THE GETAWAY GUIDE the coolest places around
BAILEY’S HARBOR, DOOR COUNT Y
spectacular spots SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL UPPER MIDWEST DESTINATIONS WAITING FOR YOU YOU DON’T HAVE TO CROSS INTERNATIONAL BORDERS, TAKE A CARIBBEAN CRUISE, or visit a movie studio theme park to have a memorable getaway. Here in the Upper Midwest, we’re lucky to have a whole host of both well- and little-known vacation locations within just a short drive. We asked our writers to tell us about some of their favorites across Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Ther e are the mo re than ha lf a dozen w ineries i n D o o r Co unt y, pl us man y orchards grow ing t he pe ni n sul a ’s ren own e d cherries: Come bet ween mid-J ul y and mid- A u gu st, and you can pick yo ur ow n.
Door County’s rustic roads are dotted with small towns full of boutiques, candy stores, eateries, and artisan shops of all kinds. You can enjoy a theatrical night at Peninsula Players in Fish Creek or dine at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay (don’t forget to look for the famed goats on the roof). There are the more than half a dozen wineries, plus many orchards growing the peninsula’s renowned cherries: Come between mid-July and mid-August, and you can pick your own. And no trip to Door County would be complete without
a visit to Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor in Ephraim, where the jelly bean in the bottom of the cone is the cherry on top of a visit to Door County. Learn more about what to see and do in Door County at doorcounty.com. –Tom Giffey GRAND MARAIS, MINNESOTA A good vacation should have a healthy mix of relaxation, exploring, and good food. Grand Marais, Minnesota, certainly has all those things and more. PETE MARKHAM / CC BY-SA 2.0
DO OR COUNT Y, WISCONSIN I somehow managed to live nearly three decades in Wisconsin before I first took the opportunity to explore Door County. I knew its reputation as a place for relaxation and recreation, but for whatever reason I never made the trip. I’m glad I finally did: Located about a half day’s drive across the state from the Chippewa Valley,
Door County has endless options for vacationers of all kinds. Like any good getaway spot, Door County is the kind of place where the worries of your everyday life can evaporate – in this case, to be carried out to Lake Michigan on a cool summer breeze. Geographically speaking, Door County is Wisconsin’s thin, wateredged thumb, surrounded by Green Bay to the west and Lake Michigan to the east. Along all that lakeshore are some unforgettable parks: Among my favorites are Peninsula State Park, with its many trails, camping areas, and a lighthouse you can tour; Whitefish Dunes State Park, which will make you feel like you’ve reached the ocean (minus the saltwater and sharks); and Rock Island State Park, which is worth a ferry ride off the far tip of Washington Island.
GRAND MARAIS, MINNESOTA
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THE GETAWAY GUIDE
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PERRO T STATE PARK If you want the chance to explore a historic piece of nature in the state of Wisconsin, but still be five minutes away from an air-conditioned hotel, Perrot State Park in Trempealeau is the place for you. With 1,270 acres, the park features hiking trails upon bluffs with stunning views and intricate routes within the backwaters of the Mississippi River for canoeing, fishing, and more. Named after Nicolas Perrot, a French explorer of the Upper Mississippi Valley in the 17th century, this state park is nestled about an hour and twenty minutes from Eau Claire. It’s the perfect place for a getaway that’s not too far from home, but far enough to experience the calming atmosphere of a weekend vacation. You can hike all the way up to Brady’s Bluff for a picturesque scene of the Mississippi River and Trempealeau Mountain, an island that’s said to hold a colony of rat-
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tlesnakes, so I wouldn’t recommend canoeing onto its shores. Or you can cycle along the bike trails that penetrate through and beyond the park. Camp sites are also available for stargazing and s’mores. If you’d prefer indoor camping, the Trempealeau Hotel, five minutes away in town, is a popular spot for dinner and a beer. Other well-known eateries are Sullivan’s Supper Club, on the road leading to the park; River Café, which personally is my favorite place for breakfast; and Driftless Bike N’ Bean, a coffee and bike repair shop. About five minutes from Trempealeau, in Centerville, you can find a variety of foods at Beedles, Four Corners, and Jailhouse Saloon. Perrot State Park is the land of the unassuming, but offers memorable times for family fun and relaxation. To learn more about Perrot State Park, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/ parks/perrot. –Carlee Shimek JIM BREKKE / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Located on the northwestern shore of Lake Superior – about a 4½-hour drive from the Chippewa Valley – the first thing you’ll see when you hit Grand Marais are the beautiful lake views. Grand Marais has a large rock beach – which is perfect for rock skipping – looking out into the harbor. There is a lighthouse that you can walk up to and several bluffs you can venture out to and explore. Along with the beautiful outdoor views, Grand Marais also has many iconic stores you can browse through. There is a giant, two-story Lake Superior Trading Post, Moose Tracks, That Little Red House, White Pine North, and so many more. Grand Marais has some of the most sought after eateries as well, including Sven and Ole’s Pizza, Beth’s Fudge and Gifts, My Sister’s Place (home of the peanut butter and mayo Goober Burger), Angry Trout Cafe, Hungry Hippie Tacos, Blue Water Cafe, and one of their most notable, the World’s Best Donut store, located in a tiny trailer in the middle of town. There are many beautiful, shoreside lodging options available such as East Bay Suites, Best Western Plus Superior, Cobblestone Cove Villas, and several cabins available at Trailside. If you prefer to rough it on your getaways, there are also several camping sites within close proximity to Grand Marais. To learn more about Grand Marais and to plan your next trip, go to exploreminnesota.com and search for “Grand Marais.” –Sawyer Hoff
PERROT STATE PARK
MINNEAPOLIS If you’re looking for an entertaining getaway, downtown Minneapolis has a plethora of spots for you to get your fix, as well as a fun mix of other attractions. Minneapolis has earned its reputation of being a must-stop location for musical artists of all kinds. At venues such as The Fillmore, The Armory, First Avenue, the Fine Line Music Cafe, Skyway Theatre, and The Cedar Cultural Center, music lovers will no doubt have a field day with all of the musical possibilities Minneapolis has to offer. The larger of the Twin Cities has its share of sports options for travelers as well, with multiple stadiums situated downtown. US Bank Stadium plays host to the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, Target Field is the home of MLB’s Minnesota Twins, and the Target Center is the home arena for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA, and the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. And if sports or music aren’t what you’re looking for in entertainment, Minneapolis also is home to some of the finest museums in the country. The Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Walker Art Center are all easily traversable museums with dense layers of education and beauty to be had. Whether you’re looking for live music, live sports, or history right in front of your eyes, Minneapolis has what you need to quench your thirst for entertainment. For more things to do in Minneapolis, visit minneapolis.org. –Parker Reed
THE GETAWAY GUIDE
fall for tettegouche WATERFALLS PART OF LURE FOR STATE PARK ON MINNESOTA’S NORTH SHORE While you’re up visiting Grand Marais, Minnesota, be sure to stop by (although you should really camp there for a few nights) Tettegouche State Park. Tettegouche (pronounced teta-gooch) is maybe the most beautiful of the many state parks on Minnesota’s North Shore, replete with trails, waterfalls, pine-fresh air, and campsites galore. One of Tettegouche’s biggest pulls is the Baptism River, which creates staggering waterfalls as it meanders towards Lake Superior. The best hikes in the park showcase these features: Two-Step Falls and High Falls. High Falls has earned its name: At 70 feet, it’s the tallest waterfall in Minnesota, and
there’s plenty of space at the bottom to swim, fish, or relax and enjoy the truly breathtaking view. Don’t worry, as you won’t be entirely offroading it with these hikes, although they do connect to the greater Superior Hiking Trail. Neither are too long and are jam packed with the kind of vibes Eau Clairians are known to love: boulders, forests, wildlife, rivers, bridges, and pines-a-plenty. The park comes with superior access to Lake Superior – if your heart desires, you can take a jump into those cold waters, or simply chill out on the rock beach and skip stones as you watch the sunset across the lake. Tettegouche has excellent camp-
HIGH FALLS, PERROT STATE PARK JOE PASSE / CC BY-SA 2.0
ing sites and is centrally located on the North Shore, giving you access
the area. To learn more, visit
to Grand Marais, Duluth, and all
exploreminnesota.com and search
the other wonderful state parks in
“Tettagouche.” –Thomas DeLapp
BOBBY LIGHT / CREAT IVE COMMONS 2.0
BEST DAY TRIP DESTINATION 1. Duluth, Minnesota 2. Stillwater, Minnesota 3. Any backroad drive in beautiful Wisconsin Whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure or a place to wine and dine, you won’t be able to fit all that Duluth, Minnesota, has to offer into one day. A trip to Duluth could be a day spent exploring downtown and using the great photo ops the canal and lift bridge offer. From historical to scenic, this day trip destination has it all. In second place, Stillwater, Minnesota, offers a downtown shopping and dining experience right along the St. Croix River. And if neither of those destinations tickles your fancy, any backroad drive in beautiful Wisconsin will satisfy your itch for a day of fun. –Parker Reed
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