Part of our Minnesota guide.
4 places and guides from our Duluth coverage, gathered into one page.
Related travel guides: Secrets Of Minnesota's Moose Lake Agate Fields, Beaches In Minnesota, Getting Around Minnesota, and 15 Hidden Towns on Minnesota's North Shore.
30 Must Visit Places In Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota, stretches from the shores of Lake Superior into the Canal Park district, where the Aerial Lift Bridge lifts for ore boats and sailboats. Canal Park also holds the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center and the Duluth Ship Canal. The Lakewalk runs from Canal Park along the waterfront past Leif Erickson Park and the Rose Garden. On the hillside, the Glensheen Mansion offers guided tours of the 39-room estate built in 1908. Enger Tower, a 105-foot stone observation tower in Enger Park, gives views of the city and the lake. In Lincoln Park, the Duluth Cider tasting room and the Bent Paddle Brewing taproom anchor a growing arts-and-food corridor. Park Point, the sand spit at the entrance to the Duluth harbor, is part of the Minnesota Point Trail. The Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, on the city’s eastern edge, hosts the annual Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory each fall. Other stops include the Great Lakes Aquarium, the Lake Superior Zoo, the Tischer’s grain elevator in the Riverside neighborhood, and the stone ruins of the 1918 Duluth Armory.
7 Vibrant Festivals/Events To Attend In Duluth, Minnesota
Throughout the year, Duluth hosts festivals and events that showcase the city's community spirit. The Bayfront Blues Festival, held each August at Bayfront Festival Park, brings national blues acts to the Lake Superior shore. The Duluth Dylan Festival, in May, celebrates Bob Dylan’s childhood ties to the city with concerts and poetry readings. In July, the Park Point Art Fair lines the Lakewalk with juried artists. The Minnesota State Fair’s “Duluth Day” is not a city event, but the city’s own Harvest Festival in September features a farmers market and live music at the Depot. The Bentleyville Tour of Lights, from late November through December, transforms Bayfront Festival Park into a walk-through light display with more than 4 million lights. The Duluth Winter Village, in January, sets up heated tents in Canal Park with local food and craft vendors. The Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival, in August, launches dragon boats from the Duluth harbor.
6 Best Local Eateries In Duluth, Minnesota
From cozy cafes to fine dining, the local food scene in Duluth offers a diverse array of flavors. The Duluth Grill, located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, offers a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients. Other restaurants in this guide include the New Scenic Café, a 1950s diner on the North Shore with a rotating menu of wild rice and fish dishes; the Va Bene Caffè on the Lakewalk, serving Italian sandwiches and espresso; the Oasis in Canal Park, known for its walleye tacos and craft beer list; the At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café, which bakes its own bread and sources eggs from a local farm; and the Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar, where the Sunday brunch includes wild-rice pancakes and lake trout hash.
6 Thrilling Adventures To Try In Duluth, Minnesota
Nestled on the shores of Lake Superior, Duluth is a haven for adventure seekers. The first adventure is a hike on the Superior Hiking Trail, which runs 310 miles along the North Shore and passes through Duluth’s Lester Park. The second is a kayak tour of the Duluth harbor and the Lake Superior sea caves near the Apostle Islands. The third is a ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad, a 90-minute excursion from the Duluth Depot along the lakefront. The fourth is a winter fat-tire bike ride on the Duluth Traverse, a 100-mile trail network that connects the city’s parks. The fifth is a sail on the Pearl of the Lake: a paddlewheel legacy on Lake Superior, a replica paddlewheel boat that departs from the Duluth harbor for narrated cruises. The sixth is a visit to the secrets hidden in Minnesota at the Glensheen Mansion, where a guided tour reveals Prohibition-era tunnels and a hidden wine cellar.
