Wolfes Den Wakemup Lake Vermilion Cabin
Arts scene
Northwoods Friends of the Arts Gallery
210 S River StSmall art gallery with great selections from local artists
Ryan's Rustic Railings
3393 US-53Great selection of Northwoods custom made furniture and decorative items
Ely
Annual Blueberry Festival fine arts fair late July
Food scene
Montana Cafe
29 S River StGreat breakfast and lunch place in town
Hot flavored coffees, ice cream, ladies jewelry and clothing in a historical theater. New first run movies @7p usually change weekly
11 locals recommend
Comet Theater
102 S River StHot flavored coffees, ice cream, ladies jewelry and clothing in a historical theater. New first run movies @7p usually change weekly
The South Switch
8929 State Hwy 1Great daily specials, Monday Fried Chicken is our favorite
Rose Cottage Baking Co.
Great baked goods, one of the best ever reubens.
Where the locals go... great pizza (including the Bamboozler), amazing ribeye / garlic mashed potatoes, good menu variety
11 locals recommend
The Vermilion Club
3191 Old Hwy 77Where the locals go... great pizza (including the Bamboozler), amazing ribeye / garlic mashed potatoes, good menu variety
Grocery store with great selection of foods, deli offers rotating hot meals M-F, excellent meats, particularly their signature brand brats in many flavors. Try the Lions Brat Shack out front (days seem to vary by week)
6 locals recommend
Zup's Food Market of Cook
201 US-53Grocery store with great selection of foods, deli offers rotating hot meals M-F, excellent meats, particularly their signature brand brats in many flavors. Try the Lions Brat Shack out front (days seem to vary by week)
Good stop for lunch with an excellent view of the lake
7 locals recommend
The Landing on Lake Vermilion
3096 Vermilion DrGood stop for lunch with an excellent view of the lake
Shopping / Souvenirs
You never know what sort of treasure you will find, at a great price with proceeds going to a great cause.
Cook Hospital Thrift Shop
320 3rd St SEYou never know what sort of treasure you will find, at a great price with proceeds going to a great cause.
New name: Northern Comfort Company, good selection of local Lake Vermilion wearables, Northwoods themed gifts for all ages, furniture/decor. Plus electric bike rentals!
Furniture Plus Gift & Video
123 2nd St ENew name: Northern Comfort Company, good selection of local Lake Vermilion wearables, Northwoods themed gifts for all ages, furniture/decor. Plus electric bike rentals!
Selection of milled foods for humans and animals. Try their signature blueberry pancake mix :)
Homestead Mills
221 N River StSelection of milled foods for humans and animals. Try their signature blueberry pancake mix :)
Small farmer's market you can cover in <1hr. Great local produce, breads, local crafters. Saturdays 8a-noon. By the bandshell in town.
Cook Area Farmers Market
Small farmer's market you can cover in <1hr. Great local produce, breads, local crafters. Saturdays 8a-noon. By the bandshell in town.
Sightseeing
Cook Timber days is in early / mid June, street festival with food, entertainment, antique / vintage cars show, arts and crafts vendors, pet show, etc.
Cook
Cook Timber days is in early / mid June, street festival with food, entertainment, antique / vintage cars show, arts and crafts vendors, pet show, etc.
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
801 Hat Trick AveFor Hockey Lovers
Soudan Mine
Tours
International Wolf Center
1396 MN-169Northwoods wildlife adventure
Lake Vermilion Tourist Info
320 US-53Great place to pick up information on area sights / places
Orr Welcome Center
4429 US-53Another great place to pick up information on area sights
Fortune Bay Resort Casino
1430 Bois Forte RdCasino, dining, entertainment
Petting Farm, Learning Center, Event Venue. all types of farm animals from alpaca to yak that are friendly and eager to say "hi". playground and picnic area. A great place for families to unplug and go outside. I believe they may occasionally offer yoga classes...
9 locals recommend
Cook's Country Connection
1953 Vermilion DrPetting Farm, Learning Center, Event Venue. all types of farm animals from alpaca to yak that are friendly and eager to say "hi". playground and picnic area. A great place for families to unplug and go outside. I believe they may occasionally offer yoga classes...
See the giant loon! Don't miss the Land of the Loon Ethnic Arts & Crafts Festival in late June.
Virginia
See the giant loon! Don't miss the Land of the Loon Ethnic Arts & Crafts Festival in late June.
Scenic train ride for the family along the shore of Lake Superior
19 locals recommend
North Shore Scenic Railroad
506 W Michigan StScenic train ride for the family along the shore of Lake Superior
Mostly Lake Superior area fish, but has a decent kids water play area
37 locals recommend
Great Lakes Aquarium
353 Harbor DrMostly Lake Superior area fish, but has a decent kids water play area
RICHARD I. BONG VETERANS HISTORICAL CENTER
305 E 2nd StWorld War II visitor center
William Irvin station
Museum, tour lake vessel SS William A Irvin
North American Bear Center
1926 MN-169Outdoors activities
The Wilderness at Fortune Bay
1450 Bois Forte RdRated one of the best golf courses in Minnesota!
Pier 77 Mini-Golf
4066 Co Rd 77Nice day activity for the kids
Boating, fishing, swimming, tubing, jetskiing. Try our water bike, kayak or paddle boat. Check out the antique wooden boat show the weekend before Labor Day, usually held at The Landing Restaurant
Lake Vermilion, Minnesota, USA
Boating, fishing, swimming, tubing, jetskiing. Try our water bike, kayak or paddle boat. Check out the antique wooden boat show the weekend before Labor Day, usually held at The Landing Restaurant
Boat rentals (fishing boats, pontoons), we recommend reserving early because there are weeks all their boats are rented out
Timbuktu Marina
Boat rentals (fishing boats, pontoons), we recommend reserving early because there are weeks all their boats are rented out
One of the most amazing places on Earth, see lots of bears in their natural habitat from the safety of a large viewing platform. Sometimes you can occasionally see baby bears climbing up the trees while momma bears are eating. There's also a gift shop and naturalist talks. A bus takes you from the parking lot to the viewing platform. Season is late May / Memorial Day to Labor Day
29 locals recommend
Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary
12541 Nett Lake RoadOne of the most amazing places on Earth, see lots of bears in their natural habitat from the safety of a large viewing platform. Sometimes you can occasionally see baby bears climbing up the trees while momma bears are eating. There's also a gift shop and naturalist talks. A bus takes you from the parking lot to the viewing platform. Season is late May / Memorial Day to Labor Day
Bike trail, stretching from the Mississippi to the Boundary Waters, with over 150 miles of paved trail. Cuts through the forests of northeast Minnesota, past lakes, creeks and ponds, by vast red pits of old iron ore mines now filled with emerald green water. See native wildlife. Passes through 28 communities.
14 locals recommend
Mesabi Trail
111 Station 44 RdBike trail, stretching from the Mississippi to the Boundary Waters, with over 150 miles of paved trail. Cuts through the forests of northeast Minnesota, past lakes, creeks and ponds, by vast red pits of old iron ore mines now filled with emerald green water. See native wildlife. Passes through 28 communities.
The Quarry at Giants Ridge
5904 Giants Ridge RdRated one of the best golf courses in Minnesota
Vermilion Fairways
Nearby golf course
City advice
Don't miss
Great views from deck of Northern Lights
Monitor the (free) Aurora app to ID days when viewing the Northern Lights might be possible.
Don't miss
Voyageur Country ATV trail system
Connects Cook MN with numerous other nearby communities. Requires trail pass for non-MN residents.
Uses a combination of forest roads, wooded trails and county road rights-of-way to connect the communities of Cook, Crane Lake, Buyck, Camp 5 township and Ely. The system also ties into the existing Prospectors Trail system. The Voyageur Country trail system passes through numerous land and forest types, with many overlooks and stops along the way including Vermilion Falls, Pelican River overlook and the new Vermilion River trail bridge.