Great Northern

Great Northern Cabin Retreats on Lake Superior's North Shore

Over the past few weeks we’ve been opening handwritten letters and honestly,it has become far more meaningful than we ev...
06/02/2026

Over the past few weeks we’ve been opening handwritten letters and honestly,it has become far more meaningful than we ever imagined..

Inside those envelopes are stories about fathers, grandfathers, stepdads, mentors, coaches, and the kind of men who quietly shape a life without asking for recognition.

The letters have brought laughter and tears but more than anything they’ve all reminded us that there is still so much goodness in the world..

In a world of quick messages and disappearing notifications, these letters feel like something worth keeping.

Because these letters have meant so much to us, every father figure nominated will receive a gift from us as a way of honoring the story shared about them.

And of those, one selected father figure will receive:

— A two-night stay at one of our Great Northern cabins
— A spa day at in Tofte, including a 60-minute massage, access to the hot tub overlooking Lake Superior, sauna, pool, fitness room, and spa facilities

Letters must be postmarked by June 8th.

Mail your handwritten letter to:

Great Northern
841 Co Rd 14
Grand Marais, MN 55604

Please be sure to include a return mailing address and contact information.

Thanks to all who have already participated.

The prize may be a getaway, but the letters have been the real gift.

Every letter feels like a small act of resistance against hurry.

A little piece of time restored⏳


Photos: Great Northern Owner & Builder Juani Carregal courtesy of .muus
*Not paid for or affiliated with mentioned businesses in any way. We just love what they do.

**Giveaway** Well folks, we figured Father’s Day deserved an old-school giveaway this year.The kind your dad would actua...
05/19/2026

**Giveaway**

Well folks, we figured Father’s Day deserved an old-school giveaway this year.

The kind your dad would actually respect.

Not one where you “SMASH THAT LIKE BUTTON” from the toilet and tag 14 people you haven’t talked to since high school.

Nope.

To enter this one, you’ve gotta sit down, grab a pen, and write an actual handwritten letter.

You know… like people did before everybody started communicating entirely through thumbs.

We’re giving away:

— A two-night stay at one of our Great Northern cabins
— A spa day at Waves of Superior in Tofte including:

• a 60-minute massage
• day access to private spa facilities, sauna, pool, fitness room, all overlooking Lake Superior
• complimentary coffee, tea, and beverages

And before any dads panic:

Yes, he’s still allowed to say “I don’t need all that” before secretly loving every second of it.

We want you to nominate somebody who’s been that steady kind of guy.

A dad.
A stepdad.
A grandpa.
An uncle.
A coach.
A mentor.

Anybody who taught you how to work hard, drive in snow, fix things with zip ties, or say “ope” while carrying too many groceries.

Tell us who they are.
What they taught you.
Why they deserve a couple quiet days on the North Shore.

To enter:
Mail your handwritten letter to:

Great Northern
841 Co Rd 14
Grand Marais, MN 55604

Letters must be postmarked by June 8th.

We’ll announce the selected father figure a few days before Father’s Day so the getaway can still be gifted for the occasion.

The stay and spa experience can be redeemed anytime within the following year.

Sure, entering takes a little more effort this way.

But honestly… most dads would probably call that “building character.” 🤍

An Ode to the Outhouse noun \ˈau̇t-ˌhau̇s(or: yes, the bathroom is outside)1: the original powder room 2: a small woode...
05/12/2026

An Ode to the Outhouse
noun \ˈau̇t-ˌhau̇s

(or: yes, the bathroom is outside)

1: the original powder room
2: a small wooden box where city people discover humility
3: the only bathroom with a better view than your bedroom
4: the most honest room on the property

In an age of rainfall showerheads, bluetooth mirrors, and toilets smarter than most people…

we offer a short walk outside.

Because some things are better a little less polished.

EXPECT:
— a brisk midnight walk with excellent moonlight
— fresh air where fresh air matters most
— birdsong as your bathroom soundtrack
— one guest per season dramatically announcing:
“I could never do this”
…and then absolutely doing it

WHY ON EARTH WOULD PEOPLE WANT THIS?

Because modern life has enough walls.

At Great Northern, our outhouses aren’t an inconvenience—
they’re part of the ritual.

A reason to step outside barefoot in the morning.
A reason to look up at the stars before bed.
A reason to hear the wind in the pines, the lake in the distance, and remember you’re not in a hotel.

AMENITIES:
— unmatched privacy
— zero small talk
— running water (just not where you were expecting)
— a million stars
— a lake instead of a lobby

SCOUT PREPAREDNESS:
— bring a flashlight
— a sense of humor
— realistic expectations
— maybe boots in April

If you’re looking for marble countertops, we lovingly encourage you to stay somewhere far less interesting.

If you’re still reading this, you’re probably our kind of guest.

And honestly?
you were never really a resort person anyway.

PEACE, PINES & PORCH COFFEE
— Great Northern

Outhouse order of images:
1. Campo
2. Haus
3. Haus
4. Gaucho
5. Tiny
6. Haus

Somewhere between the pines of the North Shore and the winds of Patagonia, I became a mom.It’s changed the way I see eve...
05/10/2026

Somewhere between the pines of the North Shore and the winds of Patagonia, I became a mom.

It’s changed the way I see everything..

the quiet, the wild, the slowing down, the small moments that somehow become the big ones.

Today we’re thinking of all kinds of moms.
The grieving moms.
The hopeful moms.
The step moms.
The dog moms.
The moms doing it all quietly behind the scenes.

And especially the little moments that made us who we are.

Happy Mother’s Day, from us🤍

Somewhere between the pines of the North Shore and the winds of Patagonia, I became a mom.It’s changed the way I see eve...
05/10/2026

Somewhere between the pines of the North Shore and the winds of Patagonia, I became a mom.

It’s changed the way I see everything..

the quiet, the wild, the slowing down, the small moments that somehow become the big ones.

Today we’re thinking of all kinds of moms.
The grieving moms.
The hopeful moms.
The step moms.
The dog moms.
The moms doing it all quietly behind the scenes.

And especially the little moments that made us who we are.

If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift that can still arrive on time, we wanted to make it easy.You can now purchase ...
05/07/2026

If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift that can still arrive on time, we wanted to make it easy.

You can now purchase a digital gift card directly through our site and schedule it to be emailed on Mother’s Day itself..so she has something waiting for her that morning.

But we didn’t want it to stop there.

Along with the digital gift card, we’ll also include our complimentary Mother’s Day offering:

A handwritten card with your message, written by hand and mailed the old-fashioned way, along with a signed copy of She Does: Words of Wisdom from North Shore Mompreneurs, including my interview and personal note inside.

It’s our favorite kind of gift:

something immediate, and something worth waiting for.

A little time away.
A handwritten note.
A book filled with stories from women building, raising, creating, and becoming.

If you’d like to send one, simply purchase a gift card through our site and let us know it’s for Mother’s Day.

We’ll take care of the rest..ink, paper, postage, and a little bit of intention.

There’s a rhythm to motherhood.It’s early mornings and late nights.Remembering the small things.Holding the day together...
05/05/2026

There’s a rhythm to motherhood.

It’s early mornings and late nights.
Remembering the small things.
Holding the day together in ways no one really sees.

It doesn’t pause very often.

So for Mother’s Day, we wanted to offer something that does.

A slower morning.
A quiet place.
Time that isn’t already spoken for.

And something to hold onto after.

We’re including a free gift and a handwritten Mother’s Day gift gift card for any amount:

A signed copy of She Does: Words of Wisdom from North Shore Mompreneurs (a book I’m honored to be part of), with a signed personal note from me on my solo horseback journey crossing Patagonia.

Gift cards can be purchased for any amount and will include a handwritten note with your words, mailed the old fashioned way.

Something personal.
Something kept.
Something that lasts a little longer than the day.

—
Details:

-To order: visit our site or click the gift card highlight on our profile.

-Gift cards never expire.

-Can be used at any cabin, anytime, no black out dates.

-Autographed She Does books: Currently on pre-order and will be signed and ready at the end of this month. Can be shipped to an address or set as a gift inside the cabin for arrival.

*Please specify in the “message” section when purchasing gift card what option you’d prefer for shipping or cabin stay delivery, what message you’d like in the hand written card and mailing address to be sent to.

Order now and we’ll take care of the rest—ink, paper, and a little bit of time.

There’s a rhythm to motherhood.It’s early mornings and late nights.Remembering the small things.Holding the day together...
05/05/2026

There’s a rhythm to motherhood.

It’s early mornings and late nights.
Remembering the small things.
Holding the day together in ways no one really sees.

It doesn’t pause very often.

So for Mother’s Day, we wanted to offer something that does.

A slower morning.
A quiet place.
Time that isn’t already spoken for.

And something to hold onto after.

We’re including a free gift and a handwritten Mother’s Day gift gift card for any amount:

A signed copy of She Does: Words of Wisdom from North Shore Mompreneurs (a book I’m honored to be part of), with a signed personal note from me on my solo horseback journey crossing Patagonia.

Gift cards can be purchased for any amount and will include a handwritten note with your words, mailed the old fashioned way.

Something personal.
Something kept.
Something that lasts a little longer than the day.

—
Details:

Purchase a Mother’s Day gift card for any amount and we’ll include:A signed copy of : Words of Wisdom from North Shore ...
05/03/2026

Purchase a Mother’s Day gift card for any amount and we’ll include:

A signed copy of : Words of Wisdom from North Shore Mompreneurs—a collection of stories from women building businesses and raising families along the North Shore,

autographed by both authors.

I’m honored to have my own interview included in this book together with the other contributing women.

I’ll include a personalized note in my interview section of the book on my solo crossing of Patagonia by horseback and motherhood. -
.either mailed the old-fashioned way or placed in the cabin for arrival.

and

a handwritten gift card
filled with your message,
sent the old fashioned way.

Because the best gifts aren’t rushed.
They’re felt.

Details:

-To order: visit our site or click the gift card highlight on our profile.

-Gift cards never expire.

-Can be used at any cabin, anytime, no black out dates.

-Autographed She Does books: Currently on pre-order and will be signed and ready at the end of this month. Can be shipped to an address or set as a gift inside the cabin for arrival.

*Please specify in the “message” section when purchasing gift card what option you’d prefer for shipping or cabin stay delivery, what message you’d like in the hand written card and mailing address to be sent to.

Order now and we’ll take care of the rest—ink, paper, and a little bit of time.

Long before calendars and notifications told people when to slow down, they looked to the land.May 1 marked a turning po...
04/30/2026

Long before calendars and notifications told people when to slow down, they looked to the land.

May 1 marked a turning point, known as Beltane, the halfway place between spring and summer, when the earth felt fully awake again. Fires were lit on hilltops, people gathered outdoors, and the season was welcomed with intention: growth, protection, abundance, and light.

There’s something beautiful about that.

Not because we’re chasing old traditions, but because somewhere along the way, we forgot how to notice seasons at all.

We move fast.
We fill every quiet space.
We forget that creation was meant to call us back.

Sometimes rest looks like a cabin in the woods.
Sometimes faith looks like a walk by the lake.
Sometimes healing starts with putting your phone down and stepping outside.

This season, we’re choosing both.. wonder and stillness, nature and faith, rest and reconnection.

Wherever this season finds you, we hope you make space for stillness.

Address

Grand Marais, MN
55604

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Great Northern posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category