Cramped up in your office? One too many projects to do around the house? Just want to get outside?
Well, you don't have to go to far to get away from it all, because Duluth offers out-of-the-ordinary outdoor exploration for everyone -- from white-knuckle adventures to nice-and-easy activities. And when was the last time you really explored what your city has to offer you?
Outside Magazine rated Duluth, with its beautiful backdrop of Lake Superior, as one of America's Top 10 Outdoor Towns. Our port was also rated as one of the Top 10 Clean Air Cities for lowest air pollution in America by the American Lung Association. And, as an urban city of open spaces and fresh air, you can experience spectacular outdoor settings unlike any in the Midwest. You just have to get out and enjoy them.
More than 11,000 acres of open and wooded land lie within our city limits. More than 30 miles of hiking paths travel through majestic forests, cascading waterfalls and breathtaking streams. Watchable wildlife is abundant in every form -- from the eagles of Hawk Ridge, to songbirds and shorebirds, to the bear and moose who occasionally find themselves right downtown.
Duluth, like no other city, blends with nature and practically begs you to play, picnic or just pass the time in one of our many parks.
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Beautiful Bayfront Festival Park, for example, is a magnificent outdoor concert park, offering countless local, regional and national acts. You can enjoy comfortable concert surroundings, all-new facilities, spectacular landscaping and Bayfront's natural amphitheater -- not to mention the unobstructed view of that great, big, beautiful lake. Plus Playfront Park is right there for the kids.
Now, you've all been to Enger Park, but that was years ago, right? Well go back! It's one of Duluth's landmarks and was dedicated in 1939 by Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha of Norway. Enger Park is noted for its huge rock tower and cliffside gazebo, which offer a bird's-eye view of the harbor. A Japanese temple bell and flower gardens surround picnic tables and outdoor grills. In case it's been awhile, Enger Park is located along Skyline Parkway.
Duluth's Rose Garden is another great place to go. A spectacular extension of Leif Erikson Park, the Rose Garden showcases a beautiful arrangement of more than 3,000 rose bushes and other floral delights. The garden also has a fountain, a marble gazebo, an herb garden and plenty of benches overlooking the lake. The park itself is easily accessible via the Lakewalk.
Park Point Beach and Brighton Beach are recreation areas that offer two distinct shorelines for different types of activity. Park Point's sand stretches out seven miles and is perfect for swimming, wading or tanning, while the shore at Brighton Beach is rugged and rocky-perfect for skipping stones, relaxing or watching the waves. Both beaches are great for picnics and offer tables and grills.
For one of the most commanding views of Lake Superior and a bird-watcher's paradise, head up to Hawk Ridge. Located on Skyline Parkway above Lester Park, this is a popular bird-watching spot for spring and fall migration of many species of birds.
More than 30 miles of scenic hiking trails and paths, from challenging to easy, are accessible all over town -- practically from your backyard. The longest, the Willard Munger State Trail, is open for easy, traffic-free bike riding or inline skating in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. The whole family will enjoy the trail's 14 miles of gently sloping, smooth pavement linking West Duluth and Jay Cooke State Park.
Nine additional trails within the city include Chester Park, Congdon Park, Kingsbury Creek, Lester Park, Lincoln Park, Mission Creek, Park Point and Western Waterfront trails, as well as the Lakewalk downtown.
Our parks, trails and remarkable natural resources lend themselves to a wide array of activities. And let's not forget the other great attractions and events in town, plus shopping, dining and an endless list of things to get out and do. And remember, it's yours, Duluth -- yours to explore.
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For more information about what's here for you -- not just our visitors -- check out http://www.visitduluth.com or call the Duluth Convention and Visitors Bureau at 722-4011.
Terry Mattson is executive director of the Duluth Convention and Visitors Bureau.
