Cascade River State Park, Lutsen, Minnesota

The scenic drive along Lake Superior took us through Two Harbors to stop for groceries. We were disappointed that we missed the food truck and blue grass music at North Shore winery but we had an excellent sampling of five wines and the bartender gave us tourist information for the locale around Cascade River.  We set up camp in a beautiful large wooded pull through site although we have to move camp after the first two nights of our three night stay. Happy hour came early and we then grilled our marinaded pork steak and fresh asparagus. The next morning we headed to Cascade Lodge Restaurant for another great breakfast of home made corned beef and eggs. We walked to the trail head to the spectacular Cascade Falls and then took the Superior Trail to Lookout Mountain, The trail down brought us through a variety of numerous wildflowers. We drove into Grand Marais and after sampling beers at Voyageur Brewery we  walked the rock wall along the Coast Guard Station and out to the lighthouse guarding the safe harbour. We found a great laundromat and finished up before heading to Angry Trout restaurant for dinner. We dined outdoors overlooking harbour and indulged in the grilled herring and white fish with wild rice and pasta with asparagus and salads. A carafe of one of the wines we sampled at the North Shore Winery was  perfect. The next morning it was a chilly 52 and as the fog rolled in over the lake, we headed into Grand Marais to the Blue Water Restaurant for breakfast. French toast made with cranberry wild rice bread caught my eye served with fresh fruit. We headed further north to Grand Portage and the Heritage Center and toured the museum and old fur trading outside exhibit. We headed to the Grand Portage State Park and hiked to the High Falls. After a stop for groceries we headed back to camp to move camp sites. We had our hiking boots on when the thunder and lightening started so we waited out the rain in the screened in porch and made a delicious instant pot beef stew for dinner.

The pink and blue lupine are abundant along the roadside

Cascade Falls

Bundled up bears totem pole along Grand Morais waterfront

Thirsty for a flight at Voyageur Brewery along with fried cheese curds with raspberry barbeque sauce

Grand Morais safe harbour

Everything is in bloom

Flowering cherry tree

Fantastic bearded iris

The river stone beach with fog rolling in off Lake Superior

Grand Portage Indian reservation

Canoe building at the fur trading post

Protective baskets for garden plants

Grand Portage trading post

Fur trade goods

High falls at Grant Portage State Park on Canadian border