Two Harbors, Minnesota

Thanks Sheri, Thanks David. See you, you muddy puppies!!

It was tough tearing ourselves away from Sheri and David's company, we're going to miss them but the year is winding down and we have to move on.

Our plan (HA!) is to go West to North Dakota then South until we get back to Arizona for the winter. We've never been to Minnesota before and have no idea what to expect. Tony and Dee Dee who we met in Sault St Marie went that way about a month ago and seemed to have had fun around Two Harbors on the shores of Lake Superior so we headed that way too.

Split Rock Lighthouse

The “no plan kids” struck lucky again, rolling up to a campground with no reservations and walking in to a nice spot about 3 miles outside Two Harbors. We explored the lighthouses and waterfalls nearby and had a day in Duluth.

Two Harbors Lighthouse (and Bed and Breakfast)

The bad news was that we hadn't made reservations for the Labor Day long weekend.

Two Harbors Depot Museum

This is the traditional end of summer in the US. The swimming pools close after this holiday and so do some campgrounds. Everyone wants to get in one last camping trip before the kids go back to school.

Walking the Two Harbors Breakwater

When we called around all the ones in the area were already full. Our go-to phone apps for camping are Rvparky and RV campground reviews. Rvparky shows casinos too, and we've camped at a lot in the past, but they didn't show one in this area.

Gooseberry Falls

Gooseberry Falls State Park

Driving around Duluth we saw a big billboard advertising the Black Bear Casino. When we looked it up it was about 20 miles south of the city. A phone call soon revealed that yes we could camp there free but there were no hookups. Perfect for a couple of nights. We added it to the database for Rvparky.

Our 3 days around here became 6 and we set about exploring Duluth. We were surprised how much there was going on there. At first it looked like an industrial town on the shores of Lake Superior, busy with railroads and iron ore. Ships being loaded and heading off across the lake. But beneath that, (and well hidden by massive road construction downtown!!) was a bustling scene with restaurants, breweries and tourist attractions galore.

Duluth Railroad Museum

The “big” attraction in all meanings of the word is the Aerial Bridge. Ships coming into the harbor from the lake enter thru the narrow harbor entrance and the bridge for road traffic rises vertically about 150' to let them thru. It opens about every ½ hour and there is even a website to tell you when a ship will be entering the harbor. We lucked out again and when we got there we just had time to walk across the bridge and down the breakwater when a ship came in. We had a great lunch at Grandma's bar and restaurant right next to the bridge too.

Close up to the Aerial Bridge

Laker going under the bridge

Laker coming in to the Harbor

Looking for something to do in the afternoon we found a guide book that showed the Skyline Parkway that ran from Brighton Beach south almost to the casino. What a pleasant find that was despite terrible signage (and none at all most of the time) and more road closures and diversions. 

Enger Tower on the Skyline Parkway.

Looking North

South

The road runs along the crest of the ridge west of the city center and gives great views over the city and a pleasant winding road thru the trees. At the very top is the Enger Tower and gardens.

One photograph, three lighthouses and the Aerial Bridge.

 We found the Railroad Depot and Museum next. A huge beautiful building now

re- purposed as an arts center, theater and Railroad Museum. During our visit we discovered they have a train ride too, the North Shore Railroad. Better yet they were having an “Elegant Dinner Ride” the following evening with Prime Rib or Salmon on the menu and exclusive access to the first class dining car and observation car. We signed up right away figuring that we deserved a treat! We ordered a bottle of wine with dinner too.

Railroad Museum Duluth

That turned out to be a great decision and we enjoyed the trip and the company of a young couple who shared our table while celebrating their 1^st wedding anniversary.

The Aerial Bridge from Skyline Parkway

Overall a great stop on our trip, next we must head West.