The North Shore Explorer guide is a free mile-by-mile guide of Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior. It takes visitors to discover all of the best things to see in do from Duluth to the Canadian Border. The main route is Highway 61 - the North Shore Scenic Drive.
Useful Resource The guide takes visitors for a tour around Duluth and the communities along Lake Superior's North Shore, in geographical order. Mile markers in the book feature points of interest that correspond to the actual mile-marker along the road, so North Shore explorers can find things easily and plan their journey.
There are pages that outline the state parks, waterfalls, popular hiking trails, Lake Superior access points, fall color tours, and more. The lodging guide in the back of the book, and the fold out map are two more important resources that make this guide so useful.
The North Shore Explorer guide is the only comprensive resource for Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior and Duluth.
Business Partnerships Nearly 100 Duluth and North Shore businesses feature their ad in the guide so that visitors know they are among the best, must-stop places on the journey.
Business that are featured in the North Shore Explorer guide have targeted visibility to those that are interested in visiting the North Shore, or are here right now looking for the best places to go.
Trusted and recognized in the marketplace Published annually for nearly 30 years, it is highly reconized and sought out by visitors. Staff at visitor centers, hotels, resorts, and other tourism hot-spots regularly use the guide to show people what to see and do.
Its beautiful design, geographical layout, and helpful information make it very popular for both visitors, and those serving visitors, to find the best things to do on the North Shore.
North Shore Lodging Guide
The Lodging Guide is in the back of the book. It features 45 of the best North Shore lodging options listed in mile-marker order.
"Working at the front desk, I get people walking into the hotel with the guide book open to the Lodging Guide, asking if we have availibility." - Melissa, Best Western Superior Inn
This is "The Guide" that visitor centers across Minnesota, Duluth, and the North Shore show to travelers wanting to visit the North Shore!
The North Shore Explorer guide is published once per calendar year. 100,000 per year are distributed.
It is available at all of the Explore Minnesota Welcome Centers across the state, select AAA offices and visitor centers in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and at over 140 tourism hot-spots in Duluth and the North Shore, including the state parks.
"It's not enough to drop off a box of guides at a business and call it good. I have a relationship with all of my distribution partners and I make sure they are displayed nicely, and that the staff knows that they can use it a resource to help their guests, or so they can direct guests to pick one up. I strive to have them avaialble almost everywhere that a visitor will be likely to pick it up." - Melissa Dressely, publisher
Mile-by-Mile Guide of the North Shore
Follow the mile markers in the guide to Explore the North Shore! Discover Awesome hiking trails Beautiful views Fun Attractions Waterfalls Historical sites Hidden Gems State parks Points of interest Lodging Restaurants Shopping Picnic Areas Scenic Drives And more!
There is a fold out map in the back of the book. Each community features a map in it's section.
Testimonial
Jeff, the manager of the Explore MN Welcome Center at Thompson Hill, Duluth (Skyline Drive) says:
"Along with averaging just over 400,000 visitors here at the Thompson Hill Welcome Center annually, we go through just over 10,000 of the North Shore Explorer guides every year. It is by far the best resource we have for assisting folks with their North Shore adventures!
We bookmark several of the pages including the state park listings, waterfall tours, lodging guide, and hiking suggestions to show to visitors where to go on their North Shore adventure.
Personally, I have found the North Shore Lodging Guide and Gunflint Trail pages to be an invaluable tool with the current influx of first-time visitors. We're seeing lots of new visitors from all demographics, from all over the country - more so than before Covid.
Over the past couple of months, several visitors have stopped in after their North Shore vacation, and requested a couple more North Shore Explorers to hand out to their friends and family. We get great feedback from visitors about how much they love this guide, and we do too! "
