Duluth Pride, Lake Walks, and a Ride on the Foo Foo Choo Choo
Labor Day weekend in Duluth gave us a little bit of everything: Pride celebrations, Lake Superior views, neighborhood walks, a great home-exchange stay, and a memorable train ride along the North Shore.
Our experience
We stayed in a lovely three-bedroom home near the University of Minnesota Duluth. It was a comfortable base for the weekend and another reminder that Duluth is a city of hills. From our neighborhood, it was about a mile downhill to several restaurants, including Black Woods and Perkins. Going down was easy. Returning home required remembering that, in Duluth, nearly every walk eventually includes a hill.
The home's location also worked well for exploring the city on foot. Canal Park and downtown were farther away — roughly a two- to three-mile walk, depending on the route — but once we reached Lake Superior, the Lakewalk made the journey worthwhile. Walking along the water is one of the best ways to experience Duluth. The views stretch across the lake, ships and sailboats may pass through the harbor, and the path gives you a close-up sense of why this city has such a strong pull on visitors and residents alike.
We were in town for Duluth Pride, and the festival felt bigger than we had expected. There were more booths, more people, and plenty of energy throughout the celebration. It was great to see so many local organizations, businesses, and community members participating.
One of the weekend highlights was the Foo Foo Choo Choo, a Pride-themed party train that traveled north from Duluth toward Two Harbors. The train ride itself was beautiful, following the Lake Superior shoreline with views that reminded us why the North Shore is one of Minnesota's great scenic treasures. Add music, friends, Pride spirit, and a little festive chaos, and it became much more than transportation. It was an experience.
Duluth continues to be one of those places we enjoy returning to because every visit can be different. You can spend the day walking neighborhoods, eating in Canal Park, hiking through a wooded creek valley, attending a festival, or simply watching Lake Superior change moods by the hour. This trip happened to include all of that, plus Pride and the Foo Foo Choo Choo. That is a pretty good Labor Day weekend in our book.
You do not have to drive far up the North Shore to find a surprisingly wild hiking experience. On an earlier visit, we explored Lester Park, where trails follow rushing water through rocky sections, small waterfalls, and wooded terrain. It can make you feel as though you are much farther up the North Shore, even though you are still right in Duluth. It remains one of our favorite outdoor discoveries in the city.
Must-sees and must-dos
- Duluth Lakewalk — walk along Lake Superior for expansive water views, harbor activity, ships, sailboats, and one of the best introductions to the city.
- Canal Park — spend some time along the waterfront, explore the neighborhood, and stop for a meal while watching activity around the harbor.
- Duluth Pride — if your visit falls over Labor Day weekend, join the celebration and experience the community, local organizations, businesses, and energy surrounding Pride.
- Foo Foo Choo Choo — ride the Pride-themed party train north from Duluth toward Two Harbors for Lake Superior scenery mixed with music, friends, and plenty of festive chaos.
- Lester Park — follow the wooded trails along the creek and river, with rocky sections, rushing water, and small waterfalls that feel surprisingly removed from the city.
- North Shore — continue beyond Duluth when you have the time. The Lake Superior shoreline north of the city is one of Minnesota's great scenic drives.
- Walk the neighborhoods — just remember the Duluth rule: the pleasant downhill walk at the beginning usually becomes an uphill walk on the way home.
Our pro tip
Duluth is a city where good walking shoes matter. Distances may look manageable on a map, but the hills can turn an easy-looking walk into considerably more exercise than expected.
Leave time for the Lakewalk rather than treating it simply as a route between destinations. Lake Superior is part of the experience, and some of the best moments come from slowing down and watching the lake, harbor, and passing ships.
Our home-exchange stay near the University of Minnesota Duluth gave us a comfortable base in a residential neighborhood and made this trip feel a little more like living in Duluth than simply visiting it. And if you have the opportunity to stay through a home exchange, it can be a great way to experience Duluth from a residential neighborhood rather than treating the city as only a quick waterfront stop.
If that style of travel appeals to you, explore HomeExchange stays in Minnesota and use our referral code roderick-15918 when joining.