leif Erickson Park in Duluth, has a central water fountain with an intresting history. On the nearby plaque which tells of its use in the early days of Duluth, the fountain was in the Northern end of the city used to water horses.

Lake superior Railroad Museum North Shore Scenic Railroad, a wonderful place for 4-5 hours of pleasure.

Railroad Museum Duluth, MN