Things to Do in Duluth
A hillside port at the head of Lake Superior, where ocean freighters come to load.
See top-rated activities »About Duluth
Duluth climbs the hills above the western tip of Lake Superior, and almost every street ends in a view of the water. Together with Superior, Wisconsin, across the harbor, it forms the busiest port on the Great Lakes, shipping iron ore, grain and coal; the farthest-inland freshwater port reachable from the Atlantic. The best show in town is free: watching a freighter, sometimes a thousand feet long, slide through the ship canal while the Aerial Lift Bridge raises its deck overhead and blows its horn in salute.
Canal Park, beside the bridge, is the visitor center of the city, a former warehouse district now filled with hotels, restaurants, shops and a brewery or two. The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center, run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, explains the shipping and posts the day's arrivals, and the Lakewalk follows the shore for miles in both directions. Across the slip, the William A. Irvin, a retired ore boat that once carried U.S. Steel's guests, can be toured, and the Great Lakes Aquarium focuses on freshwater fish and the Lake Superior basin.
East of downtown, Glensheen is a 39-room mansion on the lake built for the Congdon family in the early 1900s, with original furnishings, gardens and tours of the attic and the boathouse. The Lake Superior Railroad Museum fills the old Union Depot with locomotives, and its North Shore Scenic Railroad runs excursion trains along the lake. Up the hill, Enger Tower and Skyline Parkway give the best overlooks of the harbor. West of the city, Spirit Mountain has skiing and summer adventure rides, and Jay Cooke State Park has a swinging bridge over the rocky St. Louis River. Plan a full day in town, and stay overnight if you can, because the harbor lights and the ships arriving after dark are part of the experience.
Don’t Miss
Duluth's symbol, which lifts its deck for ships entering the harbor; the surrounding district has restaurants, shops and the Lakewalk.
A free museum on Great Lakes shipping beside the ship canal, with daily vessel arrival times.
A lakeshore mansion with original furnishings, gardens and a range of guided and self-guided tours.
Freshwater fish, river otters and exhibits on Lake Superior on the harbor waterfront.
A 610-foot retired ore boat, once the flagship of U.S. Steel's Great Lakes fleet, open for tours.
Historic locomotives in the old depot, and scenic excursion trains along the lake.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Duluth
Viator
Viator
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Get free trip quotes »Duluth — FAQ
How can I find out when ships are coming into Duluth?
The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center posts the day's expected arrivals and departures, and Duluth shipping schedules are published online during the navigation season, roughly late March through mid-January.
Is Canal Park worth visiting?
Yes. It is the easiest place to watch the lift bridge and ships, walk the Lakewalk and find a meal, and most of its sights are free.
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