Minnesota Mines & Pines | August 11-15, 2021

Arriving in Grand Rapids this afternoon, you’ll tour the world’s largest collection of Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz artifacts and Garland’s childhood home at the Judy Garland Museum, followed by a tour and shopping at the Old Central School in downtown Grand Rapids.

Your morning features the Forest History Center, where life is authentically re-created at a 1900’s logging camp showing the historical and cultural impact logging had on both the growth of Minnesota and its forests. After lunch in Hibbing, you’ll stop for a “selfie” at Bob Dylan’s boyhood home before touring the Greyhound Bus Museum. Arriving in Chisholm, stand in awe as you view the Hull Rust Mine before you tour the Minnesota Discovery Center’s amazing exhibits dedicated to the history of underground and open-pit mining in Minnesota.

A guided tour of the Soudan Underground Mine, known as Minnesota’s oldest, deepest, and richest iron mine, will fill your morning. There will also be ample time to explore on your own as well. This afternoon features a stop at the Tower Train Depot, and no trip to Eveleth would be complete without a visit to the US Hockey Hall of Fame. Established in 1973, it has since inducted 173 members! This evening, arriving in Duluth, enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise with beautiful music and narrated highlights of the harbor on a Vista Fleet Dinner Cruise.

Today begins with a self-guided tour of the historic Congdon Estate, or better known as the Glensheen Mansion. Following lunch, visit Gooseberry Falls State Park. There will be plenty of time to take photos, hike, or sit and enjoy the splendor of the falls. In Two Harbors, explore Split Rock Lighthouse at your leisure. This is one of the most photographed and visited spots in the state!

Your northern Minnesota Mines and Pines adventure concludes today, but not before visiting the Hinkley Fire Museum and learning about the fire of 1894.