The Journal

Stories & Inspiration

Travel guides, design inspiration, and the quiet art of living well — Scandinavian style.

Design

The Art of Lagom: Why Less Really Is More

The Swedish concept of lagom, not too much and not too little, shaped every decision we made in designing this home. Here's what that actually means in practice.

April 1, 2026

Shoulder Season

Shoulder Season: The Best Time Nobody Talks About

Spring and fall on the North Shore are quieter, more restful, and honestly more beautiful than peak season. Here's why we think shoulder season is the best kept secret up here.

March 26, 2026

Travel

Don't Rush It: The Perfect Drive Up to Tofte

Check-in isn't until 4pm. Here's how to turn the drive into the first day of your vacation, with the best stops from Duluth all the way up the shore.

March 20, 2026

Grand Marais

Grand Marais: The Best Small Town on Lake Superior

Forty-five minutes up the shore from the house, Grand Marais punches well above its size. Great food, serious art, a working harbor, world-class mountain biking, and enough to do in any season to justify the drive every single day you're here.

March 14, 2026

Planning

What to Pack for the North Shore (By Season)

One rule applies every season without exception: bring a jacket. The lake makes its own weather, and it does not coordinate with the forecast. Here is everything else you need.

May 24, 2026

Winter

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing on the North Shore

Lutsen isn't the only option on the North Shore in winter. The Norpine Trail System has 65 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails through the boreal forest. Pincushion Mountain above Grand Marais offers some of the best nordic terrain in Minnesota. Here is the full guide.

May 7, 2026

Skiing

Skiing Lutsen Mountains: Everything You Need to Know

The Midwest's largest ski resort sits 7 miles from Overlook Hus. 95 runs across four peaks, the only mountaintop gondola in the Midwest, 120 inches of annual snowfall, and Lake Superior visible from nearly every lift. Here's how to make the most of a day on the mountain.

May 1, 2026

Fall Colors

North Shore Fall Colors: When to Go, Where to Look, What to Expect

The Sawtooth Range turns red, orange, and gold from mid-September through mid-October. Here's the honest timing guide, the best overlooks, which ones get crowded, and why staying in Tofte puts you at the center of all of it.

April 25, 2026

Events

Fisherman's Picnic: Grand Marais's Biggest Weekend of the Year

Every summer for nearly 100 years, Grand Marais has thrown the same party. Deep-fried herring sandwiches, fireworks over the harbor, a Sunday parade, a trail 5K at Pincushion, live music, and a town that fills up completely. The 97th annual Fisherman's Picnic runs July 30 through August 2, 2026.

April 19, 2026

Events

Fourth of July Week on the North Shore

Cook County puts on one of the best Fourth of July weeks in Minnesota. Small-town parades, fireworks over Lake Superior, a legendary muddy race, live music at Lutsen, and an arts festival in a tiny town called Hovland.

April 13, 2026

Agates

Lake Superior Agate Hunting: A Practical Guide

Lake Superior agates are the official state gemstone of Minnesota. They are also findable on North Shore beaches with nothing more than patience and a good eye. Here is what to look for, where to look, and why it is one of the most absorbing things you can do on the lake.

April 7, 2026

North Shore

Hollow Rock: The North Shore's Most Photographed Formation

About an hour northeast of Overlook Hus, a 1.1-billion-year-old arch of basalt sits just offshore from a pebbly Lake Superior beach. It doesn't require a hike. It doesn't have a fee. It just requires the drive.

March 8, 2026

Hiking

LeVeaux Mountain Loop: The North Shore's Best Hike You Haven't Done Yet

Steep switchbacks, deep boreal forest, and views of Lake Superior that genuinely stop you in your tracks. LeVeaux doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves.

March 2, 2026

Road Trip

Thunder Bay to the North Shore: The Complete Road Trip Guide

Thunder Bay to Tofte is about 160 miles and two and a half hours without stops. With stops, it is one of the best drives in the Great Lakes region. Here is how to do it right — what to see in Thunder Bay, where to eat, which border crossing to use, and every worthwhile stop on Highway 61 before you arrive.

February 24, 2026

Waterfalls

Six Waterfalls Worth Driving For: A North Shore Guide from Tofte

The North Shore has no shortage of falling water. Here are six of the best waterfalls within a short drive of the house, from a quick roadside pulloff to a full morning hike through boreal forest.

February 18, 2026

Family

North Shore Minnesota with Kids: The Honest Family Guide

The North Shore is one of the best family destinations in the Midwest. Waterfalls you can walk to in ten minutes, a ski mountain with a real beginner program, easy state park trails, and a house with an 800 square foot game room for when the weather turns. Here's how to do it right with kids.

February 12, 2026

Racing

Racing the North Shore: The Calendar Worth Planning Around

From fat bike races in January snow to 100-mile trail runs in September, the stretch of North Shore between Tofte and Grand Marais hosts some of the best endurance events in the Midwest. Here's what's on the calendar and why Overlook Hus is the right base for all of it.

February 6, 2026

Hiking

Tettegouche State Park: The Complete Guide

High Falls, Shovel Point, and the Baptism River. Tettegouche is 25 minutes southwest of Overlook Hus and holds some of the best hiking on the entire North Shore. Here is everything you need to know before you go.

January 31, 2026

Events

The North Shore Events Calendar: What's Worth Planning Around

From a February hygge festival to a fall studio tour during peak color, Cook County runs a full calendar of events worth building a trip around. This is the complete guide to the North Shore's best weekends, month by month.

January 25, 2026

Itinerary

The North Shore Weekend: A Three-Day Itinerary from Overlook Hus

Three days on the North Shore, done right. A Friday evening arrival in Tofte, a full Saturday between the trails and Grand Marais, and a Sunday that earns the drive home. Everything is within 25 minutes of the house.

January 19, 2026

Group Travel

Planning a Group Trip to the North Shore: Reunions, Bachelorettes, and Big Weekends

Overlook Hus sleeps 12 across three en-suite bedrooms. One house, one bill, three families or a group of friends, and a game room that does the heavy lifting when you need everyone in the same place. Here is how to plan a group trip that actually works.

January 13, 2026

Food

Where to Eat Near Tofte and Lutsen: The Honest Guide

From a bakery worth setting an alarm for to a rooftop brewery with harbor views, the North Shore has more good food than most people expect. Here is where to eat, what to order, and what to skip.

January 7, 2026

Northern Lights

Northern Lights on the North Shore: What to Know Before You Go

The North Shore is one of the best places in the contiguous United States to see the northern lights. Dark skies, a clear northern horizon over Lake Superior, and no major light pollution for miles. Here is how to give yourself the best chance.

January 1, 2026