6.04.2010

Ely, Minnesota

The boys and I took a trip to Ely, Minn. for Memorial Day weekend this year for three nights at Camp du Nord (a wedding present from my boss). We stayed in the Pilot House (the single most photographed feature on the grounds!) and it was great!

We were able to kayak, canoe, hike and grab firewood for the fireplace - all included in the fee. Had we paid extra, we could have eaten at the cafeteria with the other families (I much prefer cooking our own food while camping), and a different weekend would have meant more programming for the little one. We did, however, take full advantage of the boats and hiking as much as possible for having a 20-month old bouncing along with us, and managed to sleep outside for two of three nights on our screened in porch above Burntside Lake.

I must also recommend a trip to the town of Ely if you are headed this way. There are tons of outfitters, shops and friendly people. In particular, we ate (twice) at the Chocolate Moose. It was kitschy food and pie for a decent price. They have all kinds of odd beers to try (Ryan had quite a few, including some kind of Dead Guy ale).

Also, we had to check out Soudan, Minn. where there was an underground mine. There are tours that take you down the original mine shaft 27 stories beneath the ground, just the way the miners did before it closed in 1962. Even Keegan could appreciate this as it was very kid-friendly (he kept picking up rocks and saying "rock!" real loud while the guide was talking).

Other than traffic getting there and back, (a 4.5 hour car ride made into five hours!) and a toddler who didn't want to nap, it was a GREAT and much needed vacation! It was great to get Keegan outdoors (he loved picking up rocks, checking out the ferns, and picking up all of the pine cones and putting them back on the pine trees) and he learned lots of new words dealing with nature.

Check out more photos here.