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Family Vacation Guide to Duluth


So, our little family decided to embark on an impromptu family vacation to Duluth this past week. I know, you're thinking Duluth in April? Are you crazy? There's still snow up there in April. Yes there was, and yes it did but it was still pretty awesome, all the same. We hit all the must-see spots and discovered a few new hidden gems. Despite the many trips I've made to Duluth, I'm still making new discoveries! One of the many reasons why Duluth is so fantastic. So here's what we did and saw on our four day trip to Duluth. Feel free to take notes and share your own favorite things to see and do along the North shore!

Must-See Spots of Duluth

Canal Park - The heart of the Duluth harbor, enjoy a leisurely stroll down the waterfront boardwalk as you take in the impressive lake view. Check out the Maritime Visitor Center to learn some history of Lake Superior and brush up on your fun facts as you wait for the impressive lift bridge to make way for the enormous ships coming in and out of the harbor. There's plenty of shops to check out, including the historic DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace, where you'll find J.Skylark, the area's most famous toy store. End a perfect day with dinner at Grandma's Saloon & Grill, where you'll find the best wild rice burger in town.

Portland Malt Shoppe - This tiny establishment looks like it's straight out of the 1950's. With it's walkup window they serve up the thickest, tastiest malts around, complete with whip cream, wafer cookie, and cherry on top. The line was long, and we even stood in the rain at 9 p.m. waiting for a taste and don't regret it for a minute! The name was a bit of a mystery, as we're not anywhere near Portland. Turns out, the historic neighborhood where the malt shoppe is located used to be called Portland until merging with it's neighboring village of Duluth.

Duluth Grill - This was the first time I'd ever eaten at Duluth Grill, and let me tell you, my only regret is not eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner here every single day. Absolutely everything about this place was pure perfection from the attentive service of the staff, to the suburb menu with tasty and healthy options, to the playful hand-painted mugs. If you haven't tried Duluth Grill, you haven't lived. Go there, now. Seriously.

Iconic North Shore of Lake Superior

North Shore Drive - This is always my favorite part of coming to Duluth. The rocky shoreline and endless lake horizon never gets old. There's freedom to make it up as you go, stopping at scenic rest stops or hole-in-the-wall establishments, you can make the drive up the north shore your own. We made our way up to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, stopping in Two Harbors on the way. The girls had the time of their lives climbing over the rocky shore and even found some little snails in the pools of water along the way.

Agate Hunting - My daughter, Abbie, could not WAIT to get her hands on some genuine Lake Superior agates. It was the first thing she talked about when we arrived in Duluth and of course, agate hunting was the last adventure on our list, but it was well worth the wait. At the end of our trip up the North shore, we stopped at a little spot called Beaver Bay, which is supposedly a prime spot to find agates and it did not disappoint. Every inch of the entire beach of Beaver Bay seemed to be teaming with agates, many of them tiny little gems but once in a while, we came across a true, impressive beauty. Each time we found one it was like discovering a little treasure!

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