Entire home

The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available

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Interior
Exterior
TV, fireplace, DVD player, stereo
Interior
Exterior

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 4865 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Grand Marais, MN
  • Place, Grand Marais Art Colony
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Cook County Court House
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Sivertson Gallery
    ‪5 min walk‬

Room options

Similar properties

About the neighborhood

Grand Marais

A stay at this vacation home places you in the heart of Grand Marais, steps from Lake Superior and Superior National Forest. .This vacation home is 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from North House Folk School and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Grand Marais Art Colony.

What's nearby

  • North House Folk School - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Grand Marais Art Colony - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Visit Cook County Visitor Information Center - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Cook County Court House - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Sivertson Gallery - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Up Yonder - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Voyageur Brewing Company - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Skyport Lodge & Raven Rock Grill - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪My Sister's Place - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Java Moose Espresso Cafe - ‬3 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

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.
Make yourself comfortable in this air-conditioned vacation home, which features a fireplace. There's a private balcony. A kitchen is outfitted with a refrigerator, an oven, and a stovetop. Conveniences include a microwave and a coffee/tea maker.
This smoke-free vacation home offers a stereo and games.
Guests will find features like internet access.

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach nearby

Pool/Spa

  • Massage

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • Bedroom
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Sofa bed

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Stereo
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed
  • Note from host: No smoking on property.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In the city center
  • On a lake

Things to do

  • Fishing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 865 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 19

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Rules

See Rental Lease Agreement as part of this booking.

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Note from host: $100 per dog- not included in the rate for the cab

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Note from host: Stairs, baby gate available upon request. 4 people

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking on property.

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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Aurora Stunning new Organic Contemporary Full View Harbor House
Aurora Stunning new Organic Contemporary Full View Harbor
The Aurora Life As Art Marais
Aurora Stunning new Organic Contemporary Full View Harbor House
Aurora Stunning new Organic Contemporary Full View Harbor House
The Aurora- Life as Art Grand Marais
Aurora Stunning new Organic Contemporary Full View Harbor
The Aurora- Life as Art Private vacation home
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The Aurora- Life as Art Private vacation home Grand Marais

The Aurora- Award Winning- Sauna available Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 76 out of 85 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 85 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 85 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 85 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 85 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Scott Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was great and as described. We had a wonderful stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Ashley H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
The location and accommodation to dogs
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Barrett K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Communication
Great location and esp views of bay. I didn’t find the furniture comfortable though.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent property. Walking distance to the folk school. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elle N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had an absolutely wonderful time. It was clean, cozy, and had all the supplies you could need. We hope to be staying again!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mikaela F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My family had a wonderful stay at the Aurora! So close to all the spots we wanted to walk to in Grand Marais: Voyageur Brewing, Crosby Bakery, and Superior Creamery. The owners were very communicative and even stopped to introduce themselves when they were on the property.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melanie J.

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

Perfect stay in Grand Marais

This was by far the best vacation rental we've ever stayed in. The house was lovely, clean, comfortable with every amenity imaginable, fabulous views of Lake Superior, and within walking distance of everything Grand Marais has to offer. The Scandinavian-inspired architecture of Aurora with it's multiple outdoor spaces gave us a peaceful setting for some much needed R and R. We hope to come back!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jay S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay at the “Aurora” was excellent! The property was exactly as described and the accommodations could not have been better. The location was a block from the main drag of Grand Marcias and convenient to all shopping and restaurants. The owners had thought of everything and all was of the highest quality. We would definitely return and we highly recommend a stay at the Aurora.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda C.

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

Great!

Great!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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