Blueberry pancakes on the table and the sound of crashing waves just outside; inside, we light a fire in the wood stove and chat while we work.
Or, try to work. I get distracted by the crashing waves. The sun lights up the snow outside and we decide to be done on the laptops and go for a hike. When we come back it’s just before dark.
This past week, I met up with my friend Sarah for a remote work week at Lutsen Sea Villas [hosted stay].
Lutsen Sea Villas
The Lutsen Sea Villas are lake front and cozy condo-style cabins that made for a really cozy and productive few days away. We also checked out the pool, sauna and hot tub, but I really do think the biggest draw is the excellent view and the cozy wood stove.
Such a good week, and it really did feel like a home away from home.
Winter Hiking on the North Shore
Oberg Mountain in Lutsen was the first hike I did alone when I moved to Grand Marais, MN in 2020. I now live on the South Shore, in Northern Minnesota, but the hike was so, incredibly icy and I remember feeling extremely accomplished when I finished it, and like I could probably live up there forever.
Ultimately though, I found home somewhere else, but part of this area still feels like home to me, or at least for a different version of me. These trails, the rocks, the Lake up here all take me back so viscerally to what it was like to be in my mid-twenties living at what felt like the edge of the world.
There’s something really special about being able to come back to this place and show friends all the place I love. The snow was perfect, the blue shadows were still the same.
READ: Best Winter Hiking on the North Shore
Sisu & Loyly Nordic Sauna
Another place I love to visit when I’m back in Grand Marais is Sisu & Loyly Nordic Sauna. Back in my odd jobs era, this was one of the places I worked in Grand Marais, maintaining a beautiful space and chatting up tourists.
Since then, I’ve come back a few times to actually book a private sauna session and it hits every time. A perfect mix of nostalgia, smell of birch and steam.
Sarah and I hiked Pincushion Mountain — another hike with a loaded with memories for me — attempted to make some backcountry beer cheese fondue at the summit (failure to be sure) before heading to the sauna and I’m glad we did.
With the slushy state of the snow the four-mile hike was extremely challenging, slipping two inches with every step, and the sauna felt like heaven, the perfect warm up.
Mitten Giveaway Updates + Good Links
Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the January mitten giveaway, and congratulations to winner Dan! The February mitten giveaway will go live February 1, so stay tuned for details! As of now, I’m aiming to make these little handmade fiber arts giveaways monthly at least through March, then reevaluate where I am time-wise.
2026 Women’s Paddling Trips have been filling fast! [Info and booking links here] with just one spot left on the July 3-day and 3 spots left on the August 3-day (we did open up two more spots on this trip!). The one-nighter in early June still has five spots available!
If you’re looking to get into sea kayaking but don’t know where to start, the Freshwater Paddler Symposium has just launched ticket sales for June 25-28th, 2026. I’ll be here helping out this year, so if you’re looking to come up and sharpen your sea kayak skills (no experience required, rentals available) and want to join a group camping nearby, shoot me an email! I’m thinking of the vibe of the usual women’s trips (camping out and making friends and planning group meals as needed) with the added benefit of the structure of attending the symposium as a group. Email me at hello@madelinemarquardt.com if you want to join the group camping/have symposium meetup questions,
My friends at Lost Creek Adventures are hiring! If you know a college student looking to spend the summer outside, or you yourself are interested in working as a guide (or food coordinator!) check it out!
Thanks for the link to the MI beaches. Even tho my family has lived in the Copper Country & northern MI for generations, there are always so many more places to discover.
Re Empire, MI. On the way south from Charlevoix you will pass the studio of a sculptor who works in metal. & he has a dinosaur skeleton sculpture in the front yard. Empire has an asparagus festival. & Nature Walk Studio is a great shop to stop at in Empire. They have clothing, jewelry, books, etc etc. I especially like the Ts with morel mushrooms incorporated in the art work..
The magic of the North country! Thanks for the tour.