Duluth
Around Duluth
Photo: Tony Webster from San Francisco, California · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Minnesota · 281k people
Duluth
Locals say Northland · “Twin Ports”, “Zenith City”
Where the North Shore meets the Iron Range.
GoldMaroonDeep Blue
Welcome to the Northland! Whether you're here for the lake, the trails, or the friendly folks, you'll find a community that loves the outdoors and each other. Grab a pasty and enjoy the view.
Clubs for Duluth
No clubs for Duluth yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Duluth. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Duluth. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Aerial Lift Bridge Iconic lift bridge over the Duluth Ship Canal
- Canal Park Waterfront hub with shops, restaurants, and the Lakewalk
- Enger Tower Stone observation tower with panoramic views of the city and lake
- Split Rock Lighthouse Historic lighthouse on a cliff along the North Shore
- Gooseberry Falls State Park Waterfalls and scenic trails along Lake Superior
- Park Point Longest freshwater sandbar in the world
- Outdoors Hike the Superior Hiking Trail
- Outdoors Kayak on Lake Superior
- With kids Visit the Lake Superior Zoo
- With kids Explore the Great Lakes Aquarium
- Evenings Catch a show at the NorShor Theatre
- Evenings Bar hop in Canal Park
- Locals love Supper clubs
- Locals love Ski hills
Through the year
- Grandma's Marathon June Major marathon along the shore
- Bayfront Blues Festival August Blues music festival
- Bentleyville Tour of Lights November-December Huge holiday light display
- Duluth Airshow July Aviation show
- Duluth Dylan Fest May Celebration of Bob Dylan's music
The Northland has a humid continental climate with long, cold winters and short, mild summers. Best: Late spring through early fall (May-September) when the lake is warm and the trails are green.
Talk like a local
- “The Northland”
- The region
- “The Range”
- The Iron Range
- “Cabin”
- A lake house
- “The Lake”
- Lake Superior
Getaways
- Grand Rapids Lakes and the Mississippi headwaters
- Rice Lake Small-town charm and lakes
- Brainerd Golf and resort country
- St. Cloud Granite and river activities
Local flavour
Teams
- UMD Bulldogs NCAA Division I
Also rooting for Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild, Minnesota Timberwolves, Minnesota Lynx
Eat and drink
- Pasties Cornish meat pies, a staple of the Iron Range
- Walleye Freshwater fish, often fried or grilled, from local lakes
- Wild rice soup Creamy soup made with Minnesota wild rice
- Smoked whitefish Lake Superior whitefish, smoked and served as a delicacy
Where people go
- Lake Superior shoreline Rocky cliffs, beaches, and the world's largest freshwater lake
- Iron ore mines Open-pit mines like the Hull-Rust-Mahoning, historic and active
- Supper clubs Traditional Northwoods dining spots with prime rib and old-fashioned cocktails
- Cabin country Lakeside cabins and resorts, a summer and winter getaway
- Ski hills Spirit Mountain and other local slopes for winter sports
Heritage and traditions
The Northland is proud of its rugged Lake Superior shoreline, the heritage of iron mining and immigrant communities, and a deep-rooted love for the outdoors and winter.
This time of year in Duluth
- Fall colors fall Vibrant foliage draws visitors in September and October.
Say it like a local: “Bubbler” — Drinking fountain (common in Wisconsin).
Festivals
- Icebox Days January Celebrates the 'Icebox of the Nation' with frozen turkey bowling and ice sculptures.
- Lumberjack World Championships July Lumberjacks compete in sawing, chopping, and log rolling.
- Homegrown Music Festival April/May A week-long showcase of local musicians across venues.
- Park Point Art Fair June Juried art fair on the beach at Park Point.
- Lake Superior Day July Community celebration of the lake with activities and cleanups.
Landmarks with a story
- Glensheen Mansion Early 20th-century mansion on the shore of Lake Superior.
- Duluth Depot Now a heritage and arts center with museums.
- William A. Irvin Ore Boat A restored Great Lakes ore carrier open for tours.
- S.S. Meteor The last remaining whaleback ship, docked in Superior.
- Minnesota Discovery Center Museum about the iron mining history in Chisholm.
Food traditions
- Wild rice harvesting A traditional Ojibwe practice, still done on area lakes.
- Lutefisk dinner Scandinavian Christmas tradition, often served with lefse.
- Pulla Finnish coffee bread, a sweet cardamom bread found at bakeries.
- Booya Community stew made with meat and vegetables, often at fundraisers.
Music and arts
- Duluth music scene Known for indie rock and folk, with a DIY ethos.
- Tweed Museum of Art University art museum with a diverse collection.
- Duluth Art Institute Community art center with exhibitions and classes.
- Minnesota Ballet Professional ballet company based in Duluth.
A little history
- 1918 1918 Cloquet Fire
- 1880s-1900s Iron mining boom
- 1905 Aerial Lift Bridge construction
- pre-European Ojibwe and Dakota presence
- late 1800s Finnish and Scandinavian immigration
Rivalries
- Duluth vs. Superior Twin ports rivalry across the bridge
- UMD Bulldogs vs. St. Cloud State Huskies College hockey rivalry
- Game day High school hockey
- Game day UMD Bulldogs hockey
- Outdoors Ice climbing
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing at Giants Ridge
- With kids Visit Glensheen Mansion
- With kids Go to Bayfront Festival Park
Upper Midwestern accent with Scandinavian influences, known for 'you bet' and 'don't cha know'.
Only here
- The Aerial Lift Bridge is one of only two in the world.
- Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by surface area.
- The Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine is one of the largest open pit mines.
- The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is a major dog sled race.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the winter: invest in good gear and try winter sports.
- Learn to pronounce 'Duluth' as 'doo-LOOTH'.
- Try a pasty from a local bakery.
- Get a fishing license and try for walleye.
- Explore the Superior Hiking Trail.
Make this page better
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Part of Duluth area
Nearby
Every areaNorth ShoreMinnesotaWhere the pines meet the big lake.AshlandWisconsinWhere the big lake meets the northwoods.HaywardWisconsinLakes, pines, and a slower pace.Grand RapidsMinnesotaThe heart of the Iron Range, where the pines meet the lakes.Pine CityMinnesotaWhere the pines meet the lakes.Rice LakeWisconsinWhere every lake has a story.BrainerdMinnesotaWhere every day feels like a cabin retreatSt. CloudMinnesotaWhere the river meets the rock
Duluth, MN-WI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.