Part 2 of the North Shore Trip with 4 Kids

This post is picking up where I left off in my first post about our North Shore trip with my boys, niece, and nephew. On the morning of our 3rd day, we hit Cascade River State Park:

Hwy 61 bridge that leads out to Lake Superior.


So many waterfalls on this hike!


The kiddos next to a falls.






















On the “lake side” of Hwy 61,


You can barely see Charlie lounging on the rocks in the distance.


Breaking rocks with other rocks.

After the trip, Evie mentioned that this (of ALL THINGS) was some of the most fun she had on the trip. They spent like 90 minutes finding a specific kind of softer rock that they would work to crush up with harder rocks. They looked like 1930s prisoners “breaking rocks” on the beach.

Cousins.


We went to Lutsen and hiked along this river a bit before the “alpine slide” opened!










After a brief rain delay, we were the first ones heading up for the day!!


It was June, but that’s SNOW up there on the left!


Henry and Evie at the top (with Lake Superior behind Ev’s head!).


Selfie on top of the world!


There go Evie and Charlie.


I went down with Henry, and I royally beat him. Here he is coming to the bottom.


#SpeedFace


Wes was a bit more timid and went last.


But he still loved it!


Next stop was Sugarloaf Cove.


Lots of fun bouldering!


This was the first time that I climbed the 15’ cliff at the end!
Here’s Charlie helping Wes up, with Evie still at the bottom.


Wes heading up!


Selfie at the top!


View from the top looking back at the peninsula.


The harrowing climb down.




Walking back on the lake side.

We drove down the highway to a roadside rest that I heard had a nice walk to a waterfall (Caribou Falls). We were all planning to hike to the waterfall and then jump in... even though the air temp was 55 degrees and the water was going to be COLD!

Starting the hike along the river.

I was in the back chatting with Ev, and the youngest boys were leading us. They took us off-trail without noticing (to be fair, I didn't notice either), and we were hiking some steep, narrow, muddy trails. We had chatted with 2 younger women in the parking lot that took off in front of us, and one of them had a small baby strapped to her chest, and the other had 2 small dogs. Evie kept saying "those ladies with that baby and those dogs did NOT come this way! We are NOT on the trail!" But then it finally opened up and we joined up with the proper trail just before the waterfall:

Down to the Caribou Falls!


The kids ready to get wet.


I joined them!!




Charlie reacting to the cold water!


Ev was the champ as she was in the water the longest BY FAR.








Back in Grand Marais at "Hungry Hippie Tacos" for supper!




Charlie's massive taco!


Later, we found ourselves in a photoshoot back along the lake at Artists Point.


First, Charlie jumped...


... then it looked like Wes just floated over...


... but Evie made it look the coolest.


Posing with the sun.


Wes slipped and brought Charlie down too. Oh well.


Still more of our "photoshot" on the way out.


From his new rap album.


Henry with a leap!


Our final morning started with me getting out the door on a run while the kids still slept.


Views from my run: a waterfall on one side...


... that drains into the lake on the other.


The view at my turn-around.


Headed back into Grand Marais.


Stopped at "South of the Border" Cafe for breakfast...


... it was everything I love about a small town cafe. Wes called it his favorite!


Perfection.


A stop at Temperance River State Park south of Grand Marais.


Kids on a bridge!


Kids on another bridge!

I love Temperance River, but the kids were done with hikes. So we didn't spend very long there. We made one final "enjoy the view" stop at Palisade Head. (I would have been up for a hike at Tettegouche State Park, but the kids were over it, so I didn't push for it.)

We had the overlook parking lot COMPLETELY TO OURSELVES!!


Standing at the 300' cliff!




Holding themselves up over a 50' deep crack.





Yes, they make me nervous up there!


Looking down another deep crack while taking in one final view.

We took off for home! We made one final stop at the Sweetly Kismet Candy Store near Jay Cooke State Park:

Here's more photos on my "root beer blog!"

I didn't take many videos of our trip, but here are a few put together in a 2 minute video. There's a handful from the chilly Caribou Falls swim:


Direct link: youtube.com/shorts/DGD4er4-4dM?si=DOu4ySXPMrLa5p2u

And here's part 1 of the trip if you missed it!