A Guide for the Best Things to Do in Duluth, MN
Duluth is one of Minnesota’s most beautiful and popular destinations, and for good reason—a hot spot for great local restaurants, craft beverage scene, history, and outdoor adventures. Duluth is a top Lake Superior destination and the gateway to Lake Superior’s amazing North Shore.
Once you start descending the big hill into Duluth and set your eyes on Lake Superior, you immediately feel like you’re somewhere else entirely, but you’re still in Minnesota! It’s such a fantastic and unique place to visit.
Our guide for the best things to do in Duluth will help you plan the most fantastic vacation to Duluth, MN, on Lake Superior.
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- What’s So Great About Duluth?
- Duluth Loves Local
- Best Things to Do in Duluth, MN, This Weekend
- Dine in Duluth: Vegan Options and Local Eats
- Coffee, Craft Beer, Cider, and Cocktails: Duluth’s Drink Scene
- Discover Duluth’s Nature and Historic Spots
- Aerial Lift Bridge
- Canal Park
- Lower Chester Park
- Enger Tower
- Glensheen Mansion
- Leif Erickson Park & Rose Garden
- Park Point Beach
- Lake Superior Circle Tour
- Our Duluth Hotel Recommendations
- Seasonal Events in Duluth
- The Best Things to Do in Duluth in the Winter.
- The Best Things to Do in Duluth in the Summer
- Know Before You Go to Duluth
- Save These Pins for your Trip to Duluth
What’s So Great About Duluth?
Everything! For us, Duluth is that spot where you want to return once you’ve been. It’s a four-hour drive from our home, so when it’s time for a road trip, we always think, where else could we end up in four hours? But Duluth and the North Shore tug at our heartstrings.
Duluth wins about every other year, and that’s OK because there’s so much to do there. We still find new things to do when we visit.
Duluth is so popular and a top Lake Superior destination because there’s so much to do for every style of traveler. Outdoorsy? Check, Shopping? Check. Dining and drinks?
We’ll share with you all the best things to do in Duluth.
Duluth Loves Local
Local is the word that comes to mind when we think about Duluth. Duluth is home to a significant number of local businesses. We love to visit Duluth for its local shops, restaurants, breweries, distilleries, and great coffee shops.
Plan your Duluth adventure with the ideas you’ll find in this post. Our Duluth Guide will also give our tried and true hotel recommendations. There are so many to choose from with all price ranges.
We co-authored the book Midwest Road Trips and included Duluth and the North Shore in our Minnesota chapter. Check out this link to purchase our books.
Best Things to Do in Duluth, MN, This Weekend
You can visit Duluth a dozen times and not take in all it offers, and that doesn’t even include all there is to do on the North Shore.
We’ll break down this guide for the best things to do in Duluth with our theme- dine, drink, and discover! Duluth checks all those boxes.
Dine in Duluth: Vegan Options and Local Eats
We’re happy to report that Duluth is a hot spot for vegan options. Eating out in Duluth is one of the best things to do in Duluth.
Check out our complete guide to vegan options in Duluth
It’s so easy to eat vegan at the local restaurants in Duluth without feeling disappointed in the food portion of the trip.
Many of our favorite Duluth restaurants use locally sourced ingredients, which is important for many reasons.
It’s no coincidence that a restaurant that cares about locally sourced, quality ingredients also has creative and thoughtfully curated menus. We’ve had some wonderful and memorable meals in Duluth, including these stunning dishes pictured below.
Pictured on the left is a cauliflower ceviche from the all-vegan Juice Pharm, and on the right is a seasonal curry bowl with grilled tofu from Zeitgeist Cafe. Both dishes were absolute feasts for our eyes and also delicious.
Coffee, Craft Beer, Cider, and Cocktails: Duluth’s Drink Scene
Duluth Coffee Company is an iconic stop for a great cup of coffee. Take a cuppa to go with you as you explore Duluth.
There are so many great Breweries in Duluth! Duluth has a great brewery scene, two cider houses, a lovely distillery, and some speakeasies we haven’t been to yet.
We always intend to have a brewery weekend, but when we get to Duluth, there’s so much to do in the area that it doesn’t always work out. Without a doubt, the craft drinks scene is one of the best things to do in Duluth.
Canal Park Brewery and Hoops Brewing are both located in Canal Park. As is Vikre Distillery. This is an excellent stop if you love a good craft cocktail, and they have an amazing vegan charcuterie board. So good!
Blacklist Brewing Company is very close to Canal Park and on a great street with restaurants, entertainment, and great shops to explore.
We’ve also visited and loved Ursa Minor and Bent Paddle. Fitgers Brewhouse is the oldest brewery in Duluth and a spot you must visit at least once. It’s a gorgeous building right on Lake Superior.
Discover Duluth’s Nature and Historic Spots
We’ve visited all of these places mentioned and think they’re worth checking out. So grab your pen and paper to plan your trip to Duluth. Pin this guide for your next trip to Duluth!
Aerial Lift Bridge
One of the most iconic sights and best things to do in Duluth is see the Aerial Lift Bridge in Canal Park. Built in 1905, this vertical lift bridge raises 135 feet, allowing ships to pass through.
The Lift Bridge was built to access Minnesota Park, also known as Park Point.
Going to Canal Park and watching the Lift Bridge rise for ships to pass is one of the most popular things to do in Duluth.
The Lift Bridge raises every 30 minutes for cargo ships and other taller boats.
Visitors can walk or drive across the bridge when the Lift Bridge is not raised.
Canal Park
You have to visit Canal Park at least once which is why we recommend it as one of the best things to do in Duluth. It’s not to be missed, and there is a lot to keep you busy. Plan to spend a couple of hours to a full day in Canal Park. Grab a parking spot and start walking around around the canal.
You’ll also have great skyline views from Canal Park.
You’ll find casual dining, breweries, a distillery, and local shops located in Canal Park.
There are great hotel options inside Canal Park, too, which make a great home base for your stay in Duluth, MN. Read to the end for our personal hotel recommendations.
Take a stroll on the boardwalk as seagulls fly overhead as you listen to the waves of Lake Superior.
We almost always see a ship waiting in line to enter the canal, but if you want to ensure a ship sighting, check in with the ship schedule during your visit.
Lower Chester Park
You can get the waterfall experience that the North Shore is known for within Duluth city limits. Waterfalls and nature are some of the best things to do in Duluth, and they are what make tourists love the area so much.
Take a small hike and see a waterfall in town—experience Lower Chester Park in an area bordered by restaurants and residential areas. Located in the Chester Neighborhood, the Chester Creek Trail runs 5.2 miles through a residential area of Duluth.
Chester Creek is one of the things that make visiting Duluth so cool. You don’t have to get out of town to enjoy the great outdoors and experience waterfalls.
We found this spot by accident while parking outside of Burrito Union. We took a short hike before lunch but could have kept going. It’s so neat to see waterfalls right in town.
Enger Tower
Climb Enger Tower for amazing panoramic views of Duluth, including the Lift Bridge. There is also a Japanese peace garden and walking paths.
This historic tower has five flights of stairs to the top, where you can see one of the best views of downtown Duluth and Canal Park.
Glensheen Mansion
Related: Read an in-depth article about our tour of Glensheen Mansion
Our list of the best things to do in Duluth would not be complete without mentioning the Glensheen Mansion.
One of our favorite places to visit in the entire state is the Glensheen Mansion. We don’t always make time for a formal mansion tour, but we have been known to pull into the parking lot just to peer at the grounds and get a glimpse of the house.
Take a guided tour of this historic 20,000-square-foot home. Any tour grants you access to the grounds, which are 12 acres, so plan to add extra time to your visit to the Glensheen Mansion for stunning views of the property on Lake Superior.
The Glensheen Mansion holds many events throughout the year. You can visit when it’s decorated for Christmas and when there is music on the pier in the summertime, which are just two seasonal events hosted at Glensheen.
Leif Erickson Park & Rose Garden
Find Leif Erickson Park overlooking the shores of Lake Superior. It’s a beautiful place for a walk.
There is also a beautiful rose garden on 4.5 acres with a lovely fountain and gazebo. We’ve not made it there when flowers are in full bloom.
Park Point Beach
Park Point is a natural sandbar that extends 7 miles from Canal Park. You’ll pass tiny coastal homes as you drive through a neighborhood of residents.
Drive to the very end, and there’s a sandy beach that is so serene! It’s a stark comparison to the rugged rocks in Canal Park.
You’ll have great views of Canal Park and the Duluth skyline from Park Point Beach. A hiking trail weaving through the Minnesota Point State Nature Area also exists. Look for the ruins of the Minnesota Point Lighthouse.
Lake Superior Circle Tour
If you’re driving the Lake Superior Circle Tour, Duluth is a city where you should spend several nights. Duluth is a great home base for a day trip up the North Shore.
Our Duluth Hotel Recommendations
We have stayed in the following hotels and can recommend them. Remember, with Duluth’s popularity, prices fluctuate and are more expensive from May to October. We have found great deals traveling off-season.
Our favorite hotels that we’ve personally stayed at in Duluth are:
Our Hotel Recommendations in Canal Park:
Beacon Point has excellent accommodations and service for Lake Superior-facing suites and offers amazing off-season deals. It’s connected to the boardwalk that goes to Canal Park. It’s hard to believe you’re in the heart of downtown with this quiet and beautiful location.
Canal Park Lodge is right in the heart of Canal Park. We stayed here when they first opened. This location will be busy, but you’ll have a great location.
Our Hotel Recommendations in Park Point:
Across the famous Lift Bridge on Park Point is Park Point Marina Inn. This is an excellent location. Our room was immaculate, and we had a deck facing the legendary Duluth Boat Club.
Our Hotel Recommendations near Miller Hill Mall
While it’s certainly less fun to wake up without views of Lake Superior, there are some advantages to staying away from Canal Park. We have stayed at the Residence Inn near Miller Hill Mall several times, and it’s been great for us. We love a Residence Inn, especially on a more extended trip.
The kitchen feature is an excellent way to save money. While we may not cook like at home, having a refrigerator to put snacks and leftovers is excellent. It’s nice to be able to hit the local grocery store and pack snacks or easy meals to take with us on day trips from Duluth.
Seasonal Events in Duluth
Duluth has fantastic events throughout the year. Even though winters in Duluth can be wicked, it doesn’t keep visitors away.
Duluth hosts some of the best events in the state. This does not cover all the great events, but these are the big ones.
The Best Things to Do in Duluth in the Winter.
The Bentleyville Tour of Lights is not only one of the best things to do in Duluth but also the nation.
The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon event is a qualifier for the famed Iditarod race in Alaska.
We love visiting during the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival. Over 200 local musicians play at over 30 venues throughout Duluth. It’s fantastic and runs through April 27-May 4th. Homegrown is one of the best things to do in Duluth.
The Best Things to Do in Duluth in the Summer
Grandma’s Marathon is an iconic race in Duluth.
There are many music festivals in Bayfront Festival Park right on Lake Superior. One of the biggest music festivals is the Bayfront Blues Festival.
All Pints North Summer Brew Fest is a big draw, and one of the best things to do in Duluth every summer, also held down in Bayfront Festival Park.
Know Before You Go to Duluth
The weather in Duluth can be cool, even in the summer months. The Lake Effect is very real, and it’s often windy. If you visit in spring, fall, or winter, you’ll likely need a light or winter jacket.
Wear comfy shoes! You can undoubtedly get your steps in when visiting Duluth, so you’ll want to be comfortable.
Don’t worry about not doing everything on your list. There’s so much to do in Duluth. Whatever is missed can be moved to your next trip. Trust us, you’ll want to return the second you leave Duluth.
Duluth is a popular destination. Shoulder season or off-season travel is a great way to beat the crowds. In our experience, we like late fall or early spring visits, which typically means fewer crowds and better hotel rates.
Leightweetie
January 27, 2025 at 5:06 amYou convinced me when you used the word cocktails
Jennifer Record
January 26, 2025 at 5:36 pmGreat variety of beers, museums, history, and fresh air- my favorite combo!
Samantha Davis
January 26, 2025 at 1:52 pmI’d love to visit in the winter – the dog sled race and festival of lights sound like such fun events!
Tomeka
January 25, 2025 at 3:19 pmDuluth was not on my radar to visit before reading this article. Thank you so much for the information and I am adding it to my list of places to visit when I plan my next road trip in that area.
Melissa
January 25, 2025 at 11:40 amI just love Duluth — been visiting since the 80s when I was a kid! I’ve been to all of these places except Chester Park. Great food rec’s too – those are some good places!
Darla G
January 25, 2025 at 9:59 amWhen I visit Duluth, I’ll definitely visit Chester Park, hike the trail and see the waterfall!
Sonia
January 24, 2025 at 9:04 pmI haven’t had a chance to visit Duluth, though my sister lived in the area for a while and really enjoyed it. Hope to have a chance to visit next time we make it to Minnesota.