Variety

Best small town for going wild - Ely - 2015 Best of MN

May 14, 2015 at 2:58PM
Not since the battle of 1978 to designate the BWCA as a wilderness area has the town of Ely been so divided. This time it's the possibility of Copper/Nickel mining and the promised jobs it brings -vs- the fear that mining so close to the BWCA could contaminate the water. Here, Ely's Main street Sheridan Street) mostly caters to tourists. ] BRIAN PETERSON • brianp@startribune.com ELY, MN - 05/30/2013
Ely is the perfect place to go wild, with its wolf and bear centers and proximity to the Boundary Waters. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Perfect your paddle or hone your howl in Ely on the cusp of the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area and the edge of the Iron Range. The town's International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center seek to demystify these often misunderstood North Woods animals with up-close looks at resident wolves and bears. The wolf center also offers overnight or weekend programming for families. 1-800-777-7281; ely.org

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