My son has a school trip up past Duluth in early September. I am thinking about driving up to CA for a night or two after the trip since we will be so close. This will be my first trip to CA, The question is, International Falls or Thunder Bay?

Drive time from his camp looks similar, I just want to have a good experience and see a bit of CA.

The Grand Portage entry would be my choice because of the beauty of the Thunder Bay area.

The drive up the north shore of Superior has some amazing views.

Neither town is going to light the fires of cosmopolitan sophistication.

But both have some charm and TB has an ace in the hole: Lake Superior. I'd go there 10 times out of 10.

although i have never done the drive to international falls in north MN, i feel confident it wont match up to travelling the north shore of lake superior.

i am biased cuz i live up here, but there is tons to see in MN up to the border (although things drastically quiet down after labor day), and a lot more in the thunder bay area than the fort frances area.

i am not sue how far you will be driving, or how much time you have, but a couple of days up here may just leave you wanting to come back another time.

There's a beautiful, new Hyatt right on the lake in Thunder Bay. This is a shot of the sunrise from the hotel.

Plus One on Thunder Bay. The drive PAST Fort Frances has nice views of Rainy Lake and a typical remote Canadian feel. Its scenic.

The drive past Grand Marais and onto the other side of the border is stunning! The scenery is a ten.

And you can stop at cool places - Judge CR Magney state park where half of the Brule River disappears into the ground in a rapids; High Falls on the Pigeon (the tallest falls in MN); and Grand Portage National Monument which is totally worth a stop if you are at all interested in voyageur history. The scenery along Superior is always good but the further north you go, the better it gets. I include Canada in that statement.

Have fun!!

Been through both , International falls can be a real bottle neck compared to Thunder bay crossing, my choice is Thunder Bay , either way read up on the regs to cross into Canada.

We have gone up through International Falls and come back through Thunder Bay a couple of times. If you’re looking for scenery then Thunder Bay is a no-brainer.

Thunder Bay. You’ll know why even before you go if you spend some time flipping through the pages of “Northern Wilds” magazine. This monthly magazine is based in Grand Marais and keeps tabs on everything of interest to visitors along the entire distance from Duluth to Thunder Bay:

Northern Wilds