Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior: a blissful destination where you can unplug, rejuvenate, connect with nature & ‘just be’.
Today, I’m taking a break from the usual recipe post and all things food and sharing with you a recap of my recent stay at Bluefin Bay.
Bluefin Bay is a beautiful resort located in Tofte, Minnesota right on the shores of Lake Superior about 240 miles north of Minneapolis/St. Paul. It’s known as Minnesota’s most romantic & renowned North Shore Resort that’s surrounded by the Superior Natural Forest (hello, nature!). The landscape and geography of this area is much different than where my husband, Shane and I live in southern Minnesota where the land is flat and farmland makes up most of it. Most people, who are not from Minnesota, aren’t familiar with the change of scenery from one part of the state to another. It’s quite incredible!
We made our very first visit to Bluefin Bay 7 years ago and we’ve been going back ever since. It’s truly one of our most favorite places to stay and every year I look forward to our annual Fall trip there. Bluefin Bay is the perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, immerse yourself in nature, unplug, reconnect with your soul, spend quality time with your loved one/s and ‘just be’. Each year, when I leave bluefin I feel at peace, I feel more calm, I have more clarity, I’m more balanced and I feel rested and ready to continue to do what I’m set on this earth to do.
I believe that everyone needs to find their Bluefin! To find that place that forces you to slow down, to unplug and rejuvenate from the the hustle and bustle that we unintentionally get caught up in. This year, I needed my 4 days at Bluefin Bay more than any other year. The Real Food RD’s blog has grown faster than we ever imagined it would and Jess and I have been working night and day and weekends to keep up with the demand and projects we’ve committed to. In addition, we have hired two awesome ladies to help with marketing and social media tasks AND I resigned from my clinical dietitian job. So while change is good and obviously I’m beyond grateful for the growth that we’ve experienced (a big thanks to YOU!), it can also be exhausting and take a toll on your mental and physical health as well as relationships. This is why I believe unplugging and rejuvenating from time-to-time or as needed is so incredibly important no matter what the season of life it is that you’re in.
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So whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a student, employed full-time, a CEO of a fortune 500 company or a young entrepreneur like myself…we all need time to ‘just be’, to rejuvenate and re-energize. Maybe it’s a stay-cation, maybe it’s camping, maybe it’s a winter ski trip (that ones for Jess), or maybe it’s a stay at Bluefin Bay! Wherever it is, find that place that brings you peace, brings you calm and makes your soul happy.
I’m excited to share with you why Bluefin Bay is my blissful destination by showing you some of my favorite things to do while I’m there.
Daily hikes on the Superior Hiking Trails.
The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) consists of 300+ miles of hiking trails along the North Shore from Duluth to the Canadian border. There’s no better way to connect with nature than with a hike in the woods. These trails are well taken care by volunteers and great for day hikes, backpacking, and trail running. And let me tell you, in the Fall it’s absolutely stunning when the leaves are at their peak colors! Below are some of the hikes that we did and that I highly recommend if you make a visit to The North Shore.
Canoeing
What’s more peaceful than canoeing on a foggy morning on very calm waters with not another soul in sight?! One of the many perks of Bluefin Bay is that they offer complimentary guided hiking, canoeing/kayaking, snow shoeing and cross country skiing. All equipment is provided. These guided day trips are about 2-4 hours in length and an awesome way to get to know the area! We went canoeing on the Poplar river and had such a good time. Alex was a great guide!
Eat good food
You won’t have a hard time finding good food because Bluefin Bay has three amazing restaurants on site! All menus have plenty of healthy and gluten-free options, too! #dietitianapproved
The Coho Cafe – we love starting our day by fueling up at Coho Cafe before a day hike. Great place for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. Also, serves the best pizza!
Bluefin Grille – one of our favorite places to dine in The North Shore area that over looks Lake Superior. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views while you eat! Delicious food, a nice variety and they do their best to source locally.
Waves of Superior Cafe – located at Bluefin Bays sister resort and open for breakfast and lunch. We like to hit up Waves of Superior Cafe before or after our massage. You definitely will not have a hard time finding healthy options here and I’ve heard the Sunday brunch is quite scrumptious!
Below I share some additional favorite restaurants located in Grand Marais.
Get a massage
Also, at Bluefin Bays sister resort is a full-service spa. We always schedule a massage during our stay which is a very special treat for us and the perfect way to relax and restore. Feels quite nice after a long hike.
Visit The North Shore Winery
During out most recent stay we made a visit to the The North Shore Winery and The Sawtooth Mountain Cider House. This winery has been open for a little over a year and a half and is located near Lutsen which is a popular ski town in Minnesota. Here they make their very own wines as well as cider! A fun atmosphere, good wine (& cider) and good vibes. Bluefin Bay even has their very own red wine blend so of course we had to purchase a bottle to take home with us 🙂 Highly recommend a visit here and if you’re staying at Bluefin Bay, they offer a complimentary shuttle to and from the winery. #safetyfirst
Enjoy quality time with the ones who mean the most!
Shane has been traveling quite a bit for work and I’ve been working long hours so our time together is something we cherish. We had so much fun during our stay at Bluefin Bay, adventuring together around The North Shore. One thing we plan to do is schedule more ‘dates’ – at least twice a month even if it’s making dinner together at home or watching a movie (ps: I’m terrible at watching movies). We don’t have children yet and many of our couple friends recommend that we take advantage of these pre-parenting days by simply spending more time together.
Take in the views of Lake Superior right from your room
The resort accommodations are located literally foot steps away from Lake Superior. It’s indescribable and it’s amazing! I love cracking the windows open and listening to the waves crash into the rocky shoreline. Waking up early and enjoying a cup of a coffee and the views of Lake Superior brings me so much joy!
Visit Grand Marais
This is a must! We love spending an afternoon and/or evening in Grand Marais which is a beautiful, 30-40 minute drive north from Bluefin Bay. It may be the coolest little town in Minnesota and it’s right on the shores of Lake Superior complete with shops, restaurants, an awesome new brewery and more! Some of our favorite restaurants include: Angry Trout Cafe, My Sisters Place, Sven & Ole’s Pizza, Crooked Spoon Cafe & Gunflint Tavern.
Set aside all worries and just have fun!
Lastly, one part of unplugging is to set aside all worries, long to-do lists, and simply just have fun & ‘just be’. Honestly, this is hard to for me to do and I really have to force it but I know how important it is to rest my brain and my body. I’ve made a promise to myself to unplug more often because I find that I’m a much happier, more productive, less anxious, and a more energized human being when I do. So here’s to having more fun! Want to join me?!
And that’s a wrap, friends! I hope you enjoyed this non-recipe post and we would love to hear in the comments below if you’d like us to share more snippets inside of our lives and real life happenings beyond being dietitians that share delicious and healthy recipes.
If you’re interested in staying at Bluefin Bay you can book online or call 1-800-BLUEFIN.
No place brings you closer to Lake Superior and to each other than the Bluefin Bay Family of Resorts. Discover unforgettable outdoor and indoor experiences complemented by breathtaking views, luxurious amenities, culinary excellence, and one-of-a-kind accommodations.
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