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Duluth, MN
We love spending a long weekend in / near Duluth. Duluth is less than 2 1/2 hours from the Twin Cities and there’s plenty to do outside any time of the year. We’ve been to Duluth multiple times; as a family, as a couple and as part of a group. My favorite time to go to Duluth is in the Fall when the leaves along the lake shore are in full color and the cool nights encourage snuggling up by a bonfire or fireplace. (Click on the blue words for links and more information.)
Where to Stay:
There are many hotel, resort and VRBO options around Duluth. Determine what you’d like to do during your stay and then select your accommodations. For example, if you want to be able to walk or bike to shops and restaurants, book a room in Duluth. If you’re more interested in nature and hiking, consider a resort or a VRBO North of Duluth. You can book a traditional hotel room in Duluth at places like Fitger’s Lakefront Hotel, The Inn on Lake Superior, Sheraton Duluth Hotel or South Pier Inn. You can book a condo type room at Beacon Pointe on Lake Superior, Larsmont Cottages, Superior Shores Resort or Cove Point Lodge. Or you can book a cabin at places like Breezy Point Cabins on Lake Superior, Dodges Log Lodges or Cascade Lodge. Look at TripAdvisor, VRBO and AirBNB to see what fits best with your plans and group size. As always, talk with friends who have a similar style to you for suggestions and reviews.
Two places we love and recommend are:
Larsmont Cottages – This is a quiet relaxing resort on the shoreline of Lake Superior about 20 miles Northeast of Duluth. There are several room options from a single bedroom all the way up to a three bedroom cottage with a full kitchen and multiple fireplaces. The one bedroom Lakeside Cottage with full kitchen is perfect for a couple’s get-a-way. There is a restaurant, convenience store, pool, sauna and fire pits on the grounds. The resort even delivers firewood and s’mores kits for bonfires. Take note: the Lake Shore rooms are much closer to the lake than the Lake View rooms but you will be able to see the lake from both.
Larsmont Cottages The Pumphouse – This is an amazing VRBO on the East side of Duluth near Lester Park. There are 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The living room, den and dining room are all very spacious. There are 4 fireplaces and tons of windows overlooking Lake Superior which is literally right out the door. If you love a good Restoration Hardware vibe with a killer view and gorgeous outdoor spaces, book this property!
The Pumphouse Things to Do:
Duluth Area:
- Lake Walk / Canal Park: There’s a great walking / biking path along the lake front and out onto the peninsula known as Canal Park; there are many hotels, shops and restaurants on Canal Park. Make sure to walk or drive over the lift bridge.
- Glensheen, The Historic Congdon Estate: The Full Mansion tour lasts 2 hours with full access to the grounds / gardens. Watch the information video in the gift shop before your tour. Also, check their website for seasonal activities.
- Enger Park and Tower: The park offers flower gardens, a Japanese peace garden and a tower with view of all of Duluth’s highlights including the harbor, bridges, parks and Lake Superior.
- Lake Superior Railroad Museum: In addition to a fun museum, you can also take a ride on the Zephyr train. Check website for routes, times and cost.
- Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center: This museum is run by the Army Corp of Engineers and has several exhibits, short movies and a gift shop.
- Vista Fleet: For a view of Duluth from the water, check out the different cruise options with Vista Fleet. They offer everything from a dinner cruise to a family friendly shoreline cruise.
- Time Out Sailing: Spend a half or full day sailing on Lake Superior with up to six guests. Check out the different tour options on their website.
- Lake Superior Helicopter Tour: If you’d like to see the shoreline from the air, try one of the many helicopter tours.
- Lester Park: If you stay at The Pumphouse, I highly recommend exploring and hiking at Lester Park.
Lester Park Two Harbors: (27 miles Northeast of Duluth) a great little town with some fun waterfront areas, restaurants, liquor stores, etc.
- Sonju Lakewalk Trail – This is an easy, paved trail.
- Agate Bay Beach – Look for agates here after a storm or in the off-season.
- The Breakwater and Lighthouse – This lighthouse is a B&B with four different accommodations.
Two Harbors Lighthouse B&B Farther North:
Gooseberry Falls State Park - Gooseberry Falls State Park: A beautiful, easily accessible falls with additional hiking paths.
- Split Rock Lighthouse State Park: Tour this MN landmark; but they’re not open every day, so check their website for days and hours.
- Silver Bay: Black Beach: Check out this public beach with black sand.
- Beaver Bay: Stroll through this small town with restaurants, shops and necessities.
- Tettegouche State Park: Do the 3 mile hike to the High Falls.
- North Shore Scenic Drive: If you go in the fall, check here for a fall color report and several scenic routes to see peak colors.
- Lutsen: Open year-round: golf and an alpine slide in the summer, skiing in the winter.
Split Rock Lighthouse Restaurants / Bars
- Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar (Duluth): A great little Italian place in Canal Park.
- Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar (Duluth): Our faves include the Mediterranean Panzanella, the burger and the Market Fish Tostada. We’ve heard great things about the mussels but they were sold out.
- Vikre Distillery (Duluth): They offer distillery tours, but there’s a cute bar if you just want a nice cocktail. Try the Frenchie. So good!
- Canal Park Brewery (Duluth): They have a full restaurant and bar with a lake side patio.
- Fitger’s Brewhouse (Duluth): A historic building with a nice pub.
- Va Bene (Duluth): Italian with lake view seating; if the weather is nice, wait for a balcony table.
- Apostle Supper Club (Duluth): This is a 1960’s Palm Springs style supper club located on the rotating top floor of the Radisson Hotel. Apostle is owned by Brian and Sarah Ingram of Saint Paul. Make reservations in advance. (The Ingrams also own several restaurants in St. Paul including: Hope Breakfast Bar, The Gnome Craft Pub and Apostle Supper Club.)
- New Scenic Café (14 miles North of Duluth): This is my favorite restaurant near Duluth and this is always the first dinner reservation I make after scheduling a trip.
- Ledge Rock Grille (Larsmont Cottages, Two Harbors): They have live music on the weekends, check the website for details.
- Castle Danger (Two Harbors): A fun brewery that sells snacks like chips and salsa. They have rotating food trucks outside and you can order pizza delivery from Do North Pizza. We love the taco pizza. (Pro Tip: Bring paper plates, napkins and silverware for your pizza.) There are also outdoor games. We love stopping in here on our way back to Duluth after a hike at Tettegouche or Gooseberry Falls.
- Rustic Café (Two Harbors): They offer down-home cooking, with a large pie selection.
- Betty’s Pies (North of Two Harbors): This is a popular stop with the tourists, so many pie options!
New Scenic Cafe What to Pack:
- Hiking boots: If there’s any rain, many of the hiking paths get muddy. If you don’t have hiking boots bring an extra pair of shoes that can get muddy. Also bring a refillable water bottle, backpack for snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, hat and sunglasses.
- Swimsuits: Many resorts have indoor pools, hot tubs and / or saunas.
- Raincoat or light jacket: Bring a jacket even in the summer, it can get cool by the water.
- Small cooler & backpack: It’s nice to pack drinks & snacks when you’re heading out on a day-long adventure along the shore.
- If you’re staying somewhere that has a kitchen you may want to bring your own coffee beans, creamer and an insulated coffee mug like a Yeti.
- Things to read: Kindle, books, magazines
- Things to do: puzzles, games, cards
- I always bring my own blanket to cuddle up with while reading a book and drinking a cup of coffee in the morning.
Leave a comment with your favorite things to do in or around Duluth?
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Someday We Will Travel Again… Where Do You Want To Go?
When you start thinking / dreaming about vacation travel, read through my blog posts for tips and look through some of my favorite places for suggestions of places to stay, things to do, restaurants to try, etc. (The blue words and photos below will take you to my previous blog posts with more information.)
Choosing a Travel Destination: Read this post to help you determine where you want to go. Obviously post Covid, other considerations are:
- Am I comfortable flying or do I need to pick a place where I can drive?
- What are the Covid rates where I would like to visit?
- Is the place I want to go allowing visitors and, if so, are there any requirements before or after I travel like Covid testing and / or quarantine? State and local health department websites are your best resource. Keep in mind that restrictions can change rapidly depending on local conditions. Check back for updates as your trip gets closer.
How To Get There and Where To Stay: This post will help you decide what kind of accomodations will best suit you. Post Covid, additional considerations are:
- Are the restaurants open where I’m traveling? Do I want to go out to eat in a restaurant or get take-out every night? If not, you’ll need a suite, condo or house with a kitchen.
- Am I comfortable being with groups of other people at the pool or in the lounge areas of a hotel? If not, consider a house with a private pool.
If you choose to rent a house or condo read my post How to Choose a Vacation Rental and Make it Feel Like Home or at least feel like your own space while you’re there. These tips are especially helpful if you’re staying in the same place for several weeks.
Another good reminder is to make sure your travel is fully refundable if there is a surge in Covid rates or if someone in your group becomes ill. I heard a rumor that airfare will no longer be automatically refundable / changeable after March 2021.
Below are some domestic travel destinations to consider. I’ve been to all of these places, but I didn’t write a blog post for all of them. Feel free to contact me for more information on any of these destinations by commenting below or direct messaging me.
Napa Valley 
We love combining Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley. 
Palm Springs & Palm Desert 
Charleston 
Places I’ve stayed in Arizona include Scottsdale and Sedona. 
Places I’ve stayed in Florida include: Rosemary Beach, Naples and Anna Maria Island. 
Chicago – I can’t believe I haven’t written a post about Chicago! I will write a travel guide once everything opens back up and I know what places survived the pandemic. When you are willing to fly, here are a few other places to consider.
Maui 
Turks & Caicos 
We went to Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Stockholm in one trip. 
Places I’ve stayed in Canada include: Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City. 
Places I’ve stayed in Scotland include: Inverness, St. Andrews and Edinburgh. 
Spain – I visited a friend in Barcelona and Mallorca de Palma. 
Places I’ve stayed in Italy include Milan, Santa Margherita, Florence, Rome, Cortona, Maranello and Venice. 
One of my favorite beach destinations is San Jose del Cabo in Baja California. It’s a quick, direct flight for us and there are great golf courses for John. I’m dreaming of an extended stay in Italy. We’ll see when Covid allows this, but creating a Italy Trip Board on VRBO and saving Italian Villas in Umbria helps get me through the cold, frozen winter in Saint Paul and Chicago.
I’ve also read a lot of fictional books this last year that were set in the coastal towns of France, so that’s an area of interest as well.
Once you are comfortable traveling, where is your dream vacation destination?
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“Fixer Upper” Girls’ Trip to Waco, Texas
If you’ve visited my blog before, you know I love to travel. During this time at home, what I’m missing most is the ability to travel. So, what better way to pass some time during quarantine than to start planning trips for when it’s safe to travel. I’m planning a few trip options so I’m ready to utilize any travel deals that may be offered.
If you love all things Chip and Joanna Gaines, consider a trip to Waco, Texas. I was there for four days in November 2019 for an annual girls’ trip and we had a great time. It’s a charming town that’s easy to navigate and everyone was really friendly.
How to get there:
You can either fly into Dallas (DFW) and drive less than two hours South to Waco or fly into Austin (AUS) and drive about an hour and a half Northeast. Check airline prices and flight times to determine which airport will work best for you.
Where to Stay: (Click any blue words below for more information / websites.)
I would strongly consider booking a “Fixer Upper” home. Several of the houses featured on Fixer Upper are listed on VRBO or AirBnB. We stayed in the Mid-Century Modern Home owned by Josh and Jill Barret. It was so much fun to stay in a Fixer Upper house.
Mid-Century Modern Kitchen 
Mid-Century Modern Dining Room 
Mid-Century Modern Living Room 
Mid-Century Modern Master Bedroom Also, check Magnolia.com for the three vacation rental homes owned by Chip and Jo. Chip and Joanna are also renovating a historic building in downtown Waco and converting it into a hotel that is scheduled to open in 2021.
If a hotel is more your style, I would recommend staying downtown so you can walk to many of the shops and restaurants. Hotels downtown include: Hotel Indigo, Marriot Residence Inn and Hilton Waco.
Things to Do:
Waco Tours: I strongly suggest starting your visit with the Classic Waco Tour. It’s a two and a half hour tour that will give you a nice overview of the city on your first day. During the tour they do talk about Fixer Upper, but the tour also includes a history of the area, a visit to the Baylor University campus, a stop at Heritage Creamery and Common Grounds coffee shop, suggestions for restaurants and things to do as well as a coupon book to use during your stay. One of the owners of Waco Tours, David Ridley, had a house on season three of Fixer Upper.
Waco Tours 
Waco Tours stop at Common Grounds Magnolia Farms Shops: This is an entire block downtown that includes the silos, the Magnolia Press coffee shop, the Silos Baking Co, Magnolia Seed + Supply garden store, a big green lawn bordered with food trucks and Magnolia Market. Check online for opening days and times. Note: Most shops in Waco are closed on Sundays, including anything affiliated with Magnolia. Also, if you want to avoid the crowds, I read that Mondays and Tuesdays are the quietest shopping days at Magnolia.
Magnolia Farms Silo at dusk 
Silos Baking Co, 
Magnolia Market 
Chip’s Corner inside Magnolia Market Little Shop on Bosque: This is the original Magnolia location at 3801 N. Bosque. It’s a much smaller location and typically has last season’s left-over products from the Magnolia Market. If you buy anything at Magnolia Market, bring your receipt and you will get a 10% discount here.
Tip: When we made purchases at any of the Magnolia shops, including the Magnolia Table Take Away + Market, we received a card with a discount code for future online purchases. If you didn’t travel to Waco with an empty suitcase, buy a few small items to find out if they are still giving out the discount code with purchase. If so, consider only buying items not available online during your trip and utilize the discount code to purchase items online and have them shipped directly to your house.
JDH Iron Designs: There is a small pop-up trailer located across from the silos on 8th Street. (You most likely will meet Jimmy Don during your Waco Tour.) Jimmy Don’s main shop is located on Lone Star Parkway near Valley Mills which is about a 30-minute drive West of Waco. If you have the time, it’s a nice relaxing drive. At the shop, there is a larger selection of metal work than what’s available at the trailer in Waco. There is also a viewing window where you can watch workers cut the signs. (Waco Tours coupon book)
The Findery: A great home goods and clothing store just across the street from the Magnolia Press coffee shop. (Waco Tours coupon book)
Harp Design Co: Clint Harp’s store has a lot of beautiful wood home goods like candle stick holders and cutting boards as well as other merchandise like t-shirts and earrings. (Waco Tours coupon book) The shop is located next to Harp House from season one of Fixer Upper which is available as a vacation rental.
Spice Village: An indoor market that consists of 60 individual vendors, but you make all of your purchases at one check-out counter. Note: When we were in Waco this market was open on Sundays. (Waco Tours coupon book)
Fox & Gray: A nice boutique with clothing, shoes and jewelry.
Iron Willow: The walls in this shop are covered with signs of all styles. (Waco Tours coupon book)
Savage Finds Antiques and Oddities: If you like looking for hidden treasures in antique stores, make sure to stop here.
Dr. Pepper Museum: Definitely worth a visit for the $10 admission. Pick up some Dr. Pepper jelly beans at the little gift shop. Yum! (Waco Tours coupon book)
Simply Irresistible: A huge shop featuring home decor, clothing and jewelry.
Waco Suspension Bridge: Built in 1870, this is a pedestrian only bridge that’s surrounded by parks, sculptures and a Riverwalk.
Cameron Park: A giant park that includes one of the most desired neighborhoods in Waco. Great hiking and views of the river. (Included on Waco Tour)
Farmer’s Market: Open on Saturday mornings, in the parking lot on Washington and 3rd Street near city hall. There are several food trucks, so go hungry.
Fixer Upper Homes:
Click here for an interactive map of the houses from the first three seasons of Fixer Upper.
A few addresses from season 4 of Fixer Upper:
- 2419 Arroyo
- 2611 Arroyo
- 826 W Panther Way, Hewitt
- 3391 Speegleville Rd
Although some of the homes are available for vacation rentals, many are single family homes so be respectful of the families living there.
Drive around the Castle Heights Neighborhood and make sure to drive by Cottonland Castle at 3300 Austin Avenue, which is owned by Chip & Joanna.
Restaurants:
Magnolia Table: Open for breakfast and lunch. They take a limited number of reservations Mondays – Thursdays but walk-ins are available as well. Chip has been known to stop by the restaurant around opening to meet people and take photos. If there’s a line when you arrive (and most likely there will be), put your name on the list and then browse the Take Away + Market and hang out on the patio while waiting for a table. Everything on the menu is delicious!
Silos Baking Co: open Monday – Saturday 7:30 AM – 6 PM, great pastries, buy your cupcakes early in the day before the line is crazy long
Magnolia Press Coffee Co: open Monday – Saturday 7:00 AM – 6 PM
Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits: coffee in the front, craft cocktails in the back
Lula Janes: limited hours and menu, but worth a visit; great bakery
Butter my Biscuit Cafe: great breakfast and lunch
Café Cappuccino: three locations, great breakfasts, huge pancakes
Harvest on 25th: wonderful breakfast and brunch place
Ninfas: good Tex Mex (Waco Tours coupon book)
La Fiesta: Tex Mex (Waco Tours coupon book)
Torchy’s Tacos: delicious, fast food style tacos and margaritas, ask for the secret menu, order the queso (Waco Tours coupon book)
Vitek’s Market: great BBQ with indoor and outdoor seating, don’t forget an order of banana pudding
Milo All Day: “farm to table” Southern inspired food
George’s by Baylor: comfort food
Twisted Root Burger Co: gourmet burgers
1424 Bistro: steaks and Mediterranean food (Waco Tours coupon book)
Diamondbacks: very nice restaurant, make a reservation to avoid a long wait
Moroso’s Pizzeria: wood fired pizza and nice atmosphere
Heritage Creamery: amazing Homeade ice cream (Waco Tours coupon book)
Brazos Bar & Bistro at Hotel Indigo: good cocktails and food (Waco Tours coupon book)
Until we’re able to travel again, enjoy Joanna’s blog, Joanna’s Instagram and The Magnolia Journal. If you are planning a trip to Waco and have any questions or would like additional suggestions, please contact me.
Click on the three lines to the left of the word “lifestyle” at the top of this page and enter your email address to receive notifications by email when I post something new on this blog. Also, follow me on Instagram at cocktailsandgratitude for photos of cocktails, flowers, my pets and, someday soon, more travel.
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