BEMIDJI, the first city on the Mississippi, is about 38 miles west of Northshore Bay Resort on paved roads and offers a host of metro-style amenities. The Paul Bunyan Playhouse in the historic Chief Theater has a summer-long series of plays that usually run two weeks each and hosts numerous entertainment events.  It is the state's oldest professional summer theater.  The famous 18-foot statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox on Lake Bemidji are sentinels to the logging history of the Bemidji area and are next to an amusement park specializing in rides for children.  Art and artifacts galleries are located in the Loggers Hall of Fame, Historical and Wildlife Museum, Bemidji Community Arts Center, Bemidji State University and Gallery North.  Shopping can be done in a wide range of stores, ranging from the local crafts of the Old Schoolhouse and Lady Slipper Designs and north-country specialties of Bemidji Woolens to the main lines of Target and K-Mart. There's also an outdoor water slide, raceway, movie theaters, bowling, roller skating, carriage rides, curling, ice skating, and more to keep you busy for an entire summer.

GRAND RAPIDS, home of one of the state's largest paper manufacturers, UPM-Kymmene, is 62 miles south of Northshore Bay Resort and nearly half-way to Duluth, the state's fourth largest city. "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" in Grand Rapids where a museum is full of the memorabilia of Judy Garland. Or visit the Forest History Center, where costumed staff re-create a 1900’s logging camp. And if you want some culture, enjoy productions in the Rief theater or on the showboat.

BLACKDUCK, is home to the area's fastest-growing  manufacturer, Anderson Fabrics, known for its window coverings.  The 20 minute ride from Northshore Bay Resort to Blackduck is one of the most scenic in the area.  Blackduck offers a huge children's playground that measures half the length of a football field and contains a menagerie of equipment for everyone to enjoy.  The playground is open to the public and is adjacent to the Blackduck Elementary School.  Blackduck is also home to fishing, golfing and a blackduck statue, of course.

Camp Rabideau CCC
Take a step into the past at historic Camp Rabideau.  The camp is located 6 miles south of Blackduck on County Road 39.  Camp Rabideau is one of three remaining Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps being preserved out of the 2600 that were established in 1935.  Camp Rabideau was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Camp Rabideau is located on a 112-acre tract purchased in 1934.  The buildings are set about 100 feet apart, surrounded by tall trees forming a large glade in the center.  The open area was once the location of the mess hall which burned down in the 1930s.  Benjamin and Carls Lakes are visible from the barracks.  Today, 15 of the original 25 buildings remain and 4 are maintained to honor those who served as CCC corpsman.

Camp Rabideau's first enrollees, company 3749 from Bennett Springs, Missouri, built and occupied the camp from August 1935 to January 4, 1936.  After the crew was relocated to California, Minnesota Company 708 was moved from Bena to Camp Rabideau by truck in 45 degrees-below-zero weather.

Company 708 remained at Rabideau until the end of the program in 1941.   Work projects ranged from building the Blackduck Ranger Station and two fire towers to planting trees, doing deer census and searching for lost persons during the berry picking and deer hunting seasons.

A one mile trail runs through Camp Rabideau. An open air picnic shelter is also located at the camp.  The shelter was built by the CCC and moved from the Cut Foot Sioux area to Camp Rabideau in 1986.  Interpretive displays highlight the buildings and history of the area.  Tours are conducted Sunday and Wednesdays, 10:00 - 5:00.  Call 218-835-4291 for arrangements.

Itasca State Park
About an hour-and-a-half drive southwest from Northshore Bay Resort is the headwaters of the Mississippi, located in Itasca State Park.  Facilities include The Headwaters History Center, Douglas Lodge and the Museum. Amenities include large stands of pine, paved bike trails, Wilderness Drive, U of M Forestry and Biological Stations, Indian cemetery, Peace Pipe Vista, and endless miles of hiking  trails.

Hiking & Biking Trails
The Chippewa National Forest makes maps available for most of their hiking trails, ranging from .5 to 68 miles. Some trails are known for their eagle viewing, others are self-guided nature tours.  Seventy-eight miles of non-motorized trails pass through some of the best grouse habitat in the Forest.  In addition to offering excellent fall grouse and deer hunting opportunities, these trails also provide excellent hiking, cross-country skiing and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year.

The Flowing Well Trail offers hikers an opportunity to view birds and other wildlife like deer, fox, mink, fisher and an occasional moose. At the end of this trail, hearty souls are rewarded with a long, cold, refreshing drink from the Flowing Well; which has been flowing since it was drilled in 1914.

The Lost Forty Loop is a biking trail that winds for 27 miles around the Lost 40, Island Lake, Moose Lake and the Popple River.  It is classified as a moderate trail.

The Cutfoot Sioux Trail is located 18 miles northwest of Deer River just off Hwy. 46 and offers 22 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Trail maps are available at the Ranger Station in Blackduck. Stop by the Ranger Station at 417 Foresty Drive in Blackduck, or call 218-835-4291.