Entire home

The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available

Photo gallery for The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available

Surrounded by greenery in summer- flowering crabs and polinator gardens.
The Aurora at tre søstre, as featured in Mn Monthly
The Tre Søstre micro neighborhood, Aurora is on the right.
Living area
Panoramic views, gas fireplace, unique architectural details

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 480.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Beach view
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Grand Marais, MN
  • Grand Marais Art Colony
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Cook County Court House
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Cook County Public Tennis Courts
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Grand Marais, MN (GRM-Cook County)
    ‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 4)

Bedroom

1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available

The Aurora is a free standing home in the heart of Grand Marais near the harbor. Designed by celebrated Minnesota architect David Salmela and newly constructed in 2018/19. This collection of modern homes has been featured in Mn. Monthly, Midwest Home, Arch Daily, and other publications around the globe. We have even won awards for this architecture as far away as Sweden. The Aurora is the smaller sister to The Sky House and the Horizon, two sibling properties to Aurora in the exclusive enclave called "tre søstra" which means "three sisters" in Danish. Aurora is one bedroom, one bath, plus a very nice sleeper sofa for one adult or two children, and floor bed for one. There is a roomy main living space that seems to float above the area buildings and has wonderful view of the harbor, the town, and Lake Superior. Although designed ideally as an upscale oasis for two, 4 people can stay here in a pinch. The Aurora provides an inspiring modern space that allows for privacy among those sharing the lodging, and also provides a captivating view from the great room area on the top floor of the Grand Marais harbor, the neighborhood, and the town close by. She has a desk area in the bedroom, a walk out blue stone patio from the bedroom, a planning desk in the hall, an all tile bathroom with walk in shower, a large entry area, a full laundry, a beautiful flight of stairs to the upper level, a balcony, panoramic windows, fully modern kitchen with top of the line appliances, lighted drawers and butcher block countertops; dining for 4 with 6 possible, a custom sofa that sleeps one adult, or two children, a custom floor bed for one, and a gas fireplace. Everything is in walking distance from our little micro community in the heart of Grand Marais. Every restaurant, bar, coffee shop, gallery and Grand Marais' famous beach are all within a very short stroll from your private residence. The home is designed in modern Nordic fashion based on the original Stabur design- a work building commonly seen in Northern Europe. This design culminates a timeline of Scandinavian and Nordic design that the Miller's began on the property next door that also honored northern work buildings in the roots of their designs. There is off street parking under a car port. There is an electric car charging station in the carport as well. There is a fully modern and capable kitchen, an architect designed built in sofa and contemporary gas fireplace. Note the unique skylight with modern light treatments and the push button electronic pop up television that you can leave hidden if you wish. There is also a balcony. The entire home has slate floors and modern cabinets. There is a utility room with full size washer and dryer. Everything about The Aurora is designed with environmental sustainability in mind. These homes have an incredibly small footprint both structurally and environmentally. The foundations were designed to take up as little of the yard as possible- by being small at the start and increasing as you go up just like the old Stabur upon which this design is based. The energy efficiency is profound because these are composed of structurally insulated panels which are incredibly efficient. No cost has been spared to make the Aurora the highest quality, most significant architectural addition to Grand Marais' beautiful landscape. We hope you will find it warm, welcoming, and a once in a lifetime experience in one of the world's most magical places. We have written a detailed guide to what we consider the most special "secret" places in the area. You can pick and chose your own adventures with it for reference depending on your tastes and the weather. That guide is available to you inside the home and also sent out via links to videos. Sauna is available on a first come first served basis for an extra fee and is Thanks so much for staying with us! As a returning customer please consider booking direct next time for the lowest possible price and best possible communication tools. Hopefully you saved our direct website info, otherwise our phone number will help us direct you there. If not, just try to find us on the web. Cheers and thanks again! Todd and Susan and can be booked on our direct site- message owner to verify availability prior to completing your reservation.

Property manager

Todd and Susan Miller
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 19
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Stairs, baby gate available upon request. 4 people
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
$100 per dog- not included in the rate for the cab
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking on property.
See Rental Lease Agreement as part of this booking.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Grand Marais

Located in Grand Marais, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a lake. Cook County Public Tennis Courts and Grand Marais Golf 'n' Stuff are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lake Superior and Superior National Forest. Take the opportunity to explore the area for water adventures such as fishing.
Map
Grand Marais, MN

What's nearby

  • Grand Marais Art Colony - 2 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Cook County Court House - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Cook County Public Tennis Courts - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • North Shore Health - 11 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Pincushion Mountain - 4 min drive - 3.9 km

Getting around

  • Duluth, MN (DLH-Duluth Intl.) - 134 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Voyageur Brewing Company - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Birch Terrace Supper Club - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Java Moose - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Angry Trout Cafe - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Gun Flint Tavern - ‬6 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available located?

Located in the heart of Grand Marais, this holiday home is steps away from Lake Superior, Superior National Forest and Grand Marais Art Colony. Cook County Court House and Sivertson Gallery are also within 10 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 69 out of 76 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 76 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 76 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 76 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 76 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

David D.

Great place to stay! Awesome view. Owners very helpful.

Womderful stay! Highly recommend staying here.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2018

10/10 Excellent

Xavier L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place!

The Aurora is beautiful and perfectly located in Grand Marais. We had a wonderful stay and hope to return!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Alex C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great trip!

This is a wonderful place to stay in Grand Marais! The house is lovely and the view every morning is gorgeous. Plus, the location is excellent and within walking distance of great places to explore and dine in Grand Marais.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mike D.

Terrific winter getaway

Perfect spot to get away for a long weekend. Everything at Aurora was very well thought out and comfortable for our family of 4 & puppy. Will recommend to others looking for a similar experience.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nathan A.

Amazing stay

We had an amazing time and wish we were in town longer. Every aspect of the property delivered on expectations. Couldn’t recommend more
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018

10/10 Excellent

Tom D.

Excellent!

Beautiful accommodations with great views of the harbor, sunrises and sunsets. Gracious, friendly, and non-intrusive hosts.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Crawford May 2019 Vacation

Outstanding property. Great folks the Millers are. Aurora is truly a great stay, so close to everything on world’s greatest small town
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Lisa N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bright and Beautiful

Great vacation rental in Grand Marais! Beautiful space with great views and everything you need to relax at the end of the day. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Anita J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

All of the amenities

Great view. Comfortable. Dog friendly. What more can we ask for? Loved our stay at the aurora. Hope to go back soon!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kate Y.

Gorgeous!

Everything about our stay was wonderful! Gorgeous views, incredible property - so clean, relaxing, and peaceful. We’ve stayed with Todd and Susan before, but not in this new property, and it didn’t disappoint! Thank you for creating such a wonderful escape! Can’t wait to visit again.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Amanda C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great!

Great!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Dana D.

Stunning! Better than amazing!

The house is amazing and the owners are great too! If you are picky/fussy about houses this is the one! I could not have asked for better!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Debi K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

just say yes to the Aurora :)

This property is as wonderful as it looks online! We appreciated the careful planning and guidelines in place to address Covid-19, and we felt both safe and relaxed at all times. As frequent visitors to Grand Marais, we knew the view of the lake and harbor would be lovely, but the views of the city at night were just as wonderful. We're looking forward to a repeat stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfection

Aurora is a gorgeous home located in the heart of Grand Marais with lovely views of Lake Superior. We loved being able to walk around town while still being within easy drives of so many amazing places to hike! We rarely travel without our dogs, so finding such a wonderful place that also allowed pets was ideal. The Millers are great hosts and their properties are filled with love and serene beauty.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

noy b.

Must stay!!

This was our first time in Grand Marais. I was so excited to stay in this cool home. It did not let me down. Not only is it beautiful, it was very clean with an amazing view. Owners were very nice and accommodating. They helped us get connected with kayak rentals. If you need a place to stay, please consider this awesome place.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

10/10 Excellent

Neil S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Simple Elegance Up North

It was memorable to learn that the property was intentionally designed to be based on squares, no rounded corners or angles. As a result, the modern vibe and tastefully decorated interior made for a relaxing haven and the surrounding scenery of Grand Marias seemed to be a bonus. From the welcoming reception of the cherry blossoms to hiking the ‘secret’ trails, the entire experience was invigorating. A must “do again”.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tara K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

ABSOLUTE HEAVEN- HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

First- The Aurora is BEAUTIFUL! Clean design, great layout, and incredible views. Second- The Aurora is CLEAN and WELL STOCKED! Plenty of towels, blankets, cleaning supplies, and kitchen drawers full of any utensil, plate, or cooking item you could possibly need. Third- Todd and Susan are AMAZING! From initial reservation to check out, the process was friendly, inviting, and super duper easy. DO NOT MISS OUT ON THE SAUNA EXPERIENCE! It was truly the perfect way to round out our magical North Shore adventure at The Aurora.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Ron O.

Beautiful, Unique Property; Gorgeous Lake Views!

We recently had the good fortune to spend some time at the Aurora and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Not only does this distinctive property feel calming and luxurious, but the restful view of the lake and harbor helped us come away feeling relaxed and restored. The pleasures of this little community are easily walkable: restaurants and breweries, shops, galleries, the harbor. The Aurora is equipped with everything you could possibly need for an enjoyable stay. The owners live nearby and clearly have a deep commitment to creating and maintaining the special feeling of these lovely “Three Sisters” homes. We will definitely return! Be advised that these 3 homes do involve exterior and interior stairs if that is a health/physical concern for you.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2018

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Wow! An incredibly beautiful property! A fantastic lodging experience!

We've stayed practically everywhere in Grand Marais over many years, including our hosts' other properties (many times) - but this is really a whole new experience, especially for those, like us, who truly enjoy architectural excellence. The Aurora has that in spades. The pictures can't do it justice because you need the whole experience to understand the value. I'll just say that we booked again (dates this year and next year) immediately upon checking in. Even though there were still workers there finishing building and beginning landscaping, we honestly were not bothered at all. We're active and out and about and by the time we were back for dinner, reading, and gazing, it was as peaceful and quiet as anywhere else in that bustling village. Even on Saturday when we hung around a good portion of the day, the ongoing work was not any degree of bothersome.The carport wasn't finished either but, as always, there was readily available parking right out front on the street. We were both so happy with the wonderfully comfortable bed - everything is new and top shelf. You won't believe the view. I could go on and on...there's so much to say about the coolest addition to lodging in the jewel of the North Shore. You'll just have to find out for yourselves. We have our dates booked - hope you all do, too.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

8/10 Good

Julia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Great spot!

We loved our stay here, even with the dive bombing seagulls. Everything was extremely clean, working order, great location a d just can't beat the views. Only downside is the couch - although a beautiful design, extremely uncomfortable to sit on - and after a long day of hiking and a hot shower you'll want somewhere more comfortable to plop down!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

David E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Wonderful Stay…

This is a great location in Grand Marais, convenient to walk everywhere within minutes. The hosts were great at communicating, and gave helpful information prior to our arrival. The architecture is unique, and a wonderful way to experience Scandinavian simplicity! We would look forward to staying here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer H., MN

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful, clean, and very comfortable!

I enjoyed my sewing retreat at the Aurora so much! It was so cozy and modern, and had fantastic views of Superior! It was exactly what I was after.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

cindy g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Grand Marais respite

Loved our stay in Aurora! Meticulous & thoughtful detailing throughout. Truly a break for us..the view of Lake Superior..so calming. Todd & Susan are excellent hosts/owners. Their investment in Three Sisters is an amazing contribution for Grand Marais!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Betsi B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Winter stay in Grand Marais

The Aurora was a beautiful place to spend our time in Grand Marais. Loved being able to walk to everything in town and easy access to area trails. The property takes advantage of the views over the harbor. Very comfortable and beautifully designed.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Barb P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful

Pristine and beautiful home, super responsive hosts, view is spectacular. Try the sauna!
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2021

About the host

Hosted by Todd and Susan Miller

Host profile image
The owners and managers of the Fisherman's Cabin are Todd and Susan Miller. Susan is originally from Duluth Mn and Todd from the Twin Cities. They have sailed the world's oceans together on their 35 foot sloop 'Snow Day', and have now settled down here in Grand Marais since 2003. Todd is a licensed Captain, and served on the local park board and planning commission for many years. He is also active in community projects with area youth and founded the Grand Marais Music Collaborative, a 5013c non profit focused on raising funds for music lessons for area youth. Susan is a retired Special Education teacher at the local charter school. Todd's interests include leading a local dance band, building and restoring fun things, messing about in boats, and managing Real Estate. Susans interests include gardening, thrift store exploring, and cooking. They both love to travel and learn.

Why they chose this property

We chose this location because it is very special. We are lifelong Miinnesotans and have been passing through Grand Marais our whole lives. We wanted a home on the North Shore, and we believe that Grand Marais is the jewel of the North Shore. Within Grand Marais we wanted to be close to the action and the water. Although this is a very small town, it has big shoulders when it comes to culture and beauty. We believe our specific location is magical because the big lake cools us in summer and warms us in winter. We never get tired of the many moods of Lake Superior and enjoy watching the lake from this property. This is a great location for the summer festivals. Music and art seems to permeate the town and strains of music can be heard most times of the day and in to the evening. Artists are plying their wares in nearly every shop. There is often something interesting going on at the Boathouse next door, and North House Folk School is very close. On stormy nights the breaking waves send a deep rumble through the bedrock.

What makes this property unique

Travel insurance- a more popular option than ever before in these uncertain times! If booking direct you are saving roughly 12-15%. Travel insurance costs between 7 and 9.8%. You can still come out ahead and be fully insured. Or, if. you are confident (and we really hope you are) just pocket the savings and treat your group to a good dinner when you get here. But please don't just book some dates and then cancel and assume there will be a refund- you must make the correct decisions now that suit your comfort level.

Please let us know of your full agreement with these terms and we will go ahead and approve your booking. Thanks so much! Todd and Susan

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests