Availability for Memorial Weekend May 20, 2009

We still have some homes for rent for Memorial Day Weekend – Start you summer with a trip to the North Shore!
Call 1-800-950-4361 for reservations – 3 Night Minimum. 

Don’t forget the Grand Marais Jazz Festival is going on this weekend – listen to some great music on your vacation!

Little Marais
Thorson House

Tofte
Agrod Schloss
Aspenwood 6508, 6526, 6528, 6536, 6550
Parkview

Lutsen
Asle Ta
Finn House
Loon Point
Minne Me
Namaste Guest House
Nordkapp

Grand Marais
Opels 2
Superior Shores 9
The Vila

Gunflint Trail
Wearing Water

Weather Rollercoaster May 20, 2009

I think the North Shore is on a weather rollercoaster.   Last Saturday it was cold and can you believe it – snowing!  Who really wants snow falling in Mid-May?!  Then Sunday was beautiful.  I was outside in my gardens and forgot all about the bad weather the day before.  Monday – so-so…then Tuesday came.  Debby mentioned it was in the low 30’s.  I even turned my heated seats on for my car ride home.  Now today, we are supposed to get to the upper 70’s! 
Visitors and residents to the North Shore know that the weather is something to contend with, but nothing like this!  In the summer you can wake up, it is foggy and 60, then you go inland and you are ready to jump into Caribou Lake because it is 80.  It is just something you deal with – dressing in layers and wondering what the days temperatures might bring.  Lets hope the rollercoaster ends today and we can enjoy some wonderful weather for the rest of the summer and no more snow!  I can deal with layers, but am done with the heated seats. -Kris

Coming Soon… May 13, 2009

The Lutsen Park will soon be home to something many visitors and residents will love – a new playground!  It will be a wonderful place for families to burn off some energy, have a picnic and take in the lake.  June 6th volunteers will gather to put up the new play structure.  I am sure it will be a hit.

If you are willing to help, please come to Lutsen Park on June 6th at 8am.  Volunteers are needed.  Beverages and snacks will be provided and a grill will be on site for lunch.  There will be jobs for all abilities!

Spring Peepers May 12, 2009

It is the time of year when it is a bit too cold out, but you wish you could have your windows open to hear the spring peepers.  I always just called them frogs, but I guess up here they have a different name.  My husband and I have a small pond in our backyard and heard the peepers starting about 1.5 weeks ago.  I think they are chirping very early this year and I think they have multiplied in many numbers as we can hear them in our home with the tv on and all windows shut.  It is still fun though.   It is something that I never heard growing up in the big city.  We have found some egg sacks, so more peepers to come in the future. 

I have also heard that the hummingbirds are back in Northern Minnesota.  A great spot to see them is at Cascade Lodge Restaurant.  They always put out feeders for their diners to see these awesome birds.

2009 Catalog May 6, 2009

We are feverishly working on the 2009 rental catalog.  Although the layout and size will be different, we still have the same great information.  I would expect it to be out by the end of May!  Keep your eyes peeled!

My Favorite Tree – Gone… May 1, 2009

It’s not easy to pick a favorite tree, there are so many in the world.  If you have ever driven up the Highway 61 express way you know “the tree.”   It is between Duluth and Two Harbors.  It is the most beautiful pine tree around.  It sits in the median with its tree limbs just perfectly shaped.  In the past years I have been disappointed to see it has been spray painted.  I always wondered who thought that was a good idea.  I would have never thought someone would cut it down.  I saw a note on my facebook page that the “honking tree” had been cut down on Highway 61.  It peaked my curiosity.  I did think to myself, it isn’t “the tree” right?  Sure enough.  Some cold hearted person had cut it down.  Why?  It just doesn’t make sense.  I had no idea that this tree was such an icon to the North Shore and had many other admirers.  I really do hope that they catch the person who cut down this wonderful tree.  It will be sad to pass by the stump the next time I drive by.  I will need to start my search for my new “favorite tree.”-Kris

Here is an article that explains the history of this neat tree:
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/?event=article&id=119121