Minnesota North Shore Fall Color RV Rally - September 2016

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MN Blue Skies

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Minnesota North Shore Fall Colors RV Rally
No predictions yet but according to some Grand Marais locals the best fall colors usually occur between the end of September and the beginning of October

Dates:  September 24, 25, 26, and 27.  [size=9pt](Four nights.  Check in 9/24 and check out 9/28.  Reservations for less than four nights are acceptable.) We have a short term hold on six RV sites [size=14pt]... so be sure to reserve your site before July 25.

Location:  Grand Marais Campground.  The campground is on a peninsula edged by the Grand Marais Harbor on one side, Lake Superior on the other side, and easy walking distance to Grand Marais shops and restaurants.

Site Info:    Sites 116 W through 121W.  These sites have electric, water, and sewer hookups.  Some sites can accommodate a larger Class A or 5th Wheel.  FYI:  Lakeside sites cannot be reserved but for a couple of dollars you can upgrade your site on a first come basis.  Availability is limited.

Amenities:  The campground is pet friendly, and has four restroom/shower facilities throughout the park.  Partially wooded sites, picnic tables, fires allowed in available grills.  Free Wi-Fi is available at the office and is available at some sites for a fee.

Schedule:  This is an unstructured rally so there is no schedule unless participants want to create one.  Feel free to make plans with others to share meals, happy hours, go sightseeing or shopping, or it's okay to just do your own thing.

Attractions:  There are many things to see and do along Minnesota's North Shore Scenic  Drive (143 miles) including waterfalls, lighthouses, photo opportunities, shopping, arts and crafts, hiking and biking trails, and hopefully starlit nights & northern lights.

Rates:  Sept. 24 is $37 and Sept. 25, 26, 27 are $35 per night.  Does not include tax. There maybe an additional charge for extra vehicles.  Ask when making reservations.
 
CG Website:  View Grand Marais Campground and Marina's helpful website here: http://grandmaraisrecreationarea.com/campground/index.htm

Questions:  My dear husband and I are organizing this rally.  (MN Blue Skies a/k/a Max.)  If you have questions regarding the rally please post them on this thread or send me an email.


Reservations

To make your reservation or for specific campground information, call 1-800-998-0959

Be sure to make your reservation before July 25

When you call the campground be prepared to provide your name, phone number, address, and credit card information. A $25 deposit is required when making the reservation.  $18 is applied to your camping and $7 is a nonrefundable reservation fee.  Deposits are refundable with a 7 day notice less the $7 non-refundable reservation fee.  No refunds for early checkouts.  Our group is listed under Eric Straughn or RV Forum.

After you have made your reservation, post your site number or send me an email so we can keep track of who is attending.  Thank you!


Watch for upcoming information on this thread regarding a Pre-Rally at Two Harbors, MN

It's for people who want to break up their trip and meet up with others along the scenic road between Two Harbors and Grand Marais.

 
Pre-Rally in Two Harbors, MN
(This is a Pre-Rally to the North Shore Fall Colors RV Rally but even if you are not attending the rally in Grand Marais you are welcome to join us in Two Harbors.)

Burlington Bay Campground
September 22 and 23

There are lots of things to see and do along the Minnesota North Shore Scenic Drive.  We also like to limit our daily travel time so we are beginning our journey to Grand Marais with a two night stay at Burlington Bay Campground in Two Harbors, MN.  We have reserved a site right on the shores of Lake Superior.  This is an older part of the campground.  They also have a newer portion that can handle big rigs.  We'd love to have you join us on your way up to Grand Marais.  Let me know if you decide to join us at Burlington Bay Campground.


Burlington Bay Campground Info and Reservations
Website:  https://www.bookyoursite.com/campground/harborsburling
Phone:  218-834-2021

 
I just received an email from "I'll Follow the Sun"  a/k/a Scott that he has reserved site 121W.

I might have to explain to Scott that if he's following the sun he's headed the wrong way ::) ;)
 
Update on reservations.

116W  MN Blue Skies (Max and DH Eric)
117W  Dutch Eagle (Klaas and DW Eileen)
118W  Open
119W  Open
120W  Open
121W  I'll Follow the Sun (Scott)
 
A list of links to attractions along Scenic Hwy 61



Northshore Waterfall Map
http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/minnesota/waterfall-road-trip-mn/


Northshore Fall Color Report
http://www.northshorefallcolors.com/report/index.htm


Aurora Borealis - Minnesota Northern Lights
http://www.visitcookcounty.com/plan-your-trip/activities-by-season/summer/northern-lights/


North Shore Visitor
http://www.northshorevisitor.com/


Superior Byways
http://www.superiorbyways.com/routes/north-shore-scenic-drive


Visit Cook County
http://www.visitcookcounty.com/


Trip Advisors - The Minnesota Northshore Scenic Drive received 5 stars and a Certificate of Excellence.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g43018-d261484-Reviews-Minnesota_s_North_Shore_Scenic_Drive-Duluth_Minnesota.html


North Folk House School (Arts and Crafts)
http://www.northhouse.org/campuslife/virtualtour/index.htm
https://issuu.com/northhouse/docs/catalog_ss16_for_issuu/1
They have a tour every Saturday at 2 pm. 


Northshore Music Association
http://www.northshoremusicassociation.com
Ann Reed, singer-songwriter is playing on Sept. 24.  She plays the twelve sting guitar.


Angry Trout Caf?
http://www.angrytroutcafe.com/


World?s Best Donuts
http://www.worldsbestdonutsmn.com/



 
Finally we got a internet connection at the GNR  :-\

We also booked a site in Two Harbors so see everyone there and are exited to do this trip.

PS We learned a lot on the GNR and are here for a two day FreightLiner class. Awesome info.

Klaas&Eileen
 
Update reservations for MN Fall Colors Rally,

116W  Open
117W  Dutch Eagle (Klaas and DW Eileen)
118W  MN Blue Skies (Max and DH Eric)
119W  Katherine S.
120W  Open
121W  I'll Follow the Sun (Scott)

We have two spots open but the CG said they would work with us. 
 
FYI  ... I heard from one of the rally participants that the fall colors are at 50% of peak in Grand Marais and that we should hit peak colors perfectly.  I love to sit around a fall campfire in Minnesota.  Right now there are a total of four rigs.  I called the CC yesterday and they said they had just few sites remaining.  If you are thinking about joining us now is the time. 
 
Arrived in Two Harbors today there is not a lot of fall color yet but the view from our front window at the campground is fantastic.
Burlington Bay Campground To Harbors Minnesota
 

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Evil,

This afternoon and early evening we are going up 61 to Beaver Bay and then taking County Road 3 to loop back toward Two Harbors.  We plan to stop at Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock and hope to catch some colors along County 3.  Are you along our travel path?
 
MN Blue Skies said:
Evil,

This afternoon and early evening we are going up 61 to Beaver Bay and then taking County Road 3 to loop back toward Two Harbors.  We plan to stop at Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock and hope to catch some colors along County 3.  Are you along our travel path?

Sorry been working on a house project all day and didn't see this. We are 20 miles North on Hwy2 that starts at the Holiday station right by the Campground. A nice loop would have been to stay on 3 straight out Beaver Bay till it turned into Forest Hwy11 then back to.2 to Two Harbors. Or up to Hwy1 past Silver Bay off 61 take that to Ely then back to 2 very scenic. I suppose you move to Grand  Marais tomorrow. Might be some color over the hill.up.the Gunflint Trail, pretty scenic drive.. hope you're enjoying the time up here..
 
It was a perfect fall day in Minnesota.  Klaas, Eileen, Eric, and I look in the scenic sites around Two Harbors, had a nice drive in the country, and ended the day with dinner and pie at the locally well known Betty's Pie shop. I think Eric and Klaas chose the best pies.  Eric had the five layer chocolate pie and Klaas had the five layer butterscotch pie.  Tomorrow we're headed to Grand Marais to meet up with the rest of our party.

Evil,  maybe we could connect on the way back from Grand Marais? I think we're headed back down Hwy 61 on Wednesday, September 28. 
 
We were going to try and make it up to Grand Marais, but Bob ended up in the hospital for the week. He was just released yesterday. He has appointments all week coming up so we are stuck in the cities. :(

If you go up the Gunflint trail, stop in at the campground at Devils track lake. Its great and I cant wait to go up there.
 
A few shots from the MN Fall Colors Rally in Grand Marais.  Photographer was Dutch Eagle (Klaas) and Editor was MN Blue Skies (Max)
 

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My sincere apology to Klaas.  He was the photographer who took the images.  My watermark was accidently put on the images during post processing.  :-[ :-[
 
Naniboujou is for sale, 3.25 million if any one is interested.  Sorry I missed the trip. I was actually supposed to be working in Grand Marais that weekend but switch my schedule and headed East instead. 
 
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