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IT RIGHT
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NORTH
FOUNDER | PUBLISHER
Tracy Ramsay
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Frank Roffers
MANAGING EDITOR
Amy Carlson
ART DIRECTOR
Julie Ann Kubat
GRAPHIC DESIGNER | DIGITAL MEDIA & MARKETING MANAGER
Elaine Gabel
LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER | CREATIVE CONSULTANT
Sheba Concept & Design
PHOTO EDITOR | PHOTOGRAPHER
Amy Jeanchaiyaphum
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Tracy Ramsay | 218-390-6747 | tracy@northmagazine.com
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES subscriptions@northmagazine.com
ABOUT THE COVER
This issue’s vibrant cover showcases artist Anya Brock’s bold abstract style, which transforms a fish into a celebration of movement and form that resonates with the spirit of the North.
Brock, an acclaimed contemporary artist known for her distinctive use of color, began her career in fashion design, where she worked with prominent fashion houses and even launched her own label. She eventually realized she wanted to return to her roots in painting and drawing—since that time, her work has been featured in galleries and publications worldwide, earning recognition for its emotional impact and visual dynamism.
Her fearless palette and intuitive mark-making invite viewers to see familiar subjects through a new lens—much like the shifting perspectives one experiences while gazing into the lakes surrounding us in the North.
Scan the QR code to manage or start your subscription to NORTH magazine—quick, easy, and secure. NORTH is published biannually and your subscription will begin with the next issue. Scan for full details or email subscriptions@northmagazine.com.
DWELL
26 | BURNTSIDE RETREAT
A Scandinavian sanctuary in the North woods
38 | TWO FACES OF LAKE LIVING
A new cabin to celebrate family gatherings–past, present, and future
48 | IT'S IN HER NATURE
An interior design project that speaks to the soul
56 | SUPERIOR FOREST HIDEAWAY
Experience hygge at Ski Hill Cabins & Saunas
65 | COTTAGE RED
Client-centered design
EXPERIENCE
72 | AN ELEVATED ESCAPE
Experience the magic of Destination Kohler
82 | A CHILL VIBE
Exploring the Iclandic way of life
90 | BEYOND THE BRULE
Jake Powell's global fly fishing quest
CULTURE
100 |
MADE IN THE NORTH AWARDS
Our annual guide celebrating the creativity and skill of makers in our region
110 |
COMEDIANS OF THE NORTH
Meet the artists putting the North on the comedy map
120 |
STAR WALLOWINGBULL
The rising star of Indigenous Futurisms
126 |
HOME OF THE HODAG
What can one town’s embrace of a proven hoax teach us about our love of the North?
THRIVE
130 | FROM BWCAW TO BLUE ZONES
Dan Buettner’s quest for the secrets of longevity
136 |
TRUE NORTH
Celebrating remarkable people, entrepreneurs, tastemakers, and influencers of the North
144 |
A RUNNING START
At only 26 years old, Rice Lake native Kenny Bednarek is just warming up
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
Dear Readers,
About a year ago, I asked my son Ian if there wasn’t something we could do to shore up our mother-son bond. I thought maybe we could take fun little weekend trips to the big metropolises—just the two of us. I imagined museums, a bit of sightseeing, maybe some shopping—always on my agenda. But Ian had a different idea. He said, “Mom, could we go musky fishing?” And I, in my deep naivete, said, “Sure, buddy, musky fishing it is.”
Which is how I ended up in an eight-foot power boat with Jake, our ducktail-bearded guide with a strong taste for tobacco. What I quickly learned is that musky fishing is not like regular fishing. Forget the image of gentlemen anglers in Orvis vests waxing poetic about trout streams. Musky anglers are a different breed entirely—they are fish hunters. They cast lures the size of squirrels. They nurse serious shoulder ailments. They know their way around a powerboat motor and can gut a deer, maybe both in the same day.
Muskies are notoriously elusive and nicknamed “the fish of 10,000 casts” for a reason. Even seasoned anglers can go years without a bite. So when Jake and Ian finally landed their 41-and-¾-inch beast, it exploded from the water like a rabid raccoon—snapping, snarling, and slicing open Jake’s hand with its protrusive jaw and 500 angry razor-teeth. We snapped a frantic, sweaty photo—muskies survive only about 30 seconds out of water—then watched Jake slip the aqua beast back into the kelpy-gray lake. I turned to Ian—beaming, red-cheeked, jangling with adrenaline. Jake clapped him on the shoulder and said, “How’s that for your first musky?” And I thought: here’s my son, finding his place in nature—and I was here to see it.
And though you’ll likely never see this squeamish mom/realtor/ publisher on the cover of Musky Hunter magazine, you’ll never see me turn my nose up at anyone with passion—be it the burning urge to catch freshwater “devil fish,” as the Anishinaabe call muskies—or anything else. And that’s what this summer issue is all about: passion. In this edition of NORTH, we profile an angler chasing every species in “Trout and Salmon of North America” by Robert Behnke. We meet an exquisite painter redefining Indigenous Futurisms. We interview an Olympic sprinter from Rice Lake who runs so fast he practically sparks. And all of them are rooted in personal passion. Like Ian, with his dreams of becoming a fishing guide–influencer extraordinaire. And I am one proud “musky mom.”
Here’s to the passions that bring us together and the stories that keep us inspired.
Tracy Ramsay Publisher
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Up North
Where exactly is “Up North”? It’s a question that conjures images of pristine wilderness, summer camps, cozy cabins, and endless recreation. More than just a directional term, Up North is a cultural concept born in the Roaring Twenties, signifying an escape to nature and leisure. For Midwesterners, it represents a cherished tradition of retreating to the beauty of northern landscapes.
NORTH, our biannual magazine proudly produced in Duluth, embraces this spirit across Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We’re dedicated to showcasing the architecture, travel, food, lifestyle, and captivating stories that define our region.
WHAT'S INSIDE
MEET KUNG FU KENNY: Hailing from Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Kenny Bednarek is racing to the top among the world ’s fastest runners. Remember his name—you’ll be hearing it often.
SECRETS OF LONGEVITY: My longtime friend Dan Buettner, a renowned longevity expert, shares his coming-of-age stories in the Boundary Waters, as well as actionable wisdom on aging gracefully.
NORTHERN HUMOR: Prepare to laugh as we spotlight four rising stars in our “Comedians of the North ” feature.
ART THAT CAPTIVATES: Feast your eyes on the mesmerizing work of Star WallowingBull, where creativity meets pop culture.
LUXURY CLOSE TO HOME: We’re whisking you away to a stay at The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin, for a taste of authentic luxury.
NORTHERN INGENUITY: We’re thrilled to launch our first annual Made in the Nor th Awards, tipping our caps to the DIY spirit and creative genius of our local makers. This celebration of northern craftsmanship is not to be missed.
Thank you for joining us on this journey through the North. We encourage you to subscribe for future issues and support our valued marketing partners who make this publication possible.
So, where is Up North? It’s wherever your spirit of adventure leads you.
Cheers,
Frank Roffers Editor-in-Chief
by
Photo
Liz Andolina Photography
Meet the creative minds behind this issue! Learn more about the writers, photographers, and illustrators who share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lives, work, and what inspires them. It’s a fun, personal way to connect beyond the page—and only in NORTH magazine.
FRANK BURES WRITER
ALYSSA FORD WRITER
AMY GORAN WRITER
MARYA JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHER
STEPHANIE PEARSON WRITER
MICHELLE KRUEGER WRITER
JEFF RENNICKE WRITER
MIKE TESTER ILLUSTRATOR
KATHERINE LAWLESS WRITER
NANCY MONROE WRITER
Scan to listen to exclusive audio content from our contributors:
BEYOND THE PAGE
Step into summer with NORTH's enhanced digital experience. Each QR code on this page is your passport to exclusive content that brings our stories to life in ways print alone cannot capture.
Our summer edition celebrates the vibrant spirit of the North—made even more immersive through these digital gateways. Simply point your camera, scan, and discover the hidden dimensions of the stories you love in this summer issue of NORTH.
Scan to discover more in our Superior Forest Hideaway video
Unlock bonus Destination Kohler video content
Discover A Chill Vibe’s Hotel Ranga
See Danielle Thralow light up the Northern comedy scene
Scan here to laugh with Mary Mack
Unlock comedy gold with Maria Bamford
Ready for a laugh? Scan to watch Charlie Berens Watch now: A Star WallowingBull digital gallery
MARKETING PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
Albertsson Hansen Architecture and Interior Design | 55
APEX* | 164
Apostle 22 | 109
Ascential Wealth Advisors | 182
Baldamar | 80
Bayfield Chamber & Visitor Bureau | 88
Bell Bank* | 13
Billings Roofing & Siding | 170
Black Woods Group Catering | 79
Bradley Interiors* | 36
Bruckelmyer Brothers* | 184
California Closets | 8
Carlson Orthodontics | 149
Cascade Vacation Rentals | 172
CF Design* | 35
Chris Foley Golf Schools | 140
Crank and Dasher | 138
David Heide Design Studio | 20
Duluth Stove & Fireplace* | 33
Essentia Health | 128
Ferguson | 47
Genereau & Co. | 183
Giants Ridge | 97
Heirloom Vacation Rentals | 166
Hemma Living | 46
Intectural | 69
J3 Insurance* | 171
JM Inc. | 53
Johnson Mertz* | 45
Josephine’s Bridal | 70
Kampmeyer Group | 162
Kitchee Gammi Design Co.* | 54
Kitchi Gammi Club* | 181
Knutson Custom Construction | 4
Lakes | Sotheby’s International Realty | 161
Larson Group Real Estate | 163
Land Rover Minneapolis* | 2
Liberty Wealth Management | 142
LouAda Granite | 23
Lulu Collective | 19
LUM Studio* | 34
Luminesque Aesthetics | 135
Lutsen Real Estate Group | 173
Marka Architecture | 63
*NORTH magazine recognizes our founding marketing partners whose initial participation was instrumental to the success of our launch in 2024.
Marshall School | 118
MartinPatrick 3 | 81
Maureen + Associates | 68
Nor-Son Custom Builders | 24
Northeast Title Company | 159
Northland Country Club* | 94
Pier B Resort Hotel* | 98
Pink Licari Wealth Management Group | 119
Renewal by Andersen | 6
Robert Barnes Law | 143
St. James Social | 95
Saline Landscape & Design* | 64
Schamberger Fine Art | 141
ShipRock Management* | 165
South Pier Inn | 10
Spacecrafting | 96
Stout’s Island Lodge | 167
The Boat Club | 17
The Harbors | 89
Tracy Ramsay + Partners* | 150
Wolf Creek Watch Co. | 87
DWELL
Living in a physical place or location for a period of time and making it home
BURNTSIDE
A Scandinavian sanctuary in the North woods WRITTEN BY MICHELLE KREUGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY COREY GAFFER PHOTOGRAPHY
RETREAT
There’s cabin life in Minnesota and then there’s the up, up north escape of Boundary Waters country. Cabins built near this federally protected wilderness draw in those Minnesotans who love the mostly untouched lakes. Driving into Ely, the first hints of this northern territory appear: the sentinel pines, the forested curve of the road, not another car for miles. Turning down the lane into this retreat on Burntside Lake, with tumbled boulders nestled below a ridge and a bark-brown building melting into the landscape, the trees seem to whisper, “You’ve arrived.”
The family who built Burntside Retreat has a long-standing connection to the Boundary Waters and northeastern Minnesota. After considering various locations in the area, they chose Burntside due to its access to the BWCAW, mature trees, usable lake—versus a picturesque but unswimmable Lake Superior—and natural amphitheater-like setting that curves a gentle elbow into the water.
Of Swedish heritage, the homeowners were drawn to Albertsson Hansen Architecture and Interior Design (A&H) after they’d clipped
a lake cabin project from a magazine ten years prior. When the couple were finally ready to make their dream retreat a reality, they contacted A&H and were impressed by Christine Albertsson’s Scandinavian approach to practical living by melding the dwelling into the landscape.
Growing up with Swedish-speaking family, Albertsson feels an affinity for the Scandinavian shared traditions with the land. She wanted to create a minimalist retreat for the family where they felt like guests in nature. Albertsson and the family were also inspired by a famous local resident, Dorothy Molter, whose rebuilt cabin is now an Ely open-air museum. Their intention of using smaller buildings purposefully as they sit in the space, not dominating the landscape, is a direct response to viewing Molter’s multiple small buildings which sit quietly in nature.
Another local inspiration was Sigurd Olson, the conservationist and writer who was instrumental in protecting the BWCAW. His classic book, “Listening Point,” was about his own Burntside retreat where he wrote, took saunas, and escaped into the woods.
Once the owners purchased the lakeside property, they knew the original 1950s buildings, including the bunkhouse, main house, and
From the beach’s gentle slope, it’s an easy swim to a rock island, seen from the many windows in the bunkhouse, sauna, and main cabin.
DWELL
sauna, had to be changed—they were pretty much windowless, gray shacks. Bringing the view indoors was a critical objective in the design process, so wide windows and a wraparound deck without railings were crucial, as well as intentionally placing the fireplace on the side to preserve the view to the lake.
From the beach’s gentle slope, it’s an easy swim to a rock island, seen from the many windows in the bunkhouse, sauna, and main cabin. Albertsson’s practical approach to design is most evident in the screenedin porch that “had to function on different levels, flow out to the deck, keep bugs out, hang up camping gear, and have space for coolers close at hand.”
Burntside Retreat is not just a summer escape, however. In winter, a hole cut into the ice shocks the system after lounging in the sauna, which, after the remodel, is a spacious cedar build with a large changing room, three-sided double-height benches and remote-control heating system.
It was important to the owners to choose a local builder, selecting Gilbert’s Brad Holmes of Rod & Sons Carpentry, whose high quality workmanship and close attention to detail far exceeded their expecta-
tions. The subtle comfort of the cabins, luxurious but cozy, means they can spend the entire day canoeing, yet be home in time to rest on a plush queen mattress after a hot sauna and shower.
The owners knew the process of building their dream retreat would come with its own share of challenges. Poor drainage from the driveway meant the bunkhouse had water issues, so the owners had to hire a civil engineer and develop a new drainage plan, hire a house mover to raise the bunkhouse and create a concrete foundation, then put it back.
And with setback requirements from the shoreline constraining the design to some extent, they were fortunate to be granted a variance due to the original main cabin’s proximity to the lake. “If we’d known all the hassles and cost ahead of time, we might not have done it,” the cabin owners recall, yet they are now more than pleased with the result—enjoying the north woods cabin lifestyle with their family and those friends lucky enough to join them in this Boundary Waters haven.
Memories of sun-baked pines, the splash of a paddle as a canoe pushes off the dock, and laughter floating across the lake keep guests and homeowners alike smiling on the long drive home, knowing it’s worth every single minute to be up, up north.
photographs this page courtesy of John C. Hawthorne
Special places exist in the world where light is given extraordinary power by the conditions that receive it.
Large bodies of fresh water reflect the light of day and night outward through a region of influence miles wide. Between water and sky, reflected light, when considered on its own, is a shadowless light, as it immerses subjects in light from all sides, giving them greater dimensional clarity. Evaporation from the surface of lakes, by wind or sun, creates diffusion of light, increasing the transfer of color to vast heights and widths, with painterly grace.
Lake Superior is such a unique and special place. Because CF Design lives here, our work instinctively includes a reverence for lighting as a design tool and a means of creating unique environments within sites and buildings.
LUMstudio, our gallery of international lighting, exists alongside CF Design to share the value of great lighting design with everyone. Here, aptly embraced by the superior quality of our natural light, and comforted by some of the finest modern furnishings, are beautifully crafted examples of lighting that engage and transform. Visit and be enlightened.
photograph courtesy of Andrea Rugg Photography
INNOVATION that IMPRESSES
Photographs courtesy of Bradley Interiors
TWO FACES
A new cabin to celebrate family gatherings—past, present, and future
WRITTEN BY NANCY MONROE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPACECRAFTING
LAKE LIVING
The first thing you want to see when you open the door to your lake home isn’t a great room with high ceilings, it’s an unobstructed view of the water. After all, the lake is the entertainment and the view, the art installation. Which is why a lake cabin needs two facades—one with curb appeal and the other showcasing the appeal of lake living.
“Cabins are retreats,” says Collin Jacobs of Marka Architecture, “but they’re also family destinations.” Nowhere is that sentiment more heartfelt than the cabin created by the talented team of Marka Architecture, Tays & Co. Design Studios, and NOR-SON Custom Builders. It takes a cooperative team and plenty of vendors to build an award-winning home, he explains. And this was the team to get it done. “Laura [Tays] looks at every detail as an opportunity for custom design,” Jacobs says, adding, “and you need the right builder to carry that out.” And it goes without saying you need a good plan to start the earth moving.
Cabin living was not new to their client. Extended family has had cabins—six in all—in the Whitefish Lake area since 1929. For the client’s cabin, several pieces of property were purchased over the years to create a buildable lot. The exterior is stone and reclaimed wood siding that creates a flawlessly executed striped pattern.
Tays paid homage to the homeowner’s family without getting cutesy or sentimental. Six framed black and white photos of family members’ cabins grace the wall leading to the guest suite. Family photographs also cover the wall outside the three bedrooms for the three adult children. Each bedroom has a framed snapshot of the couple on the nightstand, a sweet reminder of whose room is whose. And only family-centric people would give the secluded guest suite on the upper level the best view.
A more complicated request was for a family tree. Tays says she was determined to come up with an original way to make that happen, without falling back on the old, hackneyed tree with family members’ names on leaves. Her ingenious way to fulfill the client’s wish was to use a large, live-edge, wood slab with family names engraved in the rings. Space was left for the names of future generations to keep the circle of life going.
In addition to a nod to family, the client wanted a design that was modern, but not cold or too minimal, Tays says, and one that reflected the outdoors. Natural materials were used throughout the space, leaning into textures rather than busy patterns. Natural materials, she points out, are softer on the eye. You may outgrow that wild floral pattern in time, but “who gets tired of looking at a tree?” she asks.
The kitchen counters and backsplash are an organic, ground-up marble product that makes you think you’re going to touch a rough surface, but instead it’s glassy smooth. In the main-floor powder room, the 3D tile is elevated texture with a playful vibe reminiscent of a stone version of
Jenga. The elongated, open living space sports an uninterrupted view of the lake. A four-season porch with a grill brings the outdoors inside, and double-framed walls keep the drop-down screens out of sight until called upon. To the entry’s right is the primary suite, which includes a plaid-wallpapered den on the street side and a bedroom facing the lake.
The clients wanted the bed to look out over the lake but placing it flush against the back wall meant having to walk around the bed to get to the en suite, Jacobs says. So they came up with the idea to add a three-quarter wall to create a hallway to the en suite behind the bed. The wall doubles as a headboard with two hanging nightstands. The base of the bed is reclaimed beams. Included in the spa-like en suite is a European washer and dryer for occasions when the couple is on their own and can restrict all activities to the first floor.
Although it’s by no means small, the cabin’s narrow footprint called for innovative storage options to keep clutter at bay. An example is the guest suite, where the two walls on either side of the window bench can be tapped to open for clothing storage on one side and a pull-out television on the other. Sleeping options include a king bed, an oversized couch, and angled bunkbeds with sliding glass doors that join to create a bit of privacy.
The most innovative space is the lower level, designed for the adult children and grandkids. A bar is tucked under the open staircase with another comfy space for hanging out. The small bedrooms are just for sleeping, encouraging togetherness time.
But the most remarkable feature is what Jacobs and Tays call the “Ready Room,” a communal bathroom that manages to be both private and family friendly, a space to get ready for the day. Whether it’s preparing for a day of snowmobiling or boating, the substantial center island hosts a trough sink and storage for essentials from sunscreen to handwarmers. There’s also a complete laundry set-up and lockers lining one wall to dry beach towels and snowmobile boots, with space to hide sports gear.
Two toilets and two shower spaces—one sporting a tub—are closed off by sliding doors. An outdoor seating area has a path leading to a stylish sauna or down to the lake. No small detail was overlooked and no amenity forgotten.
The cabin brings together the best of all worlds—a peaceful retreat for the couple, a welcoming gathering place for the whole family, and a future primary residence—all with the intention of one day passing it down equally to family.
“Cabins are retreats, but theyʼre also family destinations.”
– COLLIN JACOBS, MARKA ARCHITECTURE
IT’S IN HER NATURE
An interior design project that speaks to the soul
WRITTEN BY NANCY MONROE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA
JEAN MEDIA
Adesign that speaks to a homeowner’s soul is every savvy designer’s ultimate goal, whether they’re starting with a brand-new blank canvas or remodeling an existing space that just isn’t working. In the case of this Hunter’s Park project, that design element turned out to be wallpaper.
Erica Rodriguez, principal designer with Knutson Design Company, spent plenty of time with homeowners Emily and Rob Raleigh to get to know their tastes before embarking on the remodeling project they planned with Knutson Custom Construction. Rodriguez shares that this process is important “for me to find out who they really are so I can find a design that speaks to their soul…I don’t want the brand to be me.” While poring over Pinterest photos together and mentioning her love of the color green, Emily also shared her love of nature with Rodriguez, concluding, “I’m a nature nerd.”
Rodriguez quickly found the perfect element to ground the project: playful wallpaper with tiny moths and seeds hiding among traveling vines in varying shades of teal. Rodriguez knew right away this quirky wallpaper would speak to Emily, and it did—the homeowners embraced it and eventually the wallpaper insects morphed into small botanical prints of bees, butterflies, and dragonflies the homeowners scattered throughout the finished space.
The Raleighs’ ranch is also home to their three children and two dogs. As they began contemplating changes, the couple knew they wanted a kitchen and mudroom that were functional yet show-stopping.
Also on their list: a better flow to keep traffic out of the kitchen during meal prep; an updated, modern design with clean lines; a sitting area for relaxing with coffee; and seating for four in the kitchen. Previously the kitchen counter only had three seats, which worked for feeding the kids chicken nuggets at lunch, but that meant all family meals were in the formal dining room. The dated kitchen was also dark, so improving the lighting was crucial. And eliminating an unused fireplace gave them space for a beverage bar and sitting area.
Another huge improvement is the mudroom, now with plenty of storage. Coats can be hung and hats and gloves are stored out of sight. “I don’t like visible clutter,” Emily admits. They also “borrowed” space from the kitchen for a proper mudroom with teal cabinetry and a bench for tying shoes. The kitchen then “borrowed” additional space from the living room.
Building on the botanical hues of the wallpaper, the kitchen cabinets and island are two shades of soft green, along with white oak cabinets and floating shelves. The L-shaped island juts out into a white oak table with seating for six. “The dining room can now be used for what it was designed for—more formal meals with company,” Emily says.
Other upgrades included a command center in the island for charging electronics, a brushed brass hood that floats on a crisp white tile wall, and modern lighting to brighten the kitchen.
Emily claims she let her husband and Rodriguez run with the design, especially when it came to appliances, something he felt strongly about: “I said ‘just show me [your choices] and I’ll say yes or no,’” she says, adding, “I relied on Erica and I wasn’t disappointed.”
Managing the family while living in a construction zone meant eating meals in their bedrooms, yet it was all worth it to see the home come together, complete with that soul-speaking wallpaper. But perhaps the best part is that now the kitchen is available for dining—and living— in style.
“
[ I spend time to] find out who [the homeowners] really are so I can find a design that speaks to their soul… I don’t want the brand to be me.”
– ERICA RODRIGUEZ, PRINCIPAL DESIGNER WITH KNUTSON DESIGN COMPANY
SUPERIOR
Scan to discover more in our Superior Forest Hideaway video
SUPERIOR FOREST HIDEAWAY
Experience hygge at Ski Hill Cabins & Saunas
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE LAWLESS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPACECRAFTING
For many Minnesotans, the North Shore is a perennial favorite destination for its epic views, incredible waterfalls, and quaint restaurants and shops dotting the shoreline. I’ve vacationed here several times as a child, but this is my first solo trip to the Lutsen area, and I’m indulging in a fall wellness retreat with some hiking, early holiday shopping, and plenty of time in the sauna.
After a scenic drive along the shore, I arrive at my destination, Ski Hill Cabins & Saunas. It’s in an unbeatable location, only half a mile south of Lutsen Mountains base area and adjacent to the Norpine Trails. Since opening in early 2024, they’ve hosted outdoor enthusiasts who come from far and wide not only to ski but also to bike and hike and explore nearby trails like the Gitchi-Gami State Trail and the Superior Hiking Trail.
Owners Patrick Kindler and McCabe Plaas had been traveling to the North Shore for years when they purchased this Lutsen property with an a-frame cabin built in the 60s. Eventually the couple moved to Lutsen full-time and enlisted GraySpace Architecture to design these four Scandinavian-style cabins, each sitting parallel to one another on a private gravel road stretching into the forest.
Elevated on piers and with a minimal footprint, these cabins were thoughtfully designed to blend in with the topography. Each 1,400-square-foot cabin comfortably sleeps up to 10 guests, including a loft, custom bunk beds, and a private patio off the primary bedroom—with floor-to-ceiling windows facing north and south for privacy, you’d think your group has Superior National Forest all to yourselves. It’s hard to tear your eyes away from the wooded tranquility, but thanks to the bright, large-scale artworks by celebrated Anishinaabe painter Roy Thomas in every cabin, it is possible.
Kindler and Plaas thought of everything when dreaming up this place. Concrete floors can withstand the clunking of ski boots and hiking boots caked with mud; a cozy gas fireplace fills the open floor plan with warm, flickering light; dry kindling even sits on the dining room table, ready to get the party started around the cabin’s private firepit. When you’re standing outside at night, the cabins cast a warm glow that can’t quite penetrate the dense darkness of the forest. This space truly embodies a sense of “hygge,” the Danish word for relaxing and enjoying life’s quieter pleasures.
But the best part of the experience is the sauna. Each cabin has a walkway that connects to a private 200-squarefoot infrared sauna, complete with a changing room. I spend the evening cycling between the healing heat therapy and cool night air, relishing this feeling of hygge as I enjoy the quiet and make significant progress on my new read from Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais.
The next day, I wake up feeling refreshed and I realize my childhood self would’ve loved this place, but my adult self loves it even more. Reluctantly, I set off for home, even catching a glimpse of a wolf running along Highway 61 as the sun rises over Lake Superior.
This space truly embodies a sense of “hygge,” the Danish word for relaxing and enjoying life’s quieter pleasures.
Scan to discover more in our Superior Forest Hideaway video
COTTAGE RED
Client-centered design transforms a charming cabin into a sophisticated lakeside retreat
WRITTEN BY NANCY MONROE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICH MICHELL
It wasn’t that the original 3,500-square-foot log cabin didn’t have its day in the sun, it’s just that at nightfall the homeowners needed more beds, bathrooms, and common areas for guests—plus they wanted their own private retreat.
And to be perfectly honest, designer David Heide, principal of David Heide Design Studio, reflects that the cabin was a bit on the kitschy side with its log cabin exterior and camping motifs. What began as a conversation about building a new guest house culminated in this 12,000-square-foot cabin, with its large gathering space seamlessly linking the old and new wings. Yet when they aren’t hosting family and friends, the homeowners can close off sections entirely to create a smaller space just for themselves.
Upon beginning any project, Heide and project architect Chris Christofferson get to know their clients and understand their lifestyle. “From their entertaining style to whether they do their own cleaning, it’s all important information,” says Heide. “To serve our clients well, we must have frank and open conversations about everything from parenting to bathroom privacy to budget priorities. Since there’s no pre-conceived design template the result is a dwelling that truly reflects—and belongs to—the homeowners, not the designer.”
One of the owners’ requests was that friends and guests feel immediately at home and comfortably part of the family while visiting. With a nod to the kitchen as a natural gathering spot, the pantry, bar, and kitchen itself use open shelving—inviting guests to help themselves to coffee, the toaster, wine, whatever they desire—without opening cabinet
doors or digging through drawers. This “make yourself at home” gesture perfectly aligns with how the homeowners hope others will feel when dropping in at the lake.
Although Heide prides his team on not having a signature style, his love of design prompts adding “little moments” that translate into surprise details: a whisper of a decorative pinecone stencil on an inside beam; floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the outdoors in; a niche just large enough for a twig-covered chest. Dry-stacked stone walls support adzed timbers, the rich materials working in concert to create a rustic texture—without the “Flintstones-go-camping” vibe. The original red sash windows on the exterior add personality, but the design team kicked it up a notch with a striking red roof and touches of red scattered throughout the redesign.
The studio augments their architectural work with in-house interior design. “I believe deeply in the synthesis of architecture and interiors,” explains Heide. “The material selections of the finishes inform the interior design of the residence.” The fun on a project begins with stone shopping for the interior—selecting stone is “like buying a piece of art,” Heide states. “Folks typically have an emotional reaction [to the stone] and then that defines the color palette.”
Now complete, the cabin nestles into the property as if it has always been one with the lake. Which is why former clients return time after time—as do their friends and grown children—to David Heide Design Studio for their next home or project. “I like to leave things looking as though we haven’t been there—that they’ve always just been that way,” concludes Heide.
EXPERIENCE
Encountering an event or feeling that is meaningful and memorable
AN ELEVATED ESCAPE
Experience the magic of Destination Kohler
WRITTEN
BY
JULIE ANN KUBAT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KOHLER CO.
There’s a fabulously soapy comedy-drama called “Seaside Hotel” that I absolutely adore. It follows a cast of characters who vacation together every summer at a charming Danish hotel. What warms my heart most about this wildly popular show is how everyone keeps returning to the same retreat, summer after summer—a place where everyone knows your name and your favorite cocktail.
Destination Kohler in the Village of Kohler, Wisconsin is much like the resort in my beloved show. Like many guests, my family and I return year after year to Kohler because it is not merely a retreat or special events venue, it’s an all-season lifestyle haven with offerings unmatched in the Midwest.
With Austrian roots, founder John Michael Kohler created the first American-made enameled cast iron bathtub in the late 19th century. Originally designed as a water trough for cattle, this basin quickly became a luxurious necessity in bathrooms across America—including mine. Kohler’s descendants applied this same ingenuity and premium quality when creating Destination Kohler over 100 years later.
With world-renowned luxury and comfort—most notably at The American Club, one of the few AAA five-diamond resort hotels in the entire Midwest—Kohler’s accommodations can cater to a romantic getaway, a girls’ weekend, a multi-generational family vacation, or a serious golf retreat. I have had the opportunity to experience all firsthand.
The resort features the acclaimed Whistling Straits, an authentic links-style championship golf course and proud host of the 43rd Ryder Cup, as well as several additional courses. The Straits is great for my husband, a competitive golfer. The Baths, a 10-hole, par-3 course, is more my style as I want a laid-back golf round with a nonchalant vibe. Hidden speakers pump chill music throughout the course, and the complimentary vintage leather Sunday bags make carrying my own clubs seem almost effortless. And as an art lover, seeing the enormous Daniel Arsham sculptures while we golf is both unexpected and unforgettable.
But the art doesn’t end when we leave the course. The Kohler Artwalk features more than 50 sculptures, a unique journey of self-discovery where each piece sparks my imagination, each stroll reveals new details.
One of my favorite places to visit is the elaborate Kohler Design Center to get my fill of bathroom eye candy. After all, Kohler’s first order of business starts with the bathroom. More than 20 bathroom models showcase the latest trends from major cities across the globe, inspiring thoughts of a much-needed bathroom remodel of my own.
When I come for girls’ retreats at Kohler, we enjoy a perfect mix of exercise, self-care, and sisterhood. From sunrise yoga on the studio's sun-drenched floor to high-energy spin sessions at Bold Cycle that leave us breathless and laughing, we later surrender to the luxurious hydrotherapy at Kohler Waters Spa—transforming our weekend from a simple getaway to a rejuvenating experience that strengthens our bonds and refreshes our spirits.
And for outdoor enthusiasts like my husband and me, each season brings an entirely new experience. With a private river running through the property—where king salmon make their annual run—fly fishing is a must. Or maybe pheasant hunting on the nearby secluded hunting preserve. Winter activities like ice skating and cross-country skiing are also popular, but my favorite is indoor curling.
If you’re a food connoisseur, the scope of dining options ranges from fine dining to private club-style and casual wood-fired pizzas, sure to please all palettes—and ages. An autumn visit brings the Kohler Food and Wine Festival, featuring celebrity chefs—including Martha Stewart—and celebrated by foodies and wine enthusiasts as one of the best in the country.
Last year, my travels brought me back for Thanksgiving, to enjoy the holiday with three generations present. It has become a cherished tradition allowing us to bypass the stress of holiday prep, cooking, cleanup, and hosting. The attentive Kohler staff pamper us as their extended family. They not only remember our names but also recall that my youngest loves honey on her toast.
These long-time employees don’t miss a beat and are openly recognized as the backbone of Kohler’s success; in return, they offer next-level customer service and are equally pleased to be part of the Kohler family. And just like the characters in “Seaside Hotel,” the more I go, the more I want to go back.
So if you haven’t been yet, go. If you have been, well…you already know what I’m talking about. And you’re probably planning your next visit too.
Discover A Chill Vibe’s Hotel Ranga
A CHILL VIBE
Exploring the Icelandic way of life
WRITTEN BY JULIE ANN KUBAT | PHOTO BY PAIGE DEASLEY
PHOTO BY RISA FELDMAN
There’s a saying that echoes across Iceland’s lava fields and mossy hills: “Þetta reddast.” Loosely translated, it means “it will all work out.”
But it’s more than a motto—it’s a way of life. This Icelandic spirit shapes the philosophy of its people and demonstrates how nature’s chaos and beauty can coexist.
I recently journeyed to Iceland for an overdue change of scenery and portal to a world of wonder. Welcoming to all, this country is extremely easy to visit since the island is effectively bilingual (Icelandic and English) and keen toward Americans—in part due to tourism, as well as positive post-WWII historic ties. At present, the country is home to almost 400,000 residents with records of the Vikings settlements dating back to the late ninth century. This industrious nation has thoughtfully integrated their treasured heritage into a 21st century curated culture.
After an easy six-hour direct flight on Icelandair, I began with the big city mix of Reykjavik and quickly transitioned to the adventurous southern coast of Iceland. The two-hour scenic drive through gorgeous waterfall-plagued landscapes and distant volcanic peaks brought me to my home base, Hotel Rangá—the only Small Luxury Hotels of the World member in Iceland. The log-cabin style hotel features 51 uniquely decorated rooms and suites, ranging from cozy standard rooms to spacious suites inspired by all seven continents. In contrast to my typical hectic daily cadence, this haven of rustic elegance enticed me to slow down and savor.
Mornings began with coffee in the glass-walled lounge and a fabulous breakfast including their renowned sweet rye bread—chased by a shot of cod liver oil (when in Rome Iceland).
I set out with Southcoast Adventure a few different days. Their small-group tours are a masterclass in Icelandic contrasts: thundering waterfalls, black sand beaches featuring hexagonal basalt columns, sideby-side buggy excursions across rivers and rugged terrain, and hiking up glaciers to explore water and wind-cut ice tunnels. All the while our guides recount tales of volcanic eruptions and elf folklore.
However, no visit to Iceland is complete without meeting its most beloved animal—the Icelandic horse. At Icelandic Horseworld, these sturdy, gentle creatures are family. Katrin Einarsdottir, whose family has tended these animals for generations, explained that Icelandic horses,
like the people, are resilient and adaptable. “These horses are very strong yet social. Over the centuries their role has significantly shifted from performing necessary labor to now pouting if left behind for a group trail ride,” she smiled. “Just like us. Þetta reddast.”
Famous for their unique tölt gait, I joined a short indoor ride guided by Katrin. While riding in the arena, the rhythm of hoofbeats and warmth of the horses embodied Iceland’s shared connection—to land, to animals, to each other—in an endearing, symbiotic way.
One of my most memorable experiences was a private, upscale Viking-era dinner in the Caves of Hella, a 12th century underground manmade dwelling. Upon entering a dimly lit subterranean cave featuring ancient wall carvings, sheepskin throws were provided to sit on along with traditional Icelandic lopapeysa wool sweaters. The ambiance from the warm glow of soft flickering candlelight and live accordion music further enhanced the local gourmet fare hosted by Hotel Rangá. This was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.
Returning for evenings at Hotel Rangá evolved into understated indulgence. After dining on reindeer carpaccio, Arctic char, and foraged herbs, I soaked in one of the outdoor thermal hot baths, watching the sun hover just above the horizon. And the staff, attentive yet informal, shared stories of northern lights shows lasting for hours, as conditions are commonly favorable. There’s a sense here that luxury is not about excess, but about feeling at home in one of the world’s most climate-extreme locations.
Summer in Iceland offers endless daylight for exploration—hiking in the Highland, world-renowned trout and salmon fishing, puffin birdwatching, roaming among giant ice “diamonds” on black sand beaches, scuba diving between tectonic plates, drinking from a fountain of youth, or bouncing between ice plunges and geothermal baths. Yet it’s the Icelandic approach to life that lingers long after the journey ends. The willingness to embrace uncertainty, to trust that things will work out, is a lesson for even the most seasoned traveler.
While traveling home, I reflected on the magic of this place. A place where the earth quakes and cracks, where weather and fate are unpredictable, and where the answer to every setback is a wry smile and a shrug: “Þetta reddast.” It’s a reminder that, no matter how chaotic life may seem, there is beauty in surrendering to the unknown—and that, in Iceland, everything truly does work itself out.
PHOTO BY ÁSA STEINARSDÓTTIR
“‘Þetta reddast.’ Loosely translated, it means ‘it will all work out.’ But it’s more than a motto—it’s a way of life.”
– JULIE ANN KUBAT
Discover A Chill Vibe’s Hotel Ranga
PHOTO BY STEFAN LIERBERMANN
BEYOND THE BRULE
Jake Powell’s global fly fishing quest
WRITTEN BY FRANK BURES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WADE
KUBAT
EXPERIENCE
PHOTO BY MARYA JULIANN PHOTOGRAPHY
In the mountains of British Columbia, Jake Powell was walking through the woods on his way to fly fish the Pitt River for big, aggressive bull trout—a fish he describes as “just kind of a badass”—when he heard a noise behind him. He turned and saw a full-grown black bear charging toward him.
Powell and his unarmed guide were close to the river, so they quickly scrambled down the 50-foot embankment, climbing over massive downed old-growth cedar and fir—all while Powell was desperately trying to find the guide’s bear spray. Tucked into the guide’s backpack, Powell recalls there were three pockets fastened with buckles and leather straps, “and he [the guide] was like, ‘I think it’s in the right-side pocket?’” Powell found the bear spray and quickly handed it to the guide, who sprayed the bear in the face once. The bear didn’t stop. Then he emptied the entire can of bear spray in its face and it still didn’t stop. They debated jumping in the river but settled on throwing rocks, hitting it with a few fastballs—and finally, the bear stopped its charge.
Powell was in the middle of a quest that had started, in a sense, while he was growing up in Stillwater, Minnesota, where he acquired his love of fly fishing. This style of fishing involves using an ultralight lure that sits on top of the water while making it look, and behave, like an insect native to the area and season to catch trout or salmon. It can take years of practice to master the art of the casting a fly.
On weekends, Powell’s dad would take him fly fishing on trout streams in the Driftless hills of Wisconsin and Minnesota. And throughout college and medical school, Powell continued to refine his skills while fishing the rivers along the northern shores of Minnesota and Wisconsin, enjoying the magic of being on the river. “The whole experience of being in a place that's totally wild and beautiful,” Powell says, “then throwing a fly and having a fish take it…it’s just something that you can’t put into words.”
For his 30th birthday, Powell’s dad gave him a beautifully illustrated book, “Trout and Salmon of North America,” by Robert J. Behnke, a fisheries biologist and conservationist, detailing seventy species that populate North America. Numerous evenings between sips of bourbon, Powell paged through this collection.
Soon after, Powell traveled to fish the Anvik River in Alaska, where he caught three new species: Arctic grayling, chum salmon, and Dolly Varden char. That got him to thinking: It might be fun to catch all the fish listed in the book.
Powell started making plans, then booking trips, ticking fish off the list one by one: Apache trout in the White Mountains of Arizona. Cutthroat trout in the Rocky Mountains. The elusive California golden trout, requiring a backpacking trip deep into the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. “I really love going to the places fly fishing takes me,” Powell says.
By 2018, after traveling hundreds of miles to countless rivers, walking through forests, mountains, and deserts, Powell had caught all but one fish in North America: the Mexican golden trout, found in western Mexico in rivers that flow into the Sea of Cortez. Unfortunately, this territory is controlled by the Sinaloa drug cartel, making it currently off-limits— and extremely unwise.
So he looked beyond our borders. In 2019, he took his first trip abroad to fish for marble trout in Slovenia. And in 2023 he went to Bosnia to fish for the softmouth trout. The area had seen heavy rain and flooding, and fishing conditions were tough; he finally landed one at the end of his last day. “That’s probably the rarest of all the fish I’ve caught,” Powell says, who nearly always releases the fish he catches back into the wild.
Powell, at age 50, doesn’t think he’ll catch all the trout and salmon in the world—there are just too many, with several located in no-go areas like eastern Russia. But there are a few destinations on his shortlist: New Zealand, Iceland—where the largest brown trout are found—and Mongolia—with the world’s largest salmonid, the taimen, at over six feet long and more than several hundred pounds.
“Fly fishing combines lots of things,” Powell says. “There’s an athletic component. There’s a huge mental component—you have to learn to read the river. You have to be patient. Some days you catch fifty fish and some days you don’t get any. You have to be persistent.”
But for Powell, his quest is about more than just the species and size of the fish he catches. What makes fly fishing—and so much of life—satisfying is accepting the challenges presented and ultimately persevering. Which might also require bear spray…and remembering where to find it.
Wake up to the beauty of Lake Superior. Experience the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation with cozy waterfront rooms, breathtaking views, and easy access to all of Duluth’s best.
CULTURE
Showcasing artistic, historic, or significant regional interest
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARYA JULIANN PHOTOGRAPHY
The NORTH magazine Made in the North Awards aim to honor local craftsmanship while highlighting unique, lesser-known, and under-the-radar products created in the North. Our team sought out and tested locally-made products in seven award categories: Home, Food, Drink, Art, Health & Beauty, Outdoors, and Jewelry.
Makers in the NORTH are the modern-day tinkerers, inventors, and disruptors armed with an insatiable curiosity and human ingenuity. This annual guide seeks to celebrate the creativity and skill of artisans in our region.
Enjoy!
SPONSORED BY
HOME
Home décor with Northwoods charm
Custom-Designed Wallpaper | Jen Danielson Art + Design Washburn, WI
$120 to $580 jendanielson.com
BY CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF THE NORTHWOODS , Jen Danielson Art + Design is redefining how we bring nature indoors. As the winner of the Home Category in the Made in the North Awards, this innovative studio blends traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
In the lakeside town of Washburn, Wisconsin, the studio’s signature style features bold, graphic representations of local flora and fauna rendered in a color palette that echoes the region's changing seasons. Jen Danielson, the creative force behind the brand, draws inspiration from the stunning landscapes surrounding Lake Superior. “Our designs are a celebration of the North,” Jen explains. “We want to bring the serenity and beauty of our natural surroundings into people’s homes.”
Offering handcrafted wooden serving boards, ceramic pieces adorned with Northwoods motifs, and even custom-designed wallpaper, sustainability is at the heart of Jen’s creative process. The studio prioritizes locally sourced materials and eco-friendly production methods. As winners of the Home Category, Jen Danielson Art + Design is not just decorating homes—they’re creating sanctuaries that reflect the spirit of the North.
FOOD
Revolutionizing fish sauce in the North
Third Coast Superior Fish Sauce
Duluth, MN
$24
thirdcoastsuperior.com/our-story
A CULINARY REVOLUTION IS BREWING in the heart of Duluth. Third Coast Superior, winner of the Food Category in the Made in the North Awards, is disrupting the market as North America’s first and only domestically produced fish sauce, setting new standards for quality and sustainability.
While the idea of fish sauce as a pantry staple alongside olive oil, vinegars, and chile pastes might seem novel to some, this ancient condiment is far from new—it’s a time-honored source of salt and umami, elevating the flavor in your dishes. And co-founders Steven Peyer and Chad Landry have created a fish sauce that's not just a condiment but a statement.
Third Coast Superior is committed to quality sourcing and production processes to make this special sauce. With herring from Bodin Fisheries in Bayfield, Wisconsin, and premium Jacobson Sea Salt from Oregon, the company’s ethos is deeply rooted in sustainability and ethical practices.
Third Coast Superior earned this Made in the North award for its superb flavor and innovative approach to challenging the industry’s status quo.
SPONSORED BY
SPONSORED BY
DRINK
Distilling the spirit of the North
Lost Woods Whiskey Minneapolis, MN
$60 lostwoodswhiskey.com
LOST WOODS WHISKEY IS CRAFTING MORE THAN JUST SPIRITS; they’re bottling the essence of northern adventure. As the winner of the Drink Category in the Made in the North Awards, this innovative distillery proves that world-class whiskey can come from the heart of the Northwoods.
Lost Woods Whiskey has quickly become synonymous with excellence in the spirits industry.
Awarded Double Gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition for three consecutive years, Lost Woods is also the first Platinum recipient in any category for spirits produced in Minnesota.
Committed to crafting high-quality spirits while maintaining its roots in Minnesota—Lost Woods pledges 1% of all sales to organizations supporting the environment, embodying their #WhiskeyForGood philosophy.
“We’re not just making whiskey; we’re crafting experiences,” says Tom Schaeppi, the founder of Lost Woods. “Each sip is an invitation to gather with friends and explore the beauty of our natural surroundings.”
A deserving winner of the Drink Category, Lost Woods Whiskey is not just producing exceptional spirits—with each bottle they’re fostering a community of outdoor enthusiasts and whiskey aficionados.
ART
Capturing nature's delicate beauty
Susan Strong Botanical Art Herbster, WI
$200 susanstrongbotanicalart.com
IN THE SERENE LANDSCAPES OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN, Susan Strong (McDonald) is redefining botanical art one meticulous brushstroke at a time. As the winner of the Art Category in the Made in the North Awards, her work seamlessly blends scientific accuracy with artistic grace, bringing the intricate beauty of Northwoods flora to life.
Susan's journey into botanical art is rooted in a deep love for nature, nurtured during her childhood in rural New York. With a biology and art history background, she aims “to capture not just the physical attributes of a plant, but its essence—the way it moves, its fragrance, its subtle changes through the seasons.”
Her process is as much about observation as it is about painting. Susan often brings live specimens into her studio, studying them intensely before putting brush to paper. This intimate connection with her subjects results in scientifically accurate and emotionally evocative paintings, elevating even the most common plants into objects of beauty.
As the winner of the Art Category, Susan Strong (McDonald) is not just creating beautiful paintings—she’s preserving the natural heritage of the North.
SPONSORED BY
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Natural luxury in the North
Presque Isle Whipped Sugar Scrub | 906 & Co. Marquette, MI
$18
906andcompany.com/collections/whipped-body-butter-sugar-scrubs
AS WINNERS OF THE HEALTH & BEAUTY CATEGORY in the Made in the North Awards, 906 & Co. (also known as NINEOSIX Soap Co.) is crafting a new narrative for the beauty industry—one that values pure nontoxic ingredients and sustainable practices.
Founded in Marquette, Michigan by Ryan Walker, 906 & Co. has quickly become the standard for natural beauty. “We wanted to create products that capture the essence of the UP,” says Walker. “Our Presque Isle Whipped Sugar Scrub is like taking a dip in Lake Superior—refreshing and invigorating.”
SPONSORED BY
Crafted in small batches, their scrubs combine organic sugar with nourishing oils and butters, all whipped to a luxurious consistency, leaving skin soft, smooth, and glowing—much like the pristine beaches of Presque Isle itself.
Ingredients are sourced from local suppliers whenever possible and even their packaging features artwork inspired by the UP’s stunning landscapes.
906 & Co. earned this Made in the North Award by proving that luxury and sustainability go hand in hand. And each jar is an invitation to customers to experience a little dab of Upper Peninsula magic—wherever they may be.
OUTDOORS
Sliding through history with handcrafted excellence
Northern Toboggan Co. Warroad, MN
The Family Wood Toboggan Sled (8 ft) $1024 northerntoboggan.com
IN THE SNOWY LANDSCAPE OF WARROAD, Minnesota, Northern Toboggan Co. is not just crafting sleds, they’re preserving a piece of North American heritage. Winner of the Outdoors Category in the Made in the North Awards, this family-run business is bringing the age-old art of toboggan-making into the 21st century.
Early toboggans were crucial for winter survival and travel by indigenous North Americans—specifically those belonging to the Algonquian language family—and were made from bark, hardwood, or whalebone.
When founder John Harren started the company in 1995, he began by creating toboggans that honored their historical roots using locally sourced wood and time-honored techniques.
“We’re not just making sleds,” John explains. “We’re crafting a connection to the outdoors and to our history. Each sled carries centuries of tradition and the spirit of winter adventure.”
With sleds that are functional works of art, Northern Toboggan Co.’s win in the Outdoors Category is a testament to their dedication to craftsmanship and heritage. These timeless winter companions preserve an important tradition while inviting families to create snowy adventures one toboggan ride at a time.
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JEWELRY
Inspired by nature, built for a lifetime of adventure
Wolf Creek Watch Company Duluth, MN
$1275
wolfcreekwatchco.com
WOLF CREEK WATCH CO. IS HERE TO ENSURE that you not only keep track of time, but that you do so in style. Winner of the Jewelry Category in the Made in the North Awards, this Duluth-based company is making watches that are as rugged as they are refined—perfect for those who appreciate both adventure and elegance.
Growing up in rural Wisconsin, founder Michael Johansen developed a deep appreciation for nature’s beauty, which now inspires every timepiece. Each watch is designed to be a trusty companion and effortlessly stylish, from mountain biking and kayaking to enjoying city culture.
Wolf Creek has quickly become an exemplar of innovation in the luxury microbrand watch market. Their flagship model, the North Star, boasts features that make even the most seasoned watch enthusiasts swoon—without the hefty price tag. Designed in Duluth, production is finalized in Switzerland.
Wolf Creek Watch Co.’s triumph in the Jewelry Category of the Made in the North Awards celebrates Johansen’s vision of creating timepieces that are more than just accessories; they’re companions for those who cherish life’s adventures.
of the COMEDIANS NORTH
Meet the artists putting the North on the comedy map
WRITTEN BY ALYSSA FORD | PHOTOGRAPHY OPPOSITE PAGE BY GAVIN GLEN
It’s Saturday night at Charlie Brown’s Bar in Superior, Wisconsin, and Danielle Thralow is impossible to miss. In a sea of flannel and Carhartt, she’s rocking a saffron-yellow figure-hugging Hervé Léger dress and teetering beige espadrilles–looking fresh and summery and so hilariously overdressed for this rough-edged drinkery that it could almost be its own bit: “I see I didn’t quite make the mark on the Wisconsin dress code…”
Thralow (pronounced “trah-low”) is not just hilarious on the stage—she has also become the beating heart of the North’s comedy scene. As a regular host on Saturday nights at Dubh Linn Irish Brew Pub’s Pro Comedy Tour in Duluth, she encourages a growing community of talented local comics. Recording thousands of videos and countless photos at live shows, Thralow is creating a network that connects performers across the North. By helping local comics with opportunities to perform in paid shows, she also organizes comedy events and recommends breakout performers to other producers.
Thralow says that in the North, there is “an audience for all types of humor.” Her fellow northern comics who’ve made it big and are profiled in this issue—Maria Bamford, Charlie Berens, and Mary Mack—effectively “find humor in the everyday life of the North stereotypes and connect that hilariously to humans worldwide,” she explains. “Someone in Hawaii can get an inside joke about deer hunting or the pronunciation of sauna.”
Take Maria Bamford, whose surreal character work and pitch-perfect impressions have earned her a national following. Or Mary Mack, whose rapid-fire storytelling and signature Wisconsin accent feel like a North Woods fever dream in the best possible way. And then there’s Charlie Berens, who’s turned “ope” and “you betcha” into an art form.
“All three create memorable characters as storytellers,” Thralow notes. “Maria Bamford is a master of impersonation. Through her storytelling and voices, Mary Mack brings many personas to life, and Charlie Berens has beloved roles.”
What makes their comedy special? According to Thralow, it’s their ability to create nearly infinite twists: “Maria Bamford’s takes spin into the bizarre, Mary Mack’s stories are fantastically whimsical, and Charlie Berens creates outlandish situations and exaggerations.” It’s about crafting characters and stories that feel both uniquely northern and somehow familiar to everyone.
LATER THAT SAME NIGHT when Thralow bounds onto the stage in her yellow dress, she warms up the crowd with some gentle ribbing about the eternal Packers-Vikings rivalry and people wearing camo to the grocery store. Then she goes for it: “If you couldn’t tell, I am a transgender woman. And I would like to say that I remember when I was 12 years old, watching the 1976 Montreal Olympics with Bruce Jenner when he won the gold medal in the decathlon. He appeared on Wheaties boxes everywhere—he was the world’s greatest athlete. I mean back then, what little child categorized as male at birth didn’t want to grow up to be like Bruce Jenner?” She pauses intentionally, then exclaims, “I finally did it!”
The laughter erupts, genuine and deep. She even got a few chuckles from the table of guys that were earlier discussing their MAGA-flavored political views. At the end of her set, raising her plastic cup of pilsner in a toast, Thralow grins: “Here’s to Superior. Thank you for not killing me.”
Dark humor aside, that last bit isn’t entirely a joke. As one of only two transgender comedians in Minnesota, Thralow has faced her share of genuine threats. But here’s the kicker: she doesn't need to do this. As a successful entrepreneur, Thralow could easily be lounging on a beach somewhere, flipping through glossy magazines. Instead, she’s here in the North, regularly bringing laughter to far-flung places like Roseau, Biwabik, and Warroad, while also supporting other comics in the process. “This is my little way to change the world,” she says, “bringing comedy out there, and being open and funny about being transgender.”
Read on to learn more about these artists who have helped put the North on the comedy map.
See Danielle Thralow light up the Northern comedy scene
Scan here to laugh with Mary Mack
MARY MACK
The North woods wood sprite
WRITTEN BY ALYSSA FORD | PHOTOGRAPHY THIS PAGE BY TODD OWYOUNG, OPPOSITE PAGE BY DAVID SHELLENY
2024 was a deeply un-funny year for comedian Mary Mack. In February, Mack’s mom, Jan, was re-diagnosed with cancer. In May, Mack’s elder brother, Scott, lost his battle with alcoholism. Then, in late August, mom Jan passed away.
And those were just the latest tragedies for 49-year-old Mack. Since 2020, her close-knit clan in Burnett County, Wisconsin, has buried 12 of its own—some from drinking, some from COVID-19, and some who just couldn’t get in to see a doctor because of the atrocious healthcare shortage in rural northwestern Wisconsin.
Perhaps it goes without saying, but Mack—whose real name is Mikelle Budge—hasn’t been in much of a funny-ha-ha mood of late. But getting up on stage and repeating some of her old comedy chestnuts has lately become a kind of mini-mental vacation from the tsunami of grief. “I’ve heard my own jokes a million times, but when other people are laughing, I start laughing, and it’s really healing,” says Mack. “If I can put myself in that state and just do the set, then it’s a break from the sad.”
And while easier in theory than in practice, Mack makes it work. Last August, Mack produced and starred in her annual music, poetry, and sketch-filled variety show, “North Star Comedy Hour,” at Big Top Chautauqua. That night she was all smiles and big enthusiasm on stage but knew her mom was quickly declining. She returned home and immediately called an ambulance. In September, she performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” just two days removed from her mom’s memorial service.
The irony in all of this is that after 20 years of hustling on the standup comedy circuit, Mack’s particular flavor of squeaky-clean “Wiscome-
dy” has never been more popular. Inspired by classic folk humorists such as Mark Twain, Hardin Taliaferro, and Will Rogers, she’s fielding more gig offers than she’s seen in years.
The Midwest is having a bit of cultural moment which might explain the vibe for all things Mary Mack. “I think people are really eager to just take a break and have a laugh over our shared Wisconsin-ness,” says Mack. One of her most popular bits is about only getting to eat fast food twice a year as a kid because she lived so far out in the boonies. She blames the lack of bovine growth hormone in her diet on the fact that she “has the voice of a five-year-old and the body of a fourth grader.” Her classic line is: “If I’d had ten Big Macs a year, I coulda been somebody!” Mack’s daintily high-register voice is her signature stage element. That, and her ultra-conspicuous “Skahnsin” accent, the thickest one this side of the Dreamland Supper Club. But in the style of 2024, even that went haywire for Mack. Last fall, she had a somewhat risky surgery to correct a throat issue, and doctors accidentally damaged her vocal nerve. Now, onstage, her voice will suddenly cut out. She’s had to recruit other comedians to come to her shows and play backup, should the need arise. So far, she’s still able to voice her character Jesse on “Solar Opposites,” the Hulu animated sci-fi sitcom, which premieres its sixth and final season this fall.
Sometimes she fantasizes about just heading out on the world’s longest road trip. Just her, comedian-husband Tim Harmston, their two beagle mixes Dingo and Benny, all packed away in their solar-powered, modified camper van. Someday she’s going to write a book about 2024, and her experiences with the corporate healthcare system she blames for so much early death in rural Wisconsin. “There’s no punchline on that one,” says Mack. “I’m really just mad as hell about it.”
CULTURE
Unlock comedy gold with Maria Bamford
MARIA BAMFORD
From sad clown to supernova
WRITTEN BY ALYSSA FORD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBYN VON SWANK
Comedian Maria Bamford is Duluth’s most famous native daughter. How big is she? Big enough that she was the first female comic to have multiple Comedy Central specials to her credit. Big enough that her memoir, “Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult” (2023) hit the New York Times bestseller list. Big enough that Stephen Colbert declared her “my favorite comedian on earth” in 2016. “Yeah,” laments Bamford, “But then he said I was ‘one of his favorite comedians in the world’ in 2020, so….”
But here’s the thing about Bamford’s comedy: it’s exquisitely weird. Other pro-level stand-up comedians keep the rhythm steady, slow, and easy to follow. They serve the week-weary masses, the people who just want to har-har over a Long Island iced tea.
Bamford, on the other hand, is an arthouse comedian who is unflinchingly honest about her own struggles with mental illness. Standup is her artistic medium, and she’s not afraid to go surreal. She’s fast then slow; screechy then soft; contorted then sullen. Nothing is off limits: atheism, global poverty, climate despair, her Bipolar II diagnosis, suicidal ideation, and the free gripper socks they give you in psych wards.
But sublimely strange does have its following. Bamford has achieved so much professional success that she really could pull a Bob Dylan and never darken Duluth’s doorway again now that her parents, Joel and Marilyn Bamford, have passed over that Aerial Lift Bridge in the sky.
Instead, Bamford’s around Duluth at least four times a year, primarily to hang out with her sister—life coach/shamanic healer Sarah Bamford Seidelmann—and her sister’s kids. When she jaunts North, she gabs with locals at the Dunn Brothers on London Road. “I sit there with a giant iced coffee for hours and just yell at people,” says Bamford. “Seriously. When I get excited people say I talk really loud.”
Duluth doesn’t figure into her comedy per se, but Bamford does have two recurring characters that scream “northern Minnesota” in their cadence and worldview: “Kristi Coombs,” her fictitious archenemy from Marshall School who now works at Target. She is small-minded, judgy, and I absolutely love her. The other is her mom, “Marilyn,” who is joyful, charismatic, and always in the mood for good gossip.
Recently, NORTH was honored to catch up with Bamford over the phone, where she shared some of her thoughts about the North.
NORTH: What is it about the upper Midwestern accent that people love? Is it just so “oh-fer-cute”?
MARIA: I think it's an accent that people don’t hear as often, so it’s novel. The flat affect is fun to listen to. It’s like those two prostitutes in “Fargo”: “He was kinda funny lookin’.”
NORTH: Are there any Duluth things you want to plug?
MARIA: Absolutely! Alan Sparhawk’s new album, “White Roses, My God,” the first one he’s done since his wife and bandmate Mimi Parker died of cancer. I would also like to encourage everyone to try Sara’s Table, a wonderful organic restaurant.
NORTH: It’s hard to imagine “Maria Bamford” comedy without your Marilyn character, but did you consider retiring her impersonation after your mom passed in 2020?
MARIA: Yeah, absolutely. I wondered: would people be creeped out? Am I creeped out? Is it strange to do an impersonation of someone who has left the earth? For me, it’s actually pretty comforting. It’s sweet and satisfying. And my mom loved show business. I think she would say [as Marilyn]: “Honey, you go out and you make that money. You do impersonations of me. Let yourself be a full bleed into Marilyn, 24/7. I just think it's a cash cow. It's a cash cow. People love the Midwest. People love it.”
Ready for a laugh? Scan to watch Charlie Berens
CHARLIE BERENS
The big cheese
WRITTEN BY ALYSSA
FORD | PHOTOGRAPHY THIS PAGE BY BRADY LAUDON, OPPOSITE PAGE BY CHARLIE BERENS
Charlie Berens was as lonely as a vegetarian at a meat raffle. Every time he felt like he was breaking into the ultra-competitive entertainment industry, something went awry. After studying broadcast journalism at UW-Madison, he landed a sweet gig working at MTV News as a political reporter, but then MTV declined to extend his contract. He got an exciting job hosting a brand-new news-comedy show called “Nightcap,” but then Tribune Media canceled it wholesale. He sold a scripted show idea to Kevin Hart’s LOL Studios, but never heard another word. He tried making the “right” friends with the “right” connections, but that effort felt as fake as the Dells.
But in 2017, a full eight years after graduating, Berens joined the legions of comedy hopefuls who work the ‘bringer’ shows around Los Angeles. These shows have one rule: you can’t perform your stand-up set unless you ‘bring’ at least one paying audience member.
“I’d buy the tickets, beg people to come to the show and not get a single person,” says Berens, now 38. His master plan, to work in comedy, news, or best of all, comedy and news together á la Stephen Colbert, was looking about as solid as a ‘frozen’ lake in mid-October.
And then, during an open mic at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, Berens had a funny exchange with a Manitowoc, Wisconsin native. Berens asked him if he liked L.A. and the guy said, “Honestly, the old fashioneds here suck eggs.” To Berens it was so honest, so unexpected, so…hilariously Sconnie. And it opened up a new thought: what if he had traveled all over for eight years, from Dallas, to South Carolina, to Michigan, and then Los Angeles…only to discover that the answer
to his comedy prayers was at home all along? This was Berens’ Wizard-of-Oz moment—that is, if you sub Thorogood work boots for the ruby slippers.
That epiphany led to his creation of the “Manitowoc Minute,” Berens’ buzzy, laugh-snort-inducing web video series that capitalized on the traditional vibe of Wisconsin: scenic supper clubs with Naugahyde-covered chairs and 35-item salad bars, out-of-order pull-tab machines, fishing for muskies, and pronouncing the word ‘bag’ as if it were the world’s longest piece of string cheese.
That show launched Berens into the fame stratosphere in Wisconsin. In real terms, that means Berens has his own bobblehead and his own card game—the Card Sale: Midwest Expansion. He also collaborated with Cambridge distillery Dancing Goat to create his own liquor—Berens Old Fashioned Brandy, as well as his own beer from Madison’s Ale Asylum—the Keep ‘Er Movin’ Lager.
His mom, Molly, runs his extensive merchandise operation. Offerings include a collection of Keep ‘Er Movin’-branded clothing and accessories, as well as “OPE” cribbage board sets, camp mugs that read “tell your folks I says hi” and “I Survived the Midwest Goodbye” bumper stickers.
Berens has inked endorsement deals with Kwik Trip and Fleet Farm, Wisconsin Chevy Dealers, and several others. He’s thrown out the first pitch at a Brewers game. He’s written a New York Times bestselling book, hosts the “Cripescast” podcast, and books a heavy schedule of live shows, stopping by the DECC in Duluth last year.
His operation is so big, in fact, that Berens might even have more household name recognition than fellow native cheeseheads Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo.
STAR WALLOWINGBULL
The rising star of Indigenous Futurisms
WRITTEN BY FRANK BURES
PHOTOGRAPHY © STAR WALLOWINGBULL COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND BOCKLEY GALLERY
Watch now: A Star WallowingBull digital gallery
Star WallowingBull’s art career began when he was just eight months old. That’s when his father handed him a pencil and watched as he drew a full human figure. “I taught him to draw before he could walk,” his father says. “My sister used to bring people over to the house, and we would say, ‘Look, that baby can draw!’”
WallowingBull himself didn’t really believe his father’s story until years later when his mom—long divorced from his father—told him the same story.
Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising, since his father, Frank Big Bear, is a well-known artist. But WallowingBull, whose father is Ojibwe from the White Earth Nation, and whose mother is Arapahoe and Lakota from the Wind River Reservation, always loved to draw, usually working with colored pencils. He even won an art competition in third grade, landing him a month’s worth of free chocolate milkshakes.
Yet around the time he turned 13, WallowingBull put his pencils down. Growing up in South Minneapolis, he went through some difficult years and didn’t do much drawing. Eventually, he found his way back to art.
“Star denied he was an artist all the way up till his late 20’s,” says Big Bear. “He was staying with me for a while, and he started to use up my Prismacolor pencils. So I stole six of his drawings and took them over to the Bockley Gallery.”
The owner, Todd Bockley, still remembers seeing those drawings for the first time. “They were amazing,” he says. “As I remember it, there were a number of large drawings, done with color pencil, super detailed and complex, bright neon colors filled with sci-fi and video game-inspired images. The entire surface of the drawings was covered, no empty space, no paper showing.”
Bockley was able to sell all six drawings.
That’s when he finally started to believe he was an artist,” says Big Bear now. “And then he could buy his own pencils.”
A few years later, WallowingBull relocated to Fargo to make a fresh start. “I was thrown from the hood of Minneapolis into the art scene in Fargo,” he says. “The people I met were artists and they were all so cool and civilized. It took me about three, four, maybe five years to adjust to life here.”
Eventually, he found his footing. By 2005, he had his first major show at the Plains Art Museum. At the time, he lived in a small apartment just across the street. One day, he saw a reception through the gallery window. “I looked over there and I thought, ‘Oh man, I'm hungry. I'm going to get something to eat, then leave,’” he says. “So I went over and I started eating and I put food in my jacket pocket for later. Then my friend, who was working at the museum, grabbed me and said I should meet this guy.”
“This guy” turned out to be artist James Rosenquist—a contemporary of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, and a major figure in the 20th century Pop Art
movement—and the artist being honored at the reception. The two started talking and Rosenquist asked about WallowingBull’s work. “Then he asked, ‘Where’s your studio?’ I said, ‘Across the street.’ And he said, ‘Let’s go now.’ So we left the party and went over to my house. He really liked my work and he kept trying to buy stuff.” Finally, Rosenquist convinced WallowingBull to sell him one of his “Rez Dog” paintings, and he became a kind of mentor and an influence on WallowingBull’s work. Following his visit to Fargo, Rosenquist sent WallowingBull a huge shipment of paints and encouraged him to move away from colored pencils. It took time, but WallowingBull did learn to make the medium his own.
“Star manages to make the surfaces and the pigments so smooth,” says writer and art critic Carmen Petit, “so it looks like there’s this really intense flatness, which allows it to have incredible conceptual depth.”
His father agrees. “He’s very meticulous and precise,” says Big Bear. “I don’t think anyone else can paint with acrylic the way he does.”
Petit remembers the first time she stepped into WallowingBull’s studio in Fargo. “I just had this feeling like nothing beyond the studio existed. It was this little bubble of reality. The gravity of his work just sucks you in and you're immediately absorbed into it.”
Much of WallowingBull’s work belongs to the Indigenous Futurisms movement, which takes the history and traditions of native peo -
ple—who are usually excluded from science fiction—and projects them into an imagined future. Working in this vein, WallowingBull incorporates robots into his work, often using everyday items, commercial iconography, and images from popular culture like Star Wars and Transformers. But even there, his work stands out.
“A lot of artists who do Indigenous Futurisms think about traditional ecological knowledge and how that will transform into the future. But Star’s method of thinking through that is just—it's just vibrating,” says Petit. “There are so many things going on. He's using every facet of this complicated lineage of colonialism and destruction. But also of survival and of seeing what's possible on the other side, when you take all those things with you into the future.”
Others have taken notice too. WallowingBull has earned several fellowships, and his work has appeared in collections ranging from Fargo’s Plains Art Museum to the Tweed Museum in Duluth, even to the British Museum in London. And in 2024, he was featured in National Geographic.
As for the future, he’s planning a major diptych illustrating the struggle over the Dakota Access Pipeline. And WallowingBull has other ideas as well: “I want to explore more of my own culture and heritage with my paintings. But I want to give it a twist and make them look robotic. You know, I want to add a lot of metal to it.” Only now he gets to buy his own supplies.
PHOTO BY AMY JEANCHAIYAPHUM
CULTURE
HOME OF THE HODAG
What can one town’s embrace of a proven hoax teach us about our love of the North?
WRITTEN BY JEFF RENNICKE | ILLUSTRATIONS BY MIKE TESTER
The year was 1893. The place, the saw-dusted logging town of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where whiskey and stories both flowed freely in taverns along a stretch known as Hungry Hollow. Towering white pines fell with screeches and thuds, but lumberjacks and whipsaws weren’t the only thing in those forests. There, among the tall trees and even taller tales, a legend was born: the legend of the Hodag.
The October 28, 1893 edition of the local paper, The New North, tells the tale. Timber cruiser Eugene Shepard was tagging trees near the headwaters of Rice Creek when he stumbled upon a set of clawed tracks and ragged tufts of strangely-colored fur, evidence of a creature the likes of which Shepard had never seen. Upon discovering the creature’s den, Shepard hot-footed it back to town to round up a rag-tag party of hunters and Hungry Hollow regulars to help subdue whatever it was that lurked in the dark pit of that den.
Armed with an arsenal of guns, pitchforks, “poison water,” knives, and sticks of dynamite, an epic battle ensued, the forest ringing with terrible growls and snarls like saw blades screeching through hardwood knots.
When the dust settled, or so the story goes, what lay before the astonished hunters was a creature straight out of a nightmare: bulging eyes peering from the head of a reptile, the horns of a bull, the serrated spine of a dinosaur, the seven foot-long carcass emitting a smell said to be “a combination of buzzard meat and skunk perfume.”
As with all such tales, the details get fuzzy, blurred with time and telling. No one can say just what became of the creature’s remains. But three years later Eugene Shepard was in the news again at the Oneida
County Fair, with what he claimed was a living, breathing Hodag subdued by experienced bear wrestlers and a bottle of chloroform. For a nickel apiece, fairgoers were led into a darkened room and left wide-eyed and screaming when a hellish creature seemed to growl and twitch right before their very eyes.
The success of the show was Shepard’s downfall. When word of the exhibit reached a team of Smithsonian Institute scientists, they threatened to come to the backwoods of Rhinelander and investigate. Shepard was forced to admit that his Hodag was a hoax, cobbled together with equal parts ox leather, old wood, and imagination, its limbs twitching through the manipulation of hidden wires.
But legends don’t die that easily. Take a walk through Rhinelander these 100-odd years later and you will still find Hodags at every turn— from the local high school mascot to Hodag lattes and shops full of stuffed Hodags and glass Hodags and racks of Hodag hoodies. Depictions of the creature lurk everywhere from car dealerships to the YMCA and the library. A larger-than-life version guards the entrance to the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce attracting thousands of selfie-takers every year. Eugene Shepard’s creature has come out of the shadows and onto main street as the official symbol of Rhinelander.
To some, it is an icon; to others it is a garish cartoon character. But for better or worse, the Hodag lives on. Perhaps it endures because we want to believe that there is room left in the North for mystery, for magic, that there may yet be something out there in the shadows of a distant bend in the trail or in a certain slant of moonlight that still prowls the edges of the human imagination.
Perhaps that is the Hodag’s true legacy: as long as there are those who believe in the possibility of a Hodag, the North will remain a place where wonder still exists.
THRIVE
Growing vigorously, developing well, flourishing
BLUE ZONES
Dan Buettner's quest for the secrets of longevity
WRITTEN BY STEPHANIE PEARSON
PHOTO BY DAVID MCLAIN
PHOTO
Years before Dan Buettner became an oracle of longevity, the native Minnesotan used the North to hone exploratory skills that earned him three Guinness World Records and a lifelong predilection toward squeezing every drop out of life.
The 65-year-old founder of the Blue Zones now splits his time between Miami, Florida, a lake home in Wisconsin, and exotic destinations from Sardinia to Singapore. But the seeds to his big life were planted as he was growing up a “lower-middle-class kid” in Roseville when his father Roger took his four boys—Dan, Steve, Tony, and Nick—on annual paddling adventures to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
To kick off summer, they would set out soon after the ice went out on most lakes. Things often went sideways, like the time the elder Buettner woke his kids in the middle of the 40-degree night, shooed them out of the tent in their skivvies, and started throwing rocks while banging on a pan.
“It turns out that a bear was swatting our Duluth Pack like a piñata and all of our food was falling out,” recalls Buettner. “It was the quintessential Minnesota experience.”
To encourage his sons to fish, Roger would pack only a can or two of Spam for the entire week-long trip. “We never had enough food,” Buettner chuckles. “If we didn’t catch fish, we’d have to eat that damn can of Spam.”
On one especially memorable adventure, it was so cold that the lake froze, and Dan destroyed his paddle trying to break through the ice. As the canoe sat immobilized, Dan had to dangle his legs off the bow, using his feet to crack a path so Roger could paddle his sons out.
“Before I was 15 or so, we never went anywhere except northern Minnesota,” Buettner tells me. “There’s no question those Boundary Waters trips equipped me to be a much better explorer. At a very early age we were doing extreme, risky stuff.”
Minnesota has formed many great explorers who have moved on to more exotic landscapes. “Dan would have been a totally different person if it weren’t for the North,” says his friend Will Steger. “Like many of us, he got his start in Minnesota, but Dan’s destiny was global. His early expeditions were dangerous and culturally fascinating.”
Buettner met Steger in 1987 when the young explorer was riding his bike from Alaska to Argentina. The 15,536-mile journey almost derailed in southern California, where Buettner found himself sitting dejectedly on a bench at the San Diego Zoo, fretting over lack of funds and lack of direction in his life. In a serendipitous fluke, he ran into Steger, who had just completed the first successful dogsled expedition to the North Pole.
“Will was a god who had been on the cover of National Geographic,” says Buettner. “He could have blown me off, but he gave me a pep talk when I needed it most.”
The best advice Steger gave Buettner that afternoon was to write in a journal every day. “You think you’re going to remember everything, but you won’t,” Buettner recalls Steger telling him.
Fortified by Steger’s wisdom, Buettner forged ahead and began selling stories to newspapers and magazines. This new storyteller/ adventurer gig—decades before the world had heard of influencers—worked so well that, after he set his first Guinness World Record by cycling to Argentina, he went on to set two more. In 1990,
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN BUETTNER
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN BUETTNER
PHOTO BY DAVID MCLAIN
THRIVE
Buettner and his brother Steve cycled 12,888 miles around the globe along the 45th parallel. Then in 1992, he and Steve and a larger team cycled 11,885 miles across Africa from Tunisia to South Africa.
“Minnesota is a breeding ground for real explorers,” says Buettner, whose short list of native heroes includes Steger’s North Pole teammates Paul Schurke and Ann Bancroft as well as Ralph Plaisted, who famously drove his Ski-Doo to the North Pole in 1968.
“It’s the Minnesota psyche,” Buettner says. “All of these people had deep experiences in the North before they went out and did their epic journey.”
But it’s more than just the Boundary Waters that makes Minnesotans who they are, he adds. “We grew up with really cold winters and out of that hardship grew community.”
A positive result of this combination is that “Minnesotans have one of the highest healthy life expectancies in America,” says Buettner.
As of 2021, the latest statistics available from the Centers for Disease Control, Minnesota ranked sixth in having the highest life expectancy at birth, which is 78.8 years old. The state has slipped from third place in 2020 when the life expectancy at birth was 79.1 years old.
Buettner attributes the decline to modern habits like eating junk food, practically a mortal sin in his eyes. For decades his life mission has been to enlighten the world on the secrets of aging well.
His research on longevity debuted in the November 2005 National Geographic cover story, “The Secrets of Living Longer,” where he revealed the five original Blue Zones. Since then, he’s written five bestselling books, including “The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest.”
In August 2023, Netflix premiered “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones,” a four-part series Buettner hosted and executive produced, interviewing centenarians from Okinawa to Sardinia and beyond. The
series became a hit, climbing to number three on Netflix and winning three daytime Emmys.
By mid-2024, Buettner launched Blue Zones Kitchen, a line of nourishing, ready-to-eat meals. And this September, National Geographic will publish his latest book, “The Blue Zones Kitchen: One Pot Meals.”
Now, Buettner is writing a book based on his latest research into emerging Blue Zones. “The old Blue Zones are largely disappearing because of standard American diets, cars, and mechanical conveniences,” Buettner told me from New York on his way home from a five-week European speaking tour with a side of cycling in Burgundy. “But the sun is rising on new places where people are enjoying 12 additional years of healthy life expectancy.”
Spoiler alert: At least one may be in Scandinavia, ancestral homeland to many Minnesotans.
Buettner frequently returns to the Twin Cities and heads north whenever he can. This summer will mark his 60th trip into the Boundary Waters, with his two sons, Dan Jr. and Raphael Buettner-Salido, and four longtime high school friends. He also maintains a summer home near Osceola, Wisconsin.
While the Dairy State is better known for cheese curds and beer than Blue Zones fare, Buettner gave his lakeside home a healthy twist. With help from his father, they built raised garden beds brimming with vegetables—bringing Blue Zones nutrition to his northern hideaway. He also stocked his cabin with boats, a ping pong table, and a pickleball court—ensuring frequent visits from his kids and grandkids.
“There is ample evidence showing that when you move out of the city into nature, your cortisol levels drop, your eyesight gets better, and you tend to be more active,” says Buettner. “All of those things instantly happen when I spend time at the cabin. It’s magic.”
PHOTO BY MICHAEL HAUG
TRUE NORTH
Celebrating remarkable people, entrepreneurs, tastemakers, and influencers of the North
THE PERFECT SCOOP
Annie Carmichael’s dedication to community is the essence of Crank and Dasher
WRITTEN BY EMILY MODEEN AND GRETCHEN BARTA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY JEANCHAIYAPHUM
A brick storefront on Superior Street in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood boasts a bright pink sign, black and white striped awnings, and pink cherry blossoms reminiscent of a Parisian cafe. Inside, the walls are covered in whimsical wallpaper and fashion illustrations drawn by owner Annie Carmichael’s mother-in-law, while the aroma of freshly made waffle cones wraps visitors in a sweet embrace. With a freezer full of ice cream ranging from classics to unique, bold flavors like Fig Mascarpone and Arbequina Olive Oil, friendly employees stand ready to assist in finding the perfect scoop.
Every flavor at Crank and Dasher begins with a specially made formula from a family-run dairy farm in Forest Lake, then curated to perfection using premium ingredients—like Italian pistachio butter, double fold vanilla from Madagascar and Mexico, or locally-grown strawberries. “As soon as the berries are ripe, we take a crew of our staff members to pick berries at the local farms,” says Annie. “It’s a fun day and a great way to foster our relationships with the farms and our staff.”
Once a registered nurse, Annie followed her passion for food inspired by her parents' love for travel and adventurous eating, and she continues to instill that passion for food and travel in her children today. She and her husband Quinn, who lived in Duluth as a child, spent summers at their cabin on Lake Vermilion. Eventually they felt the pull of Northern Minnesota and moved to Duluth permanently to raise their family. Beyond ice cream, Annie’s dedication to Duluth is clear—having actively fundraised for local schools, the Duluth Children’s Museum, and the rehabilitation of the historic NorShor Theatre, now she creates
opportunities for teens to develop customer service skills and build confidence as employees in her shops.
The rise of Crank and Dasher has been undeniable. What began as a small-batch operation in a commercial kitchen has blossomed into two Duluth shops and several wholesale partnerships, including Mount Royal Market and Kowalski’s in the Twin Cities. Annie sees this journey as years of dedication and hard work: “Every step we’ve taken has led us here.”
At Crank and Dasher, every scoop tells a story—a reflection of care, creativity, and the power of people coming together—and there is always an occasion for ice cream. Fitger’s is the perfect spot for sharing ice cream by the firepit with a beautiful view of Lake Superior, while at Lakeside, laughter fills the air as locals savor each bite. That is the essence of Crank and Dasher—where community finds its flavor.
A GOOD WALK, UNSPOILED
Chris Foley knows why golf is more than a game
WRITTEN BY AMY GORAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY JEANCHAIYAPHUM
Golf professional Chris Foley has played some of the best courses in the world. But the first one he mentions is a small, municipal course in Davenport, Iowa. “The green fees were practically nothing, so all us kids were encouraged to play,” he remembers. “I got hooked. And from then on, I spent every day, all day, at the course.”
Foley’s passion for the sport and entrepreneurial spirit took him from coast to coast before making his home base at Madden’s on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minn. “I think great coaches are lifelong learners,” he says. “They’re always trying to get better at what they do so they can make their students more successful.” And the game has changed significantly in the last decade, giving him ample opportunity to grow with it.
For Foley, this means balancing innovative technology with an innate ability to understand his students. “The golf swing can be really technical,” he points out. At Madden’s, he uses a program that generates 26 different parameters for every swing. “The best instructors can communicate that information in a way that the person in front of them can understand. Because everyone is different.”
And that’s another change Foley has seen, particularly since the pandemic. The demographics of the green have changed dramatically. Nationally, 18 to 34-year-olds have eclipsed the 55+ demographic as
the largest cohort. Minnesota is mirroring those national trends but also boasts a higher number of youth players, particularly girls.
Therein lies the true beauty of the game, to hear Foley tell it. “It’s the best bridge to bring people together. You can put all these different kinds of people on the golf course, and they’re equals.” He pauses to think back to that municipal course in Davenport, playing rounds with priests, executives, and mentors. “You know, it’s an aspirational game,” he opines. “It can really elevate someone in their life.”
www.chrisfoleygolf.com
(218) 820-9426
cfoley@chrisfoleygolf.com
WAVES OF INSPIRATION
One artist’s journey to where she belongs
Every year tourists flock to Monet’s gardens or Van Gogh’s cypress trees seeking to experience the inspiring landscapes for themselves. Duluth-based fine artist Kelly Schamberger is poised to do the same for the North Shore. “I want people to look at my paintings and want to see where they were made, not only because they’re beautiful, but because they capture the soul of a place,” she muses as though narrating a daydream.
Kelly doesn’t talk about her art like it’s a dream, however. She describes it like a persistent, beckoning need to process the world around her through a paintbrush. “I’ve had periods where I wasn’t making art,” she remembers. “But then it’s just pulling and calling, you know? It’s this thing I can’t get away from.”
Kelly completed a four-year classical drawing and painting apprenticeship at the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art and began earning accolades for her paintings while also working in marketing. She was showing at Sotheby’s in New York and even had a painting included in a time capsule on the moon. But somehow, this felt like both too much and not enough. Working and raising her young daughter left little time to paint. “My heart was split in two places.”
And then her father passed away.
“My dad was the biggest supporter of my artwork,” Kelly smiles. “He would always be the first to arrive at my shows so he could buy the first piece. He wanted me to chase my dreams.” In the fog of grief, one thing was clear to Kelly: she needed to paint full-time. So she left her job.
Now, Kelly is immersed in her “Tides” series, inspired by Lake Superior’s ever-changing moods. “The lake brings my heart so much peace. But I am also so sad still, grieving my dad,” Kelly admits. “That’s the beauty of art. It can take the painful things and turn them into something incredibly beautiful and timeless so that 400 years from now it still represents this place, like a little piece of its soul shared with the world.”
WRITTEN BY AMY GORAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY JEANCHAIYAPHUM
THE NEXT GENERATION
Building and preserving wealth for your family’s future
WRITTEN BY AMY GORAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY JEANCHAIYAPHUM
Since its founding in 1989, Liberty Wealth Management of Raymond James has been a pillar of financial expertise, helping clients in Duluth, Minnesota, and beyond navigate the complexities of investing and financial planning.
For over three decades, Brian Liberty, First Vice President, Investments, has built a reputation for excellence as a Financial Advisor and a Director, Advisor Select at Raymond James.
In 2023 Joe Liberty, Financial Advisor, joined the business Brian began 36 years ago, marking the beginning of a carefully planned succession strategy. As a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, earning degrees in finance and accounting with High Distinction, Joe began his career as a business valuation consultant at RSM before deciding to bring his expertise home to Duluth to join his father.
Together, they combine experience with innovation, bringing in young, talented professionals to meet the growing needs of high-networth clients.
They’ve created something unique in the industry, combining the personal touch of a boutique firm with the resources of a large global company, being the only Raymond James Advisor Select branch in Minnesota. This structure offers "the best of both worlds," Brian explains, as the Libertys have developed a client-centric culture and high service level while providing top-tier investment and planning resources.
The foundation of Liberty Wealth Management is serving successful individuals and their families in the pursuit of financial freedom. “It’s a big responsibility and we take it seriously,” Brian says, to partner with clients in building the future they dream of.
The multigenerational focus of Liberty Wealth Management is exemplified by the close father-son relationship between Brian and Joe. Joe describes their dynamic as “occasionally challenging, yet extremely rewarding.” Brian adds, “working with your son embodies the trust clients seek in a financial advisor.”
While clients value expertise, they also prioritize relationships and want assurance that their assets are well managed. Liberty Wealth Management is enthusiastic about the future and is well-positioned to achieve new milestones.
A RUNNING START
At only 26 years old, Rice Lake native Kenny Bednarek is just warming up
WRITTEN BY KATHERINE LAWLESS PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KENNY BEDNAREK
In October 2024, Olympic sprinter Kenny Bednarek returned to Rice Lake, Wisconsin, for the inaugural “Kenny Bednarek Day,” celebrating his remarkable achievements at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. The event marked a homecoming for Bednarek, whose journey from a small-town track to the global stage has become a source of local pride.
During the celebration, Bednarek spoke at his alma mater, sharing words of encouragement and reflecting on his journey. After signing autographs, he challenged the next generation of Rice Lake athletes on the same high school track where he discovered his own passion for running—a full-circle moment for both the athlete and the community that shaped him. “It was an honor and an amazing experience. This year, I kind of realized how big of an impact that I’ve had on my community,” says Bednarek.
This small-town Wisconsinite boasts an impressive record. Bednarek claimed silver medals in the 200-meter at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and the 2022 World Championships. His performances at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials solidified his position as one of the fastest sprinters in the world, with personal bests of 9.87 seconds in the 100-meter and 19.57 seconds in the 200-meter.
Yet Bednarek remains grounded in his roots. He was raised in Rice Lake after he and his fraternal twin brother, Ian, were adopted by his mother, Mary Bednarek. As an energetic child with ADHD, his mom encouraged him to channel his energy into cross country and later track. “Without my mom, I wouldn’t be able to be in the position I am today. She gave me the opportunity to shoot for my dreams. She’s been my number one fan since day one,” says Bednarek.
He traces his values back to growing up in the Midwest, giving him “a set of values like hard work, friendliness and straightforwardness, and having a strong sense of family and community. There’s also a deep appreciation for local tradition and nature, which is a lifestyle that’s helped my career and with having peace and joy,” says Bednarek.
His high school track coach Jared Sasada noticed his potential. “He’s the one that said, ‘you have something special,’” recalls Bednarek. “He also made me realize that I wasn’t one of the best. I went to some Junior Olympic races during my freshman and sophomore year, and I got
my a** whooped. That motivated me to come back and get better every single time I step on the track.”
He continued running—and improving—at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, where Bednarek ran the fastest indoor 200-meter in the U.S. After finishing school, he signed a contract with Nike and moved to Florida to train year-round, but he always returns to Rice Lake. “My mom is still living up north and so is my brother and sister. I always make sure to go home every single year after Olympics or World Championships just to get back to the community and hang out with them,” says Bednarek.
Bednarek’s athletic journey also led him to Sharmila Nicollet, a former professional swimmer and now golfer who’s made a name for herself on the Ladies European Tour. Unbeknownst to each other, Nicollet and Bednarek were living in the same apartment complex while navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. One day Nicollet knocked on his door, asking for extra toilet paper—a hot commodity in 2020. Luckily, he had extra and the two struck up a friendship, eventually dating. The couple recently celebrated their four-year anniversary.
Known for his speed and precision on the track, Bednarek’s determination is embodied by his nickname, “Kung Fu Kenny.” Inspired by a conversation with Nicollet, it expresses Bednarek’s values both on and off the track. “There are three things you need to be successful: hard work, discipline, and sacrifice. That’s something that I’ve always had to do to be at where I’m at today. But also, what’s important is to enjoy what you’re doing because the hard work won’t seem so hard,” says Bednarek. Looking ahead, Bednarek has his eyes firmly set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he aims to not just compete but dominate, with a goal of securing three Olympic titles across multiple events. “I know I’m not at my best yet. I haven’t even hit my peak, so that’s something I’m looking forward to,” Bednarek says, signaling that his most impressive performances are still ahead of him.
As he cements his reputation on the track, Bednarek is also looking beyond athletics. He plans to give back to the community that shaped him and to tackle meaningful issues on a larger stage. Bednarek concludes, “I want to leave a legacy behind. I want to go back to my community where it all started and try to get back to those roots. And I’m interested in starting a foundation to improve adoption in America. That’s something that I’m passionate about, and I want to inspire and support the next generation on their road to success.”
PHOTO BY WORLD ATHLETICS
“I want to leave a legacy behind. I want to go back to my community where it all started and try to get back to those roots.”
TRACY RAMSAY + PARTNERS |
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2141 POPLAR RIVER RD. SOUTH
RANGE, WI
$3,999,900 | 200 acres | 2,000 ft. frontage
Discover an extraordinary opportunity with 200 acres of beautifully treed land and 2,000 feet of stunning sandy beach frontage on Lake Superior’s South Shore. This rare property offers breathtaking natural beauty and endless possibilities, with land already platted and ready for development. Whether you envision a private estate, an exclusive community, or a remarkable investment, this unique parcel provides the perfect canvas. Enjoy serene lake views, abundant privacy, and direct access to one of the region’s most coveted shorelines. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of Lake Superior paradise!
89405 JACK PINE RD. CORNUCOPIA, WI
$2,250,000 | Beds 8 | Baths 8 | Gar. 3 | Sq. ft. 7,500 | 5.88 acres | 265 ft. frontage
Experience ultimate privacy and tranquility on the shores of Lake Superior at this estate nestled amid old-growth forest on a sprawling, landscaped lot. The home features historic brownstone pillars quarried in 1892 and a spectacular Edwardian cottage interior with detailed woodwork sourced from the property. Enjoy en suite bedrooms with fireplaces, luxurious baths, and lakefront decks/views. The gourmet kitchen boasts granite countertops and premium appliances. Additional highlights include a sunroom/library, lower-level family room, fitness area with sauna, and beautifully lit gardens overlooking Siskiwit Bay. Immaculately maintained, this exceptional retreat blends timeless elegance and modern comfort. Additional 5 acres available for $499,900.
Frank Roffers | RE/MAX Results 952-237-1100 frank.roffers@remax.net
2900 LONDON RD. DULUTH, MN
$1,799,900 | Beds 5 | Baths 4 | Gar. 2 | Sq. ft. 5,664 | 2.15 acres/200 ft. frontage
Located on Lake Superior’s shores, this meticulously maintained brick estate offers stunning views from nearly every room. The bright great room features a gas fireplace and expansive windows framing the lake’s beauty. A cozy den with built-ins and a second gas fireplace complements the eat-in kitchen, which boasts granite countertops, dual ovens, and a butler’s pantry. The master suite includes a newly remodeled bathroom with a beautiful shower. Additional bedrooms and baths are thoughtfully arranged on upper and lower levels. Enjoy landscaped grounds, a private beach, a concrete lakeside patio, and a charming creek-side bridge. Tracy Ramsay | RE/MAX Results 218-390-6747 tracy@tracyramsay.com tracyramsay.com
4015 EAST VAN LAKE RD. DULUTH, MN
$1,395,000 | Beds 2+ | Baths 3 | Gar. 2 | Sq. ft. 3,864 | 1.8 acres | 650 ft. lake frontage
Island Lake Retreat! Nestled among towering pines on one of Island Lake’s best beaches, this custom home is built to last with forever materials, including standing dead lodgepole pine from British Columbia, Douglas fir floors, curly maple, and slate accents. Enjoy a bright, open layout with stunning lake views, a boat house for guests or watercraft, and a 2+ car garage with a loft ready to finish for extra living space. Just 20 minutes from town, this property offers the perfect blend of privacy, quality, and convenience-your ideal lakeside escape awaits on Island Lake.
Tracy Ramsay | RE/MAX Results 218-390-6747
tracy@tracyramsay.com tracyramsay.com
1224 SOUTH RIDGE RD. DULUTH, MN
$1,299,900 | Beds 5 | Baths 4 | Gar. 3 | Sq. ft. 4,200
Lake Superior Views! Nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac in Duluth’s prestigious Northland Estates, this luxurious 4,200 sq. ft. home, designed by award-winning Charles Cudd LLC and built by Bruckelmyer Brothers, showcases exceptional craftsmanship and sweeping Lake Superior views from most rooms. Set on a beautifully landscaped 0.54-acre lot, the residence features soaring coffered ceilings, architectural beams, and abundant natural light. The open-concept chef’s kitchen offers solid surface counters, premium appliances, and heated floors-perfect for entertaining. Fresh exterior paint, a newer roof, and updated mechanicals ensure comfort and peace of mind. Located close to Northland Country Club, Hawk Ridge, and Lester Park trails.
Tracy Ramsay | RE/MAX Results
218-390-6747 tracy@tracyramsay.com tracyramsay.com
5491 N SHORE DR. DULUTH, MN
$1,195,000 | Beds 3 | Baths 3 | Gar. 3 | Sq. ft. 2,819
Enjoy the ultimate Lake Superior retreat just 8.5 miles up the scenic North Shore, surrounded by breathtaking vistas. This spectacular home on 3.25 acres features floor-to-ceiling windows and unobstructed lake views. The gourmet kitchen boasts granite countertops, a premium Wolf range, and butcher block island. The master suite features a gas fireplace, updated bath, and huge walk-in closet. The loft features a sitting area and a spacious office/bedroom with a murphy bed and built-ins. Additional highlights include a hot tub room, a heated three-car garage, landscaped gardens, firepit, two new decks, and a screenhouse-perfect for comfort, entertaining, and relaxation.
DULUTH, MN
TWO HARBORS, MN
6086 JEAN DULUTH RD
5 BED | 4 BATH | 5,664 SQ FT | 5 GAR
$739,900
Nestled on 10 wooded acres, this stunning 5-bed, 4-bath home blends peaceful country living with city convenience. Enjoy private trails, a pond, gardens, and a bridge to a chicken coop. The main level features a bright kitchen, sunroom, bedroom, full bath, pantry, and laundry. Upstairs offers a luxurious primary suite, two more bedrooms, and a full bath. The walkout lower level includes a rec room, kitchenette, bedroom, bath, and sauna—ideal for guests or VRBO. A heated 5-car garage and bonus building with potential apartment space complete the property. Solar panels offer energy savings. A one-of-a-kind retreat, just minutes from town.
TRACY RAMSAY | 218-390-6747 | TRACY@TRACYRAMSAY.COM
769 OLD DRUMMOND RD
4 BED | 3 BATH | 2,590 SQ FT | 5 GAR
$559,900
Discover peaceful living on this scenic 10-acre property in Two Harbors, MN. This spacious 2,590 sq ft home features 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and modern amenities throughout. Thoughtfully designed for comfort and entertaining, the home offers open living spaces and serene views from every window. Surrounded by nature, the property provides privacy and tranquility while still being close to town conveniences. Whether you’re looking for a retreat or a place to call home year-round, this beautifully maintained residence offers the best of both worlds—all for $579,900. Embrace country living without sacrificing modern comfort.
TRACY RAMSAY | 218-390-6747 | TRACY@TRACYRAMSAY.COM
PIPE LAKE, WI
LAKE COKATO, MN
246 210TH AVE
4 BED | 6 BATH | 6,046 SQ FT | 3 GAR
$1,599,000
Just 90 minutes from the Twin Cities, this stunning full-log home showcases impressive scale and craftsmanship. Towering 25-ft vaulted ceilings, a stone fireplace, distressed cherry floors, and walls of windows define the great room. The chef’s kitchen features knotty alder cabinets, quartz counters, and Wolf appliances. The main-level primary suite includes a sitting area with fireplace, office nook, marble bath with soaking tub, and deck access to the hot tub. Upstairs, a loft with bath functions as an office or bunkroom. The walkout level offers three bedroom suites, a second kitchen, wine storage, and a theater room. Outdoors, enjoy a composite deck, patio, and fire pit.
MIKE LYNCH | 612-619-8227 | MIKE.LYNCH@LAKESMN.COM
3376 NUGENT AVE SW
4 BED | 4 BATH | 3,882 SQ FT | 3 GAR
$1,250,000
Welcome to this meticulous lakeside retreat just 45 minutes west of the Twin Cities. Set on 1.67 beautifully landscaped acres with 150 feet of shoreline on Lake Cokato, this home blends space, style, and lakefront serenity. The great room features vaulted ceilings, a dramatic wall of windows, and a high-efficiency wood-burning fireplace. The main-level primary suite includes a spa-like bath, walk-in closet, and private deck with hot tub—perfect for soaking in panoramic views. Upstairs are two bedrooms, a full bath, and a versatile 800 sq ft bonus room. The walkout lower level offers a family room, kitchenette, additional bedroom, and bath—ideal for entertaining or extended stays.
MIKE LYNCH | 612-619-8227 | MIKE.LYNCH@LAKESMN.COM
FREDERIC, WI
1098 340TH AVE
55 ACRES
$950,000
Listed by the Kampmeyer Group—Lakeshore specialists of MN & WI—this enchanting 1903 lodge was crafted by Norwegian carpenter John Mangseth using white pine harvested on site. Rustic porches with crisscross balustrades, knotty pine interiors, and a grand cobblestone fireplace evoke timeless charm. A historic caretaker’s house, wooden water tower, and 15 miles of trails add to the magic. Located near Lewis, WI—just 1.5 hours from Minneapolis—this rare property sits in the heart of top cross-country ski country, with a free-running stream for year-round fishing. Rich with wildlife and outdoor adventure, it’s ready for the perfect buyer to restore its bygone-era beauty.
BRAINERD, MN
FORSALE
CROSSLAKE,
MN
20223 SEE GULL RD
4 BED | 4 BATH | 4,335 SQ FT | 4 GAR
$3,600,000
This exquisite estate on Gull Lake’s Gold Coast offers the ultimate in luxury lake living. Thoughtfully designed, the 4-bedroom, 4-bath home features an open floorplan with hardwood floors, vaulted wood ceilings, two fireplaces, and a fourseason porch. The gourmet kitchen includes granite counters and a spacious layout perfect for entertaining. The main-level primary suite offers a walk-in closet and a spa-like bath. The upper level adds a bedroom, suite, game room, and family room. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets and lake views from the porch, deck, or patio. The beautifully landscaped lot has in-ground sprinklers and 100’ of level, sandy shoreline. A 4-car heated garage provides ample storage.
ROB BIRKELAND | 218-831-0788 | ROB@LGKWPRO.COM
34314 SUNRISE BLVD
4 BED | 5 BATH | 5,854 SQ FT | 6 GAR
$3,300,000
Discover this stunning custom-built home on the west side of Cross Lake, part of the Whitefish Chain. With 116 feet of pristine lakeshore, it offers the perfect mix of luxury and classic up-north charm. Inside, enjoy vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, and a gourmet kitchen with granite counters and a huge island. The open floorplan flows to a screen porch, outdoor kitchen, and lakeside deck. With 4 bedrooms plus a bunkroom, there’s space for all. The walk-out lower level features a bar with garage doors, sauna, golf simulator, and more. Outside: firepit, sand beach, in-ground sprinklers, and two garages. Don’t miss this rare opportunity for upscale lakefront living!
ROB BIRKELAND | 218-831-0788 | ROB@LGKWPRO.COM
STOUT’S ISLAND LODGE
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY
This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a part of the iconic Stout’s Island Lodge, a world-class Adirondack-style retreat nestled on an 18-acre island in Red Cedar Lake, Wisconsin. With over 1.6 miles of pristine shoreline, this historic property has captivated visitors for nearly 150 years.
Choose from charming cabins (2–5 bedrooms), one-bedroom Main Lodge condominiums, or development lots to create your dream escape. Each property offers timeless elegance and modern comfort, perfect for building your family’s legacy on the “Island of Happy Days.”
Located just two hours from Minneapolis and six hours from Chicago, this exclusive resort boasts yearround access, stunning lake views, and unmatched amenities.
Don’t miss this rare chance to claim your piece of paradise. Contact us today!
SUPERB EXTERIOR REMODELING
COME FOR A VACATION COME FOR A VACATION
Escape to the enchanting beauty of Lake Superior’s North Shore with Cascade Vacation Rentals. Whether you’re seeking a cozy retreat or a spacious family getaway, our diverse properties promise the perfect stay.
If you’re dreaming of making this scenic haven your permanent home, look no further than Lutsen Real Estate Group, our trusted sister company. Explore stunning properties for sale and start living the North Shore lifestyle today!
TURN YOUR VACATION INTO A FOREVER STAY.
GULL LAKE CABIN
A luxurious and charming cabin
LAKE SHORE, MN
VACATION RENTAL ROUNDUP
16+ guests | 6 bedrooms | 11 beds | 4.5 baths
Experience the ultimate in reclaimed charm and luxury at this stunning vacation rental in Lake Shore, Minnesota. This exquisite lodge, crafted from reclaimed wood, offers a perfect blend of historic ambiance and modern luxury. Accommodating over 16 guests, the cabin features 6 bedrooms, 11 beds, and 4.5 baths, providing spacious and elegant accommodations. Enjoy endless lake activities with a sandy beach, two paddle boards, and two kayaks. Bring your own boat or rent from nearby options to explore the beautiful Gull Lake. The level walkout is ideal for yard games, while the large lakeside fire pit is perfect for family gatherings and s'mores after sundown. With impeccable taste, a prime location, and meticulous attention to detail, this lodge ensures a memorable and luxurious stay in one of Minnesota's finest vacation rentals.
BERKANAN DOME
Eco-conscious retreat
TOFTE, MN
VACATION RENTAL ROUNDUP
4 guests | 2 beds | 1 bath
Welcome to the Berkanan Dome! Named from the Old Norse word for "Birch" and "Mother Earth," this eco-conscious retreat offers a truly unique stay on the North Shore. One of four thoughtfully placed domes, Berkanan is designed for privacy and sustainability. The dome features organic linens and eco-friendly amenities, ensuring a comfortable and environmentally friendly experience.
Located on a 25-acre hobby farm, guests can explore an evolving biodynamic food forest, interact with friendly chickens, and enjoy the tranquility of nature.
With a geodesic design and climate-specific construction, the Berkanan Dome provides a cozy retreat year-round. Embrace the beauty of sustainable living and book your stay at Berkanan Dome for an unforgettable experience.
SÖLVEIG STAY
Shipping container with Nordic sauna
SOUTH RANGE, WI
VACATION RENTAL ROUNDUP
1 bedroom | 1 bed | 1 bath
The Sölveig Stay offers a unique, rejuvenating escape in a thoughtfully designed shipping container nestled in the forest. This cozy, minimalist retreat is equipped with modern amenities and eco-friendly touches. Perfect for nature lovers and design enthusiasts alike, Sölveig Stay provides a peaceful escape with easy access to nearby trails, lakes, and local attractions. After a day of exploring or relaxing in nature, unwind in the warmth of the sauna, then step outside to enjoy the cold plunge under the open sky—an experience that revitalizes the body and soul. Inside, you'll find a comfortable living space with a kitchenette, stylish decor, and expansive windows that bring the outdoors in. The Sölveig Stay is the perfect blend of relaxation, nature, and simple luxury for a memorable getaway.
AURORA MAJOR SUITE
One of 11 Fresh Coast Cabins
EAGLE HARBOR, MI
VACATION RENTAL ROUNDUP
4 guests | 2 bedrooms | 2 beds | 1 bath
Experience unparalleled comfort in the Aurora Major Suite at Fresh Coast Cabins. This 1,000-square-foot, fully remodeled, second-floor retreat features two spacious bedrooms with kingsized beds, a luxurious bathroom with soaking tub, and a fully equipped kitchen. The private deck, complete with a propane fire pit, offers breathtaking views of Lake Superior. Through a wall of windows, guests can watch the northern lights dance across the sky from the comfort of their bed. Modern amenities ensure a luxurious stay in this serene lakeside setting.
ISLAND ESTATE
A grand historic home
MADELINE ISLAND, WI
VACATION RENTAL ROUNDUP
40 guests | 9 bedrooms | 22 beds | 7 baths
Step into history at Island Estate, a grand 9,000 sq ft waterfront home in downtown La Pointe on Madeline Island. This beautifully renovated 1920s estate offers 9 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, comfortably accommodating up to 40 guests. Once the site of the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe and host to President Coolidge in 1928, the property blends rich heritage with modern luxury. Enjoy a private beach with kayaks, paddleboards, and a fire pit, or relax on the spacious lawn. Just two blocks from shops and restaurants, it’s perfect for large gatherings, retreats, or special events. Pet-friendly and full of charm, Island Estate promises an unforgettable island escape. This property and the Sunset Bay Lodge are owned by the same entity and can be rented together for larger gatherings.
SUNSET BAY LODGE
Waterfront property on Madeline Island
MADELINE ISLAND, WI
VACATION RENTAL ROUNDUP
24 guests | 5 bedrooms | 15 beds | 5 baths
Escape to Sunset Bay Lodge, a stunning 5,000 sq ft retreat on Madeline Island’s western shore. Set on 5+ wooded acres with 300 feet of private lakefront, this spacious property sleeps up to 24 guests across a main lodge and guest cabin. Enjoy panoramic sunset views, a gourmet kitchen, sunken living room, and a loft with ping pong and air hockey. Two master suites feature private decks overlooking the water. Located near La Pointe’s shops, restaurants, and ferry docks, it’s perfect for large gatherings seeking both adventure and relaxation. Pet-friendly with ample amenities for a memorable island getaway. This property and the Island Estate are owned by the same entity and can be rented together for larger gatherings.
PARTING THOUGHTS
SUMMER SOLSTICE
A celebration of summer in the North
WRITTEN BY AMY CARLSON
We made it. As the sun reaches its highest point of the year, the North bursts into life: blooming lilacs and lupines, our gardens and the forests waking up from the long winter, a riot of color and sound. Docks are put in at the lake, boats and SUPs and canoes cleaned up and ready to launch, plans made with friends and family to maximize fun all summer long. Anything seems possible in the North in June. We escape to the Apostle Islands or the cabin or our favorite lake to join impromptu flotillas. We read lazily on a dock or a sandy beach for hours, listening to kids playing on the water as they soak up extra daylight and late bedtimes. We meet up with friends for a spontaneous mountain bike ride to our favorite brewery. We take in outdoor concerts and join in bonfires along the shoreline. And when the sun finally drops to the horizon, we gather to toast the day, watching the vivid purples and pinks paint the water and sky around us, twilight lingering for what feels like hours.
This is the North at its most beautiful, a place we never want to leave, feeling cheated when we have to miss even a day of this fleeting paradise.
This is soul of summer in the North. And we’ve earned every single moment.
