Duluth is such a fun town to explore in Minnesota. You can go there a million times and it just never loses its allure.
Even your first glimpse of the town is like an oil color painting spread out before you as you drive over the hill. Trust me, the view alone is enough to make you squeal with delight.
To make it easier on you for exploring Duluth, I’ve split this post into 4 areas:
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Canal Park
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Lake Walk/Superior Street
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Lincoln Park Craft District
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Other must-see sights
So, keep scrolling to see all the things to do in Duluth!
Things to do in Duluth
First area to explore for things to do in Duluth: Canal Park
Canal Park is a romantic port town that nestles along the Southwesterly side of the majestic Lake Superior.
Within Canal Park are two main streets, Canal Park Dr. & S Lake Ave, which are lined with fun eateries, cute shops, breweries and a craft distillery. But the crown jewel in all of Duluth is also here, the Aerial lift bridge.
Let’s dive a little deeper into Canal Park!
Aerial Lift Bridge Museum and Lighthouse
The Aerial lift bridge is spectacular because it actually lifts up to allow boats to pass underneath. And we’re talking huge 1000-foot iron ore boats. It’s such an amazing feeling being so close as these massive boats glide past you!
Not only is the bridge great, but at the other end of the walkway is a lighthouse that you should definitely walk down and check out. Also, the view of the cityscape of Duluth is so pretty from this vantage point at the lighthouse. Especially at sunset!
Additionally, if you want to learn more history about the lift bridge and the lighthouse, be sure to check out the museum right by the bridge. It’s really well done and it’s totally free! Oh, and the museum also will post the times for when the big boats will come through as well. Totally worth a visit.
Where to eat and drink in Canal Park
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
The first place I stop when I’m in Canal Park, is Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. I get the Caramel ‘Apple Pie’ Apple, I have them slice it for me and it’s the perfect first snack on the start of my visit to Duluth.
Lady’s tip: The chocolate factory is also right next to a parking lot (you may have to pay a fee to park). But it’s easy to find on GPS with the Chocolate factory plugged in and normally always has open spots. There is other parking in Canal Park, but it can be kind of tricky to find a spot on the busy weekends. Again, this parking lot is your best bet for open spots.
Grandma’s Saloon and Grill
It’s hard not to talk about Canal Park without talking about Grandma’s Saloon and Grill. Situated right in the center of town, it’s one of the restaurants that helped make Canal Park what it is today. The cuisine is classic American food, and the restaurant has an eclectic, fun décor throughout the place. Plus, the rooftop patio is the place to be in the summer.
You also might recognize the Grandma’s name as it’s also the name for the Grandma’s Marathon. A popular event that happens in Duluth every June and brings in around 20,000 participants. Incredibly, it’s one of the largest marathons in the United States and truly a sight to see all those people in town!
Stop for Ice Cream at Love Creamery
Craving some ice cream? Be sure to stop at the newest Love Creamery location in Canal Park. A must stop for yummy ice cream and they offer vegan and gluten free ice cream.
Get a sandwich from Northern Waters Smokehaus
Of course, being so close to the water means having some amazing fish available. And there’s no better place to get fish than Northern Waters Smokhaus.
A deli with smoked fish and meats that has a fun spin on sandwiches and bagels. It was even on Food Network’s, Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives! But be sure to order online ahead of time as there is no seating within the deli.
Try a flight at Canal Park Brewing Company
Canal Park Brewing Company is a brewery with award winning brews and amazing elevated bar food. And their outdoor patio has some of the best views of Lake Superior.
Have a cocktail at Vikre Distillery
If spirits like gin or vodka in a cocktail are more your thing, try Vikre Distillery. They offer tastings and fun cocktails to try, and you can even buy a bottle of the spirits to bring home. For more information on what they offer, click here.
Shopping in Canal Park
You need to go shopping of course! And the perfect place to start is in the big Dewitt-Seitz building.
This multi-level complex has multiple stores, including a candy store, Duluth souvenir shop, a really cool kitchen store and more. This is also where you will find Northern Waters Smokhaus – order outside).
Oh, and possibly most importantly, there are public restrooms available here in this building as well.
Additionally, there are plenty more cute shops up and down both the streets in Canal Park to get your shopping fix. Another cute thing you’ll notice with the shops is most of them love to welcome your pup. You’ll see bowls of water scattered throughout town so Fido can get a drink. So sweet.
Once you’ve had your fill of shopping, check these next sights out!
Tour the William A. Irvin Iron Ore boat
Take a tour of the stationary William A. Irvin iron ore boat. Which is a massive Iron Ore boat that was in service for 40 years and is still in pristine condition. A totally fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the Iron Ore boat.
Hang out at Adventure Zone
If you or your kiddos still have some energy to burn, check out Adventure Zone. Where there are batting cages, mini golfing, arcade games, and laser tag all in an indoor space. Perfect for a rainy or cold day.
Vista Fleet Cruise and Great Lakes Aquarium
Or if you’d rather spend some time on Lake Superior, why not go for a ride on a Vista Fleet cruise.
Alternatively, if you want to discover more about the fish that lives in Lake Superior, check out the Great Lakes Aquarium.
Where to stay in Canal Park
PierB Resort
In my opinion, PierB Resort is the best hotel to stay in by Canal Park. It’s a little ways away from Canal Park, but it’s within easy walking distance and it’s got the BEST views from your room. If you stay here, be sure to get a harbor view room. There is also a year-round outdoor hot tub, a fantastic indoor/outdoor restaurant, and its pet friendly.
Lady’s Tip: Duluth hotels are expensive on the weekends, especially in the summer. For cheaper stays, go in the off season, Spring or Winter, and try to go mid-week versus weekends.
PierB Resort is also next to Bayfront Festival Park. Which holds concerts, craft fairs, festivals, and the beloved Bentleyville.
Visit Bentleyville around Christmas time
What is Bentleyville? A lighted Christmas wonderland. This FREE event (besides parking) starts in November and ends a couple days after Christmas. Not only is it free, but they even give away cookies, hot cocoa, coffee, and freshly popped popcorn. A must visit if you ask me.
Ride a bike, walk or zip on the Lake Walk
Canal Park is also home to the start of the Lake Walk. This 7.5-mile boardwalk and paved path starts from the Aerial lift bridge and follows alongside Lake Superior, ending in Brighton beach.
The Lake Walk provides easy access to the next section that we are going to explore.
So, let’s dive into what to do on Lake Walk and Superior Street!
Second place to explore for things to do in Duluth: Lake Walk/Superior Street
But before we explore this area, I want to share how we got here from Canal Park. We discovered that zipping around on scooters is amazing and so much fun! They had them available for rent right at Pier B hotel. (You can find them scattered throughout town as well.) After a quick little lesson, we were ready to go.
It’s amazing how much ground you can cover on these things. However, they do cost money and so you do want to be aware of how much it will cost you in the end. We thought it was worth the money for all the ground we covered.
That being said, you can go for a walk, or zip on the scooter down the Lake Walk into Downtown Duluth. You’ll see once you get down by the Fitger’s building that there are steps to walk up. Or there is a ramp right before Fitger’s to zip up on the scooter.
Once we get to Superior Street all the destinations run north to south. Note that if you don’t want to walk, or scooter, you can certainly drive and park along the metered street or find a parking ramp in this area as well.
Va Bene Restaurant
The first spot on Superior Street is Va Bene Restaurant. An Italian restaurant with amazing views of Lake Superior and the aerial lift bridge. Be sure to get an espresso martini and fill up on all the pasta!
Have ice cream at the Portland Malt Shoppe
Next stop is Portland Malt Shoppe. I mean, doesn’t this look like the cutest place ever!? We tried the pistachio ice cream, and a strawberry malt. Both were amazing.
Eat or stay at Fitger’s Lakefront hotel
Next is Fitger’s, which really has everything you need in an indoor space. Including 3 restaurants, a microbrewery, 15 shops, and a hotel. Which, speaking of the hotel, this is a perfect option of where you could stay if you didn’t want to stay in Canal Park.
We tried The Boat Club restaurant and was blown away by how good the food is. Just look at the picture of the lobster in my Bloody Mary! Not to mention the gorgeous King crab and seafood pasta that we ate. I’m already dreaming of going back and having it again.
We also loved the shops here and could seriously spend a couple days looking through everything.
Continuing on down Superior Street, here are some more fun stops.
Try your luck at Fond Du Luth Casino
If you like to gamble, this two-level casino is sure to keep you entertained. Give one of the many different slot machines to try to see if you are a lucky winner!
Blacklist Brewing Co.
Not only does Blacklist brewing have tasty beers to try, but they also have Axe throwing here. Yes, Axe throwing in Duluth! Note that they only have the axe throwing open certain days of the week. So, be sure to check out their website for dates available.
Try a coffee at Duluth Coffee Company
Ok, so this coffee place has been a little tricky for me to visit as their hours are typically only during the weekdays. However, they finally were open when I was here! I’m happy to say that it’s totally worth a stop. Plus, sometimes you can see them working the beans in their little outdoor roastery area.
Have a slice at Pizza Lucé
Pizza Lucé offers gourmet pizza and even has gluten free and vegan options. Also on their menu is pasta, hoagies and salads. You can have it for dinner, or a 10:00 PM snack as they are open until 11:00PM.
Lady’s Tip: Here is where you will head back to Canal Park (if you are staying there) as S Lake Ave is right next to Pizza Lucé. Just follow the road right into Canal Park.
Third place to explore for things to do in Duluth: Lincoln Park Craft District
Lincoln Park Craft District is a fairly new development which prides itself on local goods and services. A super neat area to check out!
Where to eat and drink in Lincoln Park
Wild State Cider
Wild State Cider is one of 2 cideries in this part of town. We tried their tasting flight and thought the pineapple was the best flavor out of the bunch. They also have some ice cream on their menu called creemee that looked delicious as well.
Try some barbeque at OMC Smokehouse
OMC stands for Oink, Moo, Cluck. Cute, huh? A local favorite with smoked meats and tasty sides. They actually weren’t open when we were here (opens in the afternoon). So, I can’t wait to come back and try them out next time I’m in Duluth.
Love Creamery in Lincoln Park
The first of the two Love Creamery’s in Duluth is located here. This cute shop has sustainable ice cream with vegan and gluten free options available. I tried the affogato, espresso poured over buttermilk ice cream, (you choose the ice cream) and it was spectacular.
Duluth Cider
Of course, we had to stop and check out the other cidery as well! This flight was also delicious, and the favorite of this bunch was Las Lajas which is coffee flavored. Yes, coffee! Weird combo, but so good.
Have breakfast or lunch at Dovetail Café and Market
We were looking for a place to have breakfast and were originally going to go to Duluth Grill, but they had too long of a wait. So, we came here instead, and I’m so glad we did.
Dovetail Café and Market is a combination of a few things. A craft school that hosts crafting classes, a boutique shop, and a café. The coffees are perfect, and the food is beyond amazing. Be sure to try the dovetail custard, a chia seed and coconut milk custard with rhubarb and berry compote… DIVINE.
Shop local at the shops in Lincoln Park
As you would expect, all the stores are adorable and worth visiting in the Lincoln Park area. We went to Free Air Life Co and we wanted to buy everything in the store! We also went to Frost River, DHL Clothing and Flora North and bought some cute stuff these stores as well. Plus, you can feel good about supporting local shops!
Get some coffee at 190 Coffee & Tea
Check out the newest coffee shop in the Lincoln Park area, 190 Coffee & Tea. The vibe inside is so cool with its black brick walls and cool retro lights. Another awesome thing about the coffee shop is you can bring your dog inside the shop. Be sure to try their homemade pop-tarts and check out their unique list of innovative coffee drinks.
If you are looking for lodging in the Lincoln Park area, check out Enger Lofts Duluth. Located directly above the coffee shop, these apartment like hotel rooms are so neat and beautifully decorated. It’s also in the perfect location as you can easily walk to the breweries, eateries and shops from here. And it’s dog friendly as well.
Check out the breweries in town
If you are looking for some craft beer, Bent Paddle Brewing Co is right across the street from 190 Coffee & Tea. There’s also Ursa Minor Brewing and Warrier Brewing Co. in the area as well. So, as you can see, you can have a blast doing a brewery/cider hop in this fun area.
Finally, other must-see sights in Duluth
Glensheen Mansion
Take a tour of the most famous mansion in Minnesota and learn about the Congdon family. Where you will learn about how they built the mansion and more about their lives. But what they won’t tell you on the tour is the gruesome murders that took place here. Be sure to google it before coming here!
Lady’s Tip: If you weren’t able to stop at Love Creamery in Canal Park or Lincoln Park, they have it here! They also have local alcoholic drinks available for purchase as well. Note that if you are worried about having to walk around with ice cream, don’t fret… You’ll be outside and there’s a beach area and also plenty of seating on the grounds as well.
Visit Enger Tower for an amazing view
If you want to see some spectacular views of Duluth, be sure to visit Enger Park. Not only is the tower itself fun to climb and look out the windows, but the grounds are amazing as well. There is a Japanese garden (be sure to swing the gong/bell) along with a gazebo for those that want an event with an epic view.
Head up to the North Shore
Last but definitely not least, another popular thing to do is head up to the North Shore. Duluth is actually the start of the North Shore and the perfect home-base to explore all the fun stops along the shore. I actually went all the way up to Grand Portage recently and compiled a list of my North Shore favorites for you here: North Shore Itinerary.
In conclusion, Duluth is a favorite for Minnesotans and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s your first visit or your 50th, Duluth is a beauty that I swear gets better with every visit!
