In April 2023, Travel + Leisure magazine published its list of “16 of the Best Small Towns in America,” and humble little Grand Marais, Minnesota was smack dab in the middle, holding its own with the likes of Sedona, Arizona and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. I, personally, couldn’t be prouder, because I’ve always thought Grand Marais was one of the best small towns in Minnesota, and now my feelings have been validated – and then some!

I moved to Minnesota from Iowa to attend college and, soon thereafter, began exploring my new state.
Sunset over Lake Superior. Summer vacation
Donovan Reese/Getty Images
When I first visited Grand Marais, I could hardly believe it was in Minnesota, let alone the Upper Midwest. It looks more like a New England fishing village than a Midwestern county seat.

This charming town, backed by Pincushion Mountain, wraps around a natural harbor on Lake Superior. Its setting was a magnet for creative types, and it was home to an artist’s colony before it became the year-round tourist destination that it is today.
But tourism also brought opportunity, and today, Grand Marais is home to many thriving businesses beloved by locals and visitors alike.
Java Moose/Facebook
Java Moose, for example, opened as a seasonal coffee stand next to the venerable Lake Superior Trading Post more than 30 years ago. Now it’s a year-round, line-out-the-door coffee shop.
Shook - a stand that serves up sublime smoothies and delicious açaí bowls - is one of my favorite new Grand Marais businesses, and I hope it enjoys the same kind of success its next door neighbor has!
Shook/Facebook
Go to one of the old-school spots like Blue Water Cafe or South of the Border Cafe for a hearty breakfast and to catch up on all the happenings in town.
Tony T/Google
Grand Marais is a fascinating mix of old and new. North House Folk School, for example, which has grown from a small building to a sprawling harbor front campus, teaches crafts that range from candle making to boat building.
Grand Marais Minnesota scenes. North House Folk School
Donovan Reese/Getty Images
Once a fishing village, the town still has a commercial fishing industry, albeit a small one.

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Among the anglers’ customers is The Fisherman’s Daughter, where, thanks to the local fishing boats, you can order up some of the freshest fish in the state.
The Fisherman's Daughter/Facebook
The town’s shopping district is anchored by the stalwart Joyne’s Department Store, a Ben Franklin that has served the town for decades and continues to stock a range of products that exhibits the diversity of its customers, who range from local residents and visiting families to Boundary Waters paddlers and Superior Hiking Trail thru-hikers.
Gunflint Mercantile/Facebook
A constellation of other boutiques and shops complement Joyne’s offerings. Like Gunflint Mercantile, which is my go-to spot for satisfying my sweet tooth when I’m in town. Its fudge is amazing!
Angry Trout Cafe, an institution in town and probably the most scenic eatery in the state, makes incredible use of the natural setting that attracts folks to the area.
FritzW18/TripAdvisor
As does Sisu and Löyly Nordic Sauna, where you can enjoy a rejuvenating steam while perched on the rocky shoreline of the Big Lake.
Sisu and Löyly/Facebook
And ultimately, that’s the reason that I, and so many others, love this little town: the combination of people and place. It’s directly on Lake Superior, and it’s a jumping off point for the Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters, and the Gunflint Trail - which has become a destination unto itself.
The Grand Marais lighthouse on a foggy Summer morning located on the Grand Marais Harbor - Artists Point, Minnesota, USA. Big Marsh is the direct translation of the French Grand Marais. While the name was given by Voyageurs in the early seventeenth century, many subsequent observers were puzzled, since no marshes have ever been known to exist here. However, it is believed that the Voyageurs had their own unique vocabulary, and it is likely that Marais referred to a cove, or harbor of refuge.
Matt Anderson Photography/Getty Images
Moreover, the town and its residents embrace and celebrate its setting. Their enthusiasm for Grand Marais and Cook County is inviting and infectious.

And it only underscores why Grand Marais is one of the best small towns in Minnesota – and America.

What do you think? Do you agree that Grand Marais is one of the best small towns out there? Is there another town you would have added to Travel + Leisure’s list? Let us know in the comments!

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Grand Marais, MN 55604, USA