Vacation near Ely, MN next spring

[travlnusa]

After spending the weekend near Ely MN last weekend for a Boy Scout event, I want to take the entire family up there for a family vacation.

My idea is that we would camp at Bear Head State Park. I would like to visit the Sudan mine, the wolf center, and bear center. DW will want a day in Ely looking at the shops.

If we have more time that is not dedicated to fishing, what else do we want to do/see?

[Cabin Fever]

Bear Head Lake SP is a great park! I've spent several weeks camping there on various occassions. It is almost like staying in the BWCA as there are no cabins on the entire lake...only the campground which is secluded.

It sounds like you have all the "hotspots" researched out. The only other must see that I can think of right now is the Dorothy Molter museum in Ely. Dorothy was the "Root Beer Lady" of the BWCA. She sold homemade root beer to tired and wiery canoeists back in the 1960s to 1980s...including myself. She was the only person allowed to live in the BWCA, When she died, they moved her cabin and all her stuff off of the island that she lived on to make the museum. If you're interested in learning more about her do a websearh on "Root Beer Lady" or "Dorothy Molter." Better yet, PM me with your address and I'll loan you a book that was written about her life.

When I visited the musuem last year I found my signature from 1968 in one of Dorothy's visitor registration books....

[Grandmotherbear]

Were you doing their Charles Sommers Base of northern Tier?
You have GOT to take your scouts to Bisset Manitoba and Atikokan Ontario bases also- they are just great! Don't forget Sommers runs the Okpik winter program too!
There's an open air mine up there near Ely that runs tours. I forget the particulars...

[Grandmotherbear]

I would love to get Grandfatherbear up there also but it ain't gonna happen...

[paulaswolfpack]

Here a website that I go to everyday to watch the wolves on 3 web cams,paula

http://www.elyminnesota.com/content/view/44/39/

[travlnusa]

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

The only other must see that I can think of right now is the Dorothy Molter museum in Ely. Dorothy was the "Root Beer Lady" of the BWCA. She sold homemade root beer to tired and wiery canoeists back in the 1960s to 1980s...including myself. She was the only person allowed to live in the BWCA, When she died, they moved her cabin and all her stuff off of the island that she lived on to make the museum. If you're interested in learning more about her do a websearh on "Root Beer Lady" or "Dorothy Molter."

We will add the Root Beer Lady to the trip. Sounds fun.

Thank you for the offer of the book loan, but I should be able to find what I need online.

[travlnusa]

Originally Posted by Grandmotherbear

Were you doing their Charles Sommers Base of northern Tier?
You have GOT to take your scouts to Bisset Manitoba and Atikokan Ontario bases also- they are just great! Don't forget Sommers runs the Okpik winter program too!
There's an open air mine up there near Ely that runs tours. I forget the particulars...

Yes we were. I would love to get the boys up to Canada, but getting the parents past their objections of leaving the state was hard enough, I will save my energy on leaving the country for another battle.


Thanks to all for the ideas. We are excited to start the planning.

[moonwolf]

I've gone to Ely several times, mainly to visit the International Wolf Center. That's a main attraction in town there. Also, if I were to go again, I'd stop and see the Brandenburg Gallery.

link:

http://www.jimbrandenburg.com/gallery/gallery.html

[paulaswolfpack]

Heres some more webcams be sure to go to sheridan street and wave of course let us know when so we can go to the webcam and see y'all,paula
http://www.elyminnesota.com/content/blogcategory/21/39/

[tinknal]

I'm not up on state park camping. Can you get reservations? If so do it soon, those kinds of things go fast.