24 Hours in Duluth

 Duluth, MN

Duluth is still a little cold in early April

Travel Season Starts Soon

A couple of weeks ago we went to Duluth for 24 hours.  1 because we wanted to go there and 2, because we wanted to try out a new dog sitter and didn't want to be gone for long or be too far away.  It all went well and Francis seemed to enjoy his time at the sitters.

Duluth

Duluth is about a 2 hour drive north.  It's right at the southern most tip of Lake Superior, and it's economy built around shipping. It's the farthest inland shipping port connected to the ocean (having to travel 2300 miles to get to open ocean waters, and it the largest and busiest port on the Great Lakes.  (Thanks Wikipedia)

Our trip started out on a Tuesday morning.  It was an easy drive up I-35W North to I-35 North.  I-35 starts in Texas and goes all the way to Duluth, MN.  It splits into two segments in The Twin Cities, I-35W going through Minneapolis, and I-35E going through St. Paul.  Interestingly it also splits into W and E in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area so you need to be careful if you ever just tell someone to meet you on I-35W.  

We arrived in Duluth just after noon and headed lunch at Northern Waters Smokehaus.  NWS is known for it's delicious sandwiches and it didn't disappoint.

On the way out we bought some meat sticks because we were on vacation!

After lunch we drove over to Superior, WI to visit that county and play some pinball at Average Joe's Pub.  

After about an hour of splitting a beer and playing pinball we headed back to Minnesota to visit a cheese shop and then check into our hotel and abandon our car in exchange for exploring Duluth by foot.  Our hotel was right in the heart of the that has built up around The Ariel Lift Bridge, a vertical lift bridge that lifts a few times a day to let taller ships pass under it.  

We bought some old sharp cheddar cheese.  It's delicious.

This is the lift bridge in its down position.

That lower section raises straight up when it is in its lift position.

A lighthouse on Lake Superior.

We do offer paid tours that feature us pointing at obvious landmarks.

We stopped by Vikre Distillery for a craft cocktail.  We even bought a bottle of their aquavit.

Their menu looks like a Fanzine.

This wasn't at the distillery, but at a brewery we stopped at to play some pinball.

Ice is never 100% safe unless it's in a glass of water.

The area that built up around the lift bridge is called Canal Park so we visited Canal Park Brewing Co. for dinner.

The desserts were really great.

The next morning we walked to a coffee shop and then headed home.  We stopped for lunch halfway home and then picked up Francis.  He was excited to see us.

We were intrigued by the Family Sauna but have decided to skip it based on conversations with someone that lives in Duluth.

Tobies is a restaurant about halfway between Minneapolis and Duluth.  They offer up diner style meals.  It was a good stop and a great way to end a fun 24 hour getaway.

The Dark Purple is new this year.  By the end of the year, we should have Minnesota completed.

It was a fun trip with good sights, food, and drinks.  We are already talking about going back.  

That's it for this post.  If you missed, Pinball Potluck, check it out.  I went to a pinball potluck tournament at a friends house.

A Science Museum and a Distillery Fundraiser

 Denver, CO

The Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Today we had plans to go to the zoo with our friends from Seattle but plans changed.  The zoo was a zoo due to the nice weather and it being a Saturday so we pivoted and went to The Denver Museum of Nature and Science instead.  It was in the same area.

But first, Doughnuts!

After delicious doughnuts, we drove over to City Park to go to the zoo but noticed the long lines and decided to go to the aforementioned museum instead.  We have been to this museum before (see a post about it here) and really like it so the change of plans wasn't disappointing. 

The Museum has a great mineral collection thanks to The Coors Family

The largest nugget of gold found in Colorado

Don't feed the wildlife!

This is a piece of the meteor that was caught on dash cams in Russia.  An actual piece! And I got to hold it!

When the cartoon ranger tells you to "Join The Fun" you do it!

I put on a puppet show for no one!

The poor octopus was caught in the middle of an epic battle for lunch.

The zoo also has an active paleontology program.

I don't measure up very well.  Dinos are bigger than me.

Talnua Distillery

After the museum we went home and grabbed Francis and went to Talnua Distilling.  They were releasing their first cask strength whiskey and having a fundraiser for The Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital.  They were selling drinks and bottles and even had a silent auction to help raise money for the animal hospital.

This whiskey was in honor of their dog that recently passed.

There were doggos everywhere enjoying the perfect 72 degree weather.

We got a snack at the food truck.  Smothered Tater Tots.

All of the cocktails they were serving had "punny" names. 

They make great cocktails there even when they are served in a plastic cup.  Normally they have fancy glassware.

That was it for today.  It was a great day with perfect weather.  If you missed Hanging Out In Denver, check it out.  I have also noticed there are some new readers.  If you didn't see how we ended up on this silly road trip across North America and back you can read how it all started here.