Duluth, Minnesota
Once an important trading city and one of the nation's largest ports, it housed some of the wealthiest people in the country. During the 1880s, the New York newspapers believed that within 20 years it would be larger than Chicago. Due to all of this wealth, the city grew at an extraordinary rate. With many handsome houses and remarkable buildings, Duluth's architectural heritage is among the strongest in North America. At the turn of the 20th century, it boasted more park land and green space, per capita, than any other American city, and offered residents a lifestyle that was incomparable.
Perfectly positioned at the westernmost tip of sparkling blue Lake Superior, today Duluth offers visitors an escape from the stresses of everyday life and an opportunity to enjoy nature. You can opt for a more leisurely pace: spending time at one of the city's 23 beautiful parks, taking an unhurried drive along the scenic North Shore, or skipping stones on the Lake with the kids. Or go for a more structured itinerary: the The Great Lakes Aquarium in the morning, lunch at a sumptuous restaurant on the waterfront, then a visit to the historic Railroad Depot in the afternoon. Either way, you are sure to leave Duluth feeling relaxed and refreshed.
At a Glance
🦶🦶🦶Canal Park - Along the beautiful waterfront in Duluth, where the North Shore of Lake Superior begins, lies Canal Park - a tourist friendly district with lots to do and see. Here you can watch giant Great Lakes freighters put into port beneath the unique Ariel Lift Bridge or enjoy the the best shopping and eating options in town. The Great Lakes Aquarium, which features animals and habitats found within and around Lake Superior, is another interesting site to see here.
🦶🦶🦶State Parks - The State Parks along Highway 61 are a can't miss opportunity for any trip to the North Shore. There are about ten well maintained state parks between Duluth and Grand Portage. We recommend Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Tettegouche State Park to experience the rugged and dramatic scenery of waves crashing into jagged cliffs crowned by pine forests and waterfalls tumbling down to the great lake. Split Rock Lighthouse, one of Minnesota's most recognizable landmarks, is a fun photo opportunity and appeals to history buffs and romantics alike.
🦶🦶Bentleyville - America’s largest free walk through Christmas light display, Bentleyville invites guests to stroll under the glow of over 5 million lights in a 20-acre park situated on the shores of Lake Superior, while enjoying complimentary hot cocoa, cookies, popcorn and roasted marshmallows. Only open from the end of November through December.
🦶Great Lakes Aquarium - The Great Lakes Aquarium, which features animals and habitats found within and around Lake Superior, is worth checking out, especially on a rainy day when options are limited.
🦶Lake Superior Railroad Museum and Depot - Steam locomotives and their antique, gilded, wooden coaches wait trackside in the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, home of the Midwest’s largest indoor train collection.
What are those feet for?
Our feet are for moving, and these feet are for rating the sites we've seen and things we have done in the course of our travels. Three feet ( 🦶🦶🦶) means “Don’t miss,” two feet ( 🦶🦶) stands for “Try hard to see,” one foot ( 🦶) translates to “Worthwhile if you can make it” and no rating means “Worth knowing about.”
