• Home
  • Blog
    • Midwest
      • Michigan
      • Wisconsin
      • Minnesota
    • Travel
      • Pacific Northwest
      • British Columbia
      • Southwest
    • Beginner Outdoor Guides
    • Creator Tips
    • Hello Stranger Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Work With Me
  • About
    • about me
    • full publications list
hello stranger midwest adventure

27 Things to Do on the North Shore, MN (RANKED!!!)

Looking for the best things to do on the North Shore? For the best hiking on the North Shore, incredible waterfalls, great food, beaches, and more on the North Shore,…

Read more

How to Visit Olympic National Park (Budget Guide!)

Looking for the best things to do in Olympic National Park if you only have a weekend? From trails to beaches to sightseeing, here are the best things to do…

Read more

Best Hiking Sandals (For women, by an outdoor guide!)

Looking for the best hiking sandals on the market? Hiking sandals are a great option for hikes with water features, sand, river crossings, or anytime it's hot out. Hiking Sandals…

Read more

27 Things to Do on the North Shore, MN (RANKED!!!)

Looking for the best things to do on the North Shore? For the best hiking on the North Shore, incredible waterfalls, great food, beaches, and more on the North Shore,…

Read more

How to Visit Olympic National Park (Budget Guide!)

Looking for the best things to do in Olympic National Park if you only have a weekend? From trails to beaches to sightseeing, here are the best things to do…

Read more

Best Hiking Sandals (For women, by an outdoor guide!)

Looking for the best hiking sandals on the market? Hiking sandals are a great option for hikes with water features, sand, river crossings, or anytime it's hot out. Hiking Sandals…

Read more

27 Things to Do on the North Shore, MN (RANKED!!!)

Looking for the best things to do on the North Shore? For the best hiking on the North Shore, incredible waterfalls, great food, beaches, and more on the North Shore,…

Read more
prev
next
  • Havasupai 2025 Packing List (Ultralight & Flying In!)

    December 23, 2024
    Read more
  • Best Things to do Porcupine Mountains, Michigan (by an outdoor guide!)

    December 23, 2024
    Read more
  • Cup of tea and a calm lake on the Border Route Trail in the BWCA

    10 Best Backpacking Trips in the Midwest (by an outdoor guide!)

    December 23, 2024
    Read more
  • Superior Hiking Trail at Carelton Peak, one of the best hiking trails in the midwest

    19 Best Day Hikes on the Shore of Lake Superior

    November 26, 2024
    Read more
  • 18 Epic Winter Travel Destinations in the Midwest

    November 20, 2024
    Read more
  • Sun peaks into snow-covered woods

    Beginner’s Guide To Winter Hiking (by an outdoor guide!)

    November 18, 2024
    Read more
  • build an ice skating rink : one of the best things to do in the winter in michigan!

    Best Winter Hiking Pants for Women (by an outdoor guide!)

    November 17, 2024
    Read more
  • Best Women’s Baselayers for Winter Hiking

    November 11, 2024
    Read more
  • 2024 Midwest Adventure Holiday Gift Guide

    November 6, 2024
    Read more
  • Hiker at Rose Lake Cliffs in the BWCA on the Border Route Trail

    14 Best Outdoor Adventures near the Twin Cities

    October 8, 2024
    Read more
Newer Posts 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 12 Older Posts

hello stranger // about me

Hi there, and welcome to Hello Stranger. My name is Maddy, and I'm the voice behind the blog. I'm a writer, paddler, photographer, traveller, and freelance editor. I'm committed to exploring the beautiful American Midwest to prove that you can find real adventure anywhere! Toss your email below to keep up with the adventure!

note: this website uses affiliate links! this means if you choose to make a purchase based on recommendation I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

maddymarq

guide & writer exploring the midwest🏕
📍Wisconsin Northwoods
inquiries: hello@madelinemarquardt.com
↓ FREE exploring the Midwest eBooks ↓

AD/ Lake Superior adventure notes☀️⤵️ I s AD/ Lake Superior adventure notes☀️⤵️

I strongly recommend booking a guided tour for this route with @keweenawadventure !

Lake Superior is cold, the weather patterns can be difficult to read, and waves often kick up with little warning. It’s really important to paddle a sea kayak, or a boat with bulkheads or sealed pockets of air in the front and back— this way if you capsize your boat won’t sink out from under you and with deep water self rescue skills, or a guide who can help you, you can get back in and paddle to safety. A sea kayak alone isn’t enough! You also need safety gear such as a bilge pump, paddle float, and knowledge of rescues and how to use that safety gear.

Check out @visit_keweenaw ’s Keweenaw Pasty Trail! 12 pasties, an epic route, and all the glory! Tragically I made it to pasty number four before I had to tap out🤣

After any hard day on the water or trail honestly nothing feels better than a sauna! @takkasaunas Superior location is right on the Lake and a perfect sunset spot!

@visit_keweenaw #michigan #adventure
AD/ solo trip with @visit_keweenaw Here’s what AD/ solo trip with @visit_keweenaw

Here’s what I’ve been up to…

1- paddled the gorgeous 12-mile route to Montreal Falls, which cascades directly into Lake Superior! This route has been on my list since my first summer working as a sea kayaking guide back in 2018. 

This is an exposed route on a Great Lake! Deep water self-rescue skills and a kayak with bulkheads is a MUST. Book a guided tour with @keweenawadventure

2- Lots of solo hiking! I love Mt. Baldy, a six-mile route from Eagle Harbor and O Kun-De-Kun Falls! Also recommend the new Cliff View Trail at @mountbohemia and the Berry Picker Trail on Brockway Mountain. Find more trail resources on the @visit_keweenaw website!

3- Last winter I visited @takkasaunas on the Portage Canal, and this week I headed up to their sauna on Lake Superior for a sunset session and WOW!! I got so lucky with the sunset and the feeling of solo swimming in the lake to this!?? Unbeatable

(Thanks to sauna guide Megan for being the coolest ever!!) 

4- Long walks on the beach :) 

The Great Sand Bay in the Keweenaw is one of my favorite places on earth
5- Solo dinner @lake_effect_barandgrill

In 2018 after my first year working as a sea kayak guide I did my first ever solo trip up here to the Keweenaw and had my first ever solo meal in a restaurant at this place. Now, seven years later it felt kind of serendipitous to come back and retrace my steps. 

6- I ate too many pasties 

My friends at @visit_keweenaw slipped me a brochure for the Keweenaw Pasty Trail and for a brief and shining moment I did consider trying to eat 12 pasties in four days. I didn’t make it that far, but my favorites were from Jen’s Kitchen in Calumet, Mohawk Superette in Mohawk and Krupp’s Mini Mart in Toivola. 

7- Did some shopping in Houghton! 

@down_wind_sports is one of my favorite outdoor shops/used gear spots, and I was actually on a mission to find new trail runners and ended up at @queencityrunningco_hgt ! From here, I grabbed a Great Lakes shipwreck book from @blackicecomics , new yarn from Sew Irresistible, and some @keweenawcoffee !

8- Mocktails at the new @smallcraftco in Houghton! 

#lakesuperior #keweenaw #solofemaletravel
do I smell like neoprene be honest do I smell like neoprene be honest
morning coffee somewhere special 🫶🏻☕️ 1 morning coffee somewhere special 🫶🏻☕️

1- Lummi Island
2- Bean & Bear Overlook
3- Copeland Islands
4- Stockton Island, guiding overnight trips with @lostcreekadventures 
5- @elycabincollective [hosted]
6- Canyonlands
7- the Porkies
8- Jones Island
9- BWCAW
10- Desolation Sound
11- Wyalusing State Park
12- @escapeinaframe [hosted]
13- Frankfort
it’s me I’m girls :/ it’s me I’m girls :/
Follow on Instagram

looking for something?

private policy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

© 2025 Madeline Marquardt