Beat The Heat With Cathy’s Top 5 Waterholes In The Northland
With the heat advisory the rest of the week I started thinking about swimming to cool off. Where was your go to "water"hole to swim when you were a kid? When I asked my co-workers, someone said her family always went to "The Deeps" near Lester Park. Because I grew up in the country in Wrenshall, The Deeps didn't make my list, but these did and boy did it bring back great water-logged memories while I was writing this blog!
An explanation of The Deeps. I think it's scary and even if I was a kid, I don't think I could do it. It's very unsafe and several accidents have happened there. Kids run and jump with enough force to propel themselves far enough from the rocks that line the water’s edge, then let go into the dark murky waters below.
I had 5 favorite swimming spots growing up. Well, 6, if you count the pond in the back forty of the Laveau Dairy Farm in Wrenshall. Now that I'm grown up and live in Duluth I frequent Park Point Beach, but I still hold my old "water"holes and the memories that come with them near and dear to my heart.
- 1
Chub Lake, Carlton
It was near enough to my mother's home that I could ride my bike. On real hot days, they had a concession stand with ice cream and we spent lots of time there picnicking (fishing was always iffy though). [Directions]
- 2
Sandy Lake, Barnum
After chores were done on the Peterson farm in Barnum, we would load the huge tractor inner tubes in the pickup and float around Sandy Lake. It was always dusk by the time we got there, so staying underwater was the smartest move, since the mosquitoes were out in full force! [Directions]
- 3
Lac La Belle, Wrenshall
Again, it was near my mom's County Road 3 in Wrenshall and another lake I could ride my bike to....not the best beach...it was rocky, no sand, but on a hot day, it did the trick! [Directions]
- 4
Wrenshall School Pool
Of course, there was also the Wrenshall School Pool. I not only swam there, but started out as a Locker Room Attendant, then worked my way to Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard. That was my first job! [Directions]
- 5
Twin Ponds, Duluth
While there IS two ponds, and they do mirror each other, with the beautiful Skyline Drive separating the two....you can only swim in one of them. The other pond is most often used by people fishing. I don't know if there's fish in there, but they keep trying!
The swimming side is great for families with younger children. It's not huge, but there's a sandy beach and if the sun is out, the pond catches the rays the whole day. [Directions]
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