Best of the Lake: 2012

Each year, Lake Superior Magazine has unveiled its Best of the Lake choices – sometimes readers' picks, sometimes those generated by the editors and one year (our 30th anniversary) by our staff members.

In the August/September 2012 issue, we reveal the Top Reader Choices in 12 categories in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario. The issue features other favorites, including 7 Great Fall Drives around the Big Lake region and more stories, such as those about the history of the Finnish Windmill in Wisconsin and a house in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula built, essentially, from a cut-log woodpile, beet recipes, education trends at a dozen area post-secondary institutions and the music scene in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Pick a copy up from the newsstands or order an issue (or a subscription) by calling us at 888-244-BIG LAKE (888-244-5253), 218-722-5002 or online at www.LakeSuperiorMagazine.com/cat/lsm.html.

Lake Superior Magazine's Best of the Lake

Ask any resident or visitor what is the best way to enjoy the Big Lake and you’ll probably get a different answer every time. And they all would be right. That’s the charm of a region with a wealth of wonder and of wonderful. These favorites were gleaned from online, postcard and emailed votes. The top winners got a star. If you use these as your guide for things to try, you’ll be the winner.

BEST VIEWS: Overlooks

You never know what great view the next curve in the road might bring. Could be a great moose crossing the highway or the perfect ray of sun on a hilltop. Great overlooks, though, stand ever at the ready and readers picked these.

MICHIGAN

*Brockway Mountain

On Brockway Mountain Drive off Highway M-26 near Copper Harbor (you can see the town from the mountain). Contact: Copper Harbor Improvement Association, 906-289-4274, www.copperharbor.org.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Stretching more than 40 miles along Lake Superior from Munising to Grand Marais. Contact: 906-387-2607, www.nps.gov/piro.

MINNESOTA

*Split Rock Lighthouse

Near Castle Danger, the historic site is operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. Contact: 218-226-6372, www.mnhs.org/places/sites/srl.

Palisade Head

The 300-foot cliff is within the 9,346-acre Tettegouche State Park northeast of Silver Bay. Contact: 218-226-6365, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks.

ONTARIO

*Terrace Bay – the township

Voters picked the new downtown lighthouse, the lookout behind the information center and the Aquasabon Gorge overlooks as favorites. Contact: 807-825-3315, www.terracebay.ca.

Lloyd’s Lookout

On the trail near Red Rock, the lookout has views of the town and Nipigon Bay. Contact: 807-886-2245, www.redrocktownship.com.

WISCONSIN

Tie!

*Bayfield – the town

You can see Lake views from the hillsides or the waterfront. Contact: 800-447-4094, Bayfield.org.

*Big Bay State Park

The 2,530-acre state park is on Madeline Island. Contact the park: 715-747-6425, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/bigbay; or Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce: 715-747-2801, www.madelineisland.com.

Apostle Highlands Golf Course

The course, with public areas, sits 500 feet above Bayfield. Contact: 715-779-5960 or 877-222-4053, www.golfbayfield.com.

BEST GIFT SHOP

MICHIGAN

*Laughing Loon

In Copper Harbor. Contact: 906-289-4813, thelaughingloononline.com

Copper World

In Calumet. Contact: 906-337-4016, www.calumetcopper.com.

MINNESOTA

*Lake Superior Trading Post In Grand Marais. Contact: 218-387-2020, www.lstp.com.

Sivertson Galleries

In Grand Marais and Duluth. Contact: 888-880-4369 for Grand Marais; 888-815-5814 for Duluth, www.sivertson.com.

ONTARIO

*Hummingbird Haus

In Terrace Bay. Contact: 807-825-1041.

Young’s General Store

In Wawa. Contact: 705-856-2626, www.youngsgeneralstore.com.

WISCONSIN

*Stone’s Throw

In Bayfield. Contact: 715-779-5200, Stonesthrowbayfield.com.

Keeper of the Light

In Bayfield. Contact: 800-779-4487, www.keeperofthelight.net.

BEST ROCK PICKING

MICHIGAN

*Agate Beach Park

25 miles southwest of Houghton. Contact: 888-766-0325, www.keweenaw.info.

Little Girl’s Point

906-932-4850, 800-522-5657, www.explorewesternup.com.

MINNESOTA

*Grand Marais waterfront

Contact: 888-922-5000, grandmarais.com.

Brighton Beach

Kitchi Gammi Park in Duluth. Contact: 218-730-4300, www.duluthmn.gov/parks.

ONTARIO

*Red Rock Waterfront

Contact: 807-886-2245, www.redrocktownship.com.

Jackfish Bay

Off Highway 17 near Terrace Bay. Contact:  807-825-3315, www.terracebayschreiber.ca.

WISCONSIN

*Saxon Harbor

Near Hurley. Contact: 715-561-2922, ironcountywi.com.

Big Bay Town Park

In La Pointe on Madeline Island. Contact: 715-747-2801, www.madelineisland.com.

BEST BOAT WATCHING

MICHIGAN

*Soo Locks

In Sault Ste. Marie. Contact: 906-253-9290, 800-647-2858, www.saultstemarie.com.

Marquette waterfront

Contact: 800-544-4321, travelmarquettemichigan.com.

MINNESOTA

*Canal Park/Aerial Lift Bridge

Contact: 800-438-5884, visitduluth.com.

Two Harbors waterfront

Contact: 218-834-2600, www.twoharborschamber.com.

ONTARIO

*Thunder Bay Harbour

Contact: 807-625-2230, www.thunderbay.ca.

Sault Ste. Marie locks

Contact: 800-461-6020, www.saulttourism.com.

WISCONSIN

*Bayfield waterfront

Contact: 800-447-4094, Bayfield.org.

Madeline Island Beach Club

In La Pointe.

Contact: 715-747-3955, madelinebeachclub.com.

BEST BEACHES

MICHIGAN

*Great Sand Bay

Located along M-26 between

Eagle River and Eagle Harbor.

Contact: 888-766-0325, www.keweenaw.info.

Bete Grise Beach

On Bete Grise Bay about 3 miles east of Lac La Belle, it has a change building and picnic tables. Contact: 888-766-0325, www.keweenaw.info.

MINNESOTA

*Park Point

On Duluth’s Minnesota Point, the 7-mile long sand spit. Contact: 800-438-5884, Visitduluth.com.

Grand Marais Harbor

Downtown in Grand Marais. Contact: 218-387-2524. 888-922-5000, Visitduluth.com.

ONTARIO

*Terrace Bay Beach

A huge sandy beach next to Aguasabon Golf Course in Terrace Bay. Contact: 807-825-3315, www.terracebay.ca.

Pancake Bay Beach

Within Pancake Bay Provincial Park near Batchawana Bay. Contact: 705-882-2209, www.ontarioparks.com.

WISCONSIN

*Big Bay State Park

On Madeline Island. Contact the park: 715-747-6425, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/bigbay; or Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce: 715-747-2801, www.madelineisland.com.

Julian Bay

The beach is on Stockton Island, part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Reach the island in your own boat or kayak or on a day-hiker cruise with Apostle Islands Cruises out of Bayfield. Contact the park: 715-779-3397. www.nps.gov/apis. Contact the cruises: 800-323-7619, www.apostleisland.com

BEST VIEWS } Restaurant

MICHIGAN

*Harbor Haus

In Copper Harbor. Contact: 906-289-4502, www.harborhaus.com.

Fitzgerald’s Restaurant

At Eagle River Inn in Eagle River. Contact: 906-337-0666, www.eagleriverinn.com.

MINNESOTA

Tie!

*Angry Trout

In Grand Marais. Contact: 218-387-1265. www.angrytroutcafe.com.

*JJ Astor

In Duluth. Contact: 218-722-VIEW (8439), www.jjastorrestaurant.com.

Tie!

Va Bene Berarducci’s Caffe

In Duluth. Contact: 218-722-1518, www.vabenecaffe.com.

Bluefin Grille

Part of Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior in Tofte. Contact: 800-BLUEFIN (258-3346), ext. 333, www.bluefinbay.com.

ONTARIO

*Serendipity Gardens

In Rossport. Contact: 807-824-2890, www.serendipitygardens.ca.

Red Rock Inn

In Red Rock. Contact: 888-547-1402, www.redrockinn.ca.

WISCONSIN

*The Pub

On Madeline Island. Contact: 800-822-6315, madisland.com.

Pier Plaza

In Bayfield. Contact: 888-243-4191, www.bayfrontinnbayfield.net/pierplaza.

BEST PLACES TO PADDLE

MICHIGAN

*Copper Harbor

Launch from Copper Harbor. Contact: 906-289-4274, www.copperharbor.org.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Munising to Grand Marais. Contact: 906-387-2607, www.nps.gov/piro.

MINNESOTA

*Grand Marais Harbor

Launch from in Grand Marais. Contact: 888-922-5000, grandmarais.com.

Two Harbors

There are two harbors: Burlington Bay and Agate Bay. Contact: 218-834-2600, www.twoharborschamber.com.

ONTARIO

*Slate Islands

The archipelago on the northern edge of Lake Superior. Contact: 807-825-3403, www.ontarioparks.com/english/slat.html.

Pukaskwa National Park

Between Marathon and Wawa. Contact: 807-229-0801, www.pc.gc.ca.

WISCONSIN

*Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Among the islands. Contact:

715-779-3397, www.nps.gov/apis.

Mainland Sea Caves

Along the mainland (part of the lakeshore). Contact: 715-779-3397, www.nps.gov/apis.

BEST PLACES TO HIKE

MICHIGAN

*Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Near Ontonagon. Contact: 906-885-5275, www.michigan.gov/porkies.

Isle Royale National Park

Lake Superior’s largest island. Contact: 906-482-0984, www.nps.gov/isro.

MINNESOTA

*Superior Hiking Trail

South of Duluth to the U.S./Canada border. Contact: 218-834-2700, www.shta.org.

Gooseberry Falls State Park near Castle Danger.

Contacts: 218-834-3855, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks

ONTARIO

*Casque Isle Trail

Terrace Bay to Rossport. Contacts: 877-668-7245, www.ontariotrails.on.ca.

Nipigon River Recreation Trail Nipigon to Red Rock.

Contact: 877-668-7245, www.ontariotrails.on.ca

WISCONSIN

*Brownstone Trail

Starts in Bayfield.

Contact: 715-779-5263, www.brcland.org.

Houghton Falls

A state natural area in Washburn. Contact: 888-936-7463, dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/sna.

BEST OVERNIGHT STAY

MICHIGAN

Two Ties!

*Dapple Gray Bed & Breakfast

In Eagle Harbor. Contact: 866-909-1233, www.dapple-gray.com.

*The Landmark Inn

In Marquette. Contact: 906-228-2580, www.thelandmarkinn.com.

Eagle River Inn

Contact: 906-337-0666, www.eagleriverinn.com.

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge

In Copper Harbor: Contact: 906-289-4403, www.atthelodge.com.

MINNESOTA

*Inn on Lake Superior

In Duluth’s Canal Park.

Contact: 888-668-4352, www.theinnonlakesuperior.com.

Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior

In Tofte. Contact: 800-BLUEFIN (258-3346), www.bluefinbay.com.

ONTARIO

*Provincial Park campgrounds

Any of the parks. Contact: 888-668-7275, www.ontarioparks.com.

Tie!

Red Rock Inn

In Red Rock.

Contact: 888-547-1402, www.redrockinn.ca.

Rock Island Lodge

In Wawa.

Contact: 800-203-9092, www.rockislandlodge.ca.

WISCONSIN

*Rittenhouse Inn

In Bayfield. Contact:

888-611-4667, www.rittenhouseinn.com.

AmericInn

In Ashland. Contact:

866-378-9950, ashlandsplashland.com.

BEST VIEWS } Lodging

MICHIGAN

*Holiday Inn

In Munising. Contact: 906-387-4800, www.hiexpressmunising.com.

AmericInn

In Silver City. Contact: 800-634-3444, www.americinn.com/hotels/mi/silvercity.

MINNESOTA

*Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior

In Tofte. Contact: 800-Bluefin (258-3346), www.bluefinbay.com.

Inn on Lake Superior

In Duluth. Contact: 888-668-4352, innonlakesuperior.com

ONTARIO

Imperial Motel

In Terrace Bay. Contact: 877-825-1625, www.driftersimperialmotel.ca.

Tie!

Red Rock Inn

In Red Rock. Contact: 888-547-1402, www.redrockinn.ca.

Rock Island Lodge

In Wawa. Contact: 800-203-9092, www.rockislandlodge.ca.

WISCONSIN

*Chequamegon Hotel

In Ashland. Contact: 715-682-9095, www.bestwestern.com.

Tie!

Rittenhouse Inn

In Bayfield. Contact: 888-611-4667, www.rittenhouseinn.com.

AmericInn

In Ashland. Contact: 866-378-9950, ashlandsplashland.com.

BEST PLACES TO EAT

MICHIGAN

*Harbor Haus

In Copper Harbor. Contact: 906-289-4502, www.harborhaus.com.

Fitzgerald’s Restaurant

In Eagle River. Contact: 906-337-0666, www.eagleriverinn.com.

MINNESOTA

Grandma’s Saloon & Grill

In Duluth. Contact: 218-727-4192, www.grandmasrestaurants.com.

Angry Trout Café

In Grand Marais. Contact: 218-387-1265, www.angrytroutcafe.com.

ONTARIO

Serendipity Gardens

In Rossport. Contact: 807-824-2890, www.serendipitygardens.ca.

Drifters Restaurant

In Terrace Bay. Contact: 877-825-1625, driftersimperialmotel.ca.

WISCONSIN

Wild Rice Restaurant

Near Bayfield. Contact: 715-779-9881, www.wildricerestaurant.com.

Maggie’s

In Bayfield. Contact: 715-779-5641, www.maggies-bayfield.com.

BEST PARKS

MICHIGAN

*McLain State Park

In Calumet. Contact: 906-482-0278, www.michigan.gov/dnr.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Between Munising and Grand Marais. Contact: 906-387-2607, www.nps.gov/piro.

MINNESOTA

*Gooseberry Falls State Park

Near Castle Danger. 218-834-3855, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park

Near Beaver Bay. Contact: 218-226-6377, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks.

ONTARIO

*Rainbow Falls Provincial Park

Near Terrace Bay. Contact: 807-824-2298, www.ontarioparks.com.

Lake Superior Provincial Park

Near Wawa. 705-856-2284, www.ontarioparks.com.

WISCONSIN

*Big Bay State Park

On Madeline Island. Contact: 715-747-6425, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/bigbay.

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

At Bayfield. Contact: 715-779-3397, www.nps.gov/apis.