Where is Duluth, Minnesota? Duluth is located in northeast Minnesota along Lake Superior, in Saint Louis County, about 135 miles northeast of the Twin Cities. This city has about 90,000 residents and forms a metro area with Superior, Wisconsin (the two cities are known as the Twin Ports).
What's special about Duluth, Minnesota? Minnesotans flock to Duluth for the serenity of Lake Superior. Stand and watch the waves crashing off the shores of this majestic lakes and you'll forget that you're in a fairly large city. If you can stomach the winter, frozen Lake Superior is perhaps even more breathtaking. Duluth is the starting point for the North Shore of Lake Superior, and many tourists enjoy the leisurely drive along the lake via Highway 62, which connects Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Another striking feature of Duluth is its dramatic sloping streets that reflects the city's steep change in elevation.
What attractions are in Duluth?
- Canal Park. This converted warehouse district has become a prime tourist attraction, with a plethora of shops, restaurants, and hotels. It's also filled with natural beauty, including the three mile long Duluth Lakewalk path along Superior. Visitors can also watch ships path through the historic Aerial Lift Bridge, one of only a few remaining vertical lift bridges in the country (another can be found in Stillwater, Minnesota). The park is home to the annual Bayfront Blues Festival in August.
- Great Lakes Aquarium. This three story aquarium is the only one in the U.S. that focuses on freshwater fish. Guests are treated to views of some of the fish who live in the depths of Lake Superior, and hang out with Zhoosh and Ananag, a pair of sea otters. Young visitors play at the Great Lakes Water Table, which is a detailed model fo a ship, and also get to pet some gentile stingrays and sturgeons. 218-740-3474.
- Great Lakes Floating Maritime Museum. Step aboard two Great Lakes vessels, the Sundew and the William A. Irvin, and learn about their history. In October, the Irvin gets all decked out as the "Ship of Ghouls." Visitors can also make a trip to the adjoining OMNIMAX theater. 218-727-0022.
- Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad. On Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months, guests can enjoy daily 1 1/2 hour excursions in 80-year-old restored railroad cars along the old train route that connected Duluth to the Twin Cities. The trip through the stunning countryside includes a narration of the railroad's history. 218-624-7549. If you're a train buff, you'll also want to stop by the Lake Superior Railroad Museum at the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center, which is better known as the Depot. 218-733-7590.
- Lake Superior Zoo. This picturesque zoo has quite a history. It was built in part by the WPA during the Great Depression, and in 1963 a smuggled mongoose named Mr. Magoo was spared from death after a pardon from President Kennedy. The most popular animals at the zoo are Bubba and Berlin, two very playful polar bears. 218-730-4900.
See also:
International Falls Minnesota Travel Guide
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