Nestled on the shores of Lake Superior, approximately 150 miles from the Twin Cities, Duluth, Minnesota, is the state's fifth-largest city with a population of nearly 87,000. In addition to being home to world-class outdoor exploration opportunities, Duluth is one of the country's most unique port cities -- the Port of Duluth is the world's furthest inland port accessible to oceangoing ships and is the largest and busiest port on the Great Lakes. With its famous 1905 Aerial Lift Bridge, the country's only all-freshwater aquarium, and so much more, it is a city worth exploring, whether you live near town, visit frequently, or only have a few hours at your disposal.

On a recent trip to visit family in the North Star State, we jumped at the opportunity to visit my little brother in Duluth, who relocated to attend college at the University of Minnesota: Duluth and has never left. He gave us the insider scoop on all of the best places to visit, and we had an unforgettable time. While we probably spent just as much time driving as we did exploring, it was well worth the adventure.

We rolled into town around 3:30 p.m. on an overcast May afternoon and headed straight to Enger Park.

The park was a lush green oasis, and while we weren’t quite dressed for the chillier than we’re used to weather, a brisk walk through the meandering garden warmed us right up. Tucked away above Duluth’s West End, Enger Park and the adjacent golf course were developed on land purchased with money donated by furniture dealer Bert Enger in 1921. He willed more money for the development of the park in 1931, and Enger Tower was built in the park in his honor.

An 80-foot, five-story stone tower perched atop Enger Hill standing guard over the city of Duluth, the octagonal Enger Tower was built in 1939 and is perhaps one of the area’s greatest tourist destinations.

Stopping at every floor to admire the increasingly stunning views (and stomp in a few puddles), the 105-stair climb to the top of Enger Tower proved entirely worthwhile.

Once we arrived at the top floor, we were treated with unparalleled, 360-degree views of the city of Duluth, from downtown and Lake Superior to the surrounding forest.

From the tower, we meandered over to the American-Japanese Peace Bell, a gift from Ohara-Isumi, a gift from Duluth’s sister city.

Our toddler loved ringing the bell, and it would have been a wonderfully relaxing experience were she not attempting to pick all of the breathtaking blooms. Luckily, the park was full of kids this afternoon so I didn’t feel as though she was disrupting the peace in any way.

We spent some time cruising through Duluth’s downtown (including a drive over the famous Aerial Lift Bridge) before meeting my brother and his wonderful girlfriend for dinner at OMC Smokehouse.

This casual, upbeat eatery with industrial vibes and a cozy patio complete with fire pits is known for its elevated barbecue with a global twist.

The Korean Chicken Salad looked incredible and my husband loved his brisket, but my two-year-old and I opted to share the Loaded Mac & Cheese topped with brisket, bacon, sautéed onion, and mushroom — yum!

Their signature sauces elevate the meat without overpowering it, but you might have a hard time deciding between their chipotle-cilantro, classic honey, and Alabama white barbecue sauces. Add in a local brew and you have the perfect meal.

Don’t forget to save room for dessert, though: Love Creamery is located right across the street and was the perfect post-dinner treat.

Named the Best Ice Cream Parlor in the Midwest for 2022 by Midwest Living Magazine, each scoop is lovingly scooped and made with carefully sourced real ingredients. Ice cream is churned on-site daily, and the creative flavors are sure to have your sweet tooth satisfied.

With four year-round ice cream flavors and an ever-changing selection of dairy and vegan options, you never know what you’ll get at Love Creamery — but that’s part of the fun!

We ordered the salted caramel crack cookie (pictured above) alongside the buttermilk vanilla, and it was a sweet treat I still can’t stop thinking about. 
Love Creamery also offers to-go pints if that’s more your thing.

After dinner and ice cream, we were all ready for a stroll at the nearby Quarry Park.

Established as a park in 2016, Quarry Park was originally owned and worked by the Duluth Crushed Stone Company and is known for the cliff left after the company ceased operations.

The 1,000-foot-long, 100-foot-high cliff is used for climbing in the winter months, and the park is home to a nine-hole disk golf course, and trails for hiking and mountain biking.

We set off along the gravel loop at the base of the cliff before making our way up the muddy mountain bike trail to the cliff’s edge. Our daughter was obsessed with all of the rocks (as most children would be), and the view absolutely took my breath away.

It was past bedtime at this point, so we checked into our hotel (nothing exciting because we booked at the last minute, though I will always enjoy the consistency offered by the newly-renovated Holiday Inn and Suites), and got some rest. It would be another fun morning spent exploring Duluth. We spent approximately five hours exploring on day one, though we took our time. This quick trip wasn't about seeing as much as possible -- it was about catching up with family and watching our toddler explore the world.

We started day two with coffee from Duluth Coffee Company. The coffee shop was fairly empty — not surprising for a Friday morning after 9 a.m. — but we were delighted to experience live music alongside our lattes.

Local folk artist Ross Thorn was incredible, but our daughter was getting wiggly, so we took our lattes and enjoyed a walk to the Lakefront.

The largest of America’s Great Lakes, Lake Superior holds approximately 10 perfect of the world’s surface freshwater.

Its crystalline waters are enticing and its pebbled shoreline is surreal. I am calmed by the ocean, and luckily, Lake Superior has the same effect.

Consisting of eight miles of paved pedestrian and bicycle trail from Bayfront Park to Brighton Beach, there’s no better destination for a sunny stroll than the Duluth Lakewalk.

We didn't walk far thanks to a soon-expiring parking meter, but we felt immense peace soaking in the beauty of this lakeside city.

As if we haven’t experienced enough incredible views already, we decided to drive up to the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory for a bit of exploring.

With a mission of protecting birds of prey and other migratory birds in the region through research, education, and stewardship, the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is known as one of the premier destinations for the observation of raptor migration. The views of Duluth and Lake Superior from up here are truly second-to-none.

We had a quick bite at our hotel before checking out, so we were just now getting hungry and decided to hit up the iconic Duluth Grill before leaving town.

Serving up fresh, local, and organic fare in a cozy, inviting environment, Duluth Grill is known for its comfort food classics and an extensive breakfast menu.

Open only until 3 p.m., our family of three shared an order of the Bourbon Banana Walnut French Toast with a side of Red Flannel Hash, consisting of roasted sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, and bell peppers.

It was the perfect amount of food, and we left Duluth full, happy, and excited to share all about our eight hours of adventure in Duluth.

Though we enjoyed an overnight trip due to our schedules, this adventure could easily be reorganized to fit into a single day — starting with brunch from Duluth Grill and ending with ice cream at Love Creamery. So, what are you waiting for? The North Shore is calling.

To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next on OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.