Cozy, rustic-fancy lodge resort on the Gunflint Tr...

Cozy, rustic-fancy lodge resort on the Gunflint Trail. Spouse and I rented a romantic cabin (complete with kitchen, dishes, and gas fireplace!); meals at the lodge dining room were included in our package.

Luxurious and comfortable enough for my husband? Yes.
Close enough to wilderness for me? Good enough for this trip.

Highlights:
1) The naturalist on the resort, John Sullivan, was hands down awesome. He's spent the last 16 years becoming familiar with the Gunflint and its wildlife, and it shows. Try out the evening wolf howl hike - you'll hear about these amazing predators and their influence on the ecosystem. He's also knowledgeable about stargazing, folk music, and all manner of other things. His activities are great!
2) Easy access to ski trails suitable for being to intermediate level.
3) The incredible snow tracking available. I saw moose and coyote making tracks (!!) plus evidence of red squirrel, snowshoe hare, and even a wolf trail along the middle of the ski track. <3
4) Clear starry skies with visible Milky Way.
5) Free cocoa, coffee, and cookies readily available in the lodge when open.
6) The warm and welcoming staff were helpful and readily offered conversation, information, or willingness to listen to the story of the day.

Lodge dining: the food is hearty, stick-to-your-ribs fare. Don't expect super fancy. I didn't feel a need to eat lunch either day... despite cross country skiing and a short hike. Then again, the temperature was also in the negative single digits.

Don't expect many vegetarian options on the menu, but the kitchen was willing to put together a vegetarian entree for my husband both nights.

The only downsides:
1) The in-cabin jacuzzi jets did not function. (Not that big a deal for me!)
2) The snowmobiles used by others staying at the resort made quite a lot of sound that did not fit with the wilderness feeling.