Inn at a Glance: Northern Rail Traincar Inn

Once upon a time, the boxcars at Northern Rail Traincar Inn hauled cargo across America. Now in their retirement their cozy interiors have been transformed into well-appointed bed-and-breakfast-style rooms not far from the banks of Lake Superior. Boasting views of the surrounding woods, porter rooms each occupy half of a boxcar, and come equipped with TVs and DVD players, private bathrooms, and themed furnishings ranging from Victorian to safari.

• Start the day right with a complimentary continental breakfast.
• Get toasty with evening campfires on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer.
• Borrow some fun from the inn’s lending library, which houses books, games, toys, and over 500 DVDs.
• Keep your eyes peeled for wild animals; the woods around the inn are home to bears, deer, eagles, and even a wolf.

Two Harbors, Minnesota: Quiet Town Along Lake Superior

Two Harbors sits on the shores of the largest freshwater lake in the world—Lake Superior. The lake is the top draw for most visitors; in nearby Duluth, the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center greets over 400,000 out-of-towners annually. Gooseberry Falls State Park also occupies a prime spot along the water. It’s named after its most beautiful feature: three waterfalls created by the Gooseberry River’s course toward the lake through a rocky gorge. The park has 20 miles of hiking trails and 15 miles of paved bike paths, many of which feature views of the falls.

Just 25 miles to the south sits Duluth, named the “best outdoors town” in America by Outside magazine in 2014. Along the edge of the water, the Duluth Lakewalk attracts joggers, bicyclists, and skaters, and provides access to the city’s waterfront pubs, ice cream parlors, and shops. For a night on the town, head to Canal Park, a warehouse district where the buildings have been converted into restaurants, cafes, and shops.

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