No worries about flooding here - staff members like Ben Peters (pictured here) would be happy to escort you to the store by canoe or kayak!

While most people are sweltering in the late July heat, we’re staying comfortably cool here at Stone Harbor – thanks to the big air conditioner (aka Lake Superior) out back. We’re having fun with the recent downpours as you can see from the picture, kayaking in the parking lot. If you’re in town when the parking lot is flooded, have no fear! We can pick you up at the curb with one of our boats, or direct you to the secret passageway into the back door of the store.  The great news is, we built the store high enough that we do not take in any water. It might cover the first 2½ steps of the entrance, but everything inside stays high and dry.

This is the busiest time of the year for us, and folks have been coming from all over the world to see us and participate in our tours and events. Almost every day, weather permitting, we have at least one kayak tour on the big lake. Scott has been very busy keeping up with countless fly fishing tours. Canoes are going out all the time for day trips and BWCA trips, and stand up paddling is starting to catch on.

This is such a great time of year to visit Grand Marais. Next weekend is the annual North Shore Dragon Boat Festival, which we are sponsoring again this year. The weekend after that is the annual Fishermen’s Picnic. The Grand Marais Playhouse is having performances of Forever Patsy Cline and Shout, and our restaurants are going full force with menus you cannot find anywhere. Don’t miss the great pies at the Pie Place, and of course the great doughnuts at the World’s Best Donuts shop.

And, of course, you can’t miss the ferry rides to the store in our parking lot – only available while the water lasts. We’ll be waiting for you.