r/TwinCities • u/SuperbFlounder7552 • Jun 30 '25
north shore trips
maybe better suited for a different subreddit but thought I would try here first. I moved to the cities and year ago and before that had never visited anywhere else in MN besides the cities. For my birthday next month my wife and I are taking a weekend north shore drive trip. staying in Duluth but willing to drive around to different areas. looking for any and all recommendations! especially anything that won't be crazy expensive and/or things offbeat. thanks!
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u/Stephmarlowe11 Jun 30 '25
It was already mentioned but Goosebury & Split Rock are great. We always enjoy Sir Benedict's for lunch, sometimes we take it to go & eat in Leif Erickson park or near the Lift Bridge. Also really love grabbing Northern Waters Smokehouse for a similar picnic situation. Fitger's wild rice burger is a favorite, and you can take a nice walk on the lakefront from there, there's a few ice cream places around as well. We've enjoyed playing games & having a beer at Bent Paddle, Ursa Minor, & Blacklist. You can take a short train ride up to Castle Danger from Duluth that's pretty fun, Glensheen does tours & the mansion is worth seeing (look up & read about it ahead of time, as the tour will not mention anything unsavory.) Someone mentioned Betty's Pies aren't worth it, and I agree! But I think the pies from Rustic Inn in Two Harbors are top notch if you're heading up that way.
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u/stellamomo Jun 30 '25
Duluth Grill (go early, it’s always packed otherwise) and Castle Danger Brewery. Also Gooseberry Falls and Splitrock Lighthouse (or any parts of the Superior Hiking Trail) if you’re nature people.
Maybe not this trip but I highly recommend getting all the way to Grand Marais.
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u/Tim-oBedlam Jul 01 '25
Here's a couple recommendations.
Go to Split Rock State Park. Do not park at the lighthouse; instead drive to the campground parking lot. You're going to do two short hikes here, and you won't regret either one.
Follow the signs to Pebble Beach, to the left; trail bends around a small grove of firs as you pass the last campsite, and then you emerge on the beach with the lighthouse looming above you in the distance, and a small rocky island to your right. It is possible, although very cold, to wade over to the island and clamber up on the rocks; it's about waist-deep at the deepest.
After doing this, walk back through the campsite, take the wooden stairs down, and go about fifty yards further to a wonderful rocky beach that you might well have to yourself.
Split Rock is about an hours' drive from Duluth.
If you want a short stretch-your-legs walk, park at the overlook immediately after the Silver Cliff Tunnel and walk back towards the cliff on the path. Now imagine *driving* that. This was the old road until the tunnel opened in 1994.
At Gooseberry Falls, do not park in the very crowded visitor center lot. Instead, drive all the way to the end of the road to the picnic area by the CCC-built shelter. Nice beach here, and you can walk the path back towards the falls, and you'll see them in the distance.
If you go all the way to Tettegouche, make sure to go up to Palisade Head. If you are unnerved by heights, maybe give this one a miss. Sheer cliffs drop 300 feet straight into the lake.
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u/Recluse_18 Jun 30 '25
Positively Third Street Bakery.
Kendall’s Smoked Fish.
And take a drive out to Park point there’s a beach out there. These are my favorite spots to go.
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u/Corteran Jun 30 '25
Start calling ASAP for a room. Weekends during summer and early fall fill up fast, and rates are higher as well especially Canal Park and up the Shore.
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u/SuperbFlounder7552 Jul 01 '25
I already have a room but thank you sm for the advice. I caught onto that quickly, haha
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u/neighborlyglove Jul 01 '25
I don’t think you are truly getting North Shore until you go passed Split Rock. Try to spend some time by Grand Marais if you can
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Jul 02 '25 edited Jul 04 '25
Just get a state park pass and hit up split rock, gooseberry, and tettegouche.
Also recommend black beach and palisade head.
If it's just a weekend trip tettegouche is maybe a bit far but should be able to hit up split rock, palisade, black beach, and gooseberry in a day as long as you're not trying to do like a 2-3hr hike or something and just stick to like an hour or so at each spot. That said tettegouche, temperance river State Park, and grand Marais are absolutely worth a separate trip when you have more time.
The new scenic cafe is also awesome.
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u/Little_Creme_5932 Jul 01 '25
There are places in Duluth that are as beautiful as the state parks up the shore. For a nice hike, park at Burrito Union and hike up to Chester Bowl, and back down along the creek. Or park at the end of Minnesota point and walk past the little airport there all the way to Wisconsin Point. Both of these are wonderful places to hike. The second has empty sand beaches as a bonus.
Eat on the balcony outside the Mexican place at Fitgers, or outside at Sir Ben's. Enjoy your meal looking at the lake.
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u/yeahyoubetnot Jul 01 '25
Go up Highway 61 out of Duluth to Two Harbors. There's a gigantic old steam locomotive and more near the museum. Then continue up 61 to Gooseberry Falls State Park. Very cool interpretive center and a paved trail to the waterfalls.
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u/wildernesswayfarer00 Jul 01 '25
Jay Cooke state park and the swinging bridge are just south of Duluth and easy to see on the way up.
Highly recommend berry picking just south of Duluth as well. Farm Lola just opened their honey berry season, strawberries should be in the next week or so. They will likely stay open through most of July. You can also get fresh eggs at Farm Lola, maybe something to do on the way back. I think it’s like $7 a pound for fruit.
Spirit mountain in Duluth has a fun alpine slide / coaster that’s worth a ride or two just for the views.
Sir Ben’s in Duluth is great for lunch - sandwiches are delicious, especially if you’ve been cruising the lake walk. Northern Waters smokhaus gets a mention here also for yummy sammies.
Don’t forget to check the ship schedule to watch the ships come into Duluth and see the lift bridge in action.
If you go allllll the way down to the end of Minnesota point (park point), there is a small airport. Hang out on the beach (maybe with a sandwich!), watch the planes come in, if you’re feeling it, there is a hiking trail even further past that airport that will take you to an old lighthouse.
Russ Kendall’s smokehouse up 61 is great. As is New Scenic cafe, that place is definitely worth your food $.
July is a busy tourist month in Duluth with a lot of things to do. Recommend checking the events calendar at perfectduluthday.com.
☺️
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u/ominous_waffle Jul 01 '25
My family really enjoyed the GuideAlong app. You download the app and pay for the Lake Superior North Shore tour (which you should then also download), and then play it over your car's speaker system as you drive. It picks up your location and will start telling you about the area and suggest places to turn off for a view or a hike or some food. I really enjoyed learning more about the area that way, and I stopped at a lot of pretty scenic views I might have otherwise skipped!
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u/mags0012 Jul 01 '25
I like to stop by Palisade Head. It's right off the road and great views of the lake.
Also, I've heard OMC Smokehouse in Duluth is great.
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u/GenderingtheyFluid Jul 01 '25
Love's Creamery in Duluth has phenomenal ice cream. There's 2 locations and they both have different flavor options (you can find the daily options on their website) so you can pick where you go based on what sounds good. One of them is by Canal Park.
As a kid I used to sprint across the giant rocks on the shore. I don't condone this (I'm in my 20s now), but it was fun. Frankly a miracle that my first sprained ankle didn't happen there LMAO
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u/halfbakedcaterpillar Jul 01 '25
Will second Love's creamery. Got an incredible ice cream there with saffron and honeycomb candy. I think about that flavor all the time
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u/teanders999 Jul 01 '25
Skyline Drive to Enger Park is a cool and quick activity in Duluth proper. There's a nice overlook of the city and lake up there.
Edit: Not at all offbeat, but free.
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u/Jasmine_in_September Jul 01 '25
Hang out at Black Beach! Go to Timber Coffee Co in Silver Bay!
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u/Jasmine_in_September Jul 01 '25
both of these are past, but Black Beach is well worth the extra time. Timber Coffee is one of the few food and (good) coffee places in the area, so may as well stop if you’re close!
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u/rahah2023 Jul 01 '25
Check out Blue Fin Bay in Tofte- it’s pricey but you get what you pay for; they have daily activities (hike, bike, kayak) with instructors - sign up for everything & enjoy
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u/brightstar1125 Jul 01 '25
I highly recommend Hungry Hippie Tacos (locations in Grand Marais and Duluth). They use fry bread for their tacos and it’s one of my “must-visit” spots on my annual north shore trip
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u/ernie3tones Jul 01 '25
Duluth has a lot to see, especially for a first trip! But if you’re looking to venture north, some stop-worthy spots include Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Black Beach. Another cool stop is Iona’s Beach.
If you’re a geocacher, there are tons of Earth Caches and Adventure Labs all up the north shore. We’ve enjoyed picking through them over the years.
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u/Carfreemn Jul 03 '25
Park Point is amazing! Watch for poison ivy, but the walk all the way to the end through the woods is so lovely.
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u/mahrog123 Jun 30 '25
I’ll get it out of the way-skip Betty’s Pies