Autumn on the North Shore of Lake Superior

Another year comes full circle and back to the North Shore of Lake Superior for another autumn weekend. We have been coming to the North Shore area of Minnesota for nine straight years and have loved every minute of it! The North Shore is a busy place during the autumn season, with the weather cooling, leaves turning and sightseers arriving. Hiking, waterfalls, the big lake and a palette of reds, yellows and oranges covering the hillsides in the weeks before winter. For us Minnesota families, the kids have a few days off school during the third week of October for an educators convention. This gives us an extended weekend to relax and enjoy the North Shore. Being this late into fall, it is hit or miss on the amount of leaves and foliage still on the trees.

This year, we spent our first evening enjoying the city life of Duluth. An area known as Canal Park consists of hotels, restaurants and shops within walking distance of the famous Aerial Lift Bridge. Not only can you watch ships enter the port, there is a Maritime Visitors Center/Museum, a boardwalk and miles of beach to explore.

Outside of the canal area are additional restaurants, parks, a scenic Skyline drive and the historic Glensheen Mansion. Our favorite park with in the city of Duluth is Congdon Park. The park consists of a hiking trail that runs parallel to Tischer Creek. The trail follows the original walking and horse trails from the early 1900’s. You can still see some of the original rock walls that lined these past trails. The Glensheen Mansion is run by the University of Minnesota. A tour of the grounds and a lesson about the Congdon family history is a must.

Another must for us is Va Bene Cafe, a nice French Bistro with crafted cocktails and a view of the lake. If Mexican cuisine is more your style, drop by the Burrito Union. A fun restaurant that includes salsa flights and enormous burritos. Drinks are always being served up at the Vikre Distillery if your in the mood!

If you are heading up the shore from Duluth, you can stay on the Hwy 61 expressway or take the scenic drive along the lake. Either way you take, the roadways come back together as you enter the city of Two Harbors. Along the shore there are plenty of areas to stop and take in the lake, beaches and parks. State and National parks are easily accessible off the highway from Duluth all the way to the Canadian Border. We have visited most of parks along the North Shore for the hiking and the beautiful waterfalls. Parking passes are needed for the parks and can be purchased for the day or an entire season.

Two must stops are in the town of Knife River. Russ Kendall’s for their smoked fish and Great Lakes Candy Kitchen for some homemade chocolates!

There are many places to stay along the North Shore from lodges to hotels, VRBO’s to yurts and small resort settings. For us, there is only one place to stay along the shore and that is Larsmont Cottages. Larsmont has a real nature feel with great amenities including a pool, sauna, spa services, Ledge Rock Grille restaurant and fun activities for the kids. A family favorite for us is gathering around one of the fire rings, eating s’mores and listening to the waves wash against the shore line.

One of our favorites hikes is the the portion of the Superior Hiking Trail that circles Bean and Bear Lakes. You can access the trail from the Silver Bay Trail Head, the loop takes about four hours with a stop for lunch.