Goin' To The Lake: Amelia & Mark Visit Biwabik (Day 1)
Gallery: Goin' To The Lake: All Summer Long
BIWABIK, Minn. (WCCO) -- In previous years, WCCO-TV has gone to lakeside cities in Minnesota and western Wisconsin in week-long trips. But this year, WCCO-TV reporters and anchors, along with those you know from WCCO Radio, will be making trips every week to lakes around the state until the start of The Great Minnesota Get-Together.
The summer road trip continues this week with a stop up north. Amelia Santaniello and Mark Rosen hit the road in the Mobile Weather Watcher and headed to the Iron Range town of Biwabik.
The Biwabik area is dotted with lakes that used to be old open-pit iron mines. The mines are why these towns are here. They were first discovered in the late 1800s and continue to drive the economy on the range.
Any road trip is about the journey just as much as the destination. That's why they had to make a stop Thursday in Cloquet.
Gordy's Hi-Hat is famous for their hamburgers - and rightfully so. The family has been running the place for decades.
Amelia & Mark Dine At Gordy's Hi-Hat
---
A must-stop destination in the area is the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth. A ticket to the museum costs just $8 for an adult. And their website has a half-off coupon you can use any time.
Amelia & Mark Visit US Hockey Hall Of Fame
---
Giants Ridge Resort started as a ski area in 1958. A group of families didn't want to have to travel far to ski, so they hand-cleared runs.
During the first season, you had to side step up the hill before you could ski down. Now it's a facility that reminds you of a lot of places out west. And they have big plans for expansion in the next few years.
One of the summer attractions in the area is the Mesabi bike trail. It stretches from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids all the way up to Giants Ridge. It's an 83-mile stretch that will be added to in the years to come. You'll eventually be able to go all the way to Ely.
Amelia & Mark Visit Giants Ridge
---
Giants Ridge added golf to its resume in the 1990s. The Quarry Golf Course is one of two championship courses in the Biwabik area.
Amelia and Mark hit the Quarry for a few tips, and to try to find their game.
Amelia & Mark Golf In Biwabik
---
There are no free dinners on the Iron Range, so Mark and Amelia had to work for theirs Thursday night.
The two helped craft the pizzas at Vi's on Main Street.
Owners Kim and Jeff are the third generation running the business. Kim's grandparents served pizza out of their house for 19 years.
They have a bigger and better operation now, but they still have the same recipe for success: hand-rolled dough, fresh ingredients and fresh pork.
For some reason, Kim and Jeff let Amelia and Rosie into the kitchen.
Amelia & Mark Make Pizza At Vi's
---
Here are links to all the places Amelia and Mark visited in the Biwabik area on Thursday, June 5, 2014:
Vi's Pizza
Giant's Ridge
Mesabi Trail
Gordy's Hi-Hat
---
For the full schedule for Goin' To The Lake: All Summer Long, click here. You can suggest places for us to visit here.
---
Watch the past "Goin' To The Lake" segments.
Watch the past "Goin' To The (Frozen) Lake" segments.
