Duluth

Because of the phenomenon known as 'lazy' going on in my life, I'm posting this...

Of course you may know that Duluth is Minnesota’s northern novelty, but what of the more intimate side of Duluth? Where can you go after you’ve seen the lift bridge, skied the slopes of Spirit Mountain, taken the William A. Irvin boat tour, the Duluth Aquarium, even poked around the Glensheen Mansion? Well, never fear, there are plenty of charming places tucked into Duluth’s charismatic corners. First off, go to the waterfront or downtown, park the car and leave it there for the afternoon. Catch some lunch at a variety of the many inviting restaurants(even Indian cuisine) and simply walk around. Trust me, you’ll be entertained for hours. Record shops, bead peddlers, coffee stops, cobblestone streets, beautiful city vistas and a surprising sculpture park. The afternoon will be spent before you know it and you’ll even get some exercise out of the deal.

Please don’t spend too much time inside while you’re in Duluth, even if it’s the dead of winter. Duluth is a town that was meant to be experienced from the outside. Trails go on farther than you care to walk and they’re everywhere; you’ll never exhaust Duluth’s hiking trails. Funky stone beaches abound, little streams with soothing waterfalls dump into Lake Superior with devout presence, placid natural colors exist in every season, and that lake; well, it’s just wonderful.

Did you know that Duluth is nicknamed ‘The Air Conditioned City’? It stands to reason, as being so near to Lake Superior offers a cool summer breeze, even when not on shore. The summer weather in Duluth is a nice break from some of those scorchers in July. An hey! If you’re sick of the hot weather in January and February, well you’re in luck because Duluth offers a nice cool breeze in the winter as well. The yearly average high is only 48 degrees, a mere 19 degrees higher than the yearly average low, so bring a light jacket when you visit in the summer and bring four parkas and a sled dog team when you visit during the winter. Even with some of the starkly cold days you’re still bound to have a blast.

Museums, sports, recreation, theatre, music shows; all of these things abound in Duluth. If you visit this delightful city and find yourself bored you are definitely doing something wrong. Don’t want to spend much cash? Drive up the north shore highway and catch some sights; go to the lakeshore and watch a tanker come into harbor; throw snowballs at your unknowing travel companion; sleep in your tent at a nearby campground; take a daring swim in the frigid waters(which are never warmer than 55 degrees F); or hold a rock skipping contest with some of the friendly locals. The possibilities really are endless in Duluth and the impression it leaves on you will be endless as well. So make the trip, take your time, and return from your visit knowing that your hometown just isn’t as ‘cool’.