We asked, and you answered. See what our readers chose as Lake Superior’s very best.
Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors 
Photo: Dennis O'Hara
Minnesota's Split Rock Lighthouse was voted Best Spectacular View by LSM readers. See all of this year's winners below.
Call it our Lake Superior list of bragging rights – each of the 110 winners in our 13 categories certainly can boast of earning their 2014 Best of the Lake ranking.
More than 1,200 voters from around the region and across the United States and Canada cast their choices for spectacular views, friendly service, family attractions, shopping, boating, toe-dipping beaches, fish dishes and other favorites. Votes came in via a mailed survey and directly online.
The top vote-getters for each state or province are indicated with a ★.
This can become your newest “to do” list as you travel around the Lake; take time to visit these businesses and locations and see if you agree with the voters. Or perhaps you won’t even need to travel much; on this list you may discover some unfamiliar top picks right in your own Lake Superior neighborhood. If you forget your list at home, you might see a Best of the Lake sticker in the windows of these high-quality establishments.
So congratulations to all of the winners and thanks to all the voters.
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Best Local Fish Dish or Fish Sandwich |
Best Spectacular Views
MICHIGAN
★ Brockway Mountain, Keweenaw Peninsula
Contact: 906-289-4274, www.copperharbor.org, or 800-338-7982, www.keweenaw.info
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Contact: 906-387-3700, www.nps.gov/piro
MINNESOTA
★ Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors
Contact: 218-226-6372, www.mnhs.org
TIE: Duluth Waterfront & Skyline Parkway
Contact: 800-438-5884, www.visitduluth.com
ONTARIO
★ Sleeping Giant, Sibley Peninsula
Contact: 807-977-2526, www.ontarioparks.com/park/sleepinggiant
Thunder Bay Waterfront
Contact: 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com
WISCONSIN
★ Bayfield Waterfront
Contact: 715-779-3335, www.bayfield.org
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Contact: 715-779-3397, www.nps.gov/apis
Best Toe-dipping Beach
Park Point, Duluth 
Photo: Bob Berg / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Bete Grise Bay
Contact: 800-338-7982, www.keweenaw.info
Great Sand Bay
Contact: 800-338-7982, www.keweenaw.info
MINNESOTA
★ Park Point, Duluth
Contact: 800-438-5884, www.visitduluth.com
Grand Marais Waterfront
Contact: 888-922-5000, www.visitcookcounty.com
ONTARIO
★ Terrace Bay Waterfront
Contact: 800-968-8616, www.terracebay.ca
Pancake Bay Waterfront
Contact: 705-882-2209, www.ontarioparks.com/park/pancakebay
WISCONSIN
★ Big Bay Beach, Madeline Island
Contact: 715-747-2801, www.madelineisland.com
Cornucopia Waterfront
Contact: 715-742-3232, www.cornucopiawisconsin.net
Best Waterfall
Kakabeka Falls, Ontario 
Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Tahquamenon Falls
Contact: 906-492-3415, www.michigan.gov/dnr
Bond Falls
Contact: 906-353-6558, www.michigan.gov/dnr
MINNESOTA
★ Gooseberry Falls
Contact: 218-834-3855, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks
High Falls of the Pigeon River
Contact: 218-475-2360, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks
ONTARIO
★ Kakabeka Falls
Contact: 807-473-9231, www.ontarioparks.com
Aguasabon Falls
Contact: 800-968-8616, www.terracebay.ca
WISCONSIN
★ Amnicon Falls
Contact: 715-398-3000, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks
Copper Falls
Contact: 715-274-5123, dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks
Best Family Attraction
Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie 
Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie
Contact: 906-253-9290, 800-647-2858, www.saultstemarie.com
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Contact: 906-387-2607, www.nps.gov/piro
MINNESOTA
★ Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth
Contact: 218-740-3474, www.glaquarium.org
Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors
Contact: 218-834-3855, www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks
ONTARIO
★ Fort William Historical Park, Thunder Bay
Contact: 807-473-2344, www.fwhp.ca
THREE-WAY TIE
Amethyst Mines, Thunder Bay
Contact: 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com
Lake Superior Provincial Park, Wawa
Contact: 705-856-2284, www.ontarioparks.com/park/lakesuperior
Paddle-to-the-Sea Park, Nipigon
Contact: 807-887-3135, www.nipigon.net
WISCONSIN
★ Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Contact: 715-779-3397, www.nps.gov/apis
Madeline Island
Contact: 715-747-2801, www.madelineisland.com
Best Local Fish Dish or Fish Sandwich
MICHIGAN
★ Whitefish (grilled or Cajun) at The Vierling Restaurant, Marquette
Contact: 906-228-3533, www.thevierling.com
TIE
Pecan Walleye at Fitzgerald's Restaurant, Eagle River
Contact: 906-337-0666, www.eagleriverinn.com
Whitefish at Harbor Haus, Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4502, www.harborhaus.com
MINNESOTA
★ Lake Trout Catch of the Day at Angry Trout Café, Grand Marais
Contact: 218-387-1265, www.angrytroutcafe.com
Fish-n-Chips at Dockside Fish Market, Grand Marais
Contact: 218-387-2906, www.docksidefishmarket.com
ONTARIO
★ Friday Night Fish Fry at The Voyageurs' Lodge & Cookhouse, Batchawana Bay
Contact: 705-882-2504, www.voyageurslodge.com
Pickerel Dinner at Drifters Restaurant, Terrace Bay
Contact: 877-825-1625, www.driftersimperialmotel.ca
WISCONSIN
★ Simply Fish Whitefish or Whitefish Liver Dinner at Maggie's, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-5641, www.maggies-bayfield.com
Smoked Lake Trout at Everett Fisheries, Port Wing
Contact: 715-774-3776, www.everettfisheries.com
Best Shop
Keeper of the Light, Bayfield 
Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Copper World, Calumet
Contact: 906-337-4016, www.calumetcopper.com
Che Bello Boutique, Marquette
Contact: 906-273-1362, www.chebelloboutique.com
MINNESOTA
★ Joynes Ben Franklin Department Store, Grand Marais
Contact: 218-387-2233, www.joynesbenfranklin.com
Lake Superior Trading Post, Grand Marais
Contact: 218-387-2020, www.lakesuperiortradingpost.com
ONTARIO
★ Agawa Indian Crafts & The Canadian Carver, Pancake Bay
Contact: 800-656-9676, www.pancakebay.com
Young's General Store, Wawa
Contact: 705-856-2626, www.youngsgeneralstore.com
WISCONSIN
★ Keeper of the Light, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-5619, www.keeperofthelight.net
TIE
Trout Run Art, Port Wing
Contact: 715-774-3799, www.troutrunart.com
Apostle Islands Booksellers, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-0200, www.apostleislandsbooksellers.com
Best Art Gallery/Museum
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Sault Ste. Marie 
Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, Whitefish Point
Contact: 888-492-3747, www.shipwreckmuseum.com
A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Houghton
Contact: 906-487-2572, www.museum.mtu.edu
MINNESOTA
★ Sivertson Gallery, Grand Marais & Siiviis, Duluth
Contact: 888-880-4369, 888-815-5814, www.sivertson.com
Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth
Contact: 218-726-8222, www.d.umn.edu/tma
ONTARIO
★ Thunder Bay Art Gallery
Contact: 807-577-6427, www.theag.ca
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Sault Ste. Marie
Contact: 877-287-4752, www.bushplane.com
WISCONSIN
★ Madeline Island Museum, La Pointe
Contact: 715-747-2415, madelineislandmuseum.wisconsinhistory.org
Hoth-Lee Art Gallery, Port Wing
Contact: 715-774-3315
Best Staff, Restaurant or Lodging
MICHIGAN
★ Fitzgerald’s Restaurant, Eagle River
Contact: 906-337-0666, www.eagleriverinn.com
Harbor Haus, Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4502, www.harborhaus.com
MINNESOTA
★ Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Contact: 800-598-3221, www.covepointlodge.com
Grandma's Restaurants, Duluth
Contact: 218-727-4192, www.grandmasrestaurants.com
ONTARIO
★ Drifters Restaurant & Motel, Terrace Bay
Contact: 807-825-3226, www.driftersimperialmotel.ca
The Voyageurs’ Lodge & Cookhouse, Batchawana Bay
Contact: 705-882-2504, www.voyageurslodge.com
WISCONSIN
★ Old Rittenhouse Inn, Bayfield
Contact: 800-779-2129, www.rittenhouseinn.com
Maggie's, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-5641, www.maggies-bayfield.com
Best Overnight Stay
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor 
Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Landmark Inn, Marquette
Contact: 906-228-2580, www.thelandmarkinn.com
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4403, www.atthelodge.com
MINNESOTA
★ Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Contact: 800-598-3221, www.covepointlodge.com
Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior, Tofte
Contact: 800-258-3346, www.bluefinbay.com
ONTARIO
★ Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay
Contact: 807-577-1121, www.valhallainn.com
Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites, Thunder Bay
Contact: 800-267-2675, www.princearthurwaterfront.com
WISCONSIN
★ Old Rittenhouse Inn, Bayfield
Contact: 800-779-2129, www.rittenhouseinn.com
Bayfield Inn, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-3363, www.bayfieldinn.com
Best Shopping Experience
Canal Park, Duluth 
Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Downtown Marquette
Contact: 800-544-4321, www.travelmarquettemichigan.com
Downtown Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4274, www.copperharbor.org
MINNESOTA
★ Canal Park & Downtown Duluth
Contact: 800-438-5884, www.visitduluth.com
Downtown Grand Marais
Contact: 888-922-5000, www.visitcookcounty.com
ONTARIO
★ Downtown & Waterfront, Thunder Bay
Contact: 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com
Downtown & Waterfront, Sault Ste. Marie
Contact: 800-461-6020, www.saulttourism.com
WISCONSIN
★ Downtown Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-3335, www.bayfield.org
Downtown Ashland
Contact: 800-284-9484, www.visitashland.com
Best In-town Hike
Artists' Point, Grand Marais 
Photo: Phil Bencomo / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Presque Isle Park, Marquette
Contact: 800-544-4321, www.travelmarquettemichigan.com
Sugarloaf Mountain, Marquette
Contact: 800-544-4321, www.travelmarquettemichigan.com
MINNESOTA
★ Duluth Lakewalk
Contact: 800-438-5884, www.visitduluth.com
Artists' Point, Grand Marais
Contact: 888-922-5000, www.visitcookcounty.com
ONTARIO
★ Sault Ste. Marie Hub Trail
Contact: 800-461-6020, www.saulttourism.com
TIE
Centennial Park, Thunder Bay
Contact: 800-667-8386, www.visitthunderbay.com
Mount McKay, Fort William First Nation
Contact: 807-623-9543, www.fwfn.com
WISCONSIN
★ Brownstone Trail, Bayfield
Contact: 715-779-3335, www.bayfield.org
Lakefront Parkway & Walking Trail, Washburn
Contact: 715-373-5017, www.washburnchamber.com
Best Annual Event
Fisherman's Picnic, Grand Marais 
Photo: Phil Bencomo / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ U.P. Fall Beer Festival, Marquette
Sept. 6, 2014. Contact: www.mibeer.com
Art on the Rocks, Marquette
July 26-27, 2014. Contact: 906-250-6156, www.marquetteartontherocks.com
MINNESOTA
★ Fisherman's Picnic, Grand Marais
July 31–Aug. 3, 2014. Contact: 888-922-5000, www.grandmaraislionsclub.com
Grandma's Marathon, Duluth
June 19-21, 2015. Contact: 218-727-0947, www.grandmasmarathon.com
ONTARIO
★ Thunder Bay Blues Festival
July 3-5, 2015. Contact: 807-343-2309, www.tbayblues.ca
Live From the Rock Folk Festival
Aug. 8-10, 2014. Contact: www.livefromtherockfolkfestival.com
WISCONSIN
★ Bayfield Apple Festival
Oct. 3-5, 2014. Contact: 715-779-3335, www.bayfield.org
Port Wing Fish Boil
Aug. 30, 2014. Contact: www.portwingwi.com
Best Boat Ride
Apostle Islands Cruises, Bayfield 
Photo: Paul Hayden / Lake Superior Magazine
MICHIGAN
★ Pictured Rocks Cruises, Munising
Contact: 800-650-2379, www.picturedrocks.com
TIE
Isle Royale Line, Copper Harbor
Contact: 906-289-4437, www.isleroyale.com
Soo Locks Boat Tours, Sault Ste. Marie
Contact: 800-432-6301, www.soolocks.com
MINNESOTA
★ Vista Fleet, Duluth
Contact: 877-883-4002, www.vistafleet.com
Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Line, Grand Portage
Contact: 218-475-0024, www.isleroyaleboats.com
ONTARIO
★ Sail Superior.com, Thunder Bay
Contact: 807-628-3333, www.sailsuperior.com
Discovery Charters, Rossport
Contact: 807-824-3323, www.discoverycharters.ca
WISCONSIN
★ Apostle Islands Cruises, Bayfield
Contact: 800-323-7619, www.apostleisland.com
Madeline Island Ferry Line, Bayfield
Contact: 715-747-2051, www.madferry.com
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