Some call the shores of Lake Superior "America's Fourth Coast." Small wonder. As the world's largest freshwater lake, it could easily be an inland sea. It stretches across three states and between two countries. Duluth, Minnesota, at its southeastern tip, even bustles with giant ore boats and ocean-faring ships that journey 2,000 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean.
It's easy to spend a full week in Duluth or make it the starting point for exploring Minnesota's ruggedly beautifully North Shore. Stroll the Lakewalk, visit the free Maritime museum, hear horns bellow as ships pass beneath the lift bridge, ride the new Timber Twister down Spirit Mountain and explore The Depot, filled with train exhibits and a children's museum.
The great outdoors permeates Duluth with its lumber-era mansions, steep streets and working harbor. More than 100,000 acres of green space and 100 parks wind between homes, businesses, rivers and creeks. Watch the moonrise from Skyline Drive high above the harbor or find a favorite hike along Seven Bridges Road.
Then head north on Highway 61, one of America's best scenic drives, stretching all the way to Canada. The byway hugs rugged shorelines, zips through tunnels, and curves above cliffs and hidden coves. Beaches piled with a muted rainbow of naturally tumbled stones begs for picnics and afternoons of skipping rocks into the water.
The most popular North Shore destinations include Two Harbors, about an hour north of Duluth, and Lutsen-Tofte, former Scandinavian fishing towns nestled below the Sawtooth Mountains.
North of Two Harbors are the popular Gooseberry Falls State Park and Split Rock Lighthouse, which celebrated its centennial in 2010. The new Gitchi Gami State Trail connects the two, making it a popular stretch for biking.
There are eight state parks along the coast, dotted with waterfalls and rushing rivers. The 200-mile Superior Hiking Trail crosses through most of them as it parallels the shore, winding past inland lakes and into the 3-million-acre Superior National Forest.
Top off a trip with a trip to the top. Lutsen Mountains ski resort runs its gondola year-round for 100-mile views of Lake Superior. It glitters blue like an ever-present ocean.
Lake Superior, Minn. Family Vacations
Lake Superior, Minn. Family Vacations
Families will love:
- Eight state parks along the lake's coast
- The 200-mile Superior Hiking Trail
- Highway 61's scenic drive through tunnels, along rugged shoreline, and hugging cliffside curbs
Written by Lisa Meyers McClintick
Read more about Lake Superior, Minn. Attractions
Best Lake Superior, Minn. Family Hotels
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