Babymoon in Duluth

We recently traveled to Duluth to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary, and to get away for a long weekend before baby arrives in a few months!  This was Reeti's first trip up north, but we were both surprised by the chilly weather on the hill next to the Great Lake Superior.  Here are a few pictures from the trip:

It's about a four-hour drive from Rochester to Duluth.  It's surprising how much the landscape can change when you drive straight north.  Here is a sign commemorating Minnesota's "tourist mecca":

First stop in Duluth, Northern Waters Smokehaus.  Tasty sandwiches!  Reeti scarfed down a "Silence of the Lambwich" and I enjoyed a "Squealy Dan":

The famous lift bridge of Duluth, that allows ships (historically filled with grain and iron ore) to get in and out of the harbor:

An old lighthouse in canal park, built in 1909, the same year Grandpa Ralph was born:

Admiring an old steam engine at the US Army Corp of Engineers museum at canal park

Fresnel lenses

Reeti, concentrating hard to move a toy ship through this miniature dock and dam system

We drove across the lift bridge and hiked the Minnesota Point trail along the coast of Lake Superior.

The trail turned out to be about 4 miles round trip.  Reeti insisted on making the entire journey, pregnant and all.  She's a real trooper.  Here she is, trudging through one of the many sandy sections of the trail.  Thankfully, the weather was cool and breezy

Several old iron ore docks that were built about 100 years ago.  Amazing to see such colossal structures, now abandoned, in such peaceful surroundings

A shot of some of the tall (white?) pines from a shaded section of the hike:

The view of canal park from our hotel room, with Lake Superior stretching for as far as the eye can see

The next morning, we had brunch at Sara's Table.  We liked the food at place so much, we came back a second time.  And bonus, they had books

Gooseberry falls, one of the many MN State Parks that stretch for hundreds of miles along the north shore of Lake Superior.  This one happens to be close, only an hour's drive north of Duluth.  The water flowing over the upper falls behind us is making its way from higher ground down to the Great Lake

We were at a loss to understand how this tree was still standing with no roots.  A mystery.

Another pretty shot of the serene backwaters at Gooseberry falls.  White birch trees on the face of the opposite hill

You can find traces of the region's history of iron ore production everywhere.  Here is a huge steam engine once used to haul loads of ore out of the iron range to the harbor

Scenic Cafe, a French-themed restaurant, and yuppie-favorite destination.  Great food with a great view.  For dessert, lemon poppyseed cake with sweet whipped cream and blueberry coulis. 

One last stop on our way home, Enger tower, which overlooks the city.  Even with the baby pushing on her lungs, Reeti climbed all the way to the top 

Unfortunately, it was early, and the morning fog hadn't lifted.  A nice view though, nevertheless.