Minnesota is home to one of nature’s most incredible phenomena: the aurora borealis. For thousands of years, people have been coming up with imaginative ways to explain those waving lights shimmering across the northern sky. In Finland, people believed they were caused by a fire fox who ran across…
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(BPT) - So, you're planning a trip to Ely to get up close and personal with nature. Great! But, newbie wilderness visitors might not be entirely sure how to go about doing that. In Ely, we pride ourselves as being the gateway to the Boundary Waters. As such, we love to introduce newcomers to the…
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Sure, the city has its perks, like Instagram and Twitter. But in Ely, we get our messages from the animals around us by spotting their tracks. (BPT) - Waking up on a winter or spring morning in Ely, it's the perfect time to pull on your coat and boots, take your first cup of coffee outside and read…
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(BPT) - Ever thought about what is the quintessential Minnesota getaway? We nominate Ely. What makes Minnesota Minnesota, our zeitgeist and spirit, who we are as a state — all of it's right here in Ely. We think Ely captures the best parts of Minnesota and is the quintessential Minnesota getaway…
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(BPT) - You're settled in front of the fire after a snowy, fun-filled day skiing, sledding or snowshoeing in the Northwoods. Beverage of your choice in hand, now's the time for some good, old-fashioned storytelling. Legends and lore are as much a part of the Ely region as the pines, the birches and…
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(BPT) - Yes, there is still snow on the ground in the early spring in Ely, and yes, you can still go snowshoeing. It's a great way to experience the great outdoors with very little prior skill required. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Snowy spring in the Northwoods is this area's best-kept…
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(BPT) - The quiet that comes with skiing through the woods on an Ely winter's night will restore your soul. Imagine it: an inky black sky filled with stars, the moon illuminating your trail, the utter serenity that comes from completely unplugging from the modern world (if only for a while), and no…
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(BPT) - Dashing through the snow, on an eight-dog open sled — there is absolutely nothing like the breathtaking joy of it. Whether you're riding with an experienced driver at the helm or driving a team of the happiest dogs you've ever seen, the sheer exhilaration of dog-sledding is one of the most…
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(BPT) - The first state park in Minnesota was established at the headwaters of the Mississippi River, at Lake Itasca. That was over 125 years ago, and since then, the state parks system has grown to include 75 parks and recreation areas. From Blue Mounds in the southwest to Grand Portage near the…
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Ely is home to abundant wildlife. On your drive up you might see a moose strolling along Highway 1. Just outside of town, eagles and ospreys nest in the trees, loons call to each other, residents do what they can to keep deer out of their gardens, and yes, you can often hear wolves howl at night…
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