Duluth (Summer)

On the northwest shore of Lake Superior, Duluth's dominant feature is its harbor — one of North America's major inland ports. Tour boats take passengers past the huge grain elevators and ore docks, alongside freighters and ships flying foreign flags. The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center with its replicas of ships' cabins and a pilot house, two-story steam engine and 50 scale models of Great Lakes vessels ranks as the city's most visited attraction. The museum is near the Aerial Lift Bridge, which connects the mainland to Minnesota Point, the narrow seven-mile strip of land that juts out into the lake. At Great Lakes Aquarium, also on ...

On the northwest shore of Lake Superior, Duluth's dominant feature is its harbor — one of North America's major inland ports. Tour boats take passengers past the huge grain elevators and ore docks, alongside freighters and ships flying foreign flags. The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center with its replicas of ships' cabins and a pilot house, two-story steam engine and 50 scale models of Great Lakes vessels ranks as the city's most visited attraction. The museum is near the Aerial Lift Bridge, which connects the mainland to Minnesota Point, the narrow seven-mile strip of land that juts out into the lake. At Great Lakes Aquarium, also on the Bayfront, kids of all ages can sail miniature ships through a miniature Great Lakes layout by raising and lowering locks, and they can feel fish such as rays (with stingers removed) and sturgeon at the Touch Tanks. Works at Waterfront Sculpture Park focus on the cultures of Duluth and her sister cities in Canada, Japan, Russia, and Sweden. The 16-mile Skyline Parkway above the city offers great views of the harbor and countryside, while the 1.5-hour North Shore Scenic Railroad excursion provides additional views of Lake Superior, granite bluffs and splashing waterfalls.

About the Expert

Connie Emerson is the author of more than a dozen books, including The Cheapskate's Guide to Branson, Missouri and Eyewitness Top Ten Travel Guide – Las Vegas.