Peaceful moments slide by, marked only by the slight splash of paddles swirling little eddies into some calm stretch of lake. Hushed mist lifts gently from the water as the predawn quiet is broken by the first sounds of birds and breezes called to life by the faint hint of morning sunshine. Here in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), the lure is long days in a watery wilderness, a paradise for canoers, kayakers and hikers.

Wisconsin's big port city on Lake Superior, shares a shorefront and name ? Superior, the land-based place, sits just across the water from Duluth, Minnesota, an industrial center frequented by enormous ships and balanced out by serene forested stretches. Though not quite a mega-tourist destination, Superior, along with Duluth, have a variety of cultural sites locally, and offer easy access to some of the surrounding natural attractions.