Every summer, guests arrive at Northwind Cedar Point with a cooler full of food, a bag full of clothes, and approximately zero bug spray. Or they bring the polite kind, the kind that smells nice and does nothing. Northern Minnesota in July is beautiful and it is also, in the evenings especially, a place where the mosquitoes have opinions. This is a practical list, built from seventeen summers of watching people arrive and depart.
Bug spray, and not the polite kind ¶
DEET-based repellent, 25 to 30 percent concentration. That is what works here. The evenings near the water are the worst, especially in June and early July. We keep a bottle of Off! Deep Woods in each cabin as a backup, but it goes fast. Bring your own. Bring more than you think you need. Permethrin spray for clothing is also worth it if you are planning to walk the forest trails.
Layers, even in July ¶
The mornings in northern Minnesota are cold even in the height of summer. A 55-degree morning in July is not unusual. Bring a fleece or a light down jacket, a wool layer if you run cold, and at least one pair of long pants that you do not mind getting dirty. The evenings cool down fast once the sun drops, and the fire ring is more enjoyable when you are not shivering.
Footwear that covers the question ¶
You need three things: a pair of water shoes or old sneakers for the dock and the lake, a pair of closed-toe shoes for the forest trails, and something comfortable for sitting around the fire. Flip-flops are fine for the cabin porch. They are not fine for the two-and-a-half-mile trail, which has roots and uneven ground. We have had guests turn an ankle. It is not a dramatic trail but it rewards appropriate footwear.
What the kitchen has and what it does not ¶
Every cabin has a French press, a drip coffee maker, a full set of pots and pans including a cast-iron skillet, a cutting board, a knife block, and basic pantry staples like salt, pepper, olive oil, and a few spices. What it does not have: a toaster (the Birch has one), a blender, or specialty items. If you are particular about coffee, bring your own beans. The nearest grocery store is in Ely, about fourteen miles away on a mix of paved and gravel road.
What you can get in Ely if you forget ¶
Ely is a real town with a real grocery store, a hardware store, a pharmacy, and several outfitters. You can get fishing licenses, bug spray, firewood, ice, sunscreen, and most basic supplies there. The drive is about twenty-five minutes from the property. We keep a short list of recommended stops in the welcome envelope at each cabin, including a small butcher shop on the main street that does excellent smoked fish.
The goal is to arrive with what you need and spend the rest of the week not thinking about it. If you have questions about what to bring for a specific trip, email us before you come.