If you’re familiar with my page you know my heart lives for the North Shore. While we typically stay in Grand Marais this time, we decided to change course a bit and stay in Lutsen for the weekend with our friends at the Mountain Inn!
I was fortunate enough to meet the owner, Teri, in person this past March as she made a trip down to the cities! We were chatting on and off on social media and it randomly worked out to grab coffee together! Fast forward to June and Eric and I were so lucky enough to stay in her humble abode – the Mountain Inn.
Her and her husband, James, bought it about a year ago and have been making revisions and renovations to the space. It’s beautifully decorated with vintage ski posters, photos, and art but also she incorporates local North Shore artists in each room too!
Very reasonably priced, The Mountain Inn sits right on Ski Hill Road, just steps from the Lutsen Mountains! If you’re a skier – this is the place to come in the winter! You can hit the trails right through their backyard! They have a great outdoor space packed with a firepit, hammocks, swings, & brand new tables! Now in the summer they even have s’more Saturdays complete with s’more packs and a roaring fire all night.
One of my favorite parts actually was Ella’s Pantry. I love to snack and we really didn’t bring any groceries on this trip so instead of running to town to the grocery store, I could score some breakfast foods, snacks, soda, and more! They brew fresh Ox & Crow coffee every morning for you too!
The staff at Mountain Inn are so friendly and helpful with whatever you need during your stay. Catch Sarah and Brett throughout the week or weekend and ask them about their stories! It’s always fun to learn why and how they ended up on the North Shore. Depending on when you go, the Mountain Inn also has a massage studio, Lutzen Reflections. They have an exciting steam bath and sauna coming this year too! Once open you can book massages here or on the lakefront in Grand Marais too!
What’s to do?
So if you’re like me and come during the summer you’re probably wondering what is there to do? Well first, start your day with a maple latte (a personal favorite) from Fika Coffee. “Town” is about a mile down from Ski Hill Road and has a few shops to pop into. Fika is opened typically Wednesday – Sunday. Grab breakfast from Lockport Marketplace when you’re getting some gas or groceries. They serve breakfast and lunch from 7am-2pm every day and have a nice side patio to sit outside too! There are a few other shops in town as well that you can pop into (make sure to wear your mask!)
Eric ended up working remotely during the week so I adventured solo for a couple of days! First, if you need a good quick workout in, walk do Ski Hill road…Then walk back up! A good start to your day 😉 About 15 minutes down the road is Cascade River State Park which is great for hiking & picnics! I hiked there along the Superior Hiking Trail and saw plenty of waterfalls and then actually walked down to the river’s edge too! Grab lunch or dinner from Cascade Restaurant & Pub! We snagged one of their daily specials and took it to go and ate it back at the Mountain Inn. If you’re there on Thursdays, the North Shore Winery (which is about a half-mile down the road from the inn ) has date night! They are open late until 9pm. Make your reservation online to sit on their new patio. You do have to pay $5 per person, but you get to keep wine glass after your visit! If you choose not to pre-pay you might luck out with an open table.
Other things to do around Lutsen:
- Make the drive to Grand Marais! Check out ideas on things to do in Grand Marais for the day here.
- Check out the Lutsen Mountains and ride the Gondola! It is now open for the season.
- Grab food to go from Lutsen Resort and sit on their beach. Their beachfront/property is gorgeous!
- Head to Tofte for lunch at the Coho Cafe – Their walleye tacos are delicious!
- Hike the Caribou Trail at Sunrise. ( a short drive from the Mountain Inn)
The next time you’re wanting to head up the North Shore, stay in Lutsen and make sure to check out the gem of Mountain Inn! 🙂