Are you on your off-days at work or on vacation, but you are yet to find a suitable place? We recommend the Duluth City of Minnesota.
The city is widely known for its cool breeze that blows off the beautiful Lake Superior; hence it is nicknamed the Air Conditioned City. There are lots of fun things to do in Duluth, MN, including exciting adventures.
While in Duluth, Minnesota, you can visit Canal Park, the Historic Congdon Estate, Lake Superior Zoo, Popular Museums like the Tweed Museum of Arts, Great Lakes Aquarium, etc.
Duluth will make you hungry for more tours and holidays in the city!
Where is Duluth, Minnesota?
Also known as Air-Conditioned City, Duluth is one of the most beautiful cities in Minnesota. It is one of the most favorite places in the town where travelers from every part of the country and the world come for tours and vacations.
In other words, whether traveling with children or searching for a romantic getaway, the city of Duluth provides a perfect destination for you.
The city also offers exciting opportunities to enjoy nature, unique historical areas, and panoramic views in almost all areas, making it a perfect sightseeing city.
You will find many of your favorite adventures and fun things to do in Duluth, Minnesota, which you can’t explore in one day.
But you can always come back on your next vacation to have your fill. We have narrowed down the best 21 fun things to do in Duluth, Minnesota, to make it easier for you to choose.
See Also: Things to Do In Grapevine (TX)
Fun Things to Do In Duluth, MN
1. Canal Park
The canal park is located on the banks of Lake Superior and covers a vast area of the downtown district. It houses Duluth’s historic Aerial Lift Bridge and is an ideal place for sightseeing and other adventures.
It features the primarily famous towering US’s first transporter bridge.
It also provides an avenue for birdwatching, historical monuments, and the fantastic lake traffic passing by. From Canal Park, you can observe various ships from different parts of the world.
It also features a famous lake walk, where visitors from far and near can walk, run, bike, and witness every one of the park’s natural beauties.
Aside from granting visitors access to Lake Superior Beach, the park also gives an easy way to explore the downtown epicenter with lots of things to see and enjoy.
There are classic restaurants, museums, bars, and hotels where you can stop for a bit of fun and rest, all featured in the park.
Address: Duluth, MN 55802, United States
2. The Historic Congdon Estate
Popularly nicknamed Glensheen Mansion, the Historic Congdon Estate features a magnificent 20,000-square-foot mansion.
It is located within the city of Duluth, run by the University of Minnesota. It is among the most wonderful things to visit in both Duluth and Minnesota.
It is a beautiful, well-constructed, and expertly managed mansion on Lake Superior’s coast. The Historic Congdon Estate is an excellent reflection of the Duluthian architecture of the 20th century.
It comprises 12 acres of fantastic landscaping that features the mansion in a doubly eye-catching setting.
It is among the most beautiful attractions in Duluth city and features a 39-room edifice, with each room specifically maintained to its original status.
If you are visiting, you will be allowed to enjoy a classic, short tour or a complete mansion tour that expertly shows each of its amazing rooms. It also features verdant gardens and picturesque banks of Lake Superior.
Address: 3300 London Road, Duluth, MN 55804, United States
3. Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Located right in the middle of Duluth city, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum was founded in 1973.
It primarily deals with railroad services and trains from the Lake Superior area. Located in the renovated Duluth Union Complex, the museum is as great as each of its features.
In the museum, you will be shown the largest collections of railroading artifacts in the country. The Lake started very small and grew into the biggest and the most popular railroad museum, not just in Minnesota but also in the US.
Again, you are free to board the North Shore Scenic Railroad for an excursion towards the scenic Lake Superior from your museum tour.
You can ride on the railroad on top of several similar historic railroading tools in the museum. The Lake Superior railroad museum is a place you can’t afford to miss.
Address: 506 W Michigan Street, Duluth, MN 55802, United States
4. Lake Superior Zoo
For family tours and visitations, don’t look past Lake Superior Zoo. It offers you up-close experiences with animals and aims to inspire respect for wildlife and conservation.
The zoo is regarded as the 19th oldest in the US and prides itself on its rich history of offering interactive exhibits to its visitors.
You are free to roam the zoo to participate in the animal exhibits, exciting demonstrations, and many other fun programs.
Apart from its several outdoor wildlife exhibits, the Lake Superior Zoo also features many riveting indoor centers like a primate center, a nocturnal center, and a space used for Australia and Oceania.
It doesn’t end there, as the zoo features many exciting amenities such as the Safari Café and Tiger’s Paw Gift Shop. You can access the zoo any weekday or weekend, apart from Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Address: 7210 Fremont Street, Duluth, MN 55807, United States
5. Tweed Museum of Art
The Tweed Museum of Art is situated within the premises of Minnesota University.
It is a premier art museum that ticks all the boxes of what you can do in Minnesota. It also serves as a learning house that collects and disperses art to the crowd.
The museum hosts exciting programs and a massive collection of visual arts to teach its visitors several new things.
The museum is presently accommodating two local artists who use mural mediums. It initiates several topics on cultures, global history, and humanity.
The museum features a long-lasting collection of more than 100,000 artworks covering various muses and mediums. Its mission includes provoking social and political awareness via interesting and eye-catching humorous shows.
Address: 1201 Ordean Ct, Duluth, MN 55812, United States
6. Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory
Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory should be among the top places in Duluth, Minnesota, especially for bird lovers.
It has a clearly defined goal: to protect and conserve the likes of prey birds and migratory birds who make their home in the Lake Superior areas.
Significantly, the observatory is widely considered among the top areas in the country for observation of raptor migration.
It is such a famous center that visitors from every part of the world, far and near, come to observe its awesomeness every year.
The center is always open for a visit throughout the year and features over four miles of pristine hiking trails, fantastic geology, eye-catching fauna, and incredible wildlife.
You can explore all those beautiful facets ass you enjoy self-guided tours of the facility.
Address: 3980 E Skyline Pkwy, Duluth, MN 55804, United States
7. Great Lakes Aquarium
The great lakes aquarium is on the list of the best Duluth centers, where you can take your family to have loads of fun.
It is situated right on top of the waterfront of Lake Superior. It was established in 2000 and is presently housing many incredible sea animals.
It significantly reveals wildlife and habitats that have roots in the Great Lakes basin and the Amazon River.
The Great Lakes aquarium features a great center that you can explore with your children and teaches visitors about freshwater biomes.
The aquarium shows towering exhibits featuring the sea life of the Duluth region. Some interactive exhibits reveal Aquatic Invaders, the Amazing Amazon, Freshwater Forest, and Raptor Ridge.
It also features a beautiful fine arts gallery with artwork revealing aquatic themes. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!!!
Address: 353 Harbor Dr #100, Duluth, MN 55802, United States
See Also: Things to Do In Duluth, GA
8. Duluth Children’s Museum
Duluth Children’s Museum is interactive and features many outstanding educational and creative activities to enable children to have fun.
It offers children great learning experiences that cover them in subjects like art, science, aviation, and so on.
Besides its exciting learning offers, the museum also features some adventurous activities.
It is an indoor playground that allows your kids to wiggle out on your visit to the museum, which is why it is a perfect place to visit with your children.
It also features an excellent science lab where children can test chemical hypotheses and learn how plants grow.
The little explorers’ space is created primarily for toddlers to practice good gross motor skills.
The Duluth Children’s Museum has a STEM Station that trains kids on the inner activities of balls/ramps, how magnets work, and practicing construction concepts, amongst others.
Address: 2125 W Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55806, United States
9. Spirit Mountain
The spirit mountains featuring both wintertime and summertime attractions, is a recreational mountain with everything you would ever wish for in a vacation venue. It is a place you can visit at any point during your free time or vacation.
Spirit Mountain is used as the city’s premier ski resort in the winter seasons.
Here, you can enjoy watching the incredible Lake Superior from the beautiful mountain top, including skiing and snowboarding that run the gamut in difficulty levels from beginner to black diamond.
Then, in the summer seasons, the mountain changes into a fantastic adventure park.
Some of its activities include an alpine coaster, timber fly zip, scenic chair lifts, jumping pillow, disc golf, and putt-putt, among others. Others include hiking trails, mountain biking, and camping accommodations.
Address: 9500 Spirit Mountain Pl, Duluth, MN 55810, United States
10. Wade Stadium
Established in 1941, the Wade Stadium is a 4,200-capacity baseball that houses the minor-league baseball team called the Duluth Huskies.
Historically, the stadium was constructed to accommodate the Duluth Dukes and was named after the team’s owner, Frank Wade.
The stadium is surprisingly built with similar bricks used for Duluth’s Grand Avenue. Nicknamed “The Wade,” the wade stadium is a perfect place to watch a game with your friend and loved ones.
Meanwhile, on one of your visits, you are free to enjoy a huskies game and every pleasure that comes with it.
Several incredible concession stands provide the best ballpark food and chilled brew skies. The Harley’s Hut Souvenir Shop lies within the stadium, a great spot to pick up Huskies swag and other top tokens.
In the seventh-inning stretch, you can engage in interactions with players and snag an autograph.
Address: 101 N 35th Avenue W, Duluth, MN 55807, United States
11. Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium
While in Minnesota, you can find time to visit Duluth’s Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium. It is a fantastic place that offers visitors a theater experience that will take them on a scenic discovery beyond the earth.
It is made up of a 65-seater theater featuring a crisp sound system all over the place that gives you the feeling of traveling on another planet.
Marshall W Alworth Planetarium also houses a fantastic star machine to project the night sky. You will also find the popular Digistar 7 Projector.
Audiences tend to troupe in and out of craters, fly with dancing stars, move beyond the moon, and travel through the Milky Way. It hosts public shows every week from Friday to Sunday.
Address: 1023 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812, United States
12. North Shore Scenic Drive
This drive is among the top and greatest All-American and scenic drives in the country, and one thing you mustn’t miss out on is your vacation in Duluth.
You can begin your journey from Duluth and journey around the banks of Lake Superior to witness the rugged natural landscapes, like waterfalls, cliffs, hills, and the banks of the Lake.
Make sure you don’t miss out on its fascinating wildlife because you will see many animals as fierce as deer and mild as moose.
There are several state-of-the-act restaurants around the area, like delicious mom-and-pop type eateries where you can stop for some delicious meals. Then find your way through little cities on the shores of the Lake for a break.
Address: Duluth, MN 55804, United States
13. Leif Erikson Park & Rose Garden
The Leif Erikson Park is among the best-maintained parks and gardens in Duluth.
It links with the LakeWalk and features incredible views of the Lake and the likes of well–kept rose gardens that are breathtaking whenever they are flowering.
Visitors are welcome to witness the Leif Erickson statue, and you will picture yourself as a couple having wedding photos with the figure.
In other words, it has been a favored spot for couples in Duluth to have their union and to use as a backdrop for photos for their great day.
Address: 1301 London Road, Duluth, MN 55805, United States
14. St. Louis County Depot
Located in Duluth, St. Louis County Depot is one of Minnesota’s most historic train stations and the US in general. It is another place you shouldn’t miss out.
Established in 1892, it initially served seven railroads but shut down in 1969 and remained closed until 1973, when it was renovated.
The depot is presently housing three buildings, each home to unique museum exhibits.
Inside the depot, you will find the Duluth Art Institute, Lake Superior Railroad Museum, and St. Louis County Historical Society Museum. It also houses Duluth Playhouse and the Minnesota Ballet.
Address: 506 W Michigan Street, Duluth, MN 55802, United States
15. Hartley Nature Center
Are you looking for a place to spend a few hours in nature around Minnesota? Think no further than the Hartley Nature Center. It is a vast area and an ideal setting for hiking, jogging, cycling, fishing, and other fun activities.
The Hartley Nature Center features an ideal landscape for outdoor pleasure at any time of the year. It is an attractive center that gives visitors more knowledge and navigation of the local ecosystem.
It is accessible to visitors seven days a week. It also features local wildlife, unique woods, glistening ponds, and unforgettable scenes.
Address: 3001 Woodland Avenue, Duluth, MN 55803, United States
16. Fitger’s Brewhouse Brewery
Ask around the Minnesota town and even Duluth locality, and you will be told that the fitger’s brewhouse brewery is among the top places to do in Duluth. It has been functioning for almost 25 years and is the most famous Minnesota brewpub.
It has several awards under its belt because of its small-batch releases, which is why it has been patronized by people far and near.
Since it is the oldest brewpub in Minnesota, its experience is needed to offer visitors an incredible brewery experience. Apart from beer, the brewery features a funky menu of appetizers, burgers, and others.
Address: 600 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802, United States
17. Positive Energy Outdoors
Another great visitation center is the Positive Energy Outdoors, featuring an outdoor adventure experience for every age bracket and ability. It was built in 2004 and offered outdoor animal and human-powered nature activities.
Located in Duluth on the North Shore of Lake Superior, the outdoors is considered among Minnesota’s most beautiful points of fun areas.
It features several programs crafted to suit individual, family, and corporate groups. You can find activities like dog sledding, sleigh/wagon rides, and ice climbing, amongst other unique activities.
Address: 4757 Datka Road, Duluth, MN 55803, United States
18. Split Rock Lighthouse
Located just toward the North Shore of Lake Superior, the lighthouse has been used by freighters as a guide to take them safely to the other side of the Lake since 1910.
It occupies close to 8 acres of scenic Minnesota shoreline and is both a navigational beacon and historical sight to explore.
In 1924, the most exciting part was that the lighthouse made itself more accessible to tourists by creating a new roadway. And ever since, visitors from all nooks and corners have been paying a constant visit to the venue.
You can visit the lighthouse and the keeper’s house and access the historic grounds and fog signal structure.
Address: 3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Road, Two Harbors, MN 55616, United States
19. SS William A. Irvin
The SS William A. Irvin is a decommissioned boat sailing the Great Lakes and is among US’s steel lake fleet.
It is a fascinating, fun-filled center in the history of Duluth. It was first released in 1938 in the thick of the Great Depression, and the Irvin (freighter) retired in 1978 after grinding heavy loads for several years.
This center lies against the mysterious backdrop of the Aerial Lift Bridge, where you can enjoy two amazing views for the price of one.
While flying the Irvin, you will be intrigued by the excellent pristine condition of the vessel, never minding freighting iron and coal for 40 years.
Address: 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802, United States
20. Apostle Islands Cruises
You can schedule an adventure with Apostle Islands Cruises during any of your holiday periods. It is a business that deals in chartered tours that explore the incredible archipelago, the system of Apostle Islands.
Meanwhile, the archipelago comprises 21 interlinked islands, featuring supernatural facets like caverns, intricate sea caves, historic lighthouses, and wildlife.
The Apostle Islands Cruise will provide you with a great experience of incredible views, making you book another tour on your next vacation.
The tours lie 55-mile, and you will be given an expertly described direction on your time that passes terrific natural scenery and notable historic features.
Address: Apostle Islands Avenue, Duluth, MN, United States
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21. Grandma’s Restaurant
Grandma’s Restaurant was established in 1976 as a Minnesota institution in the historic Canal Park.
It perfectly depicts the spirit of Duluth city, overlooking the Lake Superior shoreline. It also features local cuisine in a setting exhibiting the spirit of antiquities.
The grandma’s Restaurant is filled with local artifacts and Twin Ports memorabilia. Its building has stained glass windows, tin signs, and great neons.
Apart from the fantastic site and innovative style, the Restaurant offers state-of-the-act meals and drinks.
Some older mums will always tell you that its ambiance, antiques, and meals have remained the same since 1976.
It has menus featuring tasty selections of comfort foods, including soups, burgers, sandwiches, the famous chicken pot pie, and desserts you can crave.
Address: 522 S Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802, United States