We Went Up North
Aug. 23rd, 2016 05:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elizabeth_mnIf it's not obvious, "Up North" is the local catchall phrase for basically any rural place you go in MN for outdoor fun, usually north of The Cities, but not always. We went to the North Shore of Lake Superior, an always beautiful, always fun, always popular vacation spot. The whole area is just full of ridiculously beautiful scenery like this.
We had a room at the Cove Point Lodge in the Beaver Bay area, which turned out to be really nice, clean, and comfy, but also full of hilariously log-cabin-y decor. Our room had a big spa bath with jets that F thought was just the bees' knees. (It was actually the first thing we did when we got into the room at 9:30 the first night. We were probably naked and in that thing before my HB was done bringing the bags in from the car.)
Before we left Duluth, after the Tall Ships fest, we went to Pizza Luce, which I will say once again is absolutely the best pizza in Minnesota. We drank Bent Paddle beers, brewed in Duluth, and they were so good I really hope I can get them here! In fact I am only mentioning this to remind me to look.
When we got back to the room F and I went for a swim in the pool, then we all went up the road to the Lodge's casual restaurant. We drank local beers from the Castle Danger brewery, named for the nearby town of the same name.
I cannot get over how hilarious the town name Castle Danger is. It is the smallest little town and there is really nothing there, in fact I think the brewery is actually in Two Harbors, but still. Castle Danger!
Among other things, we ordered these tater tot nachos, or Totchos.
These were delish. I love tots.
Apparently the Cove Point Lodge was named for the point of land that juts out into the lake and the cove it surrounds. There is a trail you can use to hike there. It takes about 5 minutes, or 10 with dawdling. F and I went to walk out there after dinner.
The view from the cove. The point is on the right.
We decided we had better put our feet in the lake. Please note that Lake Superior is a f*%&ing cold-ass huge body of water and the avg. temp is 42 F. Even in hot summer. And even if you know this, and think you are prepared, it still feels like ice water. But it's fun anyway!
Still, I didn't want to put any more of my body in than this.
While I was taking that foot picture, F fell in. She was wading in ankle-deep water yet somehow managed to get wet up to her waist. She was pretty upset at first (because it's cold!!) but soon warmed up and wanted to keep walking. I had some cookies in my bag that helped. She even liked that she now had an "I fell in Lake Superior" story to tell!
Here are some rocks and trees and stuff from the walk.
Eventually we made it to the point. It looks like this when you are standing on it.
And here is F on it.
Much running on rocks commenced.
She wanted to put her feet in again.
This is just my daughter looking gorgeous.
Here is my proud mama face.
I also took some totally self-indulgent overly dramatic selfies.
After we hiked back, we ran another spa bath, turned on the jets, and my HB and I drank cold bottles of Summit while we soaked. Then happily to bed!
The next day we had breakfast at the Lodge, which they billed as a traditional Swedish meal. I don't know anything about that, but it was pretty good: rye bread, cheese, yogurt, fish, and hard boiled eggs, along with your more typical scrambled eggs and muffins and jam thing. Hotel breakfasts are usually disappointing but this was yum.
Then we went to the Split Rock Lighthouse.
It's actually not very tall. I guess it didn't have to be, being on the edge of a huge cliff and all.
We walked up stairs to get to the top.
The Girl explained to me how the gears worked.
Here is the best shot I could get of the lens.
We toured the keeper's house, then walked a bit on the trails there, and when we left we drove to Betty's Pies (well it was on the way anyway!) and bought a blackberry peach pie to take home and a vegetable pasty to eat on the road. The pasty did not disappoint. The pie had to wait until we got back, but it was as good as the hype. Definitely worth stopping.
Overall, it was a pretty short trip, but fun! I want to go back in the off season when it is a little cheaper, and just spend some time sitting in front of a fire in the lodge with my knitting, looking at the lake. Or skiing. Or snowshoeing. Or maybe we will just go back again next summer. It sure beats camping.
We had a room at the Cove Point Lodge in the Beaver Bay area, which turned out to be really nice, clean, and comfy, but also full of hilariously log-cabin-y decor. Our room had a big spa bath with jets that F thought was just the bees' knees. (It was actually the first thing we did when we got into the room at 9:30 the first night. We were probably naked and in that thing before my HB was done bringing the bags in from the car.)
Before we left Duluth, after the Tall Ships fest, we went to Pizza Luce, which I will say once again is absolutely the best pizza in Minnesota. We drank Bent Paddle beers, brewed in Duluth, and they were so good I really hope I can get them here! In fact I am only mentioning this to remind me to look.
When we got back to the room F and I went for a swim in the pool, then we all went up the road to the Lodge's casual restaurant. We drank local beers from the Castle Danger brewery, named for the nearby town of the same name.
I cannot get over how hilarious the town name Castle Danger is. It is the smallest little town and there is really nothing there, in fact I think the brewery is actually in Two Harbors, but still. Castle Danger!
Among other things, we ordered these tater tot nachos, or Totchos.
These were delish. I love tots.
Apparently the Cove Point Lodge was named for the point of land that juts out into the lake and the cove it surrounds. There is a trail you can use to hike there. It takes about 5 minutes, or 10 with dawdling. F and I went to walk out there after dinner.
The view from the cove. The point is on the right.
We decided we had better put our feet in the lake. Please note that Lake Superior is a f*%&ing cold-ass huge body of water and the avg. temp is 42 F. Even in hot summer. And even if you know this, and think you are prepared, it still feels like ice water. But it's fun anyway!
Still, I didn't want to put any more of my body in than this.
While I was taking that foot picture, F fell in. She was wading in ankle-deep water yet somehow managed to get wet up to her waist. She was pretty upset at first (because it's cold!!) but soon warmed up and wanted to keep walking. I had some cookies in my bag that helped. She even liked that she now had an "I fell in Lake Superior" story to tell!
Here are some rocks and trees and stuff from the walk.
Eventually we made it to the point. It looks like this when you are standing on it.
And here is F on it.
Much running on rocks commenced.
She wanted to put her feet in again.
This is just my daughter looking gorgeous.
Here is my proud mama face.
I also took some totally self-indulgent overly dramatic selfies.
After we hiked back, we ran another spa bath, turned on the jets, and my HB and I drank cold bottles of Summit while we soaked. Then happily to bed!
The next day we had breakfast at the Lodge, which they billed as a traditional Swedish meal. I don't know anything about that, but it was pretty good: rye bread, cheese, yogurt, fish, and hard boiled eggs, along with your more typical scrambled eggs and muffins and jam thing. Hotel breakfasts are usually disappointing but this was yum.
Then we went to the Split Rock Lighthouse.
It's actually not very tall. I guess it didn't have to be, being on the edge of a huge cliff and all.
We walked up stairs to get to the top.
The Girl explained to me how the gears worked.
Here is the best shot I could get of the lens.
We toured the keeper's house, then walked a bit on the trails there, and when we left we drove to Betty's Pies (well it was on the way anyway!) and bought a blackberry peach pie to take home and a vegetable pasty to eat on the road. The pasty did not disappoint. The pie had to wait until we got back, but it was as good as the hype. Definitely worth stopping.
Overall, it was a pretty short trip, but fun! I want to go back in the off season when it is a little cheaper, and just spend some time sitting in front of a fire in the lodge with my knitting, looking at the lake. Or skiing. Or snowshoeing. Or maybe we will just go back again next summer. It sure beats camping.
