Cascade Vacation Rentals Blog | A Guide to all things North Shore

17 04, 2024

Lady Superior Bottle Shop
Lady Superior Bottle Shop

Lady Superior Bottle Shop

Jaye2024-04-17T17:47:38+00:00Local Businesses, News & Updates|

Photo from The Big Lake Facebook Page Are you visiting the North Shore this weekend? If you are, you can experience Grand Marais' newest business for a preview event! Introducing Lady Superior Bottle Shop, a non-alcoholic (NA) bottle shop soon to be located in the former Gunflint Mercantile store. Lady Superior Bottle Shop is the brainchild of Abby Tofte, owner of The Big Lake, an artsy gift shop located in the same building. When the Gunflint Mercantile closed earlier this year, Abby was able to purchase the other half of the building. It will soon be home [...]

2 01, 2024

Norpine Fat Bike Classic
Norpine Fat Bike Classic

Norpine Fat Bike Classic

Jaye2024-03-19T15:23:29+00:00Events & Holidays|

Fat bike racing has gained popularity in recent years, which has led to the creation of the Norpine Fat Bike Classic. The race happens annually around the first weekend of January. Experience fat biking on the Norpine Trails in Lutsen. Ride through stands of old-growth cedars on Pisten Bully groomed trails while overlooking Lake Superior- winter riding doesn’t get better than this!History of the Norpine Fat Bike ClassicFat Biking became a popular wintertime activity in Minnesota in the mid 2010s. Although, it has been a pastime much longer in other cold-weather regions of the world. As interest in the activity [...]

18 12, 2023

New Year’s on the North Shore
New Year’s on the North Shore

New Year’s on the North Shore

Jaye2024-03-25T16:58:43+00:00Events & Holidays|

From Duluth to Grand Portage and up the Gunflint Trail, there are many events to help you celebrate New Year's on the North Shore! Whether you're looking for live music and dancing or a low-key, romantic dinner. You are sure to find the celebration that will help you start your New Year off right here on the North Shore. Celebrate in Duluth For New Year's on the North Shore, Duluth is the place to be! There are so many events and celebrations, we couldn't possibly list them all! So here are a few highlights to pick from during your [...]

28 11, 2023

Two North Shore Holiday Villages You Cannot Miss!
Two North Shore Holiday Villages You Cannot Miss!

Two North Shore Holiday Villages You Cannot Miss!

Jaye2023-11-29T19:19:08+00:00Events & Holidays|

December is a festive time on Lake Superior's North Shore. Towns decorate their main streets in lights, Christmas trees go up in town centers, and special events run from Thanksgiving to New Years to help you get into the spirit of the holidays. This year, there are two North Shore Holiday villages you cannot miss! The Duluth Winter Village and the new Holiday Harbor Village in Grand Marais. Duluth Winter Village For one weekend only, from December 2-3, the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) hosts an outdoor holiday wonderland! There will be hot beverages and local craft beverages [...]

12 07, 2023

Cathy’s Cove Peregrine Falcons
Cathy’s Cove Peregrine Falcons

Cathy’s Cove Peregrine Falcons

Jaye2023-07-25T14:51:02+00:00Animals|

In early June, two guests walked into the Cascade Vacation Rentals' office with an interesting story. The guests were staying at Cathy's Cove, a small cabin on Lake Superior near Tofte, Minnesota. The cabin has a small cove beach area that is a favorite amongst past guests at Cathy's Cove. Only, these guests were not able to get down to enjoy the cove area. This was due to a falcon suddenly appearing and dive-bombing the guests as they approached the bottom of the staircase leading to the cove. This was unusual. We had not heard about a falcon dive-bombing [...]

28 06, 2023

Fire at Papa Charlie’s
Fire at Papa Charlie’s

Fire at Papa Charlie’s

Jaye2023-07-06T17:42:57+00:00History, Local Businesses, Lutsen, News & Updates|

While many were enjoying and celebrating a local man's victory at the Lutsen 99er, just a mile away another scene was playing out. Up on the hill at Lutsen Mountains, a fire had started at the beloved Papa Charlie's restaurant and events center. The fire started sometime before 6 am. While crowds were gathering at the nearby golf course for the bike race, fire crews from six area fire departments were rushing towards Lutsen for to try to battle the fire. Many of those called had also volunteered to help at Lutsen 99er Aid Station. Instead, they were battling [...]

27 06, 2023

Local Man Wins the 2023 Lutsen 99er
Local Man Wins the 2023 Lutsen 99er

Local Man Wins the 2023 Lutsen 99er

Jaye2023-07-06T17:41:30+00:00Events & Holidays, Lutsen|

A thrilling photo finish brought a victory back to the North Shore in the 2023 Lutsen 99er Gravel Bike Race. A local man wins the 2023 Lutsen 99er. On Saturday, June 24, 2023, at around 7:30 AM, nearly 2,000 racers competed in a series of races known as the Lutsen 99er. The 2023 Lutsen 99er featured four challenging courses: the 99er, the 69er, the 49er, and the 25er. Within those races, 589 racers took on the challenging 99er. A local man, Will Surbaugh, son of Cascade Vacation Rentals' owner Steve Surbaugh, took home the 99er victory in a dramatic [...]

26 04, 2023

North Shore Brewery Guide Part 3 | Hoops Brewing, Ursa Minor Brewing, Warrior Brewing Company, and More!
North Shore Brewery Guide Part 3 | Hoops Brewing, Ursa Minor Brewing, Warrior Brewing Company, and More!

North Shore Brewery Guide Part 3 | Hoops Brewing, Ursa Minor Brewing, Warrior Brewing Company, and More!

Jaye2023-05-09T20:03:11+00:00Activities & Attractions, Duluth|

Duluth, Minnesota is home to many amazing breweries, each offering a different experience. The wide variety is sure to please even the pickiest microbrew enthusiast. North Shore Brewery Guide Part 3 features several more breweries and a different way to experience local breweries: Tap Houses! The North Shore Brewery Part 3 features Hoops Brewing, Ursa Minor Brewing, Warrior Brewing, and two local Tap Houses. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly experience in the Lincoln Park Craft District, or want to support some amazing local non-profits while enjoying a night out, these breweries are for you! Don’t want to wait [...]

19 04, 2023

North Shore Brewery Guide Part 2 | Bent Paddle Brewing and Lake Superior Brewing
North Shore Brewery Guide Part 2 | Bent Paddle Brewing and Lake Superior Brewing

North Shore Brewery Guide Part 2 | Bent Paddle Brewing and Lake Superior Brewing

Jaye2023-04-21T16:09:22+00:00Activities & Attractions, Duluth|

Duluth, Minnesota is home to many amazing breweries, each offering a different experience. The wide variety is sure to please even the pickiest microbrew enthusiast. Over the next few weeks, we will be featuring breweries located in Duluth as part of our North Shore Brewery Guide. In this second part of the series we will feature two more unique breweries in the Duluth area: Bent Paddle Brewing and Lake Superior Brewing. From a family-friendly space in Lincoln Park to a higher-end dining experience in Duluth's Eastside neighborhood, these two breweries offer unique experiences. Don’t want to wait to learn [...]

12 04, 2023

Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza
Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza

Sydney’s Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza

Jaye2024-02-12T16:47:00+00:00Grand Marais, History, Local Businesses, News & Updates|

Sydney's Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza, spring 2022, before the fire. Around 11:30 AM on April 10, 2023, a fire broke out at Sydney's Frozen Custard & Wood-Fired Pizza. On what was otherwise a beautiful spring day in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Responding fire departments fought the fire for over two hours, extinguishing it around 1:30 PM. Unfortunately, the intense fire destroyed the interior of this beloved downtown eatery. In this week's blog post, we reflect back on the history of this seasonal favorite. And, look to see what may happen to it in the future. The Fire [...]

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