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North America > United States of America > Midwest > Minnesota > Northeastern Minnesota
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The Northeastern region of Minnesota marked by countless rivers, lakes, and the shore of one Great Lake. It includes Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Isanti, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Pine, and St. Louis counties.

Regions

Cities

Other destinations

  • Banning
  • Bear Head Lake
  • Boundary Waters Canoe Area
  • Cascade River
  • Cuyuna Country Rec. Area
  • Father Hennepin
  • Franz Jevne
  • George H. Crosby Manitou
  • Gooseberry Falls
  • Grand Portage
  • Hill Annex Mine
  • Interstate
  • Jay Cooke
  • Judge C.R. Magney
  • McCarthy Beach
  • Mille Lacs
  • Moose Lake
  • St. Croix
  • Savanna Portage
  • Scenic
  • Schoolcraft
  • Soudan Underground Mine
  • Split Rock Lighthouse
  • Temperance River
  • Tettegouche
  • Wild River
  • Lake Shetek
  • Minneopa
  • Monson Lake
  • Nerstrand Big Woods
  • Rice Lake
  • Sakatah Lake
  • Sibley
  • Split Rock Creek
  • Upper Sioux Agency
  • Voyageurs National Park
  • Whitewater
  • Wolf

Understand

The economy of the northern part of this region seems to be almost perpetually on a down cycle, and while there is considerable pessimism in those areas due to that, locals also have much pride about their homeland. Northeastern Minnesotans are unfailingly helpful and honest, if occasionally gruff. The residents enjoy their outdoor activities, in all seasons. There is a connection between the people and the land here, and many citizens hold hunting and fishing at least on par with God and country. Visitors would be wise to recognize this fact.

The Iron Range (Hibbing-Chisholm area) is culturally similar to the U.P. with many of Finnish ancestry, some Russians, and is economically centered around mining. Most of the rest of the area is centered around tourism, farming and logging, and is dominated by Norwegians, Swedes and Germans, with a few Poles and American Indians. There are several Indian Reservations in the area.

Despite its rural nature, most Minnesotans are actually quite progressive politically and environmentally. The area is socially more conservative, and less tolerant of diverse views than Minneapolis. Honesty and integrity are always appreciated here, and good deeds never go unnoticed. People tend to avoid using absolutes and superlatives when talking.

Talk

Finnish is still spoken by some residents in the far Northeast. Many locals speak with a pronounced Scandinavian accent (think of the movie "Fargo"), and quite rapidly! However they are usually happy to oblige and speak slower if asked, nicely.

When ordering food in a restaurant, some tips: pop is served here, asking for a soda might get you a cream soda. You can probably find a pasty (meat stew in bread) in the Iron Range (and no shortage of bars). A glass of beer is referred to as a 'tap' or a 'glass' but usually not a 'draw' or a 'draft'. There are no dry counties. Polish, or 'Polacker', will get you a spicy sausage, and 'Smelt' a fried fish. 'Hotdish' is a casserole. And even the locals will usually avoid 'Lutefisk', no matter what you may have heard elsewhere. 'Boughten' means store-bought, as opposed to home-made, as in "... all I have is boughten bread".

Going to the 'show' means seeing a movie at the cinema. A 'snow machine' is a snowmobile (both terms are used, but sometimes spark a discussion between proponents of one term vs. the other). A 'block heater' is a device to warm car engines on cold winter nights (marked by the electric plug-ins dangling from the grills of many local cars and trucks). 'The Cities' always refers to the Twin Cities: Minneapolis-Saint Paul and suburbs. A "sow-na" is in reality a steam bath (sauna), but a 'sarma' is a stuffed cabbage roll. 'Choppers' are mittens for the really cold weather - generally a wool insert and leather outer parts. A common tree is the quaking aspen, a type of poplar, but is called "popple" here.

Any word ending in 'ag', like 'flag' or 'bag' has a long a sound, it rhymes with 'flake' or 'bake'. A preposition is commonly used to end a sentence, particularly in the phrase "Are you coming with?"

Acceptable affirmative responses to questions here include, 'oh yah', 'you betcha', and 'no doubt'. 'No way' is a common negatory. Derision is not advised. And of course, "uff da" is a common expression, similar to "oh my gosh".

Get in

Flights are available into Duluth International Airport and Hibbing Municipal Airport via Delta Air Lines. Greyhound Bus Lines serve Duluth. Major highways serving the area are Interstate 35 from Minneapolis, US 53 from Eau Claire and northwestern Wisconsin, US 2 from the upper peninsula of Michigan, and MN 61 from Ontario, Canada.

Get around

Most regional highways are well-maintained if aged. Summer brings road construction, winter brings snow, and spring may bring road weight limits as the ground thaws. MN-DOT provides helpful information about conditions and road work.

Almost all of the local communities use some version of the grid system for their streets, with extensive use of numbered (2nd, 3rd, 4th Avenues West) streets for easy direction-finding. Inquire locally, most residents are happy to help provide directions.

See

The International Wolf Center in Ely, educating outdoor enthusiasts about the timber wolf.

Several sites in the Iron Range, including mine tours and Bob Dylan's boyhood home.

Judy Garland's Birthplace, in Grand Rapids.

The Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, an outdoor interactive facility engaging visitors in the life of early loggers.

Black Bear Casino in Cloquet, Fond-du-Luth gaming Casino in Duluth, Fortune Bay Casino near Tower, and Grand Casino Hinckley, in Hinckley.

Numerous state parks.

Do

Ice Fish. Hunting is a big draw in the area, primarily deer hunting, but there is also a season on black bear and moose, as well as several fowl: ducks, geese, and ruffed grouse. Enjoy a ride pulled by sled dogs in Ely. View the fall leaves as the colors change in late September and early 0ctober. Take in the many local high school sporting events, but especially IRC hockey games in the wintertime to fully appreciate the love locals have for this sport. Canoe the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area) in the summer months. Enjoying the outdoors is almost a necessity to enjoy Northeastern Minnesota.

Eat

Sammy's Pizza in Hibbing is a staple and has been for decades. Grandma's in Duluth's Canal Park is also highly regarded. Some of the national chains you will find across the region are Dairy Queen, Subway, Hardee's, and Pizza Hut.

Most of the food is solid, small-town fare, centered around meat and potatoes. Available spices are salt, pepper and ketchup.

Drink

There is more beer drinking per capita in the Iron Range than in the Twin Cities. Liquor stores are plentiful, as are local taverns. Drinking and driving, however, has serious consequences.

Beer and whiskey ('rye' is Canadian whiskey) are more likely to be enjoyed virtually everywhere than wine and drinks with umbrellas. Do not expect to be surprised!

Stay safe

Property crime is far more likely in this region than violent crime. Use common sense regarding valuables left in vehicles. Most locals are very approachable and helpful to out-of-towners, and will go out of their ways to provide assistance.

Mosquitoes can be problematic during the summer months, up until the time of the first killing frost in August or September. Black flies, deer flies and horse flies can be bothersome in some locations. Wood ticks may find you in long grass, particularly in early summer. The good news is that there are essentially no poisonous snakes or insects, and it's too cold for cockroaches.

Do not underestimate the effect of the wintertime cold on yourself or your vehicle! The air temperature can get to -20'F to -30'F (-30'C to -35'C) at any time from mid-December into March. Occasional cold spells can get colder than that, plus any possible wind chill needs to be taken into account. If driving in the area, make sure you keep warm clothes in the car in case of an accident or breakdown.

Do not drive on the ice unless you know the lake and know that your route is safe!! If your vehicle falls through the ice (and you get out), you will be charged for the cost of recovering your vehicle from the lake.

The Minnesota State Patrol has a considerable presence on local highways, and drivers would do well to obey posted speed limits. Shining deer is illegal. Do not let your dogs run loose across farm fields, as farmers have been known to shoot stray dogs (stray dogs are considered more dangerous to livestock than wolves).

Go next

Flights depart Duluth International Airport for Minneapolis and Detroit daily.

This region travel guide to Northeastern Minnesota is an outline and may need more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. If there are Cities and Other destinations listed, they may not all be at usable status or there may not be a valid regional structure and a "Get in" section describing all of the typical ways to get here. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

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