Waterfront
Duluth has undergone a transformation from a gray, northern outpost of lumber and iron ore-related mining. Today its waterfront is full of microbreweries and local iconic restaurants such as Grandma’s (grandmasrestaurants.com) and Famous Dave’s (famousdaves.com), which was started in nearby Hayward, Wisconsin.
Lake Superior Fishing
If you were ever tempted to fish on a serious level, here is your chance. We set out from the downtown canal for a five-hour fishing expedition on Lake Superior. Within an hour we caught a 31-inch king salmon. We caught a lake trout soon after followed by another and another. It was a great afternoon and great dinner the following night.
Restaurants
Duluth and its nearby city, Superior, Wisconsin, boast at least two restaurants from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. If that were not enough, try the Pickwick Room. It reminded me of the Berghoff Restaurant in Chicago. Lots of old dark wood paneling from the 1930s. The menu is old-style comfort food, including steaks and seafood. Another Duluth destination built in a different era is the wonderful Kitchi Gammi Club. It is still a private club but well worth taking the trouble to visit.
Winter in Duluth
The Bentleyville “Tour of Lights” (bentleyvilleusa.org) is the largest walk-through lighting display in the US and lasts from Thanksgiving to Christmas each year. The Christmas Express, modeled after the Polar Express, leaves regularly from the train depo. The kids love it. The train depo museum or Lake Superior Railroad Museum (lsrm.org) also contains the somber funeral train of President Abraham Lincoln. Not far from Superior/Duluth is the Mont du Lac resort which offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing. The resort is great value and perfect for young skiers.
Solon Springs, Wisconsin
Across the US 4th of July firework celebrations were canceled with few exceptions. The Town of Solon Springs (townofsolonsprings.com), however, population about 600, pulled off what eluded many larger cities. The fireworks started at 10 pm and lasted 30 minutes. My congratulations go out to the Town for a great show.
