Discover the Ely Difference! Here, you'll experience the best of both worlds - the relaxed atmosphere of smaller-town living yet many of the advantages of big-city living. Ely offers not only the ultimate in wilderness experiences, but also some of the finest dining and shopping opportunities as well as many fine resorts and varied year-round recreation experiences. Whether you're canoeing into the unspoiled, world-famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or relaxing at one of Ely's full-service resorts, you're sure to discover the Ely Difference! If you are looking for a relaxing retreat, you've come to the right place. Relaxing here is easy. The air is clear, the water pure, the woods are inspiring, the sights breathtaking, and the night sky is bright with millions of stars. Once you Experience Ely, you'll understand how life takes on new meaning. Ron Schara, the star of ESPN2 television's Backroads with Ron & Raven has this to say about the Ely area: "I love Ely and its famed wilderness area. It's also ironic because my longtime hero, journalist and author Charles Kuralt chose Ely as his #1 vacation destination."