DULUTH

Duluth is a wonderfully historic community right on the shores of Lake Superior. Originally settled by Sioux and Chippewa, its position on the lake made it a boomtown during the logging, shipping, and mining years, and at one point it was home to more residents per capita than anywhere else in the United States. Today it’s home to a lively waterfront area with an extensive walkway and a host of historic lodgings.

To See and Do

FOR FAMILIES Great Lakes Aquarium (218-740-FISH; glaquarium.org), 353 Harbor Drive. Open daily 10–6; closed Christmas Day. Adults $17.99; age 62 and older $14.99; youth 13–17 $13.99; children 3–12 $11.99; children under 3 free. Located along the shore near Canal Park, the Great Lakes Aquarium specializes in freshwater fish and aquatic life. The offerings have expanded over the years to include everything from amphibians to reptiles to otters to invertebrates.

SUNSET AT GRAND MARAIS HARBOR

MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC SITES The Tweed Museum of Art (218-726-7823; d.umn.edu/tma), 1201 Ordean Court, University of Minnesota–Duluth. Open Tues.–Sun. Admission free. Named after art collectors George and Alice Tweed, the Tweed Museum focuses on early 20th-century American and European artwork as well as brings in exhibits from regional artists past and present.

The Lake Superior Railroad Museum (218-727-8025; lsrm.org), 506 W. Michigan Street. Open daily; hours vary by season. Adults 14 and older $14; children 3–13 $6; children under 3 and museum members free. AA and AARP members receive a 10 percent discount. Admission includes entrance to Depot Square. This small museum is devoted to Duluth’s locomotive history, including vintage wood-burning steam engines (including the largest one ever built), railroad snowplows, and an operating model train exhibit. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, visitors can ride a vintage electric trolley around the museum or sign up to take a ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad, which has a number of options. (Visitors who purchase a ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad are eligible for discounts on museum admission.)

Depot Square (218-727-8025; lsrm.org), 506 W. Michigan Street. Open daily; hours vary by season. Adults 14 and older $14; children 3–13 $6; children under 3 and museum members free. AA and AARP members receive a 10 percent discount. Admission includes entrance to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. This historical complex is a re-creation of two Duluth streets set in 1910.

Duluth Children’s Museum (218-733-7543; duluthchildrensmuseum.org), 115 S. 29th Avenue W. Open Tues.–Sun. Admission $9 for everyone age 2 and older. Under 2 is free. There may be different rates for special events and exhibits. The Duluth Children’s Museum exhibits are geared for kids 10 and younger, with events appealing to children older than 10. The museum is packed with hands-on activities that encourage imagination and exploration—and will tucker out the most energetic child.

Duluth Art Institute (218-733-7560; duluthartinstitute.org), 506 W. Michigan Street. Open daily. Free admission. The DAI is focused on local and contemporary art, by both professional and emerging artists, in a wide variety of media.

Glensheen (218-726-8910; glensheen.org), 3300 London Road. Open daily. General admission is $18 for adults 16 and older; $16 for ages 62 and older and veterans; children ages 6–15 $7; patrons with limited mobility $5. Tours vary in price from $12–150. Just north of downtown Duluth, on a stretch of Lake Superior shoreline, is the 39-room mansion Glensheen. Built in the early 1900s by the prosperous Congdon family, Glensheen is now open as a historical site (maintained by the University of Minnesota). There are three levels of tours available: the home’s exterior and grounds; the home’s exterior, grounds, and first and second floors; or all of these plus the third floor, attic, and basement. The last tour takes the longest (and can be toasty in warmer weather—central air was not an available amenity when the mansion was built), but if you can, it’s worth the extra time. The docents are well trained and full of interesting tidbits about the history and construction of the 39-room mansion, filled with mostly original furniture, decorations, and artwork. Ahead of their time, the Congdons incorporated electricity throughout (but maintained gaslights as well, as Chester Congdon was not convinced that electricity wasn’t just a fad), as well an early version of a central vacuum system. The grounds, set on a wide expanse of shoreline, include a rocky beach, a boathouse, a carriage house, and a gardener’s home, as well as extensive, lavish gardens. Among the myriad tour options is a tour starting with kayaking on Lake Superior.

One thing that is not mentioned on the tour, but you can now ask about it at the end (in earlier years, docents were not allowed to talk about it), is the murder of Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse at Glensheen in 1977.

For some, this is reason enough to visit, but even if you have no interest in the real-life murder and subsequent trials, visiting Glensheen provides an unusually detailed and carefully preserved view into a lost way of life.

S.S. William A. Irvin (218-722-7876; decc.org/william-a-irvin), Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, 301 Harbor Drive. Open daily Memorial Day–mid-Sept.; hours vary by season. Adults $15; students 11 and older and seniors 60 and older $9; military with ID $6; children 10 and under free per paid adult ticket. Run by the Great Lakes Floating Maritime Museum, the S.S. William A. Irvin spent more than 40 years delivering coal and iron ore as well as transporting dignitaries around the Great Lakes region. During October, special Ship of Ghouls tours are available.

Green Space and Outdoor Activities

PARKS AND PARKWAYS Skyline Parkway. A narrow road that winds through residential and rural areas, Skyline Parkway can be maddening to follow (it’s not terribly well marked, especially on the northern end), but it’s worth the effort if you want to catch some spectacular views of Lake Superior, the city of Duluth, and western Wisconsin. Take a detailed Duluth map with you, and be aware that parts of the road are closed during the winter months. And don’t forget your camera.

Enger Park. Located along Skyline Parkway, Enger Park is a small but lush picnic area complete with its own stone tower. During the summer months, the floral display is breathtaking, and shaded picnic tables are spread generously throughout the grounds. Climb the tower for a wide-open view of Duluth and Lake Superior.

Leif Ericson Park. A large park set along Lake Superior, Leif Ericson Park has an open-air amphitheater that hosts live performances during the summer months, and a lovely and (in season) fragrant rose garden. It’s a great place for strolls along the lakeside.

RAFTING Minnesota Whitewater Rafting (218-522-4446; minnesotawhitewater.com), 2023 W. Superior Street. Open daily May–Sept. Must be 12 years of age and older. Minnesota Whitewater Rafting offers rafting and sea kayaking on the St. Louis River. Kayaking can be done as a guided tour or as a rental only. Reserve early for Saturday excursions.

SKIING Spirit Mountain (218-628-2891 or 1-800-642-6377; spiritmt.com), 9500 Spirit Mountain Place. While the word mountain might be overstating things a bit, the Spirit Mountain area is a popular stop for winter visitors to Duluth. Skiing is available daily, and while there aren’t nearly as many runs or levels of difficulty as northern neighbor Lutsen-Tofte, for those who want to get a little skiing in without venturing farther north, Spirit Mountain works fine. During the summer, campsites with panoramic views of Lake Superior and the city are available for rental. Book lodging at the Mountain Villas Resort, a collection of 14 octagonal tree houses that make up the only lodging on the mountain.

TOURS Vista Fleet Sightseeing and Dining Cruises (218-722-6218 or 1-877-883-4002; vistafleet.com), 323 Harbor Drive. Available spring–fall. Rates vary. Vista offers several daily cruises during the season, some of which board in Duluth and some of which board across the lake in Superior. Sightseeing, natural history, brunch, lunch, and dinner cruises are offered.

Lodging

HOTELS

CANAL PARK

There are several hotels in the compact Canal Park area, all offering convenient access to shops, dining, and strolling along the Lake Walk. Given the popularity of summer in Duluth, plan ahead—many of these hotels fill to capacity in advance, especially on weekends.

Canal Park Lodge (218-279-6000; canalparklodge.com), 250 Canal Park Drive. One of the newer properties in Canal Park, the lodge has 116 rooms with a pool, hot tub, and high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access. Full breakfast included with accommodations. Rates start at $122. Specials and packages available.

BED-AND-BREAKFASTS

Bed-and-breakfasts abound here, not surprising given the historic nature of the city and its early builders. Many of the beds-and-breakfasts are in an area just north of Duluth, most of which are not right on Lake Superior, but are nearby.

The Firelight Inn on Oregon Creek (218-724-0272 or 1-888-724-0273; firelightinn.com), 2211 E. 3rd Street. A luxurious entry in the bed-and-breakfast category, the 1910 home offers rooms with private baths, all with robes, fireplaces, and Jacuzzis. A full breakfast is served in the room. Rates start at $229.

The Olcott House (218-728-1339; olcotthouse.com), 2316 E. 1st Street. This 1904 Georgian Colonial Revival mansion includes luxurious accommodations within the home—five suites with private baths—as well as a separate carriage house suite. Several of the suites have fireplaces and whirlpool tubs; all have air-conditioning, LCD TVs, and either four-poster or canopy beds. Hot breakfast is served each day. Rates start at $220. Some packages are available.

The Ellery House (218-724-7639 or 1-800-355-3794; elleryhouse.com), 28 S. 21st Avenue. Ellery House’s four elegant suites all have private baths, robes, and feather beds; one suite has a private sunporch, while another has a separate sitting area. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Breakfast can be served in the rooms if requested. Rates start at $159. Some packages are available.

A.G. Thomson House (218-724-3464; thomsonhouse.biz), 2617 E. 3rd Street. Built in 1909 by architect Edwin H. Hewitt, the A.G. Thomson House has four rooms with private bath in the main house as well as three rooms with private bath in the adjacent carriage house. With advance notice, elopements can be arranged in house. Full breakfast is available in the dining room or it can be served to the room. Rates start at $189. Some packages are available.

Cotton Mansion (218-724-1775 or 1-800-228-1997; cottonmansion.com), 2309 E. 1st Street. This 16,000-square-foot 1908 Italianate mansion offers seven rooms and suites, all sumptuously appointed, many with fireplaces and whirlpools. With advance notice, elopements can be arranged in house. A full breakfast is served each morning by candlelight, and an afternoon wine and cheese service is provided on weekends. Rates start at $165. Some packages are available.

Solglimt (218-727-0596; solglimt.com), 828 S. Lake Avenue. This inn is located across the Aerial Lift Bridge from Canal Park and has 120 feet of frontage on Duluth’s Park Point Reach. Rather than a mansion, Solglimt is more of a seaside cottage, with three suites with private baths. Amenities include full breakfast daily prepared with locally grown, organic foods, and Amazon Echo in every room. Rates start at $135. Some packages are available.

Comfort Suites Canal Park (218-727-1378; choicehotels.com), 408 Canal Park Drive. One of the smaller Canal Park properties, this all-suite hotel has a pool and whirlpool, some in-room whirlpools, and high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access. All rooms come with refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker. Full breakfast included with accommodations. Rates start at $114. Specials and packages available.

Hampton Inn–Duluth (218-720-3000; hamptoninn.com/hi/duluth), 310 Canal Park Drive. This Canal Park lodging has mostly hotel rooms, with a handful of Jacuzzi suites, and offers high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access. The property has a pool and whirlpool, and daily full breakfast for guests. Rates start at $129. Specials and packages available.

The Inn on Lake Superior (218-726-1111 or 1-888-668-4352; theinnonlake superior.com), 350 Canal Park Drive. The inn is one of the larger properties in Canal Park, offering both hotel rooms and suites. All rooms have refrigerator, microwave, and coffeemaker. Some rooms have fireplaces, whirlpools, and full kitchens. The property has two pools, one indoor and one outdoor, and in an unusual twist for this climate, the outdoor pool is open year-round; it’s situated on the roof with a sheltering wall, and the water is kept luxuriously warm. Also offered year-round is the evening s’mores tradition, where kids of all ages can come out by the shoreline and toast marshmallows. Rates start at $135. Specials and packages available.

The Suites Hotel (218-727-4663 or 1-800-794-1716; thesuitesduluth.com), 325 S. Lake Avenue. This all-suite hotel has an indoor pool, with full kitchens in each suite and a wide range of sizes and amenities, from a three-bedroom condo with fireplace and four-person whirlpool to smaller studio suites which are located in the center of the building and thus don’t have windows (but are considerably less expensive). Rates start at $123. Specials and packages available.

Lodging

CITY OF DULUTH

Beacon Pointe Resort (877-462-3226; beaconpointeduluth.com), 2100 E. Water Street. Located between the popular Lakewalk and the shores of Lake Superior itself, Beacon Pointe has a mix of guest rooms and suites, the latter of which offer one to four bedrooms, full kitchens, fireplaces, and whirlpools. Penthouse suites have striking views of the lake. Continental breakfast is included, and bikes are on-site for the guests’ use. Underground heated parking is a nice perk in winter. Lakeside accommodations come with balconies or patios. Rates start at $215. Specials and packages are available.

Radisson (218-727-8981; radisson.com/duluthmn), 505 W. Superior Street. The Radisson is the distinctly circular building in downtown Duluth, with views of Lake Superior from many of its rooms. The Radisson is a local landmark both because of its shape and because it was one of the first upscale hotels in the area. The property has a pool, sauna, hot tub, and whirlpool, and high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi access. The hotel’s signature restaurant, JJ Astor (see Where to Eat), is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in a revolving restaurant at the top of the hotel. Rates start at $108. Specials and packages available.

Sheraton Duluth (218-733-5660; marriott.com), 301 E. Superior Street. Opened in 2007, the Sheraton is just a few blocks from the Canal Park area in downtown Duluth. The hotel has an indoor pool, and rooms have flat-screen TVs. Restaurant 301 (see Where to Eat) offers upscale American classic food in a sleek interior. The Sheraton Club level offers larger rooms with sitting areas, as well as access to the Club Lounge. Rates start at $155. Specials and packages available.

Fitger’s Inn (218-722-8826; fitgers.com), 600 E. Superior Street. Fitger’s started life as a beer brewery in 1881, and today the large complex (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) is a mix of hotel, retail, and restaurants. The inn is a small boutique hotel with views of both downtown Duluth and Lake Superior. A variety of room types is available, from a comfortable standard room to sumptuous whirlpool penthouse suites, which also include fireplaces, balconies, skylights, and large living areas. Rates start at $153. Specials and packages are available.

Cottage on the Point (218-727-3837; cottageonthepoint.com), 3332 Minnesota Avenue. This three-bedroom cottage built in the 1880s is located on Park Point, a 5-mile sand peninsula that separates Lake Superior from the Superior Bay. The home has a full kitchen, laundry, gas grill, gas fireplace, and heating and air conditioning. It also offers kayaks for guests. Rates start at $208.

Where to Eat

DINING OUT Bellisio’s (218-727-4921; bellisios.com), 405 S. Lake Avenue. Open daily for lunch and dinner. This upscale offshoot from the Grandma’s Restaurant group offers excellent Italian cuisine and a sizable wine list. Reservations recommended. Expensive.

JJ Astor (218-722-8439; jjastorsrestaurant.com), 505 W. Superior Street (in the Radisson Hotel). Open Mon.–Sat. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sun. for dinner. JJ Astor’s major claim to fame is that it is a circular revolving restaurant providing generous views of Duluth and Lake Superior. But it has also updated its menu in recent years, giving it more of a fine dining approach, with hearty steaks and several seafood options (including local favorite walleye). Expensive/very expensive.

New Scenic Café (218-525-6274; newsceniccafe.com), 5461 N. Shore Drive. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Just north of Duluth is this destination dining spot, a favorite of locals and visitors alike due to both its beautiful location near the lake and its well-deserved excellent reputation for its food. New Scenic Café serves a frequently changing menu of sophisticated, seasonal contemporary American cuisine, sourced locally whenever possible. Offerings may include lake trout with grapes and fennel or pork shank with chocolate mole. In the summer, allow time to enjoy the surrounding gardens. Expensive.

The Boat Club (218-727-4880; boatclubrestaurant.com), 600 E. Superior Street. Open daily for all three meals. Located in the Fitger’s complex, The Boat Club is a fine dining establishment offering upscale supper club options, including surf and turf, pasta, and Lake Superior trout. Expensive/very expensive.

Pickwick Restaurant & Pub (218-623-7425; pickwickduluth.com), 508 E. Superior Street. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Pickwick has an indoor charcoal grill, allowing them to provide truly grilled meats, including a number of steak cuts and a Jack Daniels–glazed pork chop. But the restaurant also offers a number of seafood options, including walleye and lake trout, as well as vegetarian salads and a grilled vegetable kabob entrée. Expensive/very expensive.

EATING OUT At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café (218-724-6811; astccc.net), 1902 E. 8th Street. Open daily for all three meals. Located near the University of Minnesota campus. Don’t let the lengthy name intimidate you; this restaurant, casual and friendly, serves delicious meals, often using organically grown and local food sources in season, and even grows its own organic foods and herbs nearby. It also offers extensive gluten-free and vegan options. Breakfasts are hearty and plentiful; lunch and dinner can be simple or elaborate, depending on your mood. Moderate.

New London Café (218-525-0777; newlondoncafeduluth.com), 4721 E. Superior Street. Open daily for all three meals, Sun. for breakfast and lunch. This is where the locals gather. A tiny café on Duluth’s busy E. Superior Street, it’s not fancy, but it does prove that simple food prepared well can be outstanding. Be sure to have the New London Potatoes, or stop by on a Friday evening for the fish fry. Inexpensive.

Uncle Louie’s Café (218-727-4518), 520 E. 4th Street. Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Diner food, the way it’s supposed to be. Hearty pancakes and Greek-influenced lunches. Inexpensive.

NORTH SHORE BREWERIES

The brewery scene in the state has exploded in recent years, and not just in the Twin Cities metro. The North Shore is home to several highly regarded breweries.

Fitger’s Brewhouse (218-625-8646; fitgersbrewhouse.com), 600 E. Superior Street, Duluth. In one form or another, Fitger’s has been in the brewing business since 1857 (including the Prohibition years, when it produced pop and candy bars). Today Fitger’s offers a wide range of beer styles, including a unique North Shore Pale Ale as well as the more traditional IPA, stout, Belgian, wheat beer, lager, ales, and sour beers. The brewery also has a bar and grill on-site.

Castle Danger Brewery (281-834-5800; castledangerbrewery.com), 17 7th Street, Two Harbors. Named after the small town where it started, Castle Danger has since expanded and moved to Two Harbors. Its current location offers a large patio overlooking Lake Superior. Rotating taps could include anything from their cream ale, stouts, honey raspberry wheat, black lager, or experimental IPA.

Bent Paddle Brewing Co. (218-279-2722; bentpaddlebrewing.com), 1832 W. Michigan Street, Duluth. Bent Paddle has a formidable list of beers, both flagship and specialty/seasonal, many offered in their taproom. Flagship flavors include the Venture Pilsener Lager, Cold Press Black Coffee Ale, and Extra Special Amber, while seasonal and specialty offerings range from an intensely hoppy Pordij to the Roof Rack Vienna Style Lager.

Ursa Minor Brewing (218-481-7886; ursaminorbrewing.com), 2415 W. Superior Street, Duluth. Ursa Minor has more than a dozen taps running at any time, including various styles of IPA, Belgian, stout, pilsner, German bock, and fruited and infused flavors. The taproom also has a limited but fun food menu with items that go well with beer: Pizza, pretzels, and meat sticks.

Blacklist Brewing Co. (2218-606-1610; blacklistbeer.com), 120 E. Superior Street, Duluth. Blacklist has a series of small-batch beers, with their Or de Belgique strong golden, Classic Wit Belgian wheat ale, and Finally American IPA their all-the-time selections. Seasonal offerings include an imperial Belgian stout, an imperial IPA with spruce tips, and a wheat ale with rhubarb, among others. Also: axe throwing.

Fitger’s Brewhouse and Grill (218-279-2739; fitgersbrewhouse.com), 600 E. Superior Street. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Located in the historic Fitger’s complex, Fitger’s Brewhouse is a cheerful take on the “burger and beer” concept. Hearty sandwiches, burgers, and quesadillas all available with your choice of brew. Check out the wild rice burgers made with Minnesota wild rice, or the Lake Superior whitefish burger. Moderate.

Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar (218-722-2355; lakeaveduluth.com), 394 S. Lake Avenue. Open daily for brunch and dinner. This quiet and tasteful restaurant in the Dewitt-Seitz Marketplace (see Selective Shopping) focuses on local and seasonal when possible, getting creative with grilled octopus, shrimp boil, and a house-made ramen noodle bowl. Moderate/expensive.

Mexico Lindo (218-727-1978; fitgers.com/fitgers-shopping-mall/mexico-lindo-duluth), 600 E. Superior Street. Open daily for lunch and dinner. The menu may not be unique, but the cheerfully Americanized Mexican entrées are skillfully prepared in hearty portions and are especially tasty when combined with the house margarita. Moderate.

Grandma’s Saloon & Grill (218-727-4192; grandmasrestaurants.com), 522 S. Lake Avenue. Open daily for lunch and dinner. This hometown favorite has a cheerfully American menu packed with steaks, sandwiches, chicken pot pie, and pasta. Summer is especially popular at Grandma’s, as it has deck seating overlooking the Aerial Lift Bridge. Moderate.

Little Angie’s Cantina (218-727-6117; littleangies.com), 11 E. Buchanan Street. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Southwest and American foods served in jumbo portions, with an agreeable assortment of margaritas and cocktails. Try the mahi mahi tacos. In summer, enjoy Little Angie’s outdoor deck while having a drink and watching the crowds on Canal Park. Moderate.

Burrito Union (218-728-4414; burritounion.com), 1332 E. 4th Street. Open daily for lunch and dinner. A cheerful Mexican-themed casual eatery with burrito sold either “1-fisted” or “2-fisted.” Choose from the Fat Capitalist (pork carnitas and jack cheese), Jamaican Jerk, or Rasputin (the last available only two-fisted). Fitger’s beers are offered, along with creative margaritas and wine.

Valentini’s Vicino Lago (218-728-5900; valentinisduluth.com), 1400 London Road. Open Mon.–Sat. for all three meals. This Duluth outpost of the long-time Chisholm supper club has a great location with lake views and an extensive Italian menu at reasonable prices. The menu offers an extensive list of Italian sauces, all made in-house. The restaurant also offers a number of gluten-free pastas, breads, and sauces. Moderate.

Zeitgeist Arts Café (218-722-9100; zeitgeistarts.com/café), 222 E. Superior Street. Open Mon.–Sat. for lunch and dinner, Sun. for brunch. Located in the Zeitgeist Arts building, which offers a wide variety of arts programming, the café (like the arts organizations, a nonprofit) is a great place to have a reservation before a film or theater event. The menu is focused on sandwiches, salads, and soups, with a limited entrée menu that includes Lake Superior Trout. Several menu items can be made gluten-free or vegan. Moderate/expensive.

OMC Smokehouse (218-606-1611; omcsmokehouse.com), 1909 W. Superior Street. Open daily for lunch and dinner. High-quality barbecued meats and fish with nods both to the South and to Asia. Try the Korean BBQ Pork Belly Sandwich or the Pork ‘n’ Grits, and be sure to get the Beef Fat Fries for a side. Moderate.

Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe (218-723-0075; amazinggracebakeryandcafe.com), 394 S. Lake Avenue. Open daily for breakfast and lunch (and early dinner). A friendly café focused on local sourcing and making foods from scratch, including breads and buns. The menu is sandwiches and salads, with creative offerings including a Turkey-Bacon-Brie Sandwich and a Spinach-Walnut Veggie Burger. Moderate.

Entertainment

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (218-722-5573; decc.org), 350 Harbor Drive. The DECC is home to touring concerts and productions that come through Duluth, as well as host to the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra and the Minnesota Ballet. Besides the theater and convention center, the DECC is also home to the S.S. William A. Irvin (see To See and Do).

Selective Shopping

The Canal Park area, geared as it is for tourists, has several enticing shops.

The Dewitt-Seitz Marketplace (218-722-0816; dewittseitz.com), 394 S. Lake Avenue. Open daily. Located in the heart of Canal Park, the marketplace is housed in a century-old manufacturing and warehouse site that’s now on the National Register of Historic Places. Tourist shops worth a stop include Minnesota Gifts by Sandra Dee, full of north woods–themed apparel and souvenirs; J. Skylark, an engaging toy and game shop for kids; Blue Heron Trading Co., which has cooking items and gifts; and the Art Dock, which sells regional art and crafts. Hepzibah’s Sweet Shoppe can easily take care of that chocolate craving, but if you’d rather have a quick bite to eat, stop by either the Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe, which offers heavenly baked goods, or Lake Avenue Café, a small but surprisingly creative deli. Looking for tasty goodies to take home? Northern Waters Smokehaus has the finest smoked fish and meats and a diverse selection of cheeses.

Fitger’s Brewery (218-722-8826; fitgers.com), 600 E. Superior Street. Besides a hotel (see Lodging) and restaurants (including Fitger’s Brewhouse and Grill; see Where to Eat), Fitger’s also has a variety of retail to explore through its ambling hallways. Shops include Fitger’s Wine Cellars, a small but carefully stocked wine and spirits shop; Whimsy, fun and trendy children’s clothing, gifts, and décor; Trailfitters, a supplier of outdoor and active clothing, footwear, and gear; Snow Goose, which carries locally made crafts and gifts; and the Bookstore at Fitger’s, a charming store with a mix of popular and literary books and gift items.

The Electric Fetus (218-722-9970; electricfetus.com), 12 E. Superior Street. Open daily. Just steps away from the waterfront, the Electric Fetus has one of the largest music inventories in the state (along withits sister locations in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud), as well as gifts and jewelry.

Duluth Trading Company (218-481-7580; duluthtrading.com), 300 E. Superior Street. Open daily. Hardy, well-made men’s and women’s clothing.

Flagship (218-260-7948; flagshipduluth.com), 345 S. Lake Avenue. Open daily. This unique tourist shop sells Duluth-related clothing, but done through the eyes of local artists. Screen printing is done to order.

Lake Superior Art Glass (218-464-1799; lakesuperiorartglass.com), 357 Canal Park Drive. Open daily. This glassblowing studio and gallery offers glass art from more than 60 artists, and it also offers glassblowing classes.

Waters of Superior (218-786-0233; watersofsuperior.com), 395 S. Lake Avenue. Open daily. This thoughtful shop sells regional art, jewelry, clothing, and home furnishings.

Special Events

January: John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon (218-722-7631; beargrease.com). One of the most beloved events in this region, the Beargrease (as it’s known), held annually since 1983, is the longest sled dog event in the Lower 48. The event draws dogsled teams and visitors from across the country and is a qualifier for Alaska’s Iditarod race.

May: Duluth Dylan Fest (bobdylanway.com), Duluth. A full week of all things Bob Dylan has supplanted the festival previously held in Hibbing, Dylan’s hometown. But this event has a considerable amount of live music, poetry readings, tour of Dylan-related sites, and a singer-songwriter contest, among other offerings.

June: Grandma’s Marathon (218-727-0947; grandmasmarathon.com), Duluth. Grandma’s Marathon is one of the premier marathon events in Minnesota. Taking place over the third weekend of June, the marathon has a variety of activities besides the marathon itself—a health and wellness expo, kids’ races and a 5K run, live evening entertainment, and a spaghetti dinner. Plus, of course, the actual marathon.

August: Bayfront Blues Festival (715-817-6933; bayfrontblues.com), Bayfront Festival Park. This annual three-day celebration of the blues in early August is a popular and long-running event; ordering tickets early and making hotel or camping reservations well in advance is recommended.

PALISADE HEAD

Glensheen’s Festival of Fine Art and Craft (218-726-8910; glensheen.org), Glensheen Mansion, 3300 London Road. Glensheen is itself worthy of a visit (see To See and Do), and in mid-August, it hosts a fine-art festival on its grounds that attracts thousands of people annually. It’s hard to imagine a better setting than this opulent 19th-century mansion and its sumptuous gardens.