Sawtooth Cabin. Photo by Corey Gaffer
It doesn’t get much more picturesque in Minnesota than the North Shore. With three locations perched along the shore of Lake Superior, and three more tucked into the lush forests toward the middle of the state, these vacation options are a gift of beauty with a ribbon of privacy. Click on the photos below for more info. View the full Vacation Home Rental Guide here.
What this retro cottage in the Chippewa National Forest lacks in automatic dishwashers, it makes up for in charm. The renovated lodge from a former ma and pa resort looks like a Pinterest board come to life—complete with pool table, ping pong, foosball, and a vintage Budweiser sign in the old game room. (Bedrooms 4 and 5 are in the adjacent seasonal guest cabin, available June-September.)
Baileys contains more personal effects than most vacation home rentals and offers a cozy getaway for families or groups of close friends (one bedroom holds two sets of bunks). It's perched practically on top of Lake Superior so guests may be lulled to sleep by the sound of crashing waves.
This snug cottage is so close to Lake Superior it almost feels like you’re inside a ship—but with far more elbow room for cooking and sleeping (and radiant-heat floors).
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s longtime chief draftsman, John Howe, Seagull House brings historic Prairie-style architecture, complete with organic stone floors and funky angles, to the Lake Superior shore.
This light-filled cabin offers splendid views of Burntside Lake and a tasteful execution of knotty pine. Plus: two saunas, including one in the traditional Finnish barrel style.
Snow Kreilich Architects created two linked cubes, a main cabin and smaller studio, with floor-to-ceiling glass to maximize views of Lake Superior. Limited cell phone reception and no internet.
Vincent James Associates Architects designed this sleek, modern, knotty-pine-lined retreat an hour and a half north of Grand Marais at the secluded edge of the Canadian border. Between the natural beauty of the site’s towering pines and rock escarpments, you’ll never miss the TV, cell phone, and internet.
An open floor plan makes this ample getaway feel even more spacious, as do the expansive views of Giants Ridge golf and ski resort along with picturesque Wynne Lake. For post- activity relaxation, there’s a three-head master shower and a dual-zoned wine fridge.
A big stone fireplace is the heart of Cedar Cliff, a 1920s Craftsman-style retreat on Lake Superior. Period details include vintage quilts on the beds and an antique dining table for 12.
