I have been going to Grand Marais, Minnesota for as long as I can remember. I have a lot of relatives who live there, so there were plenty of reasons to visit, including the beautiful scenery and the activities that go along with it.

My two favorite things about Grand Marais are Lake Superior and Superior National Forest. Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and many of them are near Grand Marais and are in the Superior National Forest, which is where the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is located.

If you enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing, there is no better area in the United States. You can backcountry camp or camp at one of the many campgrounds east of town, all the way to the Gunflint Trail, a scenic drive that runs 50 miles into the Superior National Forest.

In town there are a number of shops, galleries and restaurants to explore, including the Ben Franklin store which still has products and prices from the 1970s. This is also where you’ll find the shore of Lake Superior, not to be missed. Since I was a child I have explored and walked the breakwater and the rocky ledges that form the port. And if you want to enjoy a beautiful sunrise, this is the place to do it, watching the sun set behind the Sawtooth Mountains.

If you like ice fishing, snowmobiling, or skiing, this winter wonderland is also an amazing place, but for me I try to stay away in the winter. It’s cold with a lot of snow.