Every Adventure in Grand Marais Comes With a View Worth Framing

Need I say more? The cover photo speaks for itself. Grand Marais is a Minnesota treasure where every corner is picturesque and every moment spent there encourages you to slow down and enjoy the endless natural beauty around you.

Seriously, I have dreams about my past visit here. 

It has a small town charm and vibrant arts scene that makes every visit to a gallery or little shop, or every accidental run-in with a local, feel authentic and welcoming. This peaceful harbor city is deceptively full of things to do. Want to experience the same scenes that have inspired artists for generations? Here’s how to find them, enjoy them, and bring them home with you!

Grand Marais: Known For the Arts

Grand Marais sits about 4.5 hours northeast of the Twin Cities and 2 hours east of Ely. It's not that remote but has plenty of Northwoods wilderness to enjoy alongside the beauty of the Lake Superior coast.

Before the art scene took hold, Grand Marais was first a seasonal Ojibwe village where people fished, hunted, and traded along the rugged shoreline. Later, Grand Marais thrived as the only port along a 90 mile stretch of lakeshore but the town’s fishing and shipping economy declined around the turn of the 20th century. In 1947, Birney Quick, an instructor at the Minneapolis School of Art, opened The Outdoor School of Painting for an eight week summer session. He brought students north to paint en plein air along the Lake Superior shoreline. That first summer planted the seed for what is now the Grand Marais Arts Colony.

FUN FACT: Grand Marais hosts a plein air painting competition every September!

Today the city is known for the arts and the Colony thrives as a year round arts organization with workshops and demonstrations from many unique local artists. The Arts Colony is open weekdays year round; they have printmaking and ceramics studios as well as lots of cool community festivals and events, plus regular exhibitions and talks by a variety of artists.

The art doesn't stop there, oh no; the North House Folk School (open 9-5 everyday) is a the place to check out unique northern artistry. They aim to keep traditional crafts alive such as woodworking, boatbuilding, fiber arts, blacksmithing, cooking, and so much more you wouldn't expect. Stop by to watch workshops, catch a demo, or just wander the campus and soak up the creative energy and novel crafts.

Looking for something more lowkey? Grand Marais has art literally hiding around every corner. Take a relaxing stroll and enjoy the public art or sculpture tour and see why this town’s arts scene is so beloved - fo free!

What You Must See in Grand Marais

Not just the city, but the Cook County region is full of opportunities to explore both local history and Native American culture. Start at the Cook County History Museum, located in the historic Lightkeeper’s House near the Grand Marais lighthouse. Inside, you’ll find artifacts that showcase the area’s logging and fishing history, the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the rich heritage of the region’s Native American past.

A little further up the Gunflint Trail, the Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center combines natural beauty with history. Here you can learn about the Anishinaabe people, the fur trade, and how logging, mining, and tourism shaped the area, all through interactive exhibits that people of all ages can enjoy.

Of course, you simply cannot visit Grand Marais without walking out to Artist’s Point.

It is one of the most stunning and serene places you will ever see. Take in the boats on the water, the ever-changing sky, the lighthouse, and the peaceful North Shore scenery as you stroll along the breakwater. You can have that calm of the harbor, the lighthouse, and the shifting Lake Superior light into your home with a print of Artist’s Point. If you have paints or a pen and paper, try a quick plein air session just like Quick’s students did in the 1940's. Capture the light on Lake Superior or the rocky shore. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy seeing the landscape through an artist’s eyes.

Curious about travel painting or art on the go? Check out Alyssa's Travel Painting course and learn how to turn any outing or trip into watercolor art, explore creating at your own pace, and stay connected to the beauty of each moment and memorable view (plus how to rock a sweatband while you do it).

TIP: Park at the Artist’s point parking lot, you can walk carefully along the narrow concrete walkway to the Lighthouse or explore the large flat diabase rocks that form the harbor’s bay. Be careful - no Minnesota trip is complete without water shoes. And be sure to keep an eye out for a Hjørdis on the water!

Get out and Explore Grand Marais! Things to Do in Town and Outdoors

On your way up, skip the interstate and take the legendary North Shore Scenic Drive on Highway 61. This road is packed with things to do, most every overlook and state park is worth a stop so don’t pass up those brown recreational and historical signs. Along the way you’ll hit scenic small towns like Beaver Bay with incredible outdoor spots to explore. If you’re still up for an outdoor adventure by the time you reach Grand Marais, hike the canyon at Devil Track River or chase Minnesota waterfalls along the Fall and Kadunce River. 

And here’s a tip for fellow trinket finders: keep your eyes on the ground. Lake Superior agates hide along the shoreline and inland rivers which can turn every stop into a treasure hunt as rewarding as the views.

TIP: In Beaver Bay on 61,  pull over and park on the east side of the road just north of the Beaver River Bridge, or park in the trailhead lot southwest of the bridge, but you’ll miss the waterfalls you can see from the highway. Follow the trail down to the beach where the river meets the lake for the best view of the falls and the perfect spot for a nice swim, afternoon picnic, or a rock skipping contest. I found tiny agates here too!

When you’re ready for a break from the trails and shoreline, Grand Marais has plenty of fun things to do in town and nearby.

You have to play a round at Putt ’n Pets Mini Golf. A local favorite where you can play through a classic course except surrounded by friendly farm animals and goats you can feed. This was a highlight.

If you’re looking for a new experience, head to Lutsen Mountains for gondola rides and the unique Alpine Slide in summer and fall, locals say that the slide is a must. And of course there is lots of Skiing and snowboarding available in Lutsen during the winter at the Midwest’s largest ski resort.

Farther north at Gunflint Lodge you can hike scenic trails, fish or canoe on Gunflint Lake, go horseback riding, try cross country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter. The best free activity is to simply look up on a clear night to catch the star-filled skies. Northern Minnesota is famous for its dark skies, the boundary waters are one of a handful of dark sky sanctuaries in the world. In fact, every mid December Cook County hosts the Dark Sky Festival so be sure to check the aurora forecast while you’re here for a chance to see the Northern Lights. Take in the endless stars and ribbons of color dancing across the sky and then let them inspire you. The flowing waves and shifting hues make a perfect subject for watercolor.

TIP: The North Shore Scenic Drive bursts with color in the fall - late September through early October is the perfect window to catch the leaves at their peak.

Grand Marais Eats and Treats

You can’t get into all the fun of Grand Marais on an empty stomach! Start your day there with coffee from Java Moose and a skizzle from World’s Best Donuts, which has been a local favorite since the ’60s. For lunch or dinner, grab a casual but delicious bite at the Angry Trout Cafe or pick up fresh fish takeout from The Fisherman’s Daughter right next door.

No matter where you are, fish is almost always on the menu and almost always fresh and irresistible.

If you’re in the mood for something a little more elegant, make the short drive to Naniboujou Lodge where the colorful, historic dining room is as much a draw as the menu. For a casual stop, we enjoyed the Voyageur Brewing Company. It is perfect for a drink or relaxed meal right on the harbor, and it has a rooftop that lets you take in more of the open water.

After a day of hiking or exploring, Skyport Lodge and Raven Rock Grill serve hearty American dishes just steps from the lake letting you enjoy the bluff and lakeside scenery while you unwind. It’s nearly impossible to avoid the lakeshore in Grand Marais, but honestly, why would you want to? With views this stunning you might find yourself lingering at every turn.

FUN FACT: Grand Marais hosts some awesome events.

• Moose Madness in late October
• The relaxing Hygge Festival in February
• Gunflint Trail's Biggest Blueberry Contest starting in July 
• Fishermans Picnic in early August
• The Arctic Film Festival in late November
• Vintage snowmobile weekend and drag races, sled dog races, the Fat Bike Classic, and lots of winter fun from November to March (or whenever the snow finally melts)

Many of my water bottle stickers have come and gone, but my Artist's Point Grand Marais sticker has barely any wear and tear or peeling (even on the curved part of the bottle) after almost 2 years!!! #nofilter

Grand Marais: Nature, Art, Eat, Repeat

If you’re exploring Grand Marais make sure to take a breath, slow down, and soak in the beauty around you. The town has such a rich artistic energy, it’s impossible not to be inspired. I loved this place so much I have the  Artist's point sticker on my water bottle and every time I see it I can’t help but daydream about being back there. Alyssa brings lakeshores, waterfalls, wildlife, and favorite landmarks to life, along with charming towns and tucked away corners that beautifully (and literally) illustrate the wild and one of a kind character of Minnesota.

Is Grand Marais calling to you too? 

After your trip you're going to want Alyssa's print of the shore framed on your wall where you can enjoy the beauty of Grand Marais every day. While you're there take the leap and try some art yourself. Grab a sketchbook, experiment with watercolor, or take lots of pictures to reference from when you get home to your supplies.

Alyssa has some basic tips or for capturing every detail of the scenery you enjoy to turn your adventures into lasting art. Its really fun and surprisingly easy to get started making a travel watercolor sketchbook you can take anywhere on the go. No art has to be perfect– even a small attempt at painting plein air simply lets you feel connected to the same artistic tradition that has drawn people to this town for decades.

Birney Quick painting plein air in Grand Marais