The Northeastern region of Minnesota is marked by countless rivers, lakes, and the shore of one Great Lake. It includes Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Pine, and St. Louis counties.
The economy of the northern part of this region seems to be almost perpetually on a down cycle, and while there is considerable pessimism in those areas due to that, locals also have much pride about their homeland. Northeastern Minnesotans are unfailingly helpful and honest, if occasionally gruff. The residents enjoy their outdoor activities, in all seasons. There is a connection between the people and the land here, and many citizens hold hunting and fishing at least on par with God and country. Visitors would be wise to recognize this fact.
The Iron Range (Hibbing-Chisholm area) is culturally similar to the U.P. with many of Finnish ancestry, some Russians, and is economically centered around mining. Most of the rest of the area is centered around tourism, farming and logging, and is dominated by Norwegians, Swedes and Germans, with a few Poles and American Indians. There are several Indian Reservations in the area.
Despite its rural nature, most Minnesotans are actually quite progressive politically and environmentally. The area is socially more conservative, and less tolerant of diverse views than Minneapolis. Honesty and integrity are always appreciated here, and good deeds never go unnoticed. People tend to avoid using absolutes and superlatives when talking.
Finnish is still spoken by some residents in the far Northeast. Many locals speak with a pronounced Scandinavian accent (think of the movie "Fargo"), and quite rapidly! However they are usually happy to oblige and speak slower if asked, nicely.
When ordering food in a restaurant, some tips: 'pop' is served here, asking for a 'soda' might get you a cream soda. You can probably find a pasty (meat stew in bread) in the Iron Range (and no shortage of bars). A glass of beer is referred to as a 'tap' or a 'glass' but usually not a 'draw' or a 'draft'. There are no dry counties.
Asking for Polish, or 'Polacker', will get you a spicy sausage, and 'Smelt' a fried fish. 'Hotdish' is a casserole, and it should be present at every family reunion or church potluck. Hotdish is such a fixture that since 2011, the state's congressional representatives have held a competition in Washington, DC to see who can make the best one. 'Boughten' means store-bought, as opposed to home-made, as in "...all I have is boughten bread". And even the locals will usually avoid 'Lutefisk', no matter what you may have heard elsewhere.
Going to the 'show' means seeing a movie at the cinema. A 'snow machine' is a snowmobile (both terms are used, but sometimes spark a discussion between proponents of one term vs. the other). A 'block heater' is a device to warm car engines on cold winter nights (marked by the electric plug-ins dangling from the grills of many local cars and trucks). 'The Cities' always refers to the Twin Cities: Minneapolis-Saint Paul and suburbs. A "sow-na" is in reality a steam bath (sauna), but a 'sarma' is a stuffed cabbage roll. 'Choppers' are thick mittens for the really cold weather – generally a wool insert and leather outer parts. A common tree is the quaking aspen, which is a type of poplar, but is called a 'popple' here.
Any word ending in 'ag', like 'flag' or 'bag' has a long a sound, it rhymes with 'flake' or 'bake'. A preposition is commonly used to end a sentence, particularly in the phrase "Are you coming with?"
Acceptable affirmative responses to questions here include, 'oh yah', 'you betcha', and 'no doubt'. 'No way' is a common negatory. Derision is not advised. And of course, "uff da" is a common expression, similar to "oh my gosh".
Flights are available into Duluth International Airport and Hibbing Municipal Airport via Delta Air Lines. Greyhound Bus Lines serve Duluth. Major highways serving the area are Interstate 35 from Minneapolis, US 53 from Eau Claire and northwestern Wisconsin, US 2 from the upper peninsula of Michigan, and MN 61 from Ontario, Canada.
Most regional highways are well-maintained if aged. Summer brings road construction, winter brings snow, and spring may bring road weight limits as the ground thaws. MN-DOT provides helpful information about conditions and road work.
Almost all of the local communities use some version of the grid system for their streets, with extensive use of numbered (2nd, 3rd, 4th Avenues West) streets for easy direction-finding. Inquire locally, most residents are happy to help provide directions.
Enjoying the outdoors is almost a necessity to enjoy Northeastern Minnesota.
Sammy's Pizza in Hibbing is a staple and has been for decades. Grandma's in Duluth's Canal Park is also highly regarded. Some of the national chains you will find across the region are Dairy Queen, Subway, Hardee's, and Pizza Hut.
Most of the food is solid, small-town fare, centered around meat and potatoes. Available spices are salt, pepper, ketchup, and butter.
There is more beer drinking per capita in the Iron Range than in the Twin Cities. Liquor stores are plentiful, as are local taverns. Drinking and driving, however, has serious consequences.
Beer and whiskey ('rye' is Canadian whiskey) are more likely to be enjoyed virtually everywhere than wine or those fruity drinks that come with little umbrellas. Do not expect to be surprised!
The Minnesota State Patrol has a considerable presence on local highways, and drivers would do well to obey posted speed limits.
Property crime is far more likely in this region than violent crime. Use common sense regarding valuables left in vehicles. Most locals are very approachable and helpful to out-of-towners, and will go out of their ways to provide assistance.
Mosquitoes can be problematic during the summer months, up until the time of the first killing frost in August or September. Black flies, deer flies and horse flies can be bothersome in some locations. Wood ticks may find you in long grass, particularly in early summer. The good news is that there are essentially no poisonous snakes or insects, and it's too cold for cockroaches.
Do not underestimate the effect of the wintertime cold on yourself or your vehicle! The air temperature can get to -20 °F to -30 °F (that's about -30 °C to -35 °C) at any time from mid-December into March. Occasional cold spells can get colder than that, and that's before you take the wind into account. Many local vehicles are equipped with plug-in engine block heaters, so that the car has a better chance of starting in the morning. Frozen antifreeze is actually possible during a deep cold snap, and it can ruin your day as well as your vehicle. It's usually a good idea to plug in the block heater overnight, or if you'll be parked for more than a couple of hours, whenever the temperature is predicted to be below 5 °F (-15 °C). When driving in the area, make sure you keep warm clothes and other supplies in the car in case of an accident or breakdown.
Ice fishing brings its own driving risks, as some people like to drive their trucks out onto the lake, rather than parking on the shore and walking out to where they want to fish. Do not drive on the ice unless you know the lake and know that your route is safe!! Don't assume that the guy in front of you knows what he's doing; at one 2016 event, 15 parked vehicles fell through the ice of a lake together. If your vehicle falls through the ice (and you get out alive), you will be required to pay the cost of recovering your vehicle from the lake, which can run up to $5,000. The more expensive "comprehensive" auto insurance forms usually covers this; the others don't.
Deer hunting is another popular seasonal sport. Shining deer – shining a spotlight on them at night; it's also called jacklighting or spotlighting deer – is illegal. Do not let your dogs run loose across farm fields, as farmers have been known to shoot stray dogs. Stray dogs are considered more dangerous to livestock than wolves.
Flights depart Duluth International Airport for Minneapolis and Detroit daily.