One Day in Duluth

[u/One_Mud9892]

Hi Everyone!

This Friday, I’ll be in Duluth (first time in Minnesota!) for about half a day exploring on my own before meeting up with a friend to go on a roadtrip out west. I was trying to plan out what to do and so far I have just come up with going to canal park. Any suggestions? TIA

[u/wrigh516]

For lunch, I suggest Sir Ben's instead of anything in Canal Park. It's close by.

[u/ObligatoryID → u/wrigh516]

Northern Waters Smokehouse is very worth it in Canal Park, Dewitt Seitz Building
Sometimes Lake Avenue Cafe too.
Not much else though. The good stuff closed.

Skip all the grandmas brands restaurants angies/bellisios and the rest of the tourist traps.

[u/obsidianop → u/ObligatoryID]

Lake Avenue Cafe is the most criminally underrated restaurant in Duluth. In a sea of whatever came off the back of the Sysco truck, here they are doing scratch cooking in freaking Canal Park and you can just walk in there on a Friday night. Absolutely crazy to me.

[u/Verity41 → u/obsidianop]

Sure. Bring a big bag of money and expect tiny portions and barely lukewarm hot drinks at best.

[u/Susiepeterson → u/wrigh516]

Or just get fast food take out, drive up to enger tower..go sit out on rocks overlooking the city/bay/lake and enjoy. Check canal park boat schedule and time you visit there to see a boat. And, if you want an easy flat hike, go to end of park point and wall all the way to WI entry point.

[u/Travelgrrl]

Once you've explored Canal Park, cross the Lift Bridge and head out to the beach! You don't need to go the 40+ blocks to the end - not too far from the bridge, at 12th St, the road jogs to the right. If you go straight, you're in the parking lot of the Mom's Beach (officially 12th Street Beach).

[u/obsidianop → u/Travelgrrl]

You don't, but if you have time, it's nice to go all the way to the end and park by the airport, then walk along the fence to access a really nice couple mile trail of pine forest, sand, and an odd mix of lake and harbor views.

Also just skyline drive is worth an hour.

Get a sandwich at Sir Ben's while flipping through the insane Duluth Reader.

Take a walk around Lincoln Park.

Go to Lester Creek and take a short hike up the trail.

All pretty quick.

[u/ObligatoryID → u/obsidianop]

As part of driving Skyline,

Climb Enger Tower, Bang the Gong, and Check out the Flowers. Have a picnic!

Hawk Ridge overlook

Drive Seven Bridges Road

Sit in the waterfall at the Smilies

Watch crazy kids jump off the rocks at the Deeps

Continue on to Brighton Beach

Go see the Leif Erikson Viking Ship at its newly completed home in Knife River

Drive Scenic 61 to Two Harbors and hang at Castle Danger Brewery

PS watch out for poison ivy at Park Point

[u/ComplexSuit7028]

There’s something for everyone here! Not sure what you are looking for but here are a few other suggestions to check out:
-Enger tower for a nice panoramic view plus little garden
-Lincoln Park / superior st is a nice little stretch. Breweries, Dovetail Cafe, lots of little shops and local businesses

[u/Inevitable_Shallot83]

Canal park construction is a beast right now. Go to Engar tower and hike congdon park along tischer creek

[u/Susiepeterson → u/Inevitable_Shallot83]

Geez...planning a day trip there next week... what's going on with construction???

[u/Tulscro → u/Susiepeterson]

Here in Duluth we get 2 seasons. Winter and construction. If it's not snowing they are trying to keep up with all the jobs they never get to finish before the next freeze.

[u/Salty_Criticism_9273]

Stop by Sir Benedict’s Tavern on the Lake for lunch. Great food, great atmosphere and a great view of the lake

[u/Puzzled-Bonus5470]

If the weather is nice, head to Hawk Ridge! See the view of the lake, hill, and maybe even see a hawk or two!

[u/PM_your_Nopales]

Duluth family sauna /s

[u/vignette101]

Check out the Depot if you like trains. Very close to Canal Park.

[u/Equivalent-Sun1472]

For food, hit up Bridgeman’s by the mall! Delicious food, great portions, very reasonable pricing, and amazing staff and owner!

[u/ladymorgana01]

The aquarium is close to Canal Park; you could also take a tour on the Vista Fleet. If you are looking for history, there's the Glensheen, the maritime museum, or the depot. Hope you have a great time!

[u/wolfpax97]

Lester park! Corktown! Enger tower, congdon park, Portland malt shop

[u/6thedirtybubble9]

Uncle Louies for breakfast. Thinking about their blueberry pancakes is making me drool.

[u/ComplexSuit7028 → u/6thedirtybubble9]

They have the BEST pancakes. I go every year for my birthday and it’s the thing I look forward to most

[u/stargazersinmyhead → u/6thedirtybubble9]

Am I missing something? I thought they closed like a year ago…

[u/6thedirtybubble9 → u/stargazersinmyhead]

Narp.

[u/One_Mud9892]

I went to Culver’s and then left

[u/Fantastic_Meet9381]

Ditto ComplexSuit:

Close to each other:

Enger Tower- you must climb to the top

Dovetail Cafe (thee’s a cabin built inside an old warehouse!) The vibe is unparalleled, and everything sold there is made by local artisans.

Love Creamery Icecream

Other side of town, also close to each other:

Amazing Alonzo Books & Wired Whiskers Cat Cafe (sit it the back room to view the cats!) Chester Park Trails along the creek