Hey Guys!
This post continues our Great Lakes adventure!
Read Day 1 here & Click here to see links to all of my posts
We started our day with a free breakfast at the hotel.
Normally, we try to find a local restaurant for breakfast but since we had planned a long day of driving, we just decided to eat at the hotel.
After breakfast, we spent a few minutes on our outdoor patio and enjoyed the views of Lake Superior.
Later, we headed out to our first stop of the day.
We would be driving the North Shore Scenic Drive.
See a map of the drive here
The North Shore drive is a 155 mile stretch of Hwy 61 that runs along the north shore of Lake Superior from Duluth up to the Canadian border near Grand Portage.
Scenic 61 is part of the original Highway 61, following the 1899 wagon trail about 20 miles from Brighton Beach to the entrance to Two Harbors.
It is known for its spectacular views of Lake Superior, rugged cliffs, forests and waterfalls.
This is one of the most popular things to do when visiting Duluth.
Tip: Don’t miss taking a ride on the North Shore Scenic railroad
A shot of our hotel, the Park Point Marina Inn.
Driving through Duluth heading to our first stop of the day which would be the Glensheen Mansion.
After arriving, we headed to the visitor building to purchase our tickets.
Tip: There are several tours to choose from. We chose the self guided full mansion tour for a price of $32 pp. The mansion is opened daily for tours. Check their site for hours.
After purchasing our tickets, we were given a map and told to start our tour at the carriage house.
The Glensheen Mansion was built in 1905 by Chester Congdon…a lawyer turned mining and banking magnate along with his wife Clara.
When built, the estate covered 22 acres on Lake Superior’s shore and featured a 39 room mansion built from fire resistant brick, steel framing and 16 inch hollow tile ceilings. It cost $854,000 to build….that’s equivalent to $22 million dollars today!
The house now sits on 12 acres but much of the originaal site design retains its early 1900’s character.
Arriving to the carriage house.
The carriage house was constructed at the same time as the mansion and housed the family’s horses, carriages, and early automobiles in the garage area, and included spaces for dairy cows and staff quarters.
The stable wing contained 8 horse stalls and a milking parlor for dairy cows. The family kept dairy cows on-site and processed milk in the attached parlor.
After checking out the carriage house, we headed to the mansion.
The mansion encompasses 39 rooms with approximately 20,000 sq ft of living space.
The Gleensheen mansion is one of the most authentically preserved historic homes in Minnesota.
Nearly all of the furnishings and items inside the house are original to the Congdon family. Approximately 98% of the mansion’s contents remain as they were when the family lived there.
Since I could do a full blog post on just the house, I will only share a few pictures of the inside because I took way too many to share them all!
Here are a few shots of the outside of the house
The most notable thing about this house is that Elisabeth Congdon, the daughter of Chester & Clara, was murdered in this house along with her nurse back in 1977.
Her step daughter’s husband, Roger Caldwell, was convicted of the murders in 1978. Her step daughter Marjorie was acquitted of all charges related to the murder but later in life, faced convictions of fraud and arson.
Tip: There is a book about the murders called, Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes & Trials Surrounding the Gleensheen Killings.
The gardens were beautiful!
After leaving here, we continued our drive along the scenic Hwy 61.
We stopped a few times to take pictures of the views.
The next stop on our list was the Great Lakes Candy Kitchen.
The candy store was founded in 1905 by Gust Canelake. It has been passed down through generations, with the current owners being third and fourth generation candy makers.
The shop uses original recipes developed by Gust and the candies are still made the old-fashioned way by using copper kettles, hand stirred and in small batches using quality ingredients like Grade AA butter, real whipping cream and fine chocolate.
The candy store is opened daily from April 17 to December 21 from 9 am to 5 pm.
The inside smelled delightful and was so cute!
We wanted one of everything!
I can’t remember everything we bought but we came out with a bag full of goodies and they were all delicious!
Read reviews here
As we continued our drive, we passed though the small town of Two Harbors where I snapped a picture of this cool mural.
Our next stop would be in Two Harbors….it was the Two Harbor Light Station.
The Two Harbor Light Station is the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in Minnesota.
The brick lighthouse was built in 1891 and stands 49.6 feet tall.
The lighthouse was automated in 1980 ending the era of the on-site keepers.
The keepers quarters are now used as a bed & breakfast so you can’t tour that part of the lighthouse.
We headed inside the gift shop to purchase our $5 ticket to take a self guided tour of the lighthouse.
After purchasing our tickets, we headed outside to climb to the top of the lighthouse.
There were lots of informational plaques hanging inside that told you about the history of the lighthouse.
The only views that you had from the top, were from these little round holes in the brick!
The light 
After checking out the lighthouse, we walked back outside to check out the assistant keepers house.
The house had exhibits of shipwrecks and local maritime history.
One more shot of the lighthouse 
Read reviews for this lighthouse here
After checking out the inside of the assistant keeper’s house, we walked over to the nearby concrete jetty where another lighthouse sat at the very end.
The long concrete walkway is actually a breakwater that was built as a wave barrier. At the end of the breakwater sits the Two Harbors Breakwater Lighthouse.
The walk to the lighthouse is approximately 0.7 miles roundtrip.
Dress warm because it was really cold and windy!
This lighthouse was very small and someone had sprayed graffiti on it which ruined the looks of it.
It was built in 1905 and had replaced a gas lit post light that was erected in 1895,
The lighthouse stands 25 ft tall and emits a red flash every 6 seconds.
It wasn’t the greatest lighthouse we had ever seen but the walk itself made it worthwhile.
Read reviews here
After this stop, we were ready for lunch and we had the perfect place picked out ….the historic Betty’s Pies!
The restaurant was founded in 1956 by Betty Lessard who had transformed her parent’s fish shack into a cafe. By 1958, she started baking pies and quickly became famous for her homemade creations.
The restaurant offers too many different kinds of pies to count along with breakfast and lunch.
The place was really crowded but thankfully, we were seated right away.
After being seated, we took a few minutes to look over the menu.
We decided to order one meal and share it so we would have room for pie!
We ordered the Stewart River Cheesesteak.
It was pretty good.
Read reviews here
After lunch, we decided to order our pie to go so we could eat it later…we ordered a slice of the 5 layered chocolate and I can’t remember the other flavor we ordered.
We then continued our drive
Soon after leaving Betty’s Pies, we drove through the Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel.
The tunnel was completed in 1994 and is approximately 1300 ft long.
It replaced a narrow, cliff hugging road that was built in the 1920’s and was perched 125 ft above Lake Superior with little barrier between the cliff edge and the lake. The road was also prone to rockfalls.
The original highway bed along the cliff is now part of the Gitchi Gami State Trail, a 0.5 mille paved path that offers stunning views of Lake Superior. Access to the trail is from a parking area just north of the tunnel.
Our next stop was Gooseberry Falls State Park.
The park was established as Minnesota’s first North Shore state park in 1937. It encompasses 1,687 acres.
The park is home to 5 waterfalls: Upper, Middle, Lower and the lesser known Fourth and Fifth Falls.
The most popular are Middle and Upper Falls and that’s the ones we were here to see.
The park has a very nice Visitor Center called the Joseph N Alexander Visitor Center that was built in 19916. It offers interpretive exhibits, a theater, a gift shop, restrooms and year round programs.
Tip: The park has a $7 parking fee if parking by the lakeshore or campground but the visitor center parking is free.
We walked passed the visitor center on our way to the waterfall.
There are a few trails that you can take here: The waterfalls walk that takes approximately 30-45 mins and visits both the Middle and Upper Falls. The Falls View Loop is a longer hike looping above all three major waterfalls and includes multiple bridges….it takes around 45-90 mins.
The Fifth Falls Trail is around 2 miles and leads to a quieter, remote waterfall with scenic river views.
The park is rich in wildlife with 225 species of birds and 46 mammal species including deer, lynx, wolves and Martens.
Tip: There are 69 non electric campsite available in the park. Trout and salmon fishing are popular during the spring and fall.
The views along the trail 
It took us about 5 mins to reach the waterfall once we passed the visitor center so it’s not a very far walk at all.
The waterfall, which we think was the Middle Falls, is the most popular. The water flows over ancient basalt lave flows and has a drop of about 20 ft.
Upstream lies the Upper Falls, with a higher drop of approximately 35 ft. We missed this one and the Lower Falls.
The waterfall was really pretty but there wasn’t a lot of water flowing.
The views surrounding the falls 
We couldn’t leave without having our picture taken in front of the waterfall 😉 
Read reviews here
After leaving here, we headed to our next stop, the Split Rock Lighthouse.
The visitor center here is really nice.
They had a replica of the lighthouse that was built out of legos!
To access the lighthouse, we had to pay $15 each.
We were given a map of the grounds that included several historic buildings that we could tour.
The lighthouse was built in 1910 following a devastating storm in 1905 that wrecked 29 ships. These waters were known “as the most dangerous piece of water in the world.”
The lighthouse stands 54 ft tall and sits atop a 130 ft cliff.
After entering the lighthouse, we headed up the stairs to the top.
There were several windows along the way to take pictures of the views.
Once we reached the top, we photographed the fresnel lens which is the original lens.
The lens revolves on mercury with a clockwork mechanism from over 100 years ago!
Views from atop the lighthouse
Aftet spending a few minutes at the top, we then headed back downstairs.
They still used the original wood burning fireplace.
Shots of the lighthouse from the outside
Views near the lighthouse
After visiting the lighthouse, we walked over to the fog horn building.
This building was used to send signals when there was poor visibility due to fog, smoke or snow.
This building held interpretive exhibits that told about the history of the light station and ship wrecks.
We then walked over to check out one of the three houses that were built for the head lighthouse keeper, two assistant keepers and their families.
The house was set up like a museum and was full of old items from the families that once lived here.
After checking out this house, we walked a short path that would lead us to the water’s edge where we could get some shots of the lighthouse.
A map on the trail
This trail is a must as it gives you incredible views of the lighthouse!
I took so many pictures!
Of course, we had to take our pictures standing in front of the lighthouse because my hubby had seen pictures of the lighthouse years ago and had always wanted to see it!
Read reviews here
After getting our pictures, we headed back to our car to continue to our next stop which would be a scenic overlook.
The overlook wasn’t very far from the lighthouse. You will see a sign for a scenic overlook as you’re driving along Hwy 61.
We had to drive up a steep hill for about a mile to find the overlooks…there were 3 of them.
The first overlook gave you a view of the Northshore Mining Taconite Plant.
The mining plant was the first taconite processing facility in North America when it opened in 1956. It is the largest supplier of steel to the automotive industry in North America.
The next overlooks were located on the same trail and took about 10 mins to reach.
Overlook 2 gave you views of Lake Superior & Overlook 3 gave you views of the city.
After walking to overlook 2 and not being impressed, we decided not to walk to #3.
We headed back to our car and headed to our next stop, Black Sand Beach.
The “black sand beach”is a result of taconite tailings (waste from iron ore processing) that were once discarded into Lake Superior.
From 1955 to 1980, mining companies dumped iron ore tailings into Lake Superior creating the black sand beach. Due to environmental regulations, the dumping was stopped in 1980.
The beach was so beautiful!
The mix of blues in the water against the orange lichen covered rocks and the dark sand looked like something a painter had dreamed up!
There were beautiful pink and black rocks scattered along the shoreline.
Tip: This beach is supposed to be a great place for agates.
My hubby skipping rocks…he’s such a kid at heart.
We spent a few quiet minutes taking it all in but the cold and wind cut our visit short.
Read reviews here
I can’t stress enough how important it is to pack for every season when visiting Minnesota and Michigan….it was late June and still cold!
Our next stop would be Palisade Head.
Palisade Head is a breathtaking clifftop headland along Hwy 61 that was formed from lava flow.
The rocky cliffs tower up to 335 ft above Lake Superior.
Tip: It is a hotspot for birdwatching as peregrine falcons nest here and bald eagles are often seen here. During the summer, wild berries, especially blueberries can be found along the trails.
It is a sheer drop-off and there are no guardrails here so be careful!
It’s a popular place for rock climbers and we saw a few when we visited.
We even saw a couple having wedding pictures made!
Read reviews here
After getting back to our car, we decided it was time to try our pies from Betty’s Pies!
So delicious!
The next stop on our list was a waterfall at the Tetteguche State Park.
We had planned on hiking to High Falls however, our time was short as it was getting late so we decided to stop at the visitors center and hike a short trail to the mouth of the Baptism River.
Click here to read about the 4 waterfalls located in this park
The trail to the river was only 600 ft from the parking lot.
Click here to read about the hike to Shovel Point & read reviews here
The trail was along a wooden boardwalk and had lots of stairs!
The views were beautiful but the river was an ugly brown color.
Read reviews here
After leaving here, we continued our drive along Hwy 61 and pulled over when we spotted a small bridge that crossed over some rapids.
This area is located in the Temperance River State Park.
There was a small parking lot located here so it wasn’t hard to find parking.
One of the most interesting features in the park is the narrow Temperance River gorge with its many waterfalls. The rapidly flowing river cut deep potholes in and along the riverbed.
The park has 22 miles of hiking trails and 7 miles snowmobile trail.
There were lots of bridges that crossed over the river….
The views were definitely worth the short stop!
Read reviews here
At this point, it was already 5 pm but we decided to drive 35 mins to one more stop called Artists Point locate in Grand Marais.
Part of the drive along Hwy 61 takes you along Lake Superior but most of the time, you have no views of the lake.
Arriving to Grand Marais 
I thought this building was so cool!
Arriving to Artist Point
Artist Point was formed by eruptions many moons ago.
It provides access to the shoreline along a narrow path of concrete.
Following it, you’ll find tide pools and rocky shores that offer incredible views!
You can take the path all the way to the lighthouse or head the other direction and visit the pine tree covered “island”.
We chose the path that led to the lighthouse.
Make sure you have on really good shoes because the path is really narrow and can be slippery!
Views of Grand Marais from the walkway
We decided to take pictures of the lighthouse from a distance because it was so cold and windy!
After our walk, we headed to find something to eat.
Read reviews here
We spotted the Fisherman’s Daughter restaurant and decided to try it out.
We loved that the restaurant sat next to the water….I love eating near the water!
The restaurant offered different combinations of baskets that included fish and chips, chicken, clams, shrimp and fish tacos.
The fish of the day was the walleye and the herring….since the herring is the local fish, we both ordered that.
You ordered at the counter and then they brought out your food.
The food was delicious!!
Read reviews here
After dinner, we headed back to Duluth.
Tip: The Canadian border is approx 50 mins from Grand Marias. In Grand Portage, MN, just 45 mins from Grand Marias is where you will find the highest waterfall in MN called the High Falls of the Pigeon River..it has a drop of 120 ft!
The drive took approximately 2 hrs 10 mins.
In Duluth, we spotted the massive SS William A Irvin.
The ship was built in 1937 in Lorain, OH as the flagship of the US Steel’s Great Lakes fleet.
The ship measures 610 ft long and is 60 ft wide. For nearly four decades, the ship hauled iron ore and coal across the Great Lakes.
The ship was retired in 1978 and today is a floating museum that is docked at Canal Park.
Tip: In 1940, the ship set a Great Lakes cargo unloading record for offloading nearly 13,856 tons of iron ore in just under three hours …a record that still stands today.
You can tour the ship May through September….purchase tickets here.
Tip: In October, the ship transforms into the Haunted Ship — complete with spooky decor, actors, etc.
Read reviews here
After arriving back to our hotel after 9 pm, we called it a night!
Thanks for reading!
Stay tuned for Day 3!
Read Day 1 here & Click here to see links to all of my blog posts
