Winter/Spring get-away Part 2

Rick and I have been to Minnesota's North Shore many times and each time is just as wonderful. This time we decided to visit a few places we had yet to see.

The most spectacular was Iona's Beach. 

A secluded gem that I didn't know existed until I googled it. 

It was a bit of a hike to get to it and there were no clear markers.

It was a beautiful afternoon in the mid 50's so we brought our chairs to sit by the waters edge and relax in the sun. We thought perhaps this was Iona's beach, although I was very underwhelmed. There were a few pink rocks but nothing like the photo's I saw on the internet.

,

The shoes came off and I dunked my feet in ice cold Superior...refreshing.

Rick decided to explore a bit further around another corner 

up a rocky hill and through the trees further down the trail.

He came back with a great big smile on his face, he said

"your gonna want to see this".......

Iona's Beach,

there it was just as I imagined it to be.

It's just not the pink stones that make Iona's beach special, it's the sound they make (so I've read) as the water washes over them. When a wave crashes onto the beach, the rocks move against one another to create a bell or "tinkling" sound that's often referred to as "Singing". There were no waves the day we were there so we didn't get to experiance the sound....next time.

Iona Beach is one of the largest and pristine beaches in the area, so the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources made it an official Scientific and Nature area.

It's a no-no to take any of these rocks from the beach.

My very 1st Cairn, it's not as easy as it looks.

Happiness is a warm cup of coffee and a hike on the Gitche-Gami Trail.

Our 2nd venture was Agate Bay in Two Harbors

We walked the .4 mile to the end of the breaker to see the small light house.

I'm glad we brought our winter coats, the wind was brutal.

This is the big light house in Agate Bay

The Two Harbors Light Station is the oldest operating lighthouse in Minnesota

To read more about this Historic light house click here

Stay tuned for Part 3....yes there's more.