We were planning an awesome house post for today, but low and behold, our power went out last night for the first time since we’ve lived here. Apparently our local grid couldn’t handle everyone’s air conditioners working overtime. It was a scorching 103 degrees in the Twin Cities yesterday. It hasn’t been that hot since 1988. Did it stop us from moving our big pile of dirt into our yard? No. Did it make us turn on our air conditioning? No, because we are cheap like that. Did we drive to three places in search of Icees after our power went out? It’s a distinct possibility. But do we still have a great place for a getaway to share? We sure do. And we’re a little partial to it since we got married there. Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte, MN on the shores of Lake Superior.
The Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts is a good 4 hours from the hustle and bustle of Minneapolis, making it a relaxing getaway for those times that you just need to unplug from the world. Bluefin Bay is the original resort offering a wide variety of guestrooms and larger condos, and Surfside on Lake Superior (where we had our wedding reception) is the newest addition with lakeside townhouses that are only a few years old. And finally, there is Temperance Landing, which offers log cabins that sleep 6-8 people. They are all located within a few miles of each other, and we’ve stayed at Bluefin and Surfside. If you’re going to stay at Bluefin ask for one of their newly remodeled rooms, and at Surfside, all of the townhouses and suites are absolutely gorgeous. Here’s what the view looked like from our Surfside Master Bedroom Suite.
Who wouldn’t want to wake up to that? And it is in a very private setting with plenty of pristine shoreline to explore.
Over at Bluefin, there is also no shortage of breathtaking lake views. Bluefin’s different areas are connected by a lovely boardwalk or you can walk along the rocks too. Bluefin holds a campfire at night for guests to make s’mores. And they have indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs along with tennis courts and complimentary bike and kayak rentals. Or you can just take in the view and relax.
The pace of life is certainly a little slower than in the city. Across from Bluefin is the North Shore Market, which really depicts what life is like on the North Shore. Highway 61 (the main drag along the lake) is full of small markets and quaint gift shops to explore. But the selection is certainly not going to be what you’re used to at your local big box grocery store.
But fear not, there are actually really good places to eat at Bluefin and along the North Shore. We already shared the Angry Trout with you a few weeks ago in this post, but Bluefin has two restaurants of its own if you don’t want to make the trek to Grand Marais. We typically frequent the more laid-back Coho Cafe, which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Before 5 p.m., you order at the counter, and the food is brought to you. And for dinner, they have servers. The food is amazing, and there is a wonderful patio outside if the weather is cooperating. Dain loves the breakfast pizza while I opted for an egg scramble with goat cheese and herbs on our last visit.
And if you are looking for something swankier, the Bluefin Grille offers a tonier menu with steaks, seafood and pasta. They also have a nice bar, which is a great place to grab a drink. We sampled the red wine flight on our last visit. Bluefin Grille has also been featured in Minnesota Monthly and the Mpls/St. Paul Magazine as a restaurant worth the drive. They also host fabulous food and wine lovers weekends if you’re a foodie.
Or you can always get food delivered to your room if you just want to unwind and take in the scenery. There is certainly no shortage of natural beauty surrounding all of the Bluefin resorts. And even if it’s chilly, you can curl up with a blanket and a book on the patio as you listen to the waves roll in.
Just writing about it makes me want to go back, especially after yesterday’s heat because there is almost always a wonderful breeze off of the lake. Hopefully we will make it back to our favorite North Shore getaway for years to come. When we had our wedding up there, we were surprised by how many Minnesotans had never experienced Lake Superior. And if you are one of them, what are you waiting for?
