MINNESOTA: A fun weekend getaway

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY : KATHLEEN GALLAIS

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Minnesota’s North Shore is one of the Midwest’s greatest features. Stunning forests and waterfalls meet the grandeur of Lake Superior to create a slice of paradise. I spent three days exploring many of the parks and trails that the area has to offer and did this as a lone traveler, plus my trusty canine companion, Brutus. Prior to this trip, I had never traveled solo; to be honest, I was pretty nervous about the experience.

In addition to my first taste of traveling alone, this was also my first time exploring in a camper van! Vanna Adventure Vans is a custom camper van builder and rental company out of Fargo-Moorhead. Their rental service is a great way to experience #vanlife without the commitment of owning a van.

Before leaving on my adventure, I committed to a three day itinerary and made a list of spots I wanted to see along the North Shore. After marking each point on Google My Maps (one of my favorite resources!), I identified the most logical place to stay each night and booked my campsites. The first night, I stayed at Jay Cooke State Park Campground. Then, I traveled up the North Shore, where I stayed at Black Beach Municipal Campground the second night. The final night was spent in Cascade River State Park.

My adventure began on a Thursday after work. I left at about 3:00 pm and headed to Vanna to pick up my rig. It’s just over four hours from Moorhead to Jay Cooke State Park, so I spent the evening driving and checking into my first campsite. Jay Cooke State Park is stunning and the campground is no exception. My site was simple and secluded. I loved that I could pull the van into the site, crawl into the back, and hit the hay.

After waking up in Jay Cooke State Park, I started my busy day by hitting the trails. Jay Cooke is home to a beautiful swinging bridge and unique rock formations that make for a fun hike with stunning scenery. After heading back to the site and packing up the few things I had unpacked the night before, I drove into Duluth. A walk around Canal Park was fueled by a cold brew from Duluth Coffee Co. and I was back on the road. New Scenic Cafe was on the menu for lunch; the burrata was delicious and fueled my adventure-filled afternoon.