Duluth & The North Shore

Exploring Duluth on foot and a road trip up the "Scandinavian Riviera" of Minnesota, the north shore of Lake Superior

We rarely take trips apart, but this was a journey that Sandra made on her own to attend the 2017 Outdoor Writers Association of America Conference as a featured speaker. She flew into Duluth early to hike parts of the Superior Hiking Trail, a very scenic segment of the North Country Trail in Minnesota, and then spent two days after the conference with a rental car heading up Scenic Highway 61.

Rambling this remote, scenic region known as the "Scandinavian Riviera" let Sandra get in touch with her Scandinavian roots.

PLANNING RESOURCES: Visit Duluth | Superior Hiking Trail Association | North Shore Visitor | Visit Cook County | Explore Minnesota

Itinerary

Duluth

HIKING: following the Superior Hiking Trail from Enger Tower to Leif Erickson Park enabled access to every waterfront attraction along the Duluth Lakewalk

Finding Peace in a Garden

On a June trip to Duluth, the surprise discovery of a garden hidden in the woods along the Superior Hiking Trail at Enger Tower helped ease the pain of losing a loved one.

Trails and TravelSandra Friend

These also included the Duluth Rose Garden, Duluth Veterans Memorial, Leif Erickson Park, Sister Cities Park, Aerial Lift Bridge, North Pier Lighthouse, and the Minnesota Slip Bridge.

MUSEUMS: Lake Superior Maritime Museum, Great Lakes Aquarium
SHOPPING: Duluth Trading Company, Full Moon Imports, Trailfitters, Waters of Superior, Spirit Bay Trading
DINING: Pizza Luce, Duluth Coffee Company Cafe, Amazing Grace Bakery & Cafe, Northern Waters Smokehaus, Duluth Grill, Fitger's Brewhouse
LODGING: Holiday Inn Duluth Downtown

Scenic Highway 61

Two Harbors

Superior Hiking Trail Association
Silver Creek Cliff Tunnel
Flood Bay Beach

Castle Danger

HIKING: Superior Hiking Trail, Gooseberry Falls State Park
SHOPPING: Northwoods Pioneer Gallery
DINING: Rustic Inn Cafe

Split Rock

HIKING: Superior Hiking Trail
Split Rock Overlook
Split Rock Lighthouse
Pebble Beach

Silver Bay

HIKING: Tettegouche State Park and Black Beach

Schroeder

Cross River Falls

Lutsen

HIKING: Superior Hiking Trail
Cascade River State Park
DINING & LODGING: Lutsen Lodge

Grand Marais

Cutface Creek Wayside
Gitchi Gami State Trail
Artists Point
Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery

DINING: Java Moose Espresso Cafe, Dockside Fish Market
SHOPPING: Drury Lane Books, Birchbark Books & Gifts, Gunflint Mercantile, Moose Tracks, Joy & Company, Lake Superior Trading Post, Ben Franklin, Sivertson Gallery, Beth's Fudge & Gifts, Beaver House