Item #50 on my 100 Dreams List was to go on a scenic aerial tour in a helicopter or small plane. A few years ago I had booked a tour out of Duluth, MN. Unfortunately it was cancelled at the last minute…some small problem like the plane needing maintenance or something. I decided to plan this adventure again while Matt and I were camping along the North Shore in September. Little did I know, this would end getting me a two-fer; satisfying both my 100 Dreams List goal and also one of the scratch off cards in the MN Adventure Bucket List- #17 Grand Marais scenic flight with Sawtooth Aviation.
The beauty of the Minnesota North Shore never fails to amaze me. But the view from the skies was a whole other world! While not at peak, the fall colors were beginning to pop. The vibrant blue of Lake Superior was hardly distinguishable from the sky at some angles. And we were able to catch a peak at some rivers and waterfalls that are only visible from the air. Our tour guide, Mike, was a wealth of knowledge both of the area and also about the airplane and flight process. I’d recommend going with a little food in your stomach, because the motion of the small plane reminded me more of a carnival ride than any flight I’d ever been on. The experience as a whole was a 10/10 recommend that has me thinking of enrolling in Mike’s pilot’s license class!
