Where does all the time fly to? Here we are starting another season at The Coach House Motel and there are so many things we've learned that we'd love to share with our guests, but sometimes things get crazy in the evenings here.

We have learned one big thing over the past year; most of our guests that stop by for the night have no idea what there is to see and do in this area, but they all seem to have one big question; “How do we get down to the big lake from here?”

That isn’t as easy as one might think because the CP Railroad owns most of the Superior shoreline in these parts and the lakeshore has never been developed properly over the years. Most of the people who came to live here came for one of only three industries; Railroads, Mining and Forestry Harvesting. (Tourism does not appear on their radar screens)

However, there are some amazing things to see along the top, if only you stop long enough to get out and explore a little. A very wise man once said; “It’s not enough to see – you must look as well.” How true that is. So let’s give you a few hints on where to go around here – before you come up and say to us; “What is there that’s worth seeing up here?”

Here are a few suggestions:

1) Neys Provincial Park: (20 miles East of The Coach House Motel, on Highway 17) this wonderful and almost completely neglected park is one of the great wonders of the Top of Lake Superior shoreline. There is a beautiful hidden cove here with a sandy beach that is perfect for beach-combing and getting away from it all. We’ve been here three or four times during our first year up here in this area and we highly recommend allotting a full day for seeing as much as you can of this park. Bring a picnic lunch (If you’d like, we can arrange that for our guests that stay for more than a single day)and be prepared to do some soul-satisfying wandering through primeval forest, along deserted beaches and amazing rocky shoreline. There is a special geological hiking trail called the; “Under the Volcano Trail” This fascinating hike has well-depicted diagrams of how this particular spot, or that particular feature was created by the forces of nature through millions of years and successive glaciations. We love this place and never tire of spending even a few hours here when we have to run up to Marathon for some thing or another.

2) Rainbow Falls Provincial Park: (27 miles West of The Coach House Motel, on the inland side of Highway 17) Another almost unknown place where if you miss the single very small blue and white sign designating the hidden road up there – you’ll fly right on by it. This park has a lovely series of cascading waterfalls dropping down from Whitesand Lake to a pretty little dell where the spray and mist will almost always assure you of seeing a rainbow on any given sunny day. The lake itself has a very nice sheltered sandy beach just perfect for swimming and picnicking. During the summer season, there are paddleboats and canoes for rent here and lots of little nature trails for exploring.

3) Jackfish and “Pebble Beach”: (4 miles from The Coach House Motel - we’ll have to give you directions on this one because it’s a little hard to find) Jackfish was an actual railroad coaling station town for about 75 years, just over the hill from where we are. Most of it’s pretty much gone now, yet the people still come trying to find it. It doesn’t look like a typical Hollywood ghost town where Clint Eastwood rides up wearing his poncho and squinty scowl. My advice; don’t waste your time on this one, stop at the beach right nearby instead. There are several “pebble beaches” around these parts, but let me just say the one that is advertised in Marathon really is NOT a pebble beach, but more like “Bowling Ball Beach” Go ahead, just try stretching out a blanket on that one – I dare you. No, our pebble beach at Jackfish Bay is way better and very secluded. If you are looking for real solitude and a peaceful meditation on the beauty of Lake Superior’s grandeur, you can’t beat this place – and it’s FREE!

Now, I don’t want to step on any toes here, but all three of these places, including our very own private-property hiking trails behind The Coach House Motel, are all well away from the smelly paper-pulp mills that are in the towns nearby, so you can breathe deep and have no worries; your visits to any of these places will be memorable and perfectly enjoyable – we guarantee it!
                           
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