North Shore 2011

For the 4th year in a row, we made our way to the North Shore for our annual family trip. The first year was my sister's wedding. Lila was just 2 months old, and Elsa had just turned 2. The next year Lila was 1 and Elsa was 3... you get the picture. We've always stayed at Gooseberry Park Cabins in Castle Danger, just north of Two Harbors. It's a great area, right next to Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls, and Tettegouche State Park.

Friday, Day 1: Arrived and went down by the beach. First order of business: find the perfect stick!


The kids had fun doing what they did last year on the rocky shore: "stirring the soup" in potholes filled with water. Elsa got some lake scum on her stir stick and thought it was pretty neat/gross.


We ate at the cabin and then headed to Betty's Pies for dessert.


Saturday, Day 2:
The sunrise from our cabin window.


We ate breakfast across the street at the Rustic Inn, then headed back to cabin #4 (straight ahead). You can just barely see where water meets the sky.


The kids posed for pictures down by the beach.


Elsa loved watching the waves crash against the rocks.


We usually go to Gooseberry and Split Rock, but this year we ventured a bit further and went to Tettegouche State Park. The kids are hit or miss when it comes to having energy for long walks, but surprisingly they took a 3+ mile hike with us this day! Lila only had to be carried some of the time. They loved walking through the woods and exploring. Every time Lila heard a tree rustle, she thought for sure it was the waterfall we'd been waiting to see.


Finally, the waterfall!


The bouncy cable bridge.




Lila takes a rest while Tim and Elsa play around on the rocks in the river.


Not long after this photo, Tim fell into the water. About ten minutes later I asked how wet his shoes were, and he said he was fine... except for this. He held up his hand, and even with the sun in my eyes I could see it was covered in red. The rocks had sliced his hand pretty badly as he was trying to catch his balance! Elsa said,"I don't like blood, especially on my D!" Not a good injury for someone who works with his hands all the time. :(

I captured this photo just as Elsa tripped over a piece of driftwood! Not doing too well with the injuries on this vacation...


We got home and Tim took a nap while the we put together a 55 piece puzzle.


Next we went to the Two Harbors farmers market and got some sides for dinner: corn, tomatoes, and green beans. Of course that was followed by S'mores and a campfire down by the lake.




But, back to Two Harbors... where is the Voyageur outside the Voyageur Motel?! Don't mess with my landmarks, people!


Whew, we found him, completely refurbished and sitting in front of another tiny motel on the Expressway just before Two Harbors. Not quite the same thing, but I'll take it.


Sunday, Day 3:
It rained all day, but luckily it stopped for a bit while we took our usual walk at Silver Creek Cliff.