About Melissa

Hello Friends!

I am Melissa Dressely, principal of Do North Marketing in Grand Marais, MN. I have a passion for marketing, communication, and Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior! That is why I opened Do North Marketing LLC in 2018. 

After an 18-year career in tourism marketing at places such as the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Odyssey Resorts, and Lutsen Mountains, the time came for me to open my own marketing business. 

I create visibility, growth, and strategic marketing solutions for clients through the North Shore Explorer platform, individualized marketing services, and thought partnerships. 

See more of what I do at Do North Marketing LLC. 

North Shore Explorer Guide
The opportunity came when I purchased the North Shore Visitor guide from Nina Simonowicz in the summer of 2018. The name changed to North Shore Explorer guide, and the 2019 guide was the first one under my belt. See the article in the Cook County News Herald. 

This is, hands down, the best job ever! I have the privilege of partnering with dozens of local and small businesses to promote them on the North Shore Explorer platform. 

I take so much pride in the legacy and history of the guide, as it has been published for nearly 30 years.  I continue to work to ensure it is the most trusted and relevant resource for visitors to find the best things to do on Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior. 

I also have a highly engaging social media presence on Instagram and Facebook, where I share personalized story telling videos that highlight the best things to see  do on the North Shore. My blog on NorthShoreExplorerMN.com is a content-driven resource with first-hand information to help people plan their next adventure. 

​See more information about the North Shore Explorer platform. 

On a Personal Note
I have lived on the Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior since 2004. Having grown up on the east coast, this was a strange, new land when I first moved here. It took a lot of adjustment to the challenges of living in a remote area with few resources and extreme weather. We are  at least 2 hours from big-box stores, major hospitals, movie theaters, and many of the every-day convieniences that most people enjoy regularly. 

That is one reason why I love it so much! Every day is an adventure here. I had never experienced such a beautiful landscape, deep winters, frozen lakes, Lake Superior waves, mud season, summer days so blue and green, vast remote forest, or a small close-knit community. I fell in love and I'm so grateful to call this place home! 

For me, the outdoor paradise of Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior provides sense of peace and positivity. This is true for so many people that visit here - that is why they love it too. 

My dog, Luna, and I enjoy hiking together with friends and other dogs. Luna's favorite is running off-leash on remote forest roads, and swimming in Lake Superior and the inland lakes of the Superior National Forest.

I love hiking along the waterfalls and along the Lake Superior Shore, and exploring the Superior Hiking Trail and it's scenic lookouts.  I also love shopping at the unique shops and galleries, many of which are owned by great folks that have become friends.

I have always been one to photograph everything! So, I'm usually capturing photos and videos of my experiences and sharing them on my social media platform @NorthShoreExplorerMN on Facebook and Instagram. The goal is to inspire people to visit the area and share specific, useful information to help them explore this amazing destination.

Thanks for reading! If you’re interested in partnering with me on the North Shore Explorer platform - OR - working with me as a consultant to perfect your marketing strategy and brand voice,  please contact me below. It will come into my inbox and I will reply ASAP.

Cheers, 
​Melissa Dressely