Duluth Trip - 6.30-7.1.2021

We took a quick trip up to Duluth at the end of July. The following is just a quick summary of where we ate and where we stayed. 

It was quite hazy and smoky for a lot of the weekend due to wildfires in Canada and northern Minnesota I believe. It wasn't too bad right by the lake though, better than in the Twin Cities area anyway. 

few pics of a ship going under the lift bridge

We finally made it to Vikre Distillery. The capacity was limited, but we only had to wait a couple minutes for a table. The drinks were excellent. Cute place with lots of cool vintage glassware. 

We grabbed a snack at Scenic 61, the New Scenic Cafe's trailer parked near the aerial lift bridge. 

We both had the ahi sashimi tacos. They were really delicious and made with very fresh tasting tuna. 

Saturday morning we went to Duluth Grill for breakfast. I can't recommend stopping here enough, it is always great. Breakfast burrito for John. 

I had the meat lover's omelet with the red flannel hash. 

We decided to do a harbor cruise after breakfast. It was quite interesting even though I am pretty sure I did the same tour when I was a kid. It was interesting and covered some local history and information about the different buildings around the harbor. 

We stayed at the Comfort Suites in Canal Park this time. It was right next door to the Canal Park Lodge we stayed at the year before. The room was fine, nothing too special. 

No daily housekeeping due to Covid protocols. Please excuse the unmade bed. I forgot to take photos on arrival.  

I paid extra for a balcony with a lake view. There were not many ships going in and out so we didn't really sit out there all that much. 

We had burgers for lunch at the Anchor Bar. We found a spot to sit at the bar pretty quickly even though it was pretty busy. The hand cut fries are perfect. The burgers are great too. 

We stopped at Duluth Cider in the afternoon and at Blacklist Brewing on the way to dinner. 

a cool neon sign at an empty lot

Lake Superior

We had made reservations ahead of time for Va Bene. We had a nice table on the enclosed patio/porch area overlooking the lake. 

bruschetta

arugula salad

arrabiata pasta for John

pappardelle e funghi for me

Va bene was a very adorable restaurant. The service was very good and the food was also excellent. We enjoyed everything we ordered. It is a small place, so reservations are probably essential. 

We walked back to the hotel along the lake walk. It was starting to rain a bit, but it was not a bad walk. It was not as far as I thought it was going to be. We planned on taking an uber back to the hotel, but none were available. 

Sunday morning before heading home we stopped at Duluth Grill again. I had the breakfast melt this time with hash browns. 

John had the farmer's feast with bacon, over medium eggs and sourdough toast. 

Duluth is always a nice little weekend away. It was nice to get away from the Twin Cities for the weekend since the wildfire smoke was worse there than in Duluth. I'm not sure if staying in Canal Park is worth the inflated the pricing, but it is nice to be within walking distance to a number of dining and shopping options. 

Duluth Trip 7.17-19.2020

Our first trip during the COVID era was p to Duluth for  weekend stay. We stayed at the Canal Park Lodge for a couple of nights. I totally forgot to take photos of the room, but you can just assume it is essentially the same as a Holiday Inn, but with a little patio that kinda had a view of Lake Superior. Most rooms have a great view, but we ended up with a room in the western wing of the building with views of giant boulders and construction equipment mostly. 

Duluth had a mask mandate before the state did, so going to restaurants felt pretty safe overall. It was just slightly difficult to remember to put on as mask to walk around the hotel. 

We visited OMC Smokehouse for our first dinner. It did not disappoint. The food and service were both very good. Reservations are recommended. We waited at the nearby brewery Bent Paddle for out of the time.  

The ribs, elote and fries. The ribs were really good and the elote was excellent. 

I had the brisket with sweet potatoes and potato salad. All very good. 

We leaned that in COVID times nothing stays open very late in Duluth. Most restaurants and breweries closed at 9pm daily. So utilized our balcony and watched the lake activity. Plus both evenings it rained later on, so there was not much to do anyway. 

We went to Duluth Grill for breakfast since we loved it so much last time we went to Duluth. They had a bunch of outdoor seating and a tent for cover in addition to spaced tables inside. John had the breakfast melt with hash browns, made with organic scrambled eggs, pepper jack cheese, Jones Farm sausage patties, maple-bacon jam on grilled sour dough.

I had the biscuit sammie with Jones farm cherrywood smoked bacon, organic scrambled egg, cheddar cheese, on a fresh made biscuit. and red flannel hash, which is  made up of sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, and bell peppers, tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme. 

After breakfast we drove up the North Shore a bit and walked around at Gooseberry Falls. It was really busy! Everyone had the same idea we had. Get outside! 

view from Fitger's 

We had a late lunch/early dinner at The Boat Club at Fitger's. John had the lake Superior whitefish with a eer battered wild locally caught filet, Old Bay seasoned french fries, small side salad and house made remoulade.

I had the polenta crusted walleye filet, with asparagus, jeweled Minnesota wild rice and a house made remoulade. 

 

We also visited Wild State Cider and Ursa Minor Brewery. Both had spaced out tables and outdoor seating. 

The view from out hotel room was obscured a bit by huge piles of rocks and construction equipment. The lake walk was being repaired from last year's storm damage.  

We again stopped at Duluth Grill for breakfast Sunday on our way home. John had a chicken biscuit sandwich. 

I had the heuvos rancheros skillet this time-- it had hashbrowns, fried tortilla, fresh pico de gallo, grilled corn, black beans, shredded cheese, two organic eggs, guajillo pepper sauce, sour cream, guacamole. 

Overall, we had a good trip. Going anywhere is stressful right now, but getting out of the house was a refreshing change of pace even if it was only for a couple nights. 

Duluth Trip Report 06.30-07.03.17

Many times, over the Fourth of July we go up North with friends to Turtle Lake, but for a variety of reasons that was not happening, so we decided to go to Duluth for the weekend. We've been meaning to go forever, and the Brewery Passport we have been working on really motivated us as there are a few places in the book in this area. 

This is long overdue and I did not take many notes, so details are going to be sketchy, but I wanted to post the information and photos I do have. 

We stopped at Gordy's Hi Hat in Cloquet for lunch. First time. Bit of a line, but went quickly and food didn't take that long.

The burgers were great, I was not crazy about the onion rings or the fries. The onion rings were really greasy.

We checked into the hotel, the Radisson in downtown Duluth. Supposedly it has been remodeled, but it still needs work. I'm going to leave it at that. They do allow pets, which is nice, but we were relegated to the annex rooms in the back, so no lake view for us. Or King bed. Boo. I used hotel points for most of the nights and ended up getting my points back for one night, which was nice.

Stopped at Bent Paddle brewing for a Brewery Passport stamp. 

Finger's brewhouse. She great beers that no one really ever talks about. I loved the apricot wheat.

We sat on the pier at Fitger's overlooking the lake an enjoyed some food and beverages. 

tuna tartare

It rained pretty hard for awhile so we went back to the hotel to get Maya. Once the rain let up we went down to Canal Park and sat on the patio at Canal Park Brewing.

some more snacks

I think we called it a day after Canal park Brewing, plus it was kind of challenge to have Maya along as she did not enjoy being in the hotel room alone very much. Let's just say we visited Duluth's dog parks frequently.

For breakfast, we went to Duluth Grill. This place is worth the wait and as good as everyone says it is.

excellent sourdough toast

breakfast melt sandwich 

After breakfast, we collected Maya, packed up the car and drove up the North shore to Grand Marais. It was a very pretty drive, though the weather got colder and rainier the farther north we went.

Asian wings

pork sliders

We had lunch and beverages at Voyageur Brewing Company, which was also dog friendly.

Donuts at Wold's Best Donuts n Grand Marais

We stopped at Gooseberry Falls for a little hike 

We made one last brewery stop at Castle Danger brewing. I don't think it was in the passport, but their beers are all over in Duluth and quite good.

We dropped off Maya at the hotel and went over to the Anchor Bar for burgers. It is an interesting little place, and the burgers are the real deal. Fresh cut fries too.

I think we called it a day after burgers and all of the fresh air. 

Sunday morning we headed to At Sara's Table at Chester Creek for breakfast. Breakfast burrito for John.

Hippy breakfast for me- it was basically scrambled eggs with potatoes on the side. After breakfast we walked around Canal park, but it was a lot busier down there than when we arrived on Friday.

We grabbed lunch at Sir Benedict's, up by Fitger's. 

Maya got tired out from all the action and excitement. It is hard to get her tired sometimes!

We sat on the patio at the Blind Pig as they had live music inside and it was pretty loud.

This pretzel was huge....

The rathskeller under the Blind Pig. Apparently it is an old jail and haunted. It is certainly dark and creepy. We stopped in at the casino across the street as well, but it was super smoky and rather sad. They did have a few table games though.

View from the overlook rest area on the way out of town.

We had a great time in Duluth, and even Maya enjoyed it a lot. The dog parks in Duluth leave a bit to be desired though and I think next time around just one or two nights will be enough.