A Winter Afternoon Escape to Ely, Minnesota
It was a beautiful, spring-like weekend, and I was already up north for a visit, so I took a “grown-ups only” trip up to Ely, Minnesota just for a few hours this past Saturday. No kids for this getaway but after visiting, I can’t wait to bring them sometime soon!
There is SO much to do!!!!!
I hadn’t been to Ely since I was a kid, even though I grew up in Duluth. But I was up north for a visit and decided to hit Ely just to check it out!
Where is Ely?
Ely is located about 2 hours (100 miles) north of Duluth, and 1 hour north of Virginia, Minnesota. It’s part of the Vermilion Range, which is one of three Iron Ranges of northern Minnesota. (The other two are the Mesabi and Cuyuna Ranges.)
Ely is located right by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, so many people stop or stay here as part of their outdoor vacation to explore some of the most beautiful, unspoiled land here in Minnesota.
But you don’t have to even be an outdoor enthusiast to enjoy the area.
There are many attractions in the area including:
- International Wolf Center
- North American Bear Center
- Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum
- Dorothy Molter Museum
- Soudan Underground Mine
- Ely Arts and Heritage Center
The Ely Arts and Heritage Center manages Ely’s historic Pioneer Mine buildings which are located by Miners Lake and across from the Grand Ely Lodge.