Lake Superior Circle Tour - Day 3: The Many Overlooks of Lake Superior

The folks who designed the Trans-Canadian Highway must have really loved Lake Superior, as they put a large number of scenic overlooks and turnouts along the road.  We took advantage of many of them throughout the day.

This overlook was not far from Nipigon.  This photo is looking back toward Nipigon.

The second lookout had a great view of a train that ran along the lake. 

 

Dad tried out the panoramic mode on the camera with this shot. 

 

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

Lake Superior Circle Tour - Day 3: Paddle To The Sea Park in Nipigon

Cameron and Daddy read Paddle to the Sea earlier this year.  If you haven't read it, you should go buy a copy right now. It is a very moving book, especially if you have ever lived near the Great Lakes or simply have put your trust in strangers to help achieve your dreams. 

In the planning of this trip, we talked about stopping in Nipigon just because of the book.  We didn't know that there was a really neat park dedicated to the book there until we saw a billboard on our way to Thunder Bay.  Naturally, there weren't any signs in Nipigon about it, so we drove past the entire town and had to make the decision to turn around.

We were really glad we did.

Cameron was so excited to be there.

 The hill that Paddle sat had a waterfall on the back, just like the one he rode down as the snow started to melt.

There were a lot of stations to play on that were designed to present a chapter from the book.

One of our favorites was the Marsh.

Self timer!

There were two other parts of the park scattered throughout Nipigon. The Forest Fire was another really neat part.

At last, Paddle makes it to the sea.

The Nipigon Marina was beautiful.

We are here!

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

Lake Superior Circle Tour - Still Day 2: Grand Portage National Historic Site

Our last stop of the day, besides our hotel in Canada, was Grand Portage National Historic Site.  It was the spot where fur traders would come off of Lake Superior and carry their canoes for a few hours to the Boundary Waters and other waterways.  It was a lot of fun and we all became Junior Rangers here. We bet you didn't know that you need bear fat to make a good birch bark canoe or that the Three Sisters are corn, beans, and squash and that they compliment each other in how they grow in a garden?!?!

Playing lacrosse the original way!

The canoe shop.

The NW Company garrison.

Inside the main dining room.

The water that far north in Lake Superior is very, very cold.  It averages 50 degrees Farenheit in August.  50!

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

Lake Superior Circle Tour - Day 2: Grand Marais

We stopped for lunch in Grand Marais, MN.  The best part was visiting the "World's Best Donuts" shop. 

 

Love,

Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

 

Lake Superior Circle Tour - Day 2: Split Rock Lighthouse

Rather than pay a lot of money to see another lighthouse, we decided to go next door to the state park and take pictures from there.  It turned out to be much more scenic.

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

Lake Superior Circle Tour - Day 2: Gooseberry Falls

We started off day 2 by visiting Gooseberry Falls.  If you ever go there, hike the "Falls Tour."  It'll take you by most of the good stuff.

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron

Lake Superior Circle Tour - Day 1: Two Harbors

Our next stop was the lighthouse and breakwater at Two Harbors, MN.  They load taconite pellets on freighters here.  We walked out to the end of the breakwater and then went to see the historic lighthouse.

Here is a large freighter being loaded up.

Here we are on the beach by the breakwater.

Later that night, Dad surprised us because our hotel was really a train!  Here is the lobby area, which is designed to look like a train station.

And here is the side of the hotel!

Here we are, outside of Northern Rail Inn, in Two Harbors, MN!

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron