Minnesota
Experiences|Tours

This Nighttime Lake Cruise Under The Harbor Lights Belongs On Your Minnesota Bucket List

Published Jun 1, 2024

Written by 

Trent Jonas

Folks from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and visitors, alike, flock to Duluth and the North Shore to experience some of the state's most beloved scenery. One way to see one of Minnesota's favorite cities from a unique perspective is to loose the lines from the shore and explore Duluth from the water. You can add even more of a twist by taking a Duluth, Minnesota harbor cruise as the sun sets or under the stars at night. Vista Fleet offers both options, and it's an experience that should be on any Minnesota bucket list.

Vista Fleet is a locally-owned tour operator that has been offering tours of Duluth's harbor for decades.

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Vista Fleet/Facebook

These popular excursions are practically a rite of passage for both locals and visitors to the city.

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Vista Fleet/Facebook

In addition to several daily harbor tours in the morning and afternoon hours, Vista Fleet offers regular sunset dinner cruises.

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Vista Fleet/Faceook

In addition to stunning views of the harbor and the setting sun, guests will enjoy dinner, a cash bar, and even occasional live music as the sun slips slowly below hills above Lake Superior.

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Vista Fleet/Facebook

As night falls, passengers are treated to the twinkling lights of the city, the stars, and the vessels in port.

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Vista Fleet/Facebook

Each season, the line also offers a handful of Sips on Superior cruises.

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Vista Fleet/Facebook

It's a nighttime cocktail cruise for passengers 21 years and older, and it's one of our favorite ways to experience Duluth in the dark.

There may be no better perspective of the city than that afforded by a Duluth, Minnesota harbor cruise on a Vista Fleet vessel. For more information about the sunset dinner cruises or nighttime cocktail excursions, visit Vista Fleet on the web. Check out Vista Fleet's Facebook page for updates, photos, and event information. Once you're back on land, take a guided tour of the city to learn even more about this Minnesota gem. If you're staying the city, be sure to check out all the amazing vacation rentals in the area, like this stunning lakeview cottage or this carriage house near the lake.

Have you taken a Vista Fleet cruise in Duluth? Let us know in the comments!

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Experiences|Tours

Experience A New Side Of Minnesota On This One-Of-A-Kind Adventure

Published Oct 30, 2023

Written by 

Trent Jonas

If you're looking to dig a little deeper, maybe see a new side of our beautiful state, you may want to consider exploring the "other side" of the Land of 10,000 Lakes - the side inhabited by the paranormal, the souls and spirits of the deceased. And you can do just that on this Minnesota ghost tour from Viator, which will take you to some of the most haunted places in the Anoka - the Halloween Capital of the World.

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Anoka, Minnesota, is the self-described "Halloween Capital of the World" - and, as it turns out, for good reason.

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Viator

It is home to more than its fair share of haunts, ghost stories, and unusual occurrences that smack of the paranormal.

The Anoka State Hospital, for example, is the former (and first) state psychiatric facility.

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Anoka Historical Society/Facebook

It has long since closed, and is mostly off-limits, but it is reportedly one of most haunted places in the entire state.

This ghost tour won't include the state hospital, but it will highlight many of the other most haunted places in the Halloween Capital.

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Jimmy Emerson DVM/Flickr

The halls of the Anoka County Courthouse, for example, hold many secrets - some of them quite disturbing - giving rise to regular reports of paranormal activity.

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You'll visit the Anoka Masonic Lodge to learn about some unusual happenings in this historic building.

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McGhiever/Wikimedia Commons

The old Jackson Hotel, built in 1884, looms large on among Anoka's haunted buildings.

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Anoka Historical Society/Facebook

The original Anoka armory was destroyed by the infamous 1939 tornado that devastated much of the town.

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Anoka County Historical Society/Facebook

The armory was rebuilt, but with it came an eerie past of otherworldly occurrences.

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Minnesota National Guard/Flickr

Your official tour will end here.

But don't forget about Forest Hill Cemetery, where Anoka's Gray Ghost was first spotted in the early 70s - it's a place no ghost hunter should miss.

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Brett Whaley/Flickr

We think you can learn a lot about a city's past by exploring its other side. Are you ready to explore the Halloween capital's haunted places? If you've steeled your nerves, head over to Viator and reserve your Minnesota ghost tour today. Then be sure to check back, and tell us about your experience in the comments.

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Experiences|Tours

7 Unique Experiences That Should Be On Everyone’s Minnesota Bucket List

Published Oct 9, 2023

Written by 

Trent Jonas

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is full of amazing places to visit and fantastic things to do, but if you’re just visiting or focused on your own slice of the state, it can be difficult to choose an adventure. Fortunately, our friends at Viator offer dozens of adventures in the Bold North that highlight some of the best our state has to offer. I think these seven unique experiences in Minnesota, in particular, offer some super interesting things to do in the North Star State.

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1. Twin City Ghosts Tour

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Management/Viator

With more than 175 years of history, the Twin Cities have some skeletons in their closets. This Twin Cities Ghost Tour will open the doors on a few of them.

2. St. Paul Gangster Tour

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Management/Viator

Many folks may not know that the Twin Cities had a sinister connection to organized crime. You can learn all about it on Viator’s St. Paul Gangster Tour.

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3. North Shore Helicopter Tour

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Management/Viator

In Minnesota, we love the North Shore of Lake Superior. But we typically enjoy it from the land or the water. This North Shore helicopter tour lets you enjoy all of the area’s beauty from a unique perspective - the air!

4. In the Footsteps of Prince: Audio Tour of Minneapolis

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Management/Viator

Prince was an internationally-renowned music artist, but he was a beloved favorite son in Minnesota. This Minneapolis tour takes you to several spots in downtown that are most associated with the Purple One in

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5. Boundary Waters Day Trip

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Management/Viator

Few tours can be more iconic in Minnesota than a day trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It’s only a taste of what our great North Woods has to offer, but I’m sure it will leave you wanting more.

6. Charming Stillwater Tour

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Management/Viator

One of the oldest cities in Minnesota, Stillwater has managed to retain much of its historic charm. This tour, which includes private transportation, hits the high notes of this beloved St. Croix River town.

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7. All-Inclusive Minneapolis Craft Brewery Tour

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Management/Viator

We’re not known as the Land of 10,000 IPAs for nothing. If you’re a beer enthusiast, this all-inclusive tour of Minneapolis breweries is the adventure for you. You’ll join a bunch of fellow beer lovers for a tour of some of the city’s finest taprooms, and you’re almost guaranteed to leave in a better mood than you started with.

I don’t think you’d be disappointed with any of these unique experiences in Minnesota! Are there any that interest you, or is there something you’d like to see on the list? Let us know in the comments.

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