Duluth: Recreation

Duluth: Recreation

Sightseeing

The St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center is housed in the 1892 Union Depot, a renovated railroad depot with four levels of history and arts exhibits. On display are antique doll and toy collections, a Victorian parlor, Indian crafts, and Depot Square, a recreation of 1910 Duluth that contains 24 old-time stores, a silent movie theater, and an ice-cream parlor. The old immigration room that once processed newcomers to the United States is preserved in its original condition. Railroad cars and locomotives, including the first locomotive in Minnesota and one of the largest steam locomotives ever built, are on exhibit.

The Canal Park Marine Museum houses exhibits on the history of Lake Superior Shipping, while the Lake Superior Museum of Transportation maintains one of the nation's finest collections of historical railroad equipment. At Lake Superior Zoological Gardens, animals from around the world can be viewed in facilities that include a nocturnal house and a children's zoo. Located on the shore of Lake Superior, Glensheen is a Jacobean-style mansion featuring original furnishings and a collection of carriages and sleighs.

The Skyline Parkway, a 30-mile boulevard above Duluth, provides a dramatic view of the city, the harbor, and Lake Superior. Lake Shore Drive parallels Lake Superior from Duluth to Thunder Bay and is considered one of the most scenic coastal highways in the nation. The Aerial Lift Bridge, which connects Minnesota Point with the mainland and spans Duluth harbor, is one of Duluth's most popular tourist attractions. The present bridge, built in 1930, is the world's largest and fastest lift bridge.

Arts and Culture

The Depot houses eight of Duluth's major arts and cultural institutions. The Duluth Art Institute sponsors major exhibitions in addition to its instructional programs. Rooted in classical ballet with contemporary dance influences, Minnesota Ballet stages three major performance series annually. The Duluth Playhouse, founded in 1914 and one of the nation's oldest community theaters, produces a variety of theatrical presentations. Organized in 1932, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra presents seven concerts each season, as well as three Pops performances and an annual holiday concert. The Matinee Musicale, Duluth's oldest cultural organization, promotes promising young musicians. The Tweed Museum of Art at the University of Minnesota–Duluth presents historical and contemporary exhibitions in nine galleries and is home to the Sax Sculpture Conservatory.

Festivals and Holidays

The summer season in Duluth features Grandma's Marathon, a run along Lake Superior, and the Park Point Art Fair in June, the Fourth Fest in July, and Bayfront Blues Festival in August. The International Folk Festival presents music, ethnic foods, and dance at Leif Erikson Park in August.

Sports for the Spectator

The University of Minnesota–Duluth competes nationally in Division I hockey, playing a 20-home-game schedule at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). The Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, the premier dog race of the lower 48 states, is a 400-mile wilderness race held every winter. The race's route, from Duluth to Grand Portage and back, includes 14 checkpoints along Lake Superior's North Shore.

The Duluth Winter Festival begins at the same time as the Beargrease and runs until the end of January. The Duluth Yacht Club sailboat races from Duluth and Port Wing take place on Labor Day weekend.

Sports for the Participant

Spirit Mountain Recreation Area offers downhill skiing, cross-country trails, tennis, camping, and hiking. Duluth maintains, on 11,000 acres of land, 105 municipal parks and playgrounds, two 27-hole golf courses, 41 tennis courts, 20 baseball and softball fields, and 22 community recreation centers. Athletic leagues are available for softball, basketball, no-check hockey, volleyball, touch football, broomball, and bocce. In addition are 45 miles of snowmobile trails, seven hiking trails, and 44 kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails maintained by the city. Residents and visitors can compete in Grandma's Marathon, which is run along the North Shore the third weekend in June. The Fond-Du-Luth Gaming Casino, located in downtown Duluth, is another popular attraction.

Shopping and Dining

The development of Duluth's historic waterfront downtown and the conversion of a local brewery into a hotel, restaurant, and shopping complex on the shore of Lake Superior have modernized Duluth's shopping milieu. The three-mile-long downtown Skywalk system offers protected access to area shops and restaurants. Duluth restaurants offer freshwater fish from Lake Superior. Ethnic cuisine consists principally of Greek, Italian, and Chinese dishes.

Visitor Information: Duluth Convention and Visitors Bureau, 21 W. Superior St., Ste. 100, Duluth, MN 55802; telephone (218)722-4011; toll-free (800)4-DULUTH; email cvb@visitduluth.com