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Trip Hints
Favorites for Spring
Wildlife reality show
Web cams open a window into the lives of bald eagles.
Sugarbush safari
At nature centers, learn how to tap maple trees and sample the sweet results.
Snow heaven on the Gunflint Trail
On the edge of the Boundary Waters, Nordic skiers find snow that sparkles into April.
Serious reservations
Here's a guide to the lodgings, campsites and permits you should nail down early.
Waterfalls of the North Shore
When snow melts along Lake Superior, the rivers start to roar.
Best brew fests
Quaff craft beer to your heart's content at these sampling parties.
A roof in the woods
In state and county parks and forests, visitors love their camper cabins.
12 months of girlfriend getaways
Here are the best places to go for a good time in all four seasons.
15 great escapes in March
Winter's not over till it's over. Meanwhile, here's where to go for fun.
March can be a cruel month. We're tired of the cold, and it's tempting to sit tight and wait for spring.
But don't do it. This is the best time of the year for a lot of things, including eagle-watching, expos, ice-exploring and, of course, St. Patrick's Day parties.
We offer you three options for March getaways: outdoors, indoors and outdoors/indoors. Enjoy!
The season's first ships
When the Great Lakes shipping season starts, boat nerds watch for salties.
Like robins and maple sap, Lake Superior ore boats aren't much affected by the never-ending winter that humans find so annoying.
Toward the end of March, ice-breakers arrive to clear the shipping lanes, allowing the first boats to leave winter layup, kicking off the spring shipping season.
Then traffic starts to move within Lake Superior. Normally, boats arriving from other lakes can go through the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie after they open on March 25.
Planning a Circle Tour of Lake Superior
For a great vacation, follow the shores of the world's largest freshwater lake.
Of all the vacations a person can take in this region, a Circle Tour of Lake Superior may be the best.
It appeals to waterfall watchers, lighthouse fans and history buffs. It's a magnet for kayakers and hikers.
It makes a great honeymoon and also a great family trip, because small children adore stops at the many pebble beaches.
Toasting St. Pat
The Irish saint and his fans are back for a weekend packed with festivities.
Why do we love St. Patrick? Because when the landscape still is icy and white, he makes everything else turn green — clothes, beer, even rivers.
For that, the legendary Irish priest deserves sainthood.
Here are some good ways to celebrate his day in 2026.
Playing the field in Wisconsin
In April, the kooky courtship of prairie chickens brings out the bird watchers.
It's a cold dawn on a Wisconsin marsh, but to a bunch of prairie chickens, it's a hot Saturday night on the town.
They've come to see and be seen, and hormones are in charge. It's serious business, perpetuating a dwindling species.
But to humans watching from a blind, it's high comedy. Whenever a girl chicken is nearby, the boys inflate neon-orange sacs under their throats, drum their feet and start scurrying around like, well, chickens with their heads cut off.
Inn retreats
If you don't like the weather, spend a weekend where everything is under one roof.
In the cold months, not everyone wants to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
Many people would rather enjoy down comforters, hot toddies and a massage. Many people don't even want to look at snow and ice.
And that's possible at many inns and resorts. Some include a spa or dinner theater, others shops and restaurants, and a few offer a whole weekend's worth of entertainment under one roof.