TOWNS AND SHOPS

For groceries, ZUP's in Tower is convenient and fairly complete. The Y-Store (intersection of 169 and routes 1 and 77) has fire permits, good liquor store, ice cream, bait, and video rental. Ely is about 25 minutes NE of here on 169 and has good restaurants (try the Chocolate Moose or Ely steak house), craft shops, and tons of outfitters for the Boundary Waters. It has the best tourist website: http://www.ely.org. Virginia is about 20 minutes SW and is the main city around here. It has a public library, medical center, Thunderbird Mall on 169, and a movie theater (Cinema-6 in Mt Iron). The Virgina Super One grocery just off 169 is very complete, with a better selection than ZUP's. Virginia city center is quaint and nice - don't get fooled by the strip malls along 169, but head toward the blue water tower. There is no pharmacy or vet in Tower, you need to go to Virginia or Ely.

The DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources) visitor's center is along 169 on the right, just before you get to Tower from here. It has hiking and snowmobile maps, as well as friendly people who can give advice on canoe routes, boundary waters, etc.

THINGS TO DO

Ely: The International Wolf Center - great place to visit. It also contains the office where you schedule trips into the boundary waters. They have real wolves (but if its too hot, they are all hiding in the shadows) and a bunch of exhibits. Check out the Howling Trips at night.
North American Bear Center is on route 169 just before Ely
Dorothy Moulter museum - about a lady who lived in the back woods and made root beer. Do in combination with Wolf Center, but don't make a special trip to Ely just for that.

Soudan (just beyond Tower) : The Soudan Underground Mine is a state park. It has both science tours of the underground lab for neutrino and dark matter physics, as well as the historic tour of a working iron mine. Don't miss walking around on surface too; the engine house that runs the hoist is remarkable. There is a nice (shortish) hiking trail, too. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/soudan_underground_mine/index.html

Tower: The Tower airport gives helicopter rides of the area. Hoodoo point is a nice public park. There is a portion of the Mesabi Bike Trail which goes between Tower and Soudan and then down to the lake. The fisheries - 1st driveway to the right off 77 just beyond the dam - is interesting in late May/early June when all the fry are in the cylinders and they are getting ready to stock the lakes. The dam itself (Rt 77) has a small parking area. You can walk around the rocks on either side of the dam.
Fortune Bay casino has a good golf course. There is a (very) small museum about the Bois Forte band on site. The casino has specials and live entertainment. The restaurant there is pretty good.

Lake Vermilion: Join the mail boat as it goes around all the islands. Leaves from Aronson's Marina just on the left between here and Tower. Look for the sign. Go to the marina to sign up.
To find out more about Fishing Guides and all things Vermilion, go to http://www.lakevermilion.com. This website will also give info on renting boats. Vermilion House Boats also rents - they are on the right side of route 77 a mile or so from the Y-store. Chuck and Tammy Blaha will also rent their pontoon boat, call 753-9455

Biwabik/Gilbert: Giant's Ridge is in Biwabik. In the summer, there is golf and biking. A completed part of the Mesabi Trail http://www.mesabitrail.com/maps goes by there (as well as its own trails). In the winter there is skiing http://www.giantsridge.com/

Near Orr: Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary (218-757-0172) is only open 5 pm to dusk and it is about an hour away, but quite unique. A place where some guy fed the bears for years - you walk around on a high boardwalk and there are bears everywhere, including cubs climbing trees to your level. http://www.ironrange.org/nature/birding-wildlife/viewing-areas/vince-shute/ If you go there, you can also do the bog walk just south of Orr on the way there or back.

WINTER FUN

For downhill skiing, there is Giant's Ridge near Biwabik (30 min drive), Spirit Mountain near Duluth (1.5 hr drive) and Lutsen near Tofte (2.5 hr drive). Giant's Ridge also has good cross country ski trails.

For nearby cross country skiing, there are groomed trails in lots of locations. The closest is maintained by Tower and the entrance/parking lot is on 135, just beyond the intersection of 169 and 135 (coming into Tower) on the right. Another really great one is Big Aspen and a not-always-groomed one is south of the intersection of 169 and 53 just north of Virginia. Go to http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/sponsoredSection/skiing/xc-trails/3.html for details on all of them. Best of all, you can just ski out on the lake in front of the house and go where you want. In principle, you can also ski on the snow mobile trail, but watch out.

Speaking of snowmobiles, the Taconite and Arrowhead Trails go right through our property. If you want to try it out, you can rent a sled at Vermilion Houseboats (753-3548). For maps, visit the DNR office (see above)

Dog sledding is done by a bunch of different groups - mostly out of Ely. There are 1 day trips and overnight trips. I was very happy with Run Silent http://www.runsilent.com

Ice fishing is easy - we do have a bright red auger which you are free to use to make your hole. No fancy huts, but you can go get some advice and tackle over at the Y-store and try it out.