Stille on Superior north - Welcome guide

This section contains information about the house and area to help you enjoy your stay. You should find everything that you need, but if you have a question that isn’t covered in here, please do get in touch and let me know how I can help.  I hope you enjoy yourself and visit again in the future.

Important Numbers & About Tofte

Common Space Rules & Regulations

About The Property

Express Checkout Procedure

Where To Go Around Tofte

Frequently Asked Questions

Cook County Local Reference

Adventure Guide to Seasons 

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

1. Emergency:   911
2. Hospital & Emergency Room (30 mins away):  North Shore Health - Click here for google map or call 218-387-3040
3. Fire:   218-663-7002
4. Police:   218-387-3030

 ABOUT TOFTE

Tofte township was founded by twin brothers, John and Andrew Tofte and brothers Torger and Hans O. Englsen. They arrived in 1893, sailing from their home of Tofte in the Halsnoy district of Norway. They originally chose Carlton for the settlement, after nearby Carlton Peak, but the name was in use. The Toftes and Engelsons commercially fished Lake Superior. The North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum on the east side of Bluefin Bay is a replicate of the twin fish houses the brothers built after the colossal late autumn storm of 1905 ruined their first fish house.

In 1899 Edward Toftey arrived and opened up a sawmill, employing 25 men. The entire operation and most of the town were lost in a forest fire in 1910. Descendants of all three families have kindly shared artifacts, pictures and relics which are all on display at the museum.

1.  SMOKING --- There is absolutely no smoking permitted on the balcony or within 25 feet of any property. Failure to follow this rule will result in extra charges. If smoking outside of the 25 feet regulation, PLEASE make sure you extinguish the butt completely to prevent any fires.
2. PET --- PLEASE pick up after your pet and help keep this beautiful place clean. There are doggy bags by the front door for your convenience.  

• WINTER ALERT --- Your unit's entry door faces north and as such, the driveway by the front door may be icy during the winter. Please be careful getting out and into your vehicle. The entry closet has some shovels and salt in case the front needs a quick shovel or salting to remove ice

• GALLERY --- Picture & Video gallery - This is where you can find the reference map of the area and pictures from the property including, one of sunrise from the master bedroom 

• One of our favorite things to do in the morning is to watch the lake from the property cliffs with a warm cup of coffee. Just head in a straight line towards the lake from the property and you will be right on the edge of Lake Superior. There are benches you can use during the summer or simply grab a seat on the cliff rocks. Please be EXTRA CAERFUL in the wintertime as the cliff can get slippery. Check "By the Cliffs" in the video gallery for the view from the cliff rocks and other videos of the property

• Wi-Fi --- Please check your check-in email for login instructions 

• PET --- There are doggy bags hanging right by the front door.  PLEASE pick up after your pet and help keep this beautiful place clean

• AIR CONDITIONING --- There is no air conditioning in this property. The shore of Lake Superior is generally always moderate during the summer and the lake itself acts like a natural air conditioner. As you open the windows, you get to enjoy the sounds and the cool breeze of the lake

•  HEATING --- The property has an in-ground heating system on all floors. Each floor has its own Nest thermostat. You simply need to turn the dial left or right to reduce or raise the temperature. Please note that you can only set heat temperature between 60 and 75 degrees. If there is a need to heat the home beyond 75 degrees, please call or text contact in your welcome email 

• BATH VENT --- The main level toilet and the basement bathroom have a Venmar air exchanger system for ventilation. Press the button for the ventilation to operate. It will auto shut in 15 mins. If you started the ventilator by mistake, press the same button again to stop. Also, there is a hair dryer in the cabinet below the sink in the master bath on the top floor

• BEACH ACCESS --- Between Memorial and Labor Day, you can access our own private beach. Enjoy watching the surf roll in or hunt for special rocks. You might even be able to take a nice dip in the water on a warm day. To access the beach - As you exit the main door, go east on the driveway. Make a slight right onto the lower driveway by unit 6512. At the end of the driveway, you will see a gravel path. Follow the gravel path to the staircase for the beach. Stay left on the gravel pathway.

• GRILL --- There is a gas grill on the patio outside the basement door. If you do move the grill, please make sure that the grill is at least 3 feet away from the building walls. The grill utensils should be in the drawer next to the fridge. If it is not there, please check the other drawers. There is also a large matchbox in the same drawer in case the electric started in the grill does not light up the grill. 

• COFFEE MAKER --- Your unit has a drip coffee maker. If you are interested in programming your coffee maker to operate automatically at a set time, please review the coffee guide located in the drawer right next to the fridge

• SLOW COOKER (CROCKPOT) --- Your unit comes with a slow cooker also called a crockpot. If you are new to crockpots, please review the crockpot guide located in the drawer right next to the fridge

• EV CHARGER --- The property has a 220v Level 2 socket for Electric Vehicles (EVs). The charging socket model is NEMA 14-50. Please make sure you bring your charging cable

• KITCHEN --- The kitchen has all the basic amenities you may need such as oil, salt & pepper, coffee, tea, sugar, crockpot, blender etc.  Please put all food waste in garbage as there is no food disposer in sink

• MASTER ROOM LONG BLIND --- The long blind in the master bedroom operates a little differently than others. To close, pull the hanging pole gently to the right. Give it a little tug and the blind will close by itself. To open, pull down on the pole and the blind will retract part way. Pull down multiple times to retract it all the way up

• OVERHEAD MASTER SHOWER --- Once you turn on the shower, pull the circular ring at the waterspout to turn on the overhead shower

• OTHER --- There are a total of 4 fans for your convenience during the summer

1. Checkout Time: 10:00 AM
2. Please load and start the dishwasher. If you used the pet bowl, please remember to also put the pet bowls in the dishwasher. 
3. Please turn off all lights, electronics, and appliances  (Stove / Oven) 
4. Please close and lock all windows and doors 

• PAVED BIKING & HIKING TRAIL --- The Gitchi-Gami State Trail (GGST) can be accessed just a few steps from the property,  When completed, the trail will be an 89-mile non-motorized, paved recreational trail between Two Harbors and Grand Marais, Minnesota, along Lake Superior's beautiful and historic North Shore. Several segments of the trail, totaling over 34 miles, are complete. The trail is ideal for jogging, walking, roller blading, and our favorite, bicycling!

• NEAREST GROCERY STORE --- Tofte General Store is a 4 min drive (3.1 miles) south on Highway 61 from the property. The grocery store also has an adjoining liquor store.  Click here for google map.

• RESTAURANTS --- In summer, we love biking over to Coho Cafe (3.1 miles) right across from the Tofte General Store for breakfast or brunch. They have some great breakfast menu.  Other Restaurants That We Frequent are Bluefin Grille  & Cascade Restaurant & Pub. 

• If you are in mood for a little adventure and dining - I would recommend  Summit Chalet. You have to pay for a gondola ride from the Lutsen Ski Hill but the ride to the top of Moose Mountain is well worth it.  Inside and outside deck seating is available, both with a stunning view of Lake Superior. Plus there are some adventurous hikes on Moose Mountain that you can also enjoy.

• FAVORITE CLOSE BY HIKES --- Oberg Mountain Loop ; Caribou Falls Trail ; Temperance River Falls Loop ; Cascade Falls Trail. These are just a few handful of trails close to the property. The north shore is a paradise for outdoor hiking and has hundreds of other beautiful trails to explore.  My favorite app for finding new trails is AllTrails. If you don't have the app, click here to access the website. 

• GOLF - Superior National Golf Course in Lutsen is a 5 min drive from the property.  Located on the North Shore of Lake Superior you will find one of the most scenic and fun golf courses you may have ever seen or played. Their 27-holes recently improved from tee-to-green on the River and Canyon premier 18-holes, making it into one of the best courses in Minnesota. The Mountain 9-holes are great for that "Emergency 9" before or after your 18-hole play, or that casual mid-day round. Try Foot Golf, a very fun game for groups and the family. 

• MOST VISITED STATE PARKS IN MN --- These state parks are in the top 5 most visited state parks per MN DNR as of 2021.  # 1 Gooseberry Falls is 46 miles south from the property on Highway 61 ; #4 Tettegouche is 27 miles south from the property on Highway 61 ; #5 Split Rock Lighthouse is 40 miles south from the property on Highway 61. However, all these 3 state parks are on the way to the property if you are coming from Duluth. Other very popular state parks are George Crosby Manitou State Park (21.2 miles south) ; Temperance River State Park (4.6 miles south) ; Cascade River State Park (15.1 miles north) ; Judge C.R. Magney State Park (37.9 miles) ; Grand Portage State Park (64.2 miles). Grand portage state park has the state's tallest waterfall - The High Falls of the Pigeon River is Minnesota's highest waterfall, plummeting 120 feet into a narrow rocky gorge. The stunning view from this deck is accessible to wheelchairs and families with children in strollers.

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• NEAREST WINERY --- Northshore winery is a wonderful place to sample some local wines and enjoy nature.

• SKIING & ALPINE SLIDE --- Lutsen Mountains, A 8-min drive from the property, offers the Midwest’s only true mountain ski area experience. Four interconnected peaks overlooking Lake Superior bring big mountain skiing with Up North authenticity. Whether you’re looking for a family ski holiday, a romantic retreat, or a weekend ski or snowboard getaway with friends, you’ll discover a real mountain vacation at Lutsen.

• VARIOUS ATTRACTIONS --- Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior is a breathtaking outdoor paradise where the greatest of lakes meets the ancient Sawtooth Mountains. Whether you're seeking carefree relaxation, arts and culture, or an adventure in the forest or on the water, you'll find enough excursions, attractions, and things to do in Tofte, MN to fill a lifetime of vacations with lasting memories.  

• In 1996, the North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum opened in Tofte. The museum is Minnesota's first dedicated to commercial fishing, and chronicles the history of the Scandinavian immigrants and communities of the North Shore region of Lake Superior, especially their importance to the national commercial fishing industry of the 1880s to 1940s.