Poplar Creek Courier Brought to you by Boundary Country Trekking

You can visit the Gunflint through this beautiful video- click on Gunflint Trail. Watch for Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B chef Barbara, serving some lucky guests.

See the Fall Colors by day along the edge of the Boundary waters while spending your nights in secluded B&B's in Ely and the Gunflint Trail. Your first two nights are at Ely's Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast, located on South Farm Lake at the western gateway to the Boundary Waters. Dinner one night in the Blue Heron's famed dining room. Canoe and hike right from the B&B. Then drive from Ely to the Gunflint Trail along the southern border of the BWCA via the scenic backroads- known by locals and driven by few others. Picnic beside a remote picturesque lake or creek enroute. Stop at one of the north woods most remote taverns- the Trestle Pines Inn. Be sure to watch for moose along the way to the Gunflint.

On the Gunflint Trail, the eastern Gateway to the Boundary Waters, you spend two nights at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B. While on the Gunflint hike-in to the overlook at Honeymoon Rock, mountain bike, canoe. Finally on your way home you travel along the incredibly beautiful North Shore Drive of Lake Superior- a National Scenic Byway.

The fall leave color season runs from mid September through mid October but varies in timing in different areas of the forest and along Lake Superior. The fall Boundary Waters colors are spectacular!

Special Includes: Four nights lodging with breakfast- two nights at the Blue Heron B&B and two nights at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Dinner one night at the Blue Heron Dining Room, Picnic lunch and map showing route between Ely and the Gunflint. Use of canoes and mountain bikes at Poplar Creek and canoes at Blue Heron. Rate $355/person double occupancy plus taxes.

For information and/or reservations contact 800-322-8327.

Couples Anytime

Special Time for Two -Two nights at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B in Ollie's Room with double whirlpool or Barbara's Suite with fireplace. Private Fireside breakfasts. Trail or basket lunch (your choice) one day. If Ollie's Room is not available we reserve Barbara's Suite for you. Use of canoe and mountain bikes in the summer and snowshoes in winter. Rate: $325 per couple

Honeymoon/Anniversary- Beautiful floral arrangement and Champagne in your room upon your arrival at the Bed and Breakfast. Two nights in Ollie's room with double whirlpool, queen bed and private bath. Private fireside breakfast each morning in common's room. Multi course fireside dinner at a very nice nearby (15 miles) restaurant second evening. Trail or basket lunch (your choice) one day. Use of canoe and mountain bikes in the summer and snowshoes in winter. Departing gift. Rate: $450 per couple

Winter

Bed, Breakfast & Sleigh Ride- Included in your two-night stay in Dorothy's room at the B&B, is the delightful experience of a horse drawn sleigh ride for two. Rate: $300/couple. Room upgrade available-$50 couple

Dog Sledding Day/B&B Stay-Mush your own team - Adventure Includes dog sledding amd two night B&B stay in Dorothy's Room. Half day-dog sledding $305 per person. Full Day-dog sledding $369 per person. A hearty trail lunch is included on full day trip. Room Upgrade available for $20 per person.Mongolian Firepot Dinner This winter spend two nights at the Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B or Cabin and take in Boundary Country Trekking's acclaimed Mongolian Firepot Dinner. The dinner is served at our nearby yurt and is a delicious fondue of vegetables and meats cooked in a savory charcoal heated broth, served with Oriental condiments over rice. The Fire Pot Dinner is available for 2 or 3 people on Tuesday nights. Four or more people, firepot can be scheduled any night of the week that the yurt is available. Includes two nights lodging. Two people choice of available rooms in B&B; 4 or more people choice of rooms in B&B or Cabin and the Mongolian Firepot Dinner. Rate: $160/person.

2006 Front Row Seating at the Beargrease Sled Dog Race -Take in all the race excitement, starting with pre-race events, the action packed start in Duluth, the mushers progress along the race trail, the festivities during the mid-trail turn-around at Trail Center Restaurant on the Gunflint Trail and the mushers return and finish in Duluth. Spend January 28 and 29 at the Ellery House Bed and Breakfast in Duluth, a classic Victorian B&B inn (voted one of the "Best in the Midwest" by Arlington's B&B Journal). Take in the Race Opening Ceremony, optional Beargrease Banquet and receive VIP seating at the exciting race start. On January 30, follow the mushers as they travel the race route along the North Shore with VIP at Sawbill checkpoint with "on the trail" lunch. Spend January 30 and January 31 at the Poplar Creek Guesthouse Bed and Breakfast located on the race route, one mile from Trail Center the race turn-around point on the Gunflint Trail. Hosts at the Guesthouse are Ted Young, former musher and his wife Barbara. Ted was one of the organizers of the Gunflint Mail-Run Dog Sled Race in the mid 1980's. The Mail-Run was the predecessor to the Beargrease Race. Ted and his team raced in the "first" unofficial Beargrease Race. The evening of January 30 there will be a presentation on "Dog Sledding on the Gunflint" at the Poplar Creek Guesthouse.

On February 1 follow the mushers as they return to the race finish in Duluth.

Price- $340/person double occupancy, plus taxesAdditional Option

• Following the race finish in Duluth spend additional night at the Ellery House Bed and Breakfast on Feb. 1.
• Mushers Banquet in Duluth with guest speaker Arctic explorer Will Steger on January 27 add $75/person

Summer

Bed, Breakfast and Canoe-  Stay overnight in Dorothy's Room at the Guesthouse B&B. After breakfast, canoe with an experienced guide to one of the Boundary Water's most spectacular areas-the Stairway Portage and waterfalls of Rose Lake. Return to the Guesthouse that afternoon for another night. Package includes two nights lodging in Dorothy's Room with breakfast, canoe and guide and trail lunch. Rate: $199/person**

Scenic Drive Around the BWCA- Ely to the Gunflint by "backroads" with Exceptional B&Bs as Bookends Spend two nights at Ely's Blue Heron Bed and Breakfast, located on South Farm Lake at the Western Gateway to the Boundary Waters. Dinner one night in the Blue Heron's famed dining room. Canoe, hike, or mountain bike right from the B&B. Then drive from Ely to the Gunflint Trail along the southern border of the BWCA via the scenic backroads- known by locals and driven by few others. Picnic beside a remote picturesque lake or creek enroute. Be sure to watch for moose along the way. On the Gunflint, the eastern Gateway to the Boundary Waters, spend two nights at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B. While on the Gunflint hike-in to the overlook at Honeymoon Rock, mountain bike, canoe. Finally on your way home you travel along the incredibly beautiful North Shore Drive of Lake Superior - a National Scenic Byway.

Special Includes: Four nights lodging with breakfast- two nights at the Blue Heron B&B and two nights at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Dinner one night at the Blue Heron Dining Room, Picnic lunch and map showing route between Ely and the Gunflint. Use of canoes and Mountain Bikes at both B&B's. Rate $355/person double occupancy plus taxes.

Inn to Inn Hiking- Hike between two Bed and Breakfasts through the Boundary Waters on the two night trip. Or on the three-night trip, hike between three Bed and Breakfasts traveling through the Boundary Waters one day and across the Clearwater Ridge Trail the next day. Includes breakfast each morning, trail lunches and car/luggage shuttles. Rate for 2 nights/1 day of hiking $135/person**; for 3 nights 2 days of hiking $225**/person

Inn to Inn Canoeing- Spend the night in Dorothy's Room at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B. After breakfast, canoe from Little Ollie Lake to Old Northwoods Lodge on Poplar Lake for your next night. Canoeing distance varies with route. The most direct route is about three miles. On the longest route, you paddle six miles through the Boundary Waters and travel across four portages. The trip includes two nights lodging, breakfasts, trail lunch one day, canoe with paddles and life vests and car/gear shuttle between accommodations. Rate: $160**/person

**Room Upgrades available at $10 night per person.

Mountain Bike Inn to Inn- On this self guided adventure you bike heavily wooded trails and experience fantastic vistas. Overnight in B & B's and Inns along the trail. Yurt is also available. Includes lodging, car shuttles, breakfast and trail lunches.

3 nights/2 days riding - $270/person**
4 nights/3 days riding - $355/person**
5 nights/4 days riding - $440/person **Moose Festival - October 2006 Third Weekend Late fall is an excellent time to view moose along the Gunflint Trail. During this late fall festival you travel the Gunflint Trail in search of a moose or two and take part in Moose Festival Activities in Grand Marais. Stay one night at the Little Ollie Cabin at the regular summer rate and receive each additional night at 10% off the regular lodging rate.