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37 Best & Fun Things to Do in Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth, Minnesota, is a port town located on Lake Superior and is a gateway of activities no matter the season. We’ll get you the best and most fun things to do in Duluth to maximize your visit.

Knowing where you want to start might be challenging with many activities in Duluth. This article will focus on what we feel is worth seeing during your visit!

Whether you are in town for the things to do in Duluth or just passing through, you don’t want to miss these things to do when visiting! Duluth is a city with rich history and culture. It was founded by William D. Hussey in July of 1883 and had been growing ever since.

Pier B Resort
1. Pier B Resort Top Recommendation

If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind resort experience in Duluth, look no further than Pier B Resort. Located on the waterfront, the resort offers direct access to the transient marina, making it easy to enjoy all that Duluth has to offer. We also have an indoor meeting and banquet room, as well as spacious outdoor event space, perfect for any occasion. And the free WiFi access ensures that you'll always be connected.

South Pier Inn
2. South Pier Inn

Situated between Lake Superior and Duluth Harbor Basin, South Pier Inn is the perfect place to stay for breathtaking views and easy access to all the best that Duluth has to offer. The waterfront hotel offers free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs in every guest room, plus private balconies in our suites with stunning views of the harbor. A refrigerator, tea and coffee-making facilities, and comfortable beds ensure a restful stay.

Park Point Marina Inn
3. Park Point Marina Inn

Looking for a breathtaking view of the Duluth harbour? Then come stay at Park Point Marina Inn, where you'll be treated to panoramic views of the water from all around the property. Whether you're relaxing in the indoor pool or enjoying a meal in the hotel's limited service lounge, you'll always have a front-row seat to some of the most stunning scenery in Minnesota.

The options for activities in Duluth are endless, with sights to see and things to do for all ages. No matter what age group you fall into, there are things to do in Duluth that will fit you.

Fun & Best Things to do in Duluth, MN

Duluth, Minnesota | Things to Do & Attractions [4K HD]

1. Glensheen Mansion

Historic Glensheen Mansion
glensheen04” by Digital Sextant is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.

Address: 3300 London Rd, Duluth, MN 55804, United States

If you’re looking for an unforgettable vacation in Duluth, the Glensheen Mansion is an absolute must on your list of things to do. It is a popular thing to do in Duluth that will leave you mesmerized and excited for more! Glensheen was built in 1905 by prominent citizens Chester and Clara Congdon. The mansion sits on several acres of land with tons of things to see around it and something to do inside.

The Glensheen Mansion is a National Historic Landmark and is the only National Historic Landmark in Duluth recognized for its architectural design. Chester Thorne was an architect and incorporated many of his original designs into the mansion’s layout. This is by far one of the best museums in Duluth to visit.

2. Leif Erickson Park

Address: 1301 London Rd, Duluth, MN 55805, United States

Set in the park of the Congdon family since the mid-1800s, Leif Erikson Park has much to offer both locals and visitors. The park is right along the lake, offering beach access, a swimming pool, and a garden.

You can picnic by the beach or enjoy a walk with your human family and fur babies. You can swim in the pool, rent kayaks and paddleboards, or take your pet on one of the walking trails around the park.

Leif Erickson Park is open all year round and has plenty of activities for people that love outdoor adventures. A park is a pet-friendly place so that you can bring your furry friends with you! This is one of the top Duluth parks to visit by far.

See Related: Best Things to do in Minneapolis

3. Bayfront Festival Park

Aerial View of Duluth, Minnesota

Address: 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

Bayfront Festival Park is a place to hang out and a location for many annual events. It is located right on the lake next to some of the best Duluth attractions in the city and beautiful scenery that will leave you wanting more of what this park has to offer!

Bayfront Festival Park offers daily activities from May until October each year. You can enjoy their concerts and other events that are held year-round and in the summer. You can attend these concerts for free with a simple walk through the Bayfront Festival Park during the event.

See Related: Best Things to do in Brainerd, MN

4. Enger Park

Address: 1605 Enger Tower Dr, Duluth, MN 55806, USA

The Enger Park in Duluth is one of the things to do in Duluth that locals enjoy year-round. This park is excellent for families, local or visiting, and offers a variety of things to do, including outdoor activities and indoor events. Enger Park has walking trails, playgrounds, picnic areas, and more on Ravine Road!

The park features a golf course called the Enger Park Golf Course that offers a 9-hole approach for all ages and abilities. It is open to the public year-round and provides golfers with beautiful scenery throughout the course.

Enger Park in Duluth also has dance groups that perform at various locations throughout the Twin Ports year. These dance groups mainly focus on ballroom dancing, including salsa and ballroom dancing.

See Related: Best Things to do in Lake City, MN

5. The Duluth Lakewalk

Scenic Trail
Duluth Lakewalk” by alexander_geoff is marked with CC BY 2.0.

Address: The Lakewalk, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

Are you looking for a fun, relaxed, and fun day out in Duluth? The Duluth Lakewalk is the perfect way to enjoy both the hottest and coldest months in Duluth, making it one of the most fun things to do in Duluth, MN.

The Duluth Lakewalk stretches almost 8 miles and offers a variety of things to do in both summer and winter. The best feature of the lake walk is that volunteers maintain it from around the area, and it’s free!

You can rent bicycles or rollerblades on the trail for your stay in Minnesota as rentals are available. The Lakewalk is open year-round, so you can enjoy a day out on the lake regardless of when you visit! If you’re adventurous, swim to the lake’s edge over Duluth & Brighton Beach.

See Related: 13 Best Things to Do in Hinckley, Minnesota

6. NorShor Theatre

Address: 211 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

A historic theatre renovated several times, NorShor Theatre is known for its architectural design and overall sense of history.

In the early 1900s, this theatre was used for vaudeville shows and films, but now it’s mainly a place where people come to watch plays, musicals, operas, concerts, and other live entertainment.

The impressive architecture and design are undoubtedly worth seeing, and the overall event space is also worth seeing.

See Related: Best Things to do in Sioux Falls, SD

7. Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Train in Duluth at Sunset

Address: 506 W Michigan St, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

The Lake Superior Railroad Museum is located between Superior St. and Canal Park at the historic union depot. The museum is home to exhibits that showcase historic railroad equipment.

Lake Superior Railroad Museum is open from March until December, so stop by if you’re visiting in that window. The museum is a meet-and-greets railroad museum, just behind the Duluth Depot, with interpretive and tourist amenities. Lake Superior Railroad Museum is one of the best things to do in Duluth, Minnesota, if you want to learn the history of this lakeshore city.

See Related: Best Museums in Minnesota

8. Take a drive to the Davidson Windmill and Eskolin Log House

Davidson Windmill and Eskolin Log House

Address: 7890 Old Hwy 13, South Range, WI 54874, United States

Inspired by the architecture of Norway, Sweden, and Finland, this historic windmill is located about a 30-minute drive from Duluth in South Range, Wisconsin.

The windmill was constructed in 1904 after four years of work by Jacob Davidson, an immigrant from Finland. The windmill was built from steel with a wooden interior. It is now part of an interpretive center that showcases Scandinavian heritage in the midwest.

The purpose of the windmill was to pump water from the ground into a holding tank, allowing nearby farms to have fresh water.

9. Split Rock Lighthouse

Split Rock Lighthouse

Address: 3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Rd, Two Harbors, MN 55616, United States

One of the best things to do in Duluth, Minnesota, is to visit one of the four iconic lighthouses in the North Star State. The Split Rock Lighthouse is located on the lake and was built in 1905, with the last tower addition constructed in 1923.

Split Rock Lighthouse is home to a museum that honors the lightkeepers and their families that served at this location from 1858 until the lighthouse was automated in 1966.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1972 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s easy to access off Highway 61; take Split Rock Lighthouse Road.

10. Visit the Bentleyville “Tour of Lights”

Bentleyville "Tour of Lights" Duluth

Address: 700 W Railroad St, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

Bentleyville is an annual festival hosting a massive Christmas lights display and even a Santa Claus that parachutes out of an airplane! Yeah, it’s Christmas on steroids.

The Christmas lights display is held at Duluth’s Bayfront Park, and the city fills up with people from all around the Midwest to see this epic display of Christmas lights. Pictures never do justice, but this place is massive, and the lights display is spectacular.

It’s undoubtedly one of the best Christmas light displays in America. Book your hotel stay in advance to save on room rates because people love this event.

11. Take a Boat Ride on Lake Superior

Sunrise in Duluth, MN

Address: Minnesota, United States

Climb aboard the Great Lakes Schooner for tours of Lake Superior. This historic ferry is a restored 1912 vessel and offers tours aboard the ship throughout the summer months.

The Spirit of Duluth, Minnesota’s only tall ship, departs from Bayfront Park in downtown Duluth each season, offering various cruises such as dinner cruises and sails to Wisconsin ports in the summer months.

12. Go on a Craft Brewery Tour or Crawl

If you want to go on a classic Minnesotan drinking spree, you are in good hands in Duluth, MN. Plenty of great restaurants, bars, and craft breweries exist in Canal Park or along Superior St. in downtown Duluth, Minnesota.

On the bar side of things, make sure you check out Grandma’s Saloon in Canal Park. The Canal Park Brewing Company is located in Duluth’s historic Canal Park. The brewery offers a variety of beers and other beverages for your enjoyment while touring around Lake Superior.

Located just down the street from Canal Park Brewery are Bent Paddle Brewing Co-Op, home to Bent Paddle’s headquarters and a taproom showcasing an in-house brewery, offering customer tastings.

Check out these other top breweries in Duluth, Minnesota, to build your brewery tour!

13. Duluth Children’s Museum

Little Girl Riding a Tiny Boat
Children’s Museum” by TwisterMc is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.

Address: 2125 W Superior St, Duluth, MN 55806, United States

The Duluth Children’s Museum is located in Canal Park and is Minnesota’s largest children’s museum, with over 140,000 square feet of exhibits.

The Duluth Children’s Museum is a great thing to do with kids in Duluth, MN, as it offers various interactive exhibits and fun activities for children. The art studio, science center, and train room are some of the highlights of this Duluth attraction.

The museum hosts special events and holiday events throughout the year for kids.

14. Go to the Duluth Air Show

Crowd at the Duluth Air Show
Duluth Air Show” by Northfield is marked with CC BY 2.0.

Address: 2110 W 1st St, Duluth, MN 55806, United States

The annual Duluth Air Show is held at the Duluth International Airport. It is one of the things to do in Duluth that focuses on entertainment, including an aviation trade show.

The show features various aerial performers and local pilots who fly up to the skies in different military and civilian aircraft. Local food vendors also offer tasty treats for visitors of all ages!

The show is free to attend, but take advantage of free parking at the Radisson Hotel Duluth. Check out these other top hotels in Duluth to make the most of your visit.

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Jackson Hole in Winter

15. North Shore Scenic Railroad

Address: 506 W Michigan St, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

The North Shore Scenic Railroad is undoubtedly a stretch of railroad built in Duluth-based logging, the classic rails still visible.

Today, the railroad runs on its original route from Duluth to Two Harbors, MN. This tourist train has become a vast attraction cause of the most beautiful scenery and scenes with Lake Superior and lakeside vistas.

16. Lake Superior Marine Museum and Maritime Visitor Center

Duluth Lighthouse on Lake Superior with Ship in the Distance

Address: 600 Canal Park Dr, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

Lake Superior Marine Museum and Maritime Visitor Center are in the Duluth Ship Canal, just south of the Aerial Lift Bridge. It features two galleries housed in a 1776-foot-long former ore dock with exhibits on Great Lakes maritime history, shipwrecks, and lighthouses.

The marine museum and visitor center is a leader in presenting maritime history, science, and culture through hands-on exhibits and interpretive programs.

The museum is committed to preserving Duluth’s historic shipwrecks and artifacts, providing educational outreach to students and teachers, sharing the shipping heritage of Lake Superior with current ship operators, promoting safe lake transportation, and working in concert with the Lake Superior shipping industry.

The Lake Superior Marine Museum also has exhibits related to Duluth’s canal system, which has been used to ship ore since the 1890s.

17. Spend a day at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center

Rocks and Lake View from Wolf Ridge Environmental Center
SteveBenassi, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Address: 6282 Cranberry Rd, Finland, MN 55603, United States

Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center is an accredited learning center in Finland, Minnesota. The learning center is about an hour and a half drive from downtown Duluth and offers several different educational programs to K-12 students.

While the facility is dedicated to K-12 education, the area offers on-site camping and hiking. Don’t miss Fantasia Overlook on the Superior Hiking Trail, which offers scenic views of Kennedy Creek and the sprawling trees of Northern Minnesota.

This center aims to improve our understanding of ecosystems through various interactive programs that lead participants outdoors to explore the natural world.

The center offers educational opportunities to families, children, and adults, including summer camps, school field trips, workshops, and outings year-round.

18. The St. Louis County Depot

Address: 506 W Michigan St, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

The St. Lous County contains the beginnings of Duluth’s aerial lift. The Depot is located in Canal Park, where a small railway station was built in 1907 by Samuel Hill.

The Depot is vital to the city’s history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Depot is now home to various museums, shops, and restaurants.

Check out some of these other top restaurants in Duluth to build your list of dining excursions.

19. Duluth Rose Garden

Duluth Rose Garden
Duluth Rose Garden” by Sharon Mollerus is marked with CC BY 2.0.

Address: 15 S 13th Ave E, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

The Duluth Rose Garden is an urban garden appointed and created by the Duluth-native and nationally recognized rose designer Tom Johnson.

The garden showcases over 2,000 roses planted in the shape of scallop shells. The park is open April through October and offers visitors a fragrant escape in the heart of downtown Duluth.

The gardens are highly romantic and warm, with a complete mini sanctuary. Step inside the Rose Garden, famous for its fragrant blossoms, and enjoy its breathtaking views.

20. SS William A Irvin Museum

Ship of SS William A. Irvin
SS William A. Irvin” by pmarkham is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.

Address: 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

The newly renovated SS William A. Irvin Museum is an eclectic exploration of the ship-breaking industry. Examine the wreckage at the William A. Irvin Museum. This terrific museum ship is located on the campus of Lake Superior College and is only a three-minute drive inland from Duluth’s city waterfront.

The William A. Irvin Shipwreck Museum tells the epic story of one of Lake Superior’s most well-known maritime disasters. This museum featured many artifacts and was built by Capt. William A Irvin.

The museum is open seven days a week, from 10 am to 4 pm. For more information, visit the William A Irvin Museum website.

21. Aerial Lift Bridge

Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge

Address: 601 S Lake Ave, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

The Aerial Lift Bridge tours every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, from the hour before sunset until about an hour after sunset. It offers a chance to visit one of the longest bridges in Minnesota. The bridge’s northern end is farther south, so tourists may look closer at Duluth’s skyline and see Lake Superior on both sides of the structure.

The tour will last about an hour, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. It includes narration by the pilots as they share information about Duluth harbor and the Aerial Lift Bridge, the history of this structure, and other exciting facts.

The cost for a tour is $8 per person for adults and $4 per child, and admission to the lighthouse is included in the price of the times.

22. Lake Superior Zoo

Adult Bear

Address: 7210 Fremont St, Duluth, MN 55807, United States

The Lake Superior Zoo has over 400 animals and various indoor and outdoor exhibits. As one of the best things to do in Duluth, this zoo contains African lions, monkeys, giraffes, red pandas, mountain goats, and more. The zoo is open year-round, except December 25 and January 1.

23. Spirit Mountain Adventure Park Recreation Area

Fall Colors in Duluth, MN

Address: 9500 Spirit Mountain Pl, Duluth, MN 55810, United States

Spirit Mountain Adventure Park is a complete family recreation center with world-class facilities and various indoor and outdoor activities, such as mountain biking in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Enjoy a day exploring or zip down the Timber Twister Alpine Coaster (an alpine coaster in the summer), one of Minnesota’s best things to do. Spirit Mountain is located on Duluth’s city waterfront. In the winter, Spirit Mountain is an excellent spot for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice skating, and snowshoeing.

Spirit Mountain is open year-round except on December 25 and January 1st.

See Related: Best Ski Resorts in Minnesota

24. Duluth Art Institute (DAI)

Duluth Art Institute
Duluth Art Institute” by Sharon Mollerus is marked with CC BY 2.0.

Address: 506 W Michigan St #2, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

Established in 1891, the Duluth Art Institute is the oldest art school along the northern shores of Minnesota. You are dedicated to encouraging artistic talent in Duluth and the surrounding communities through classes in all media, student and professional artwork exhibitions, and special programs for adults. DAI is a popular tourist attraction and one of the best things in Duluth if you love art history.

25. Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory

Hawk Closeup

Address: 3980 E Skyline Pkwy, Duluth, MN 55804, United States

It provided an environment for bird-watching and learning about the diverse species of Minnesota’s native and other migratory birds. Hawk Ridge is also an excellent charter attraction to the environment and surrounding the Great Lakes.

See birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, and owls with a trained guide or volunteer through Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory.

26. Lake Superior National Seashore

Light House of Split Rock Lighthouse Road on a Cliff

Address: Minnesota, United States

The Lake Superior National Seashore is just north of Duluth. With its pristine Lake Superior shoreline, enjoy walking trails and a sandy beach. The park is open year-round in the winter from 6 am to 10 pm every day except December 25 and January 1.

From May till October, it’s open from 6 am to 7 pm on weekends, and weekdays are closed. In both seasons, the park remains available at all times. The station is available to provide visitors with hiking, camping, and various other outdoor activities like canoeing and kayaking.

See Related: Best Things To Do in Rogers, Minnesota

27. Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium

Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium building exterior
Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium / Facebook

Address: 1023 University Dr, Duluth, MN 55812, United States

The Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium is one of the largest in Minnesota. It offers an exciting display of the universe, life, earth science, meteorological topics, and special presentations of Native American culture.

The planetarium is located on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth at the Swenson College of Science and Engineering on Duluth’s city waterfront.

28. Fitger’s Brewery and Grille

Fitger's Historic District, Duluth
Fitger’s Tower in the Distance

Address: 600 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

At Fitger’s Brewhouse brewery, you can learn the history of the old Dutch building under the watchtower and about its beer. Celebrate the build-up and modernization of Fitger’s live brew for delicious, fresh-tasting beer. You can even purchase a Fitger’s Brewhouse Brewery and Grille souvenir or shirt at the gift shop.

Fitger’s Brewhouse opened in 1902 as the first copper retail store in Duluth, Minnesota. To learn more about this historic structure, visit Duluth’s Fitger’s Historic District.

29. Hartley Nature Center

Deer Crossing at Hartley Nature Center, Duluth, Minnesota

Address: 3001 Woodland Ave, Duluth, MN 55803, United States

Hartley Nature Center is located in Duluth’s Lester Park. It is hands down one of the best things to do in Duluth, Minnesota. The Center was established in 1968 and opened in 1970. It is a part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR).

It is dedicated to protecting and restoring nature. It offers programs and activities for children, families, schools, and adults. Hartley Nature Center has 44 acres planned with lakes, woods, and prairie restoration. The facility contains a wildlife observation tower with spotting scopes accessible via a 130-foot paved trail at Hartley Park.

The center houses many species of animals ranging from foxes to monarch butterflies. Hartley Nature Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and on weekends from 8 am to 4 pm. It is closed on holidays.

See Related: Best Things to do in Lanesboro, Minnesota

30. Great Lakes Aquarium

Inside the Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, Minnesota

Address: 353 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

Great Lakes Aquarium is a private, non-profit aquarium along the waterfront of Duluth housing more than 250 species. It was opened in 2000 and is one of the largest interactive freshwater aquariums in the state, full of adventures and things to do in Duluth, Minnesota.

It is located on Duluth’s city waterfront and houses more than 300 species of fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and other sea creatures. Great Lakes Aquarium is known to mimic and feature habitats in the Great Lakes and other freshwater locations.

Great Lakes Aquarium is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with the last admission at 4 pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

See Related: Best Things to do in Minnesota

31. Watch Ships Go Through the Duluth Canal

Maria G Ship Arriving into Duluth Harbor

Address: Duluth, Minnesota, United States

The Frigate Star could come at any hour of day and night, and the canal is open from May until late September. Watch the ships come into the harbor at the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center.

It’s the best place to watch ships carrying iron ore or grain through Duluth’s harbor to the giant lake freighters. This is a great place to protect the iconic Great Lakes ships. The ships are enormous and pass right in front of you.

32. Visit a Frozen Waterfall at Jay Cooke State Park

Jay Cooke State Park in Minnesota

Address: 780 MN-210, Carlton, MN 55718, United States

A frozen cascade of waterfalls is known as a “frozen waterfall” when it freezes in winter and can be seen throughout the summer, depending on the arrival of warm weather.

The best place to see a frozen waterfall is at Jay Cooke State Park in Northern Minnesota, in the heart of a 7,000-acre wilderness area.

Visitors can enjoy over 32 miles of hiking trails through pristine forests, waterfalls, and past small lakes known as “songs of the wild.” Check out these other top state parks in Minnesota.

33. Minnesota’s North Shore Scenic Drive

Aerial View of the North Shore in Minnesota

Address: Duluth, MN 55804, USA

This drive is the ONLY scenic drive that follows Minnesota’s Interstate 60 and toward Interstate 55. This scenic drive in Duluth, MN, follows five cities, iconic waterfalls, and lighthouses, starting from Duluth to Two Harbors, and is even worth driving to Grand Marais.

It is an 11-mile drive that takes you past several historical landmarks like the Gitchi-Gami State Trail. The aim is best between late May and mid-October, depending on weather conditions.

Some sections of this road are closed during winter due to heavy snowfalls. The views are magnificent as you go through the rolling hills, past lakes, streams, and forests. North Shore Scenic Drive offers a trip into the past and opens up beautiful lake vistas.

This drive is highly recommended when visiting Duluth, as it offers a unique experience for everyone. It can be enjoyed by anyone who likes to bike, hike or drive through scenic routes and enjoy the beauty of mother nature.

The drive starts at Two Harbors and ends in Duluth, Minnesota. But you can also take it in reverse and start from Two Harbors going back to Duluth, as this route has signposts at most intersections.

The scenery changes as you drive west in Duluth towards Two Harbors – it gets a lot more crowded here, with buses taking tourists, street lights on most corners, and other facets of the city.

The route gets less congested after Two Harbors, with more fields and fewer residences. The journey is full of gorgeous vistas as you meander around rolling hills dotted with lakes and small rivers flowing into larger bodies of water.

Alongside some roads are forested areas that give privacy to those who want to enjoy this route’s scenic views. The drive-through of this scenic byway will not miss the best cultural and sporting sights.

It is the perfect destination for hiking along a trail and within a short drive from Split Rock, byway 61. A great way to spend some time is by walking at Gooseberry Falls State Park, an easy stop on this scenic drive.

It is best to see this breathtaking beauty in Autumn when Gooseberry Falls is most vibrant and resembles a giant bouquet of gorgeous flowers. Check out these other top parks along the North Shore:

34. Tour Superior National Forest

Coastline of Lake Superior at Tettegouche State Park

Address: 8901 Grand Ave Pl, Duluth, MN 55808, United States

Discover what Superior National Forest is all about by following the scenic byway of Minnesota’s Highway 61. You can also stop at many great places on Minnesota’s Highway 61, where there are plenty of things to do and see; it is excellent for camping, hiking, biking, and fishing.

This leisurely trip takes you through the heart of Lake County, running through forested hills, past lakes and streams. Take this on Lake Vermilion and observe the forest changing.

If you want to be in the forest for a weekend, visit the Superior National Forest and Rode’s Reservoir or The Lutsen Point Trail (6.75 miles).

See Related: Best Things to do in Forest Lake, Minnesota

35. Lake Vermilion

Lake Vermillion, Minnesota in Summer

Address: Minnesota, United States

This beautiful lake holds some good fishing opportunities from shore or by boat. It also boasts a 14-mile walking trail around it. You can paddle from the Caribou entrance towards Birch Park to catch some good fish. The lake is home to many species of waterfowl, like cranes and loons, the Minnesota state bird.

Various birds visit the lake in spring and fall to nest; it is great to watch them. The picturesque northern view of the lake area is a significant attraction, as there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy scenic views.

The rustic beauty of Iron Range Country can be seen here, where you will see low-slung hills with lakes surrounded by trees and the occasional farmhouse in the distance. Check out these other best lakes in Minnesota to visit.

See Related: Best Things to do in Ely, Minnesota

36. University of Minnesota – Duluth

University of Minnesota - Duluth in Winter

Address: 1049 University Dr, Duluth, MN 55812, United States

Consider visiting the University of Minnesota Duluth campus (UMD) when you are in Duluth, MN. It is a private research university with about 3,000 students that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in the arts, sciences, and professional studies.

The University of Minnesota-Duluth is situated on the shore of Lake Superior, right next to Duluth. The campus has been named one of the best activity centers in North America.

In addition, if you didn’t realize hockey is a pretty big deal in Minnesota – as well as being The Land of 10,000 Lakes, it’s also known as The State of Hockey, and UMD has one of the best student hockey programs in the world. Attend a game if you can (IF you can even find a ticket!).

They play right at AMS Oil Arena in the heart of Canal Park. It’s a great experience to see what passionate hockey is all about.

See Related: Best Beaches in Minnesota

37. Duluth Entertainment Convention Center

Canal Park in Duluth, Minnesota

Address: 350 Harbor Dr, Duluth, MN 55802, United States

The 170,000-square-foot Duluth convention center features state-of-the-art meeting rooms, exhibition halls, and multiple ballrooms. The convention center is located east of I-35 East on Second Street near the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in downtown Duluth. It caters to trade shows, conventions, banquet dinners, ice shows, and concerts.

A range of clubs, bars, and restaurants are very close to the convention center. You can stop at the Discovery Museum or Lake Superior Zoo if you have kids.

Duluth is an ideal location for corporate meetings and conferences because it’s easily accessible from all over the US, with numerous flights to Twin Cities’ main airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International.

FAQ

How do I spend a day in Duluth?

If you only have one day in Duluth, Minnesota, be sure to explore Duluth’s rich history at Canal Park, where you can trace explorers Duluth’s path, consider walking by sightseeing boat on scenic Lake Superior, visit homes designed by famed architect Ralph Rapson, or visit the historic Glensheen Mansion.

What is there to do in Duluth, MInnesota?

Duluth is a smaller city that feels like a town. The beauty of Duluth is that many activities are free or low-cost. In no particular order, here are great ideas for visitors: visit the Glensheen Mansion, drive to Gooseberry Falls State Park, enjoy Duluth from atop Spirit Mountain, or take a boat tour to get scenic views of Canal Park and the famous Aerial Lift Bridge.

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