Off the Map: Voyageurs National Park & Canoe Country

Activity note: light walking

Dinner: Dinner will be across the street at Blackwoods Grill

Evening: Evening will be free for you

Activity note: walking 2-3 miles

Breakfast: at Days Inn

Morning: We will depart for Lake Superior's North Shore and explore beautiful Gooseberry Falls State Park and its trails

Lunch: We will enjoy a picnic lunch along the shore

Afternoon: We will continue along the North Shore and visit the famous Split Rock Lighthouse State Park,Lake Superior's most famous lighthouse. We will also stop at Tettegouche State Park and hike out to Shovel Point.

Dinner: We will check in to the hotel and eat dinner at Cove Point Lodge.

Evening: After dinner, Douglas Wood will share an essay from his new memoir "Deep Woods, Wild Waters."

Activity note: Paddling a canoe, light walking

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel

Morning: Drive to Ely. We will continue to learn about the geology and natural history of the area. Once in Ely, we will visit Sigurd Olson's House and writing shack.

Lunch: Lunch at Sigurd's house.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will take the short drive out to Listening Point- Sigurd Olson's cabin and personal retreat on beautiful Burntside Lake, gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. After listening to an essays from Olson's books, we will push off the shore in our canoes and paddle out to Pine Island, a state scientific and natural area home to 400 year old pines. After exploring on the island, we will paddle back to the vans.

Dinner: Dinner at the Evergreen Restaurant.

Evening: Leisure evening

Activity note: Hike up to 2 miles

Breakfast: Breakfast at Evergreen

Morning: Hike the Kawishiwi Falls trail. Visit the International Wolf Center and participate in program lead by their education staff.

Lunch: Picnic Lunch at the city park

Afternoon: Visit the Dorothy Molter "The Root Beer Lady" museum. Visit the North American Bear Center. Hike before (or after dinner) along the Trezona Trail.

Dinner: We will have dinner at the Boathouse

Evening: Leisure evening

Activity note: light walking

Breakfast: Breakfast at Evergreen.

Morning: Drive to Rainy Lake. Continue to learn of the cultural and geological history of the Quetico-Superior area.

Lunch: Picnic lunch

Afternoon: Visit historic Mallard Island, home of wilderness warrior Ernest Oberholtzer. Learn of Oberholtzer’s significance in protecting the Quetico-Superior area and tour his residence, which is now a 501c3 organization

Dinner: Eat at Thunderbird Lodge on Rainy Lake.

Evening: Douglas Wood will read passages from his book "Fawn Island" and Granddad's Prayers of the Earth".

Activity note: Light walking.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Days Inn

Morning: Visit the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, gateway to Voyageurs National Park and learn about the rich history of the voyageur fur traders. After that, we will board the park boat Voyageur, and head off on a 60 mile round trip down the wild and stunningly beautiful east arm of Rainy Lake, taking in dozens of islands, expansive lake views, bald eagles and more. We will eventually arrive at the historic Kettle Falls Hotel, accessible only by boat or plane and a fixture on the landscape for over 100 years. All the while, a National Park ranger will provide interpretation on what you are seeing.

Lunch: Lunch will be enjoyed at the historic Kettle Falls Hotel.

Afternoon: After exploring Kettle Falls Hotel and enjoy lunch, we will board the Voyageur and begin our return voyage back to the Rainy Lake Visitor, getting a different look at the lake and once again learning more about this incredible part of the planet.When we return, Douglas Wood will share two of his books “Breathe the Wind, Drink the Rain” and “Prescriptions from the Dock”.

Dinner: Dinner at The River Golf Course

Evening: We will return to the hotel where you will have the evening free.

Activity note: Paddling a canoe. Light walking.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Days Inn

Morning: The morning will be spent leisurely paddling a canoe on Lake Kabetogama and exploring the Grassy Islands.

Lunch: We will enjoy a picnic lunch at Woodenfrog Point.

Afternoon: After lunch we will depart in the vans for Duluth

Dinner: Dinner at Blackwoods Grill

Evening: This will be our last evening together and we will offer closing remarks and wrap up the week's experiences with everyone.

Activity note: light walking

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Days Inn

Morning: Depart after breakfast