Ventriloquist Show

The Zeitgeist Arts Theater will be featuring ventriloquist Todd Oliver and his dog Irving September 30th at 7:30 pm. Find out more information about this family-friendly comedy act at Zeitgeist Arts Theater.

North Shore Scenic Railroad Fall Colors Tour

If you are planning on staying the weekend consider taking the North Shore Scenic Railroad Fall Colors Tour. The whole trip takes about 6 hours and includes a 2 hours stop in Two Harbors.

Play a round of Golf?

A few place in the area to play a round of golf or 2!

Duluth Golf at Enger Park and Lester Park

Grandview Golf Links in Duluth


Black Bear Golf Course in Carlton, MN

Nemadji Golf Club in Superior, WI

Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center

Check out this cool FREE museum located in Canal Park and watch the ships come into port.

Lake Superior Zoo - fun for all ages!

Not only does the zoo have animals, it also is just a lovely place to take a walk along its trails featuring rock work done by the W.P.A. in the 1920s. There are some great animals to see, too, including lions, lemurs, colobus monkeys, wallabies, nocturnal and barnyard animals, and more!

Hours are 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week and admission is reasonable.

Click here for more information on their homepage: http://www.lszooduluth.org/

City Parks, State Parks, National Parks - oh my!

Duluth and its environs are known for their natural beauty and luckily many of the most beautiful spots have been preserved for everyone to enjoy with the creation of city, state, and even national parks.

Duluth lists 80 parks alone; some of the best include the Rose Garden if you wish to see breathtaking floral beauty, Brighton Beach if you wish to get close to Lake Superior, Hawk Ridge if you wish to see migrating birds, or Congdon Park if you wish to hike along Tischer Creek (which enters Lake Superior at Glensheen Mansion).

Click here for a complete listing as well as addresses and maps: http://www.duluthmn.gov/parks/parks-listing/

As far as state parks, there are 8 of them north of Duluth along Highway 61 to the Canadian border. They have spectacular hikes and views of waterfalls, Split Rock lighthouse, and of course Lake Superior.

Click here for a map and more information: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/map.html

Duluth is also reasonably close to Voyageurs National Park and Superior National Forest, which contains the Boundary Waters Area Canoe Wilderness. Click on their names for more information on those if you are interested in getting seriously back to nature!

Vista Cruise - ride the waves!

See Duluth and its harbor from a completely different vantage point - the water! The Vista fleet has three different sightseeing cruises as well as brunch, pizza, and dinner cruises available. Choose one that fits your timeline and budget. The boats depart from just behind the DECC next to the little blue pedestrian lift bridge.

Click here for more information on their homepage: http://www.vistafleet.com/

Spirit Mountain Adventure Park

Check out  Spirit Mountain Adventure Park!

Mini Golf, Alpine Coaster, Zip Line, Scenic Chairlift Rides, Disc Golf
and Alpine Coaster Rides. Woo-hoo!

Duluth Depot - more than just trains!

The Duluth Depot is right across the street from the Duluth Public Library and within easy walking distance from the DECC. The depot itself is a wonderful building to visit along with the 4 museums it houses from the the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, St. Louis County Historical Society, and Duluth Art Institute. Admission is reasonable and includes all the museums. Hours are 9 am to 5 pm seven days a week. Visit its homepage for more information: http://duluthdepot.org/

Of course you can also depart from the depot by riding a historic train with the North Shore Scenic Railroad. There are several trips available some with pizza! Visit its homepage for more information: http://www.northshorescenicrailroad.org/Home.html

Enger Tower

Enger Tower and Peace Garden have terrific views. Free!

Duluth is a port city!

You don't have to be a boat nerd to enjoy watching a 1000 foot lake freighter glide through the canal and under the Arial Lift Bridge, but if you'd like to know a little more about the boat coming through you can check out Duluth Shipping News. Want to delve a little deeper? Then head over to the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center where you can broaden your knowledge of Great Lakes Shipping beyond your recollection of that Gordon Lightfoot song.

Take the train!

Take a train ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad

Tour a Haunted Ship

The S.S. William A. Irvin is a retired ore boat that is now a floating museum docked next to the DECC. Although its regular tour season is over in September, in October it becomes a haunted ship. Tour schedule here.

Outdoor & FREE fun with the kids

  by  ajburcar 

Here in Duluth we spend as much time outside as possible.  Here are my top three outdoor and free places to take the kids. -- Sunshine Carter, UMD, Reference & Electronic Resources Librarian

Playfront Park:  Located near Bayfront Park & the Great Lakes Aquarium.  Offers three areas of play, each geared towards a specific age range.  In 2010 the old wooden structures were removed and replaced with new and accessible equipment. Click here for the location.

Minnesota Point:  All along Minnesota Point (aka Park Point), on the lake side, is a wonderfully soft sanded beach.  Entry points to the beach are near the canal, near the Franklin Tot Lot, at the end of Park Point and at various other poorly marked access points.  A great place to look for sea glass, drift wood or enjoy the lake life. Bathrooms are available at the beach house at the end of Park Point.  The Franklin Tot Lot entrance does have a port-a-potty, a small parking lot and is the most accessible way to the beach.  A favorite of our family in the summer.

Brighton Beach (Kitchi Gammi Park):  A nice little beach park just north of the city on the North Shore.  The highlight of this beach are rocks, rocks, rocks.  From large boulders to smooth pebbles.  Skipping rocks is a must!

Bringing the kids? Here are some local favorites certain to entertain the kids

Are you turning MLA into a family affair?  If so, here are the three places my family visits A LOT during the year.  These three places all charge to enter.  If you plan on making a return trip to Duluth within the next 12 months of your visit, a season pass might be an affordable option for you. -- Sunshine Carter, UMD, Reference & Electronic Resources Librarian

Great Lakes Aquarium:  A little pricey (kids under 3 are free), but a good place to get out of the cold and learn a bit about Lake Superior.  Bring an extra set of clothes for your young lake explorers who will have the opportunity to navigate their own boats through the entire Great Lakes system.

The Duluth Depot:  The Depot (as we Duluthians call it) houses a wide variety of organizations.  Children would be most interested in the Duluth Children's Museum, Lake Superior Railroad Museum and the Duluth Art Institute.  My two year old boys love the train museum with its variety of retired train cars and a large toy train table.  Admission rates include access to all three. Children under 3 are free.

Lake Superior Zoo:  Our zoo is on the upswing.  A very easy zoo to maneuver.  Stroller friendly.  The primate/nocturnal building is a highlight for my family.  Playground equipment in the middle of the zoo offers a break from walking around. Children under 3 are free.

Take a hike!

Chester Creek

Take advantage of our many scenic hiking trails around Duluth.