Family Vacation in Rainy Lake

More Fun Stuff to do in the International Falls, Ranier and Rainy Lake area.

• • Koochiching Museums: Located in Smokey Bear Park, our museum features artifacts and displays from early native nomadic villages to the fur trade era, brief gold rush and subsequent development. An annex is devoted to Bronko Nagurski, native and charter NFL Hall-of-Famer.
  • Wildlife Museum: Sportsmen’s Service maintains one of the finest taxidermy collections in Minnesota with over 100 birds and 50 mammals on display.
  • Rainy Lake Visitor Center: Displays of historic artifacts, films about the park, picnic grounds, a nature trail, boat tours and interpretive programs are provided by Voyageurs National Park.
  • Giant Statues: Photos with Smokey Bear and Big Vic are a must. Smokey is 26 feet tall and dons seasonal wear, adding flair to your photo. Thirty foot tall Voyageur Vic has been greeting visitors to Ranier for decades.
  • Village of Ranier: A lakeside jewel with fun shops, city parks and beaches and a historic rail bridge. For Railroad buffs, Ranier is the busiest rail port in the United States.
  • Falls Country Club: This par 72 public course is situated on the Rainy River and winds through the typical aspen and pine forests offering challenges for every skill level.
  • Rainy Lake Recreation Trail: A scenic paved trail open to hiking and biking connects International Falls to the Rainy Lake Visitor Center by following the south shore of Rainy River and Rainy Lake some 12 miles.
  • Rendezvous Yacht Club: There are informal races Wednesday evenings, and most captains don’t mind taking a passenger or two. Be at the Ranier docks by 5:30 for a little safety orientation.
  • Canoe or Kayak: Explore the National Park by canoe or kayak and evoke the fur trade era when the Voyageurs paddled and portaged all day through this wilderness.
  • Independence Day/Canada Day: International Falls, Minnesota, USA and Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada are sister cities separated only by the Rainy River and the International Border. Early July brings several days of celebration.
  • Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway: The byway begins at Sha Sha point on Rainy Lake and travels west along the Rainy River to Lake of the Woods, and then to North Dakota taking you through the heavily forested Canadian shield area west to rolling farmlands.

We invite you to explore Minnesota starting with our only National Park. You will find fun things to do as a family, or on your own.