hi this is Tony Andrea resorts and logits calm welcoming you to Ely Minnesota Ely Minnesota is the end of the road or the beginning of the rug depending on how you look at le is the entryway into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area which is the most visited place of wilderness in the entire United States Ely Minnesota sits at the frontier of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area an expansive zone of protected forests rivers and lakes that extend up to the border with Canada the town is a collage of locals and visitors a truck topped with a canoe or two was a sure sign of where they are headed or from where they have come le is also home to internationally renowned photographer Jim Brandenburg the most published National Geographic photographer known for its intimate Wolfen nature images many of which are on display at his town gallery explorer will steiger calls Ely home as well it’s full of friendly locals some with distinctive pursuits and always feels a good place to wander about here perched on the verge of the wilds are several sites that you can only experience when you are here this is the headquarters of the International Wolfe Center since 1993 the facility has educated the public and done what they can to provide wolf advocacy through special assistance of ambassador wolves the center has informative exhibits on wolf biology human wolf interaction and the depiction of the wolf throughout history the auditorium holds special presentations and there are many observation windows to wash the walls themselves Wolffe curator lori Schmidt has extensive experience with the wolf’s and helps to educate the public on wolf dynamics it’s not uncommon for them to put away a half a pound or a pound of meat at one sitting currently she’s involved with acclimating to new wolf pups if you look at the tracks afterwards wolf puppies have already got the size of a coyote adult foot the International Wolfe Center while you groan your appreciation of this elusive and complex animal if you’re interested in learning more about these elusive creatures and there’s not a better place for discovery within walking distance of the center is a home of the RIP beer lady Dorothea Moltar lived alone for 56 years in the wilderness famous for both heard written hospitality she made homemade root beer many a canoeist would stop by for a bottle and the exchanged news of what was going on in town the actress Julia Roberts even visited back when she was a teenager she had visitors and fans from around the world and welcomed them all but when the Boundary Waters became protected by the federal government she had to fight hard to remain and what Dorothy would often do is take her square Stern canoe with a motor second canoe and tow come down the seven lakes the five Portage’s get to Moose Lake hitch a ride to town get her supplies come back to Moose Lake fill both of those canoes and be on her way back up to knife Lake but when they’d see Dorothy pick up a pack and put it on her back pick up a second pack and put it on her chest pick up her canoe and then pick up her motor and start trotting off their jaws would drop they could not believe this old lady could portage as much as she did her story helps to emphasize a fine balance that exists and you in between economic survival of the people that live there and the efforts to preserve such a pristine wilderness Dorothy and her friends lived their lives on such cross roads when you visit grab yourself a Dorothy Walter root beer on the other end of town is a North American bear center a new facility it gives visitors a chance to observe the black bear through different observation locations and think about everything from past ancestors to human bear relations how does a bear know which branch to pull down to get at berries well it taps the base of branches until it sees the berries move what an ingenious animal Ely was also a visiting stop for the touring Vietnam Memorial the wall pays homage to the sacrifices of soldiers who were lost in the conflict that extended from 1959 to 1975 restaurants cater to fisherfolk and outdoor adventurers returning from the wilderness that means a dress code is very casual but the grub runs a full gamut you can try the wild rice crust and sauteed walleye at the chocolate mousse or an incredibly satisfying pizza at wise guys Ken and Julie came up from the Twin Cities to establish one of the most comfortable restaurants in the area perfect for that family are hungry camber several local cafes will give you a good feel for the town and bars will add even more flavor to your visit the hilly main drags have some of the best Northwood shops you can find and there’s outdoor entertainment throughout the summer months such as can be found at the front porch where the boundary water boys might offer up some music to a summer drought another special stop is that music Outfitters it has a diverse selection of instruments CDs DVDs clothing hemp products and gift items and is interestingly a leading supplier of taxi horns there are many outdoor outfitters as well renting canoes and other equipment you might need for a venture in the Boundary Waters but be sure to get yourself a permit before you enter the vast system of lakes and woods Senate the verge of true wilderness eally will enchant any visitor looking for an outpost at the head of the trail come take part in those things which can only be experienced in a place where nature and civilization meet Tony and resorts and lodges comm hoping that you enjoyed your tour of Ely and next time you’re here too grab yourself a root beer and enjoy the end of the trail you