Summer is in the air. The Farmer’s Market has reopened in our parking lot and this morning looking out the window we could see the Hjordis which sails out of the North House Folk School. Last weekend was also the Boreal Bird Festival over there, and a lot of the birding community made the trek to our store.

Another sure sign of summer - the Hjordis sailing in the harbor, from the North House Folk School.

In terms of what is Stone Harbor doing to prepare for the summer, this week has been what we like to call our continuing education weekend. As some of you know, any SHWS staff person taking visitors on a tour has at least a Wilderness First Aid certificate. Some are Wilderness First Responders. Three of our staff renewed their certificates this week, and three of our kayak guides are involved in advanced kayak training. One of our staff picked up his Top Rope Climbing certification earlier in the month. Continuing education is something we do throughout the year, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands with our tour staff.

We’re also getting a great response from our customers, with rentals and tours picking up. On some days, we’ve even had to turn people away. To make sure you’re not disappointed, we ask that you reserve a spot as far in advance as possible. There is a chance you can stop in the store and get signed up at the last minute, but it helps our planning (and yours) if you do it in advance.

Finally, if you just want to go for a day hike or paddle, not only can we sell you your maps and compasses, but we also have staff members who can sit down with you and tell you the good spots to go. Or, if mountain biking is your sport, we can direct you to rentals and great trails. Even though we don’t sell mountain bikes, we’re a major sponsor of Lutsen 99er mountain bike race put on by Lifetime Fitness on June 23. So, if mountain biking is your thing, you don’t want to miss this.

Now’s the time to plan your summer trip to Grand Marais. If you really want to make your visit unforgettable, make sure you include Stone Harbor in your planning!