Ely, MN

A chef-owned New American spot in a historic downtown building, ranked the top restaurant in Ely, with a forager burger, walleye sandwich, and chicken pot pie. It gets slammed at dinner in summer with no reservations, so arrive at opening or go early for lunch.

A north-woods-casual steakhouse with dry-aged steaks, prime rib, and fresh walleye, plus pool tables in back. The Cajun walleye wrap is a quiet local favorite over the pricier steaks.

A long-running family Italian spot with house-made pasta noodles, thin-crust pizza, and a big house salad, plus gluten-free pasta and pizza. The in-house pasta and the salad dressing are the standouts.

Ely's only brewpub, with house-brewed beers, walleye fish and chips, and a Cuban sandwich, the gathering spot after a day on the water. Order the walleye made with local fish and a flight of the house brews.

An old-time Minnesota breakfast cafe with blueberry pancakes, biscuits and gravy, a wild rice Benedict, and veggie-stuffed hashbrowns. Cash only and closed early in the week, with portions huge enough that one plate feeds two.

A grilled-cheese-and-mac shop with tomato soup and homemade desserts, named for a rescued dog. The grilled cheese and tomato soup combo is the move, a great cheap breakfast or lunch stop.

A family-run coffee house with fair-trade organic coffee, homemade quiche and breakfast burritos, and a big wraparound porch with a dog-friendly deck. Grab a breakfast burrito and a seat on the porch before heading to the lakes.

An in-house roaster that flips from coffeehouse by day to a wine and cocktail bar at night, with house baked goods, wraps, and an upstairs coworking loft. Same room, different vibe; head upstairs if downstairs is full.

An easy loop through the Superior National Forest to a powerful waterfall on the Kawishiwi River, the area's biggest scenic payoff for the least effort. The loop is signed one-way; fork right to save the falls overlook for last.

A rugged perimeter loop around Bass and Dry Lakes, with cliff overlooks and a stretch where a long-ago dam failure dropped the lake level dramatically. It is very rocky with lots of ups and downs, so wear real boots.

An easy paved loop around Miners Lake with woods-and-lake views, the in-town walking and skiing path that connects to the Hidden Valley system. Paved and flat enough for strollers, with leashed dogs welcome.

Miles of well-groomed ski trails in winter and professionally built mountain-bike singletrack, rolling forest loops minutes from downtown. It connects to the Trezona Trail; it is best for skiing and snowshoeing in winter, biking and running in summer.

A north-woods state park with pristine lakes, black bears, eagles, and moose, where the Norberg Lake loop is the signature hike. A state-park vehicle permit is required, and campsites book out far ahead in summer.

An education center with a live ambassador wolf pack viewable through large windows, plus exhibits on wolf biology and conservation, the town's signature attraction. Time your visit for a scheduled program or evening feeding to actually see the wolves active.

Live resident black bears in a large outdoor habitat plus exhibits dispelling bear myths, ranked among Ely's top attractions. Ask staff when the bears are most likely to be visible, often near feeding times, and pair it with the Wolf Center on the same highway.

A beloved full-service Boundary Waters canoe outfitter and gear shop, with lightweight Kevlar canoes and a bookstore and outdoor store on Central Avenue. They re-equip with new gear every year, so rentals are genuinely fresh, and even non-paddlers browse the store.

A highly rated guide service running guided Boundary Waters day trips and multi-day trips led by experienced outdoor educators, with full outfitting and gear rental. A guided day paddle is the easiest way for first-timers to sample the wilderness without committing to a full trip.

Ely's arts hub, producing mainstage musicals, concerts, and youth theater at the historic State Theater, plus free concerts in the park. Check the schedule for a summer mainstage musical; it is a surprisingly polished night out for a town this size.

The preserved cabins of the Root Beer Lady, the last legal year-round resident of the Boundary Waters wilderness, in a self-guided tour through three relocated buildings. Buy a case of the root beer to take home, but only if you are driving, not paddling.

A local history museum covering Ojibwe, fur-trade, mining, and logging history plus the story of the Boundary Waters wilderness, with a new exhibit each summer. Small, but the wilderness exhibit is genuinely worth it.

The historic Pioneer Mine shaft house, with photos and artifacts from the underground iron-ore mine that built the town, where docents share oral histories. The local docents are the whole experience.

Ely's century-old community gathering park with a bandshell, pavilion, and playground, the hub for festivals and summer events. Check the bandshell schedule; free summer concerts and the blueberry and art festival fill the park.

The town swimming beach in a protected bay on Shagawa Lake, with sand, islands, sand volleyball, and a wooden footbridge. Watch seaplanes take off and land while you swim, and listen for loons.