City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Duluth, Minnesota
The port city of Duluth, Minnesota sits along the Saint Louis River, Saint Louis Bay and Lake Superior. Located north of Minneapolis, it’s at the southwestern point of Lake Superior where it backs up to the Wisconsin border. Superior is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world (by volume). With craggy cliffs and incredibly clear water, it’s a stunning destination for boaters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s also a pretty great spot for cultural sites and indoor attractions.
Whether you’re in the area for the aurora borealis (northern lights), part of a Great Loop adventure or fishing for walleye, whitefish and salmon, we’ve found a few things to do from a private boat dock for rent. Let’s get started!
Great Lakes Aquarium
Photo: Wikimedia
The Great Lakes Aquarium overlooks Lake Superior, making it easily accessible from a boat lift rental. You’ll find a variety of Great Lakes and even Amazon River animals. Spend the day peeking into the worlds of otters, lionfish, raptors, native Minnesota fish and aquatic creatures from around the world as well as exhibits on shipwrecks, forests and large lakes of the world.
Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Photo: Lake Superior Railroad Museum (Facebook)
Train fans of all ages will want to check out the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. With a focus on railroading in the Lake Superior region, it’s located in the restored Duluth Union Depot complex. Learn about the history of Duluth, its harbor and northern Minnesota’s railroads as you explore diesel, steam and electric locomotives, freight equipment and passenger cars. You can even take a train ride at certain times of the year. The North Shore Scenic Railroad takes passengers through downtown Duluth, Canal Park, along Lake Superior and into the north woods.
Lake Superior Zoo
Photo: Lake Superior Zoo (Facebook)
A center for the protection, conservation and education of animals, the Lake Superior Zoo (originally known as the Duluth Zoo) is home to more than 140 species of animals from around the world. Check out parrots, brown bears, bats, African lions, Australian animals and more on this excursion form a private boat dock for rent.
Aerial Lift Bridge
Photo: Wikimedia
If you’re into bridges, you’ll want to view the Aerial Lift Bridge. This movable structure is a lift bridge, which means that it has a span that rises up while remaining parallel with the deck. It originated in 1905 as the first transporter bridge in the U.S. (there’s currently only one other one in the U.S.) and was converted to a vertical lift bridge in 1930.
What makes this bridge different from your typical drawbridge is that the whole bridge floor rises straight up (rather than at an angle like a bascule drawbridge or moving sideways like a swing bridge). It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and connects the city to Minnesota Point, making it a unique one to visit from a private boat slip rental.
Duluth Rose Garden
Photo: Duluth Rose Garden (Facebook)
With more than 3,000 rose bushes and other plants, Duluth Rose Garden is a beautiful spot to visit from a private boat dock for rent. The 4.5-acre section of Leif Erikson Park also features a gazebo, a Stone Memorial Fountain and a statue of Leif Erikson (a Norse explorer believed to be the first European to reach North American shores). Located on Lake Superior at 13th Avenue East, it’s accessible from the Lakewalk. The park also has basketball and tennis courts, a dog park, a playground and an amphitheater.
S.S. William A. Irvin Museum
Photo: Wikimedia
Fans of maritime history will want to pay a visit to the S.S. William A. Irvin Museum. Located in Canal Park, it’s near the aerial lift bridge. During its heyday, it was part of U.S. Steel’s lake fleet and sailed as a bulk freighter on the Great Lakes. It carried iron ore and coal for 40 years and retired in 1978. You can take a self-guided tour of the various rooms on the ship. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop before heading back to a private boat lift rental.
Jay Cooke State Park
Photo: Wkimedia
Jay Cooke State Park is popular for camping, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. There are 32 miles of cross-country skiing trails, and the spectacular scenery of the Saint Louis River gorge, hardwood forests and glacial rock formations. The most popular site in the park is the 200-foot-long Swinging Bridge. About 126 feet of it spans across the Saint Louis River, which makes a terrific vantage point for photos and nature watching.
Adventure Zone Canal Park
Photo: Adventure Zone Canal Park (Facebook)
Looking to put a competitive edge on your Duluth vacation? Gather the crew and head to Adventure Zone Canal Park for a few hours away from a boat dock for rent. It offers a wide variety of indoor activities, including laser tag, mini golf, a Virtual Reality arena, an arcade, batting cages, a climbing wall and a pizza café.
We hope you’ve found some new sites to add to your Duluth itinerary the next time you’re in town or hanging out at a private boat slip rental. Let us know your favorites!
