TWO INSPIRATIONAL, LITTLE SEASIDE GETAWAYS, LOCATED ON THE CLIFFS OF MOODY LAKE SUPERIOR.
By ALEX SHAUER
From a very young age, I was captivated by Lake Superior. Growing up in southern Minnesota, I thought the lake’s wild, dramatic atmosphere felt like a different world — one I looked forward to visiting every summer. My uncle lived on Park Point in Duluth and kept a fishing boat at a nearby marina. I’d get to tag along now and then, chasing king salmon as a kiddo with my sunglasses in one hand and a juice box in the other.
As I got older, my family took countless camping trips along the shoreline, from Two Harbors all the way up to Grand Marais. I’d count down the days until our annual March ski trip to Lutsen (what I thought of as the “real” ski resort, when all I’d ever known was the local ski hill). These experiences laid the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of the North Shore, a place that never stopped feeling like home even when I was far from it.
Stay Boreal began as a daydream, sparked by my unexpected love for hosting travelers in an upscale suite I had remodeled in the lower level of my home. That experience, paired with my affection for Lake Superior, led to an idea: to create a unique stay right on the lake — one that didn’t exist anywhere else along the North Shore.
There are plenty of cabins throughout the Arrowhead, most designed for larger families or groups. But I imagined something more intimate — cozy, modern and made intentionally for couples or solo travelers looking to reconnect with nature and with themselves. A quiet place to unplug, recharge and feel the pulse of the big lake.
Once I ran the numbers, I understood why newer boutique lakeside developments were rare. With the high cost of lakeshore property and the lacking availability, most cabins were built farther inland. But I was more interested in prioritizing the experience than chasing profits. Being on the shore was essential. So when the right piece of land finally came up for sale, we bet the farm — scraping together nearly everything we had for the down payment.
On October 16, 2023 — just three days after returning from our honeymoon — I kissed my wife goodbye and moved into a camper on the land we had just purchased near Tofte. Living apart so soon after getting married wasn’t easy. But in that little trailer, with the lake just beyond the treeline, I found purpose. As I began meeting neighbors, tradespeople and other locals, I felt a growing sense of belonging — not just to the land, but to a unique local community that values the place they live like no other.
Thanks to a rare, mild winter, I worked mostly solo from sunrise until long after dark. When daylight fades by midafternoon, setting up work lights and pushing through to exhaustion becomes second nature. Painful? Absolutely. But strangely addictive when you’re building your dream. Sweat equity was a must. I hired out only what I legally or logistically had to — dynamite work, well drilling, septic, and eventually drywall (for the sake of my sanity — those guys are on another level). Finding tradespeople in the Arrowhead is its own adventure. With more work than workers, contractors can afford to pick and choose. You either wait or do it yourself.
While I focused on the architectural design and layout, my wife, RaeAhna, became the creative force behind the interiors. She spent countless evenings — often long after the rest of the world had gone to sleep — selecting tiles, curating furniture and refining every element of the décor. Her goal was simple: to make each cabin feel like a warm invitation, a space that’s both relaxing and quietly luxurious. And she delivered. Every corner tells a story, every detail feels intentional.
If you know the North Shore, you know the deep roots of Finnish sauna culture. In recent years, saunas have become more than a tradition; they’ve become a canvas for creativity, a chance to blend architecture with atmosphere. Each of the cabins features a private sauna, designed not just for function, but also for inspiration.
The Järvi Cabin boasts a treehouse sauna, influenced by Scandinavian design and elevated 10 feet off the forest floor. From inside, a near-floor-to-ceiling glass wall offers a front-row view of Lake Superior — its moods, its movement and its mesmerizing horizon. The Kalliot A-frame Cabin features a custom barrel sauna, where the bench is positioned higher off the floor for both comfort and perspective. Also, facing directly out toward the lake through a full glass façade, users stay warm in the upper “heat zone” while watching waves crash against the shore, even in the depths of winter.
Each cabin takes full advantage of the incredible view, with a floor-to-ceiling glass front that draws in the natural drama of Superior — its dead-calm reflective sunrises, turbulent November gales and everything in between. So close to the shoreline, you can hear the waves crash against the rocky, jagged cliffs — steady and rhythmic, almost therapeutic.
And now, the most fulfilling part of this entire journey? Hearing from guests who say this experience gave them peace, helped them reconnect or gave them a moment to breathe. That’s everything to me — as a builder, a host and a creative.
Tofte, MN
www.stayboreal.com