Grand Marais, MN

Grand Marais is a small harbor town on Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior, serving as the central hub of Cook County. Home to about 1,300 year-round residents, the community wraps around a sheltered bay where rocky beaches, local shops, and the lake define the downtown. Scenic Highway 61 runs right along the water, while the Gunflint Trail heads inland toward the Boundary Waters wilderness.

ATTRE tac at English Wikipedia / Public domain

Life here blends outdoor recreation with a rich tradition of craft and arts. Longtime local institutions like the North House Folk School and the Grand Marais Art Colony keep the town creative and active throughout all four seasons. Families rely on the local Cook County school district, which educates kindergarten through twelfth grade on a single central campus. Between the walkable harbor front, independent businesses, and dramatic lake weather, Grand Marais offers a grounded, close-knit North Shore lifestyle.