Duluth, Minnesota
In Duluth, Minnesota, you get a glimpse of nature's solitude and beauty as well as the pizazz of city life.
January 1, 2006
Way up North along Lake Superior is a city named Duluth, Minnesota. Like many cities, Duluth
offers marinas, lodging, restaurants and tourist attractions. But there's more to this quaint city
than you might think. With 3.5 million visitors each year, Duluth has a unique quality that draws
such a large crowd.
With water so clear, there's no wonder why Lake Superior is so beautiful. You can admire a view of the lake by sitting on Duluth's many beaches, taking a stroll along the Lakewalk or driving along Minnesota's Scenic North Shore Drive. Of course, you can get both experiences from the water too. Lake Superior is filled with an array of fish, from salmon to lake trout to sturgeon to walleye. You can also delight in secluded waterfalls in and around Duluth. This city may be small, but there's plenty of room for northern wildlife, including bear, deer and moose.
Aside from its natural beauty, Duluth also has a bustling city side to it as well. Each year, more than 1,000 ships from around the globe pass through the city's historic Aerial Lift Bridge. More than 50 restaurants line the streets downtown, where your options range from ethnic cuisine to traditional Minnesota hot dish. To ease your shopping urges, there are hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques to frequent in Duluth.
You now know the secret behind Duluth: It exposes you to the North's natural beauty while also treating you to all of the delights of an animated city. There aren't too many places that can provide you with the best of both worlds, but that's what makes Duluth, Minnesota, so special and 'superior.'
Marinas
Neighbored by the largest freshwater lake in the world, Duluth knows the importance of quality marinas. Here are a few:
1) Lakehead Boat Basin Inc. This local marina is located on the site of the original Duluth Boat Club of the late 1800s. Marina amenities include dockside power and water, fuel and pump-out. 800/777-8436, www.lakeheadboatbasin.com.
2) Spirit Lake Marina. Surrounded by a variety of wildlife, such as bald eagles, deer and herons, Spirit Lake Marina is a nature lover's delight. Amenities include full boat repair, free pump-out service and onsite fuel and security. 218/628-3578, www.spiritlakemarina.com.
3) Harbor Cove Marina. You'll appreciate this marina's circular layout, which allows you to drive right up to your dock. Amenities include 50-amp electrical power, water, shower and bathroom facilities, and an onsite repair shop. 218/624-1973.
Lodging
Many of Duluth's hotels are conveniently located near the city's main attractions and offer breathtaking views of Lake Superior. Check out these top-notch lodgings:
1) South Pier Inn. Its suites and appointed rooms feature private balconies that provide a view of the Aerial Lift Bridge. You're within walking distance from the Lakewalk and Park Point Beach, among other sites. 800/430-7437, www.southpierinn.com.
2) The Inn On Lake Superior. Guests are just steps away from Canal Park.
Each of its 175 guestrooms and suites includes a refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, voicemail and high-speed Internet access. 888/668-4352, www.theinnonlakesuperior.com.
3) Radisson Hotel Duluth Harborview. This hotel is connected to many downtown attractions by skywalks. Each of its 268 guestrooms and suites includes a coffeemaker, voicemail and in-room movies. 218/727-8981, www.radisson.com/duluthmn.
Good Eats
Duluth is filled with many tasty restaurants that'll satisfy your appetite and offer a unique dining experience. Here are a few:
1) Pickwick Restaurant. As Duluth's only landmark restaurant on the shore
of Lake Superior, this family-owned restaurant offers a hearty menu that includes charcoal-broiled steaks, seafood, chops and various sandwich selections. Its authentic old English d'cor gives it character. 218/727-8901, www.pickwickrestaurant.com.
2) Bennett's on the Lake. Admire
the beauty of Lake Superior while indulging in a wide selection of entrees, from Superior Lake Trout to ribeye steak to mint-lacquered lamb chops. Entertainment at the restaurant includes dinner theater performances, such as murder mysteries and musical melodramas. 218/722-2829, www.bennettsonthelake.com.
3) Timber Lodge Steakhouse. This local restaurant's atmosphere gives you a true taste of Minnesota. Its meals are all cleverly named, such as a center-cut sirloin called 'The Viking,' a porterhouse steak called 'The Blue Ox,' and two grilled pork chops called 'The Twins.' 218/722-2624, www.timberlodgesteakhouse.com.
Landmarks
Every city has an interesting story to tell, and Duluth is no exception. Here are three sites you shouldn't miss:
1) Aerial Lift Bridge. For a century, this famous icon has provided access from the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth to Minnesota Point. Watch the bridge make full or partial lifts as vessels pass through. www.visitduluth. com/events/bridge_story.php.
2) Glensheen Mansion. This American castle resembles an early 17th-century English country estate.
It looks similar to how it did when the Congdon family first moved into it in 1908, and most of the furnishings are original. Take a tour by land or view it from the water while cruising on Lake Superior. 218/726-8910, www.d.umn.edu/glen/glenda.htm.
3) Duluth Depot. Formerly the Union Railroad Depot built in 1892, this site once served seven rail lines. Today, the Duluth Depot is an area cultural center and hosts the exhibits of four museums. 218/727-8025, www.duluthdepot.org.
Cultural
Add some variety to your vacation, and take a stroll through Duluth's array of museums. Here are two to keep in mind during your trip:
1) The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums. This is the world's largest private holding of important original manuscripts and documents. Works include both the original draft of the Bill of Rights and the manuscript of 'The Wedding March.' 218/728-0630, www.rain.org/~karpeles.
2) Tweed Museum of Art. Feast your eyes upon a collection of more than 4,000 artworks from the 15th century to the present. 218/726-8222, www.d.umn.edu/tma/index.html.
Outdoor Activities
When it comes to nature and the great outdoors, there's so much to explore around Duluth and Lake Superior. Here are three notable options:
1) Superior Whitewater Rafting. Take a thrilling 2 1/2-hour whitewater rafting ride along the St. Louis River. It's considered one of Minnesota's most exciting outdoor activities. 218/384-4637, www.minnesotawhitewater.com.
2) Hartley Nature Center. Discover Duluth's natural environment at this park. Its boardwalks and trails allow you to hike and explore over water, mud and fragile grasses. 218/724-6735, www.hartleynature.org.
3) White Water Charters. Satisfy your fishing urges on a charter fishing trip with Capt. Barry LeBlanc. He'll teach you special techniques of fishing in the 'Big Lake.' 218/624-0865, www.whitewatercharter.com.
Other stuff
1) Great Lakes Aquarium. See more than 70 species of freshwater fish and numerous critters of the Great Lakes. Some of the interactive exhibits allow you to get your hands wet. 218/740-3474, www.glaquarium.org.
2) Great Lakes Floating Maritime Museum. Hear the stories behind
two historic Great Lakes vessels that braved rough waters. 218/727-0022, www.williamairvin.com.
With water so clear, there's no wonder why Lake Superior is so beautiful. You can admire a view of the lake by sitting on Duluth's many beaches, taking a stroll along the Lakewalk or driving along Minnesota's Scenic North Shore Drive. Of course, you can get both experiences from the water too. Lake Superior is filled with an array of fish, from salmon to lake trout to sturgeon to walleye. You can also delight in secluded waterfalls in and around Duluth. This city may be small, but there's plenty of room for northern wildlife, including bear, deer and moose.
Aside from its natural beauty, Duluth also has a bustling city side to it as well. Each year, more than 1,000 ships from around the globe pass through the city's historic Aerial Lift Bridge. More than 50 restaurants line the streets downtown, where your options range from ethnic cuisine to traditional Minnesota hot dish. To ease your shopping urges, there are hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques to frequent in Duluth.
You now know the secret behind Duluth: It exposes you to the North's natural beauty while also treating you to all of the delights of an animated city. There aren't too many places that can provide you with the best of both worlds, but that's what makes Duluth, Minnesota, so special and 'superior.'
Marinas
Neighbored by the largest freshwater lake in the world, Duluth knows the importance of quality marinas. Here are a few:
1) Lakehead Boat Basin Inc. This local marina is located on the site of the original Duluth Boat Club of the late 1800s. Marina amenities include dockside power and water, fuel and pump-out. 800/777-8436, www.lakeheadboatbasin.com.
2) Spirit Lake Marina. Surrounded by a variety of wildlife, such as bald eagles, deer and herons, Spirit Lake Marina is a nature lover's delight. Amenities include full boat repair, free pump-out service and onsite fuel and security. 218/628-3578, www.spiritlakemarina.com.
3) Harbor Cove Marina. You'll appreciate this marina's circular layout, which allows you to drive right up to your dock. Amenities include 50-amp electrical power, water, shower and bathroom facilities, and an onsite repair shop. 218/624-1973.
Lodging
Many of Duluth's hotels are conveniently located near the city's main attractions and offer breathtaking views of Lake Superior. Check out these top-notch lodgings:
1) South Pier Inn. Its suites and appointed rooms feature private balconies that provide a view of the Aerial Lift Bridge. You're within walking distance from the Lakewalk and Park Point Beach, among other sites. 800/430-7437, www.southpierinn.com.
2) The Inn On Lake Superior. Guests are just steps away from Canal Park.
Each of its 175 guestrooms and suites includes a refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, voicemail and high-speed Internet access. 888/668-4352, www.theinnonlakesuperior.com.
3) Radisson Hotel Duluth Harborview. This hotel is connected to many downtown attractions by skywalks. Each of its 268 guestrooms and suites includes a coffeemaker, voicemail and in-room movies. 218/727-8981, www.radisson.com/duluthmn.
Good Eats
Duluth is filled with many tasty restaurants that'll satisfy your appetite and offer a unique dining experience. Here are a few:
1) Pickwick Restaurant. As Duluth's only landmark restaurant on the shore
of Lake Superior, this family-owned restaurant offers a hearty menu that includes charcoal-broiled steaks, seafood, chops and various sandwich selections. Its authentic old English d'cor gives it character. 218/727-8901, www.pickwickrestaurant.com.
2) Bennett's on the Lake. Admire
the beauty of Lake Superior while indulging in a wide selection of entrees, from Superior Lake Trout to ribeye steak to mint-lacquered lamb chops. Entertainment at the restaurant includes dinner theater performances, such as murder mysteries and musical melodramas. 218/722-2829, www.bennettsonthelake.com.
3) Timber Lodge Steakhouse. This local restaurant's atmosphere gives you a true taste of Minnesota. Its meals are all cleverly named, such as a center-cut sirloin called 'The Viking,' a porterhouse steak called 'The Blue Ox,' and two grilled pork chops called 'The Twins.' 218/722-2624, www.timberlodgesteakhouse.com.
Landmarks
Every city has an interesting story to tell, and Duluth is no exception. Here are three sites you shouldn't miss:
1) Aerial Lift Bridge. For a century, this famous icon has provided access from the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth to Minnesota Point. Watch the bridge make full or partial lifts as vessels pass through. www.visitduluth. com/events/bridge_story.php.
2) Glensheen Mansion. This American castle resembles an early 17th-century English country estate.
It looks similar to how it did when the Congdon family first moved into it in 1908, and most of the furnishings are original. Take a tour by land or view it from the water while cruising on Lake Superior. 218/726-8910, www.d.umn.edu/glen/glenda.htm.
3) Duluth Depot. Formerly the Union Railroad Depot built in 1892, this site once served seven rail lines. Today, the Duluth Depot is an area cultural center and hosts the exhibits of four museums. 218/727-8025, www.duluthdepot.org.
Cultural
Add some variety to your vacation, and take a stroll through Duluth's array of museums. Here are two to keep in mind during your trip:
1) The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums. This is the world's largest private holding of important original manuscripts and documents. Works include both the original draft of the Bill of Rights and the manuscript of 'The Wedding March.' 218/728-0630, www.rain.org/~karpeles.
2) Tweed Museum of Art. Feast your eyes upon a collection of more than 4,000 artworks from the 15th century to the present. 218/726-8222, www.d.umn.edu/tma/index.html.
Outdoor Activities
When it comes to nature and the great outdoors, there's so much to explore around Duluth and Lake Superior. Here are three notable options:
1) Superior Whitewater Rafting. Take a thrilling 2 1/2-hour whitewater rafting ride along the St. Louis River. It's considered one of Minnesota's most exciting outdoor activities. 218/384-4637, www.minnesotawhitewater.com.
2) Hartley Nature Center. Discover Duluth's natural environment at this park. Its boardwalks and trails allow you to hike and explore over water, mud and fragile grasses. 218/724-6735, www.hartleynature.org.
3) White Water Charters. Satisfy your fishing urges on a charter fishing trip with Capt. Barry LeBlanc. He'll teach you special techniques of fishing in the 'Big Lake.' 218/624-0865, www.whitewatercharter.com.
Other stuff
1) Great Lakes Aquarium. See more than 70 species of freshwater fish and numerous critters of the Great Lakes. Some of the interactive exhibits allow you to get your hands wet. 218/740-3474, www.glaquarium.org.
2) Great Lakes Floating Maritime Museum. Hear the stories behind
two historic Great Lakes vessels that braved rough waters. 218/727-0022, www.williamairvin.com.
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Duluth, Minnesota: In Duluth, Minnesota, you get a glimpse of nature's solitude and beauty as well as the pizazz of city life.
