As an experienced traveler, you want to connect with the destinations you visit – including its people and its culture. Here’s an itinerary to help you experience all Duluth has to offer – featuring its history, arts & culture scene and breathtaking beauty.
DAY 1
Morning
Fuel up with a hearty breakfast. You’ll want to be ready to experience all that Duluth has to offer, so check out these 13 spots to grab breakfast or brunch.
Stroll the Lakewalk. After breakfast, stroll along the newly renovated and fully accessible Lakewalk for breathtaking views of Lake Superior on one side and the city on the other.
Afternoon
Visit a museum or historical site. Duluth has a rich history, and there are plenty of museums and historical sites around the city to learn more. Experience the historic and beautiful St. Louis County Depot, home to seven different organizations including the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, the St. Louis County Historical Society and Duluth Art Institute. The Tweed Museum of Art is a free museum on the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD) campus, which has frequently changing exhibits, so you’ll find something new with every visit. Or tour the timelessly grand Glensheen Mansion, the most visited historic home in the state. Find out more here.
Evening
Take in a show. When the sun goes down, the lights come up in theaters and performance spaces across Duluth. Experience productions from the Duluth Playhouse, live improv at Zeitgeist, stand-up comedy at The Boat Club, performances from Duluth-based Minnesota Ballet, concerts from the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra and more. Find out more here.
day 2
Morning
Take a hike. Duluth is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts with 9,168 acres of parkland and over 300 miles of wooded trails. Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced hiker, there is a trail for everyone and every level. For a unique adventure hike, cross over Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge and follow the road until it ends at Sky Harbor Airport. There, you’ll find the Park Point Trailhead where you can hike to the end of the world’s longest freshwater sandbar to find the ruins of the Minnesota Point Lighthouse. Or, stop and smell more than 3,000 rose bushes and other plants while strolling through Duluth’s Rose Garden, near Leif Erikson Park.
Afternoon
Go birding. There are a number of spots throughout the city of Duluth that are perfect for watching multiple species. Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve/Bird Observatory, a ridge located above Duluth, is a perfect spot for watching thousands of birds such as eagles, hawks, falcons and vultures migrate overhead. Fall is also the time to take in of one of nature’s most remarkable spectacles – the migration of approximately 76,000 raptors.
Evening
Take a sunset dinner cruise. Vista Cruises offers a variety of cruises throughout the day, but there is nothing quite like an evening on Lake Superior. The relaxing dinner cruise features dinner from local restaurant Bellisio’s and narrated highlights of the harbor.
Not dinner cruise weather? Duluth offers an abundance of restaurants, breweries, distilleries and more, where you can kick back, relax and enjoy some delicious food and drink in warm and inviting atmospheres.
day 3
general
Go shopping. Before you leave town, be sure to spend time perusing Duluth’s many shops and stores. Whether you want to window shop or are searching for a perfect souvenir, Duluth has the spot for you. From unique small businesses to places like Indigenous First Art & Gift Shop, which offers a wide variety of goods from Indigenous artists, to the Miller Hill Mall, there’s a spot to peruse for every taste and budget.
