We were reminded again last week why we love it "up north". Every year we try to make at least one trip to Voyagers National Park. Last week we made the trip, and it was perfect! Voyagers seems like an never-ending chain of lakes - a place where you are alone with nature, and very few other people. Everything was right about this trip...we found our camping site in record time, (past trips has taken hours of boating to find an open spot.) Our site was secluded with large flat rocks by the lake, no misquitos or bears, just a few little red squirrels. We had absolutely perfect weather, almost a little crispy. The water was perfect for swimming, and I bet we went swimming with at least 4 or 5 dips a day. The water was so clear, it was perfect for snorkling. Eddie had his first experience night swimming, which has been on his list a few years! And the fishing...well I managed to hold the record for the two largest small-mouth bass caught on this trip...I first caught a 17" and then an 18"! Eddie caught the next biggest, a 15" bass. They are really fighters, so it was a fun battle getting them in the boat. However, Wade held the record for largest quantity of fish caught, even if they were "bait" size!
Our trip to Voyagers is never complete without a visit to Kettle Falls and the Kettle Falls Hotel, or as it's known to it's repeat customers, the Tilton Hilton! Kettle Falls is the only place in the United States where you look south at the Canadian border! The Kettle Falls area has a rich history spanning several hundred years. Native American Indians fished for sturgeon at the falls since the early 1700's. French voyageurs portaged their 26 foot canoes and packs of fur around the falls. Gold miners took steamers from here to Rainy Lake's gold fields in the 1800's. Loggers brought millions of logs through the dam in the early part of the century. During the 1920's, commercial fishermen auctioned off their catches in 100-pound boxes at the docks. During prohibition, bootleggers distilled and sold whiskey near the Hotel and surrounding areas. The Kettle Falls Hotel was constructed in 1910 by timber baron, Ed Rose but was reputedly financed by Madame Nellie Bly. The William's family, beginning with Bob and "Lil in 1918 operated the hotel for 70 years. Recognized for its significant contribution to regional history, the hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Check out their website for more info and directions. You can only get there by boat! http://www.kettlefallshotel.com/
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