Traveling in a “Family Bubble” to See Lovely Lake Superior

by Teri E. Popp, Tastemaker in Residence

Like everyone else in the world, my family feels confined during the Covid 19 pandemic. Schools open, and then close. We eat at home instead of eating out. We feel isolated and yearn for some room to roam. But visiting foreign vistas and travel abroad is not on our agenda for now; So, we have been visiting the beautiful environs of our own lovely state of Minnesota.

We decided that—for us—a “family bubble” would work for traveling! We have chosen to limit our interactions with other people outside of our family unit until we feel safe enough to do so. And on our most recent trip, we stayed at Bluefin Bay condominiums located in Tofte, Minnesota, on the rocky shores of Lake Superior. https://www.bluefinbay.com

We started our trip by first visiting Gooseberry Falls State Park. Gorgeous at any time of year, it consists of an assortment of waterfalls and a vast array of hiking trails. The trails, constructed by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) in the late 1930’s, offer many different views. Excited, we all masked up, grabbed our hiking poles, and hit the trails!

The next day, we headed out to search for agates at Cutface Creek Wayside. My daughter and her husband scoured the shores of Lake Superior for the state’s official gemstone. As the best rock hunting often occurs in the aftermath of a storm, the fall is an especially good time to hit the beach. For more information on agate hunting, go to https://northshorevisitor.com/activities/lake-superior-agates/

We also spent part of the day in Judge C.R. Magney State Park traversing the trails leading up to the gorgeous Devil’s Kettle Falls. This hike is not for the faint of heart and hiking poles are definitely recommended. But any trekker who makes it to the Upper Falls feels a great sense of accomplishment! Please note this walk is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) in length and includes over 200 stairs (estimated to be about 12 floors). See the following for more details: TripAdvisor › Attraction_Review-g...Web resultsDevil's Kettle (Minnesota) - 2020 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

On our last full day in Northern Minnesota, we started with my favorite stop on this scenic byway—the Temperance River. Containing 3 beautiful waterfalls, this park is one of only 4 Minnesota State parks that allow rock climbing in and near its falls. The Superior Hiking Trail passes through the park on its way to the top of Carlton Peak. For more information on Minnesota’s various hiking and rock climbing trails, visit https://www.exploreminnesota.com/hikemn?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIy_T5jKLO7AIVUNbACh0dWwCLEAAYASAAEgJBvfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Our last stop was the iconic Split Rock Lighthouse. Easily the most Instagrammable spot found in Minnesota, it’s breathtaking! And the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) guides gladly share their wealth of knowledge regarding lighthouses; the Fresnel Lens, which is still operational and was used to lightships’ passages on the lake; and the general history of why Split Rock Lighthouse was built. For more information on location, fees, and hours, please visit https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock.

We ended each and every day on the trip the way we started them—with a great meal and a rousing game of cards!! So don’t forget to pack the cards and board games when you venture out on your own “Family Bubble” adventure and maybe we’ll see you on our next adventure up North!!