That’s Wyoming Governor Matt Mead on that Segway. The governor isn’t coming to Grand Marais, but the Segway is. Training the governor is Jim Linden. Jim and his wife Dianne will be offering Segway tours in Grand Marais this summer.
Jim and Dianne Linden are officially launching Grand Marais Segway Tours, weather permitting, on Friday, May 29. They are offering a Grand Marais Harbor, Woods and Water Segway Tour.
The couple is bringing their successful Segway tour business to Grand Marais from Sheridan, Wyoming, where their motto was “There’s a new horse in town.” Their new motto? “It’s a Moose Do Event!”
So why did they move back to Minnesota? It’s simple, answered Dianne, “It was 900 miles from home—and 1,200 miles from the North Shore.”
Home is near the St. Croix River in Wisconsin, but Jim and Dianne have spent summers in their 5th wheel RV at the Grand Marais Municipal Campground for many years. Dianne’s father had property on a lake west of town. She said she spent a lot of her childhood there and she is happy that her grandchildren—the “4th generation”—love the North Shore as well.
It was because of family that they found themselves in the Segway tour business in Wyoming. One of their sons lived there and they wanted to spend some time near him. But why become Segway tour operators in Wyoming? Dianne laughs, “Because my husband can’t sit still for two minutes!”
Jim grinned and said it was because of curiosity. After retiring from a career as a pharmacist he said he was looking for something to do. “I was fascinated by them,” he said.
Jim added that they both like working with people. Dianne had a home-based design business and operated a small boutique in Hudson, Wisconsin. Jim said he also liked the idea of being outside. So they visited a Segway dealer in Boulder, Colorado who had a very successful touring business. They took training on how to get people on and off the self-balancing, battery-powered vehicles and decided they would start their own touring business in Sheridan.
They trained people— including Wyoming Governor Matt Mead—on use of the two-wheeled personal vehicles and enjoyed conducting the tours there. Dianne said they established a beautiful tour route gliding through some beautiful garden spots and around the former governor’s mansion. It was a good learning experience, they said.
The idea for Segway tours in Grand Marais also came about because of curiosity. “We brought Segways up last September and we were using them in the campground,” explained Dianne. “Everyone kept stopping us and asking, ‘Where can we try one?’”
They wanted to come back to Minnesota and decided to give Segway tours a spin in Grand Marais. They have had fun planning the tours. Jim said they are very grateful for the encouragement they have received. The people at the Grand Marais Recreation Park and the Cook County Historical Society gave tips on the best route for the tours.
The tours last about 1½ hours, starting from the Grand Marais Segway Tours gazebo in place next to the Gunflint Mercantile and Chuck’s Barber Shop building (across from Birchbark Books). Participants will get a little training there and then head out to the Coast Guard Station for the classic view of the lighthouse, back up the hill and down to swing through the historic Gunflint Trail signs near the library for a photo opportunity, along the bike path to the Rec. Park, through the park and onto the lovely Sweetheart’s Bluff circle trail.
The gliding tour route may be altered once they are up and running—and on busy weekends like Fisherman’s Picnic. Tours will take place in almost all weather. Dianne said, “If it’s sprinkling just a little, we’ll still go.”
Tours will be offered twice a day, with six guests per tour. Private group tours can also be arranged at different times.
The great news for the curious is the cost of the tours is reasonable at $45. But even better, for folks who are nervous about operating a Segway, the Lindens offer a 10-minute training session for just $10. For just $10, you can give it a try and see if it’s something you want to do. If yes, the $10 is deducted from the cost of the full tour.
If not, you at least gave it a try, said Jim, adding that there once was a whole group of people who came for training just to be able to say they had been on a Segway.
Jim said, “The key is training. We go over how to get on and off, how the Segway balances and how you balance.”
“If I can do it anyone can. It’s very intuitive,” said Dianne, adding, “Most people who try a Segway want to do it again!”
For more information about Grand Marais Segway Tours or to make a reservation, visit www.GrandMaraisSegwayTours.com or call (612) 708-5177.
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