Duluth, MN and Jay Cooke State Park
One of our favorite ways to travel is this: ask the locals where their favorite spots are and let that guide the journey. We’ve officially entered the “intentionally unplanned” portion of the trip, and let me tell you, the locals do not disappoint!
One unexpected highlight came from a conversation with our kayaking guide, who happened to mention she was from Duluth, Minnesota and that her favorite state park is Jay Cooke, just about 20 minutes from Duluth. This city hadn’t even been on our radar, but we followed her suggestions and after spending some time there, we totally got the appeal. Duluth is a vibrant, laid-back city perched on the edge of Lake Superior, full of charm, natural beauty, and friendly vibes.
The state park she recommended, Jay Cooke, is known for the striking Thomson Formation, layers of dark gray and black slate rock tilted at sharp angles, creating a dramatic and otherworldly landscape. It’s the kind of place that makes you stop and stare… and also think twice before sitting down for a picnic. Those rocks are no joke!
Our timing was impeccable because we happened to land in Duluth during their annual Tall Ships Festival completely by coincidence! Watching majestic ships dock in the harbor and spotting pirates strolling around (even inside the Great Lakes Aquarium!) was surreal and totally delightful.
We spent an entire day soaking in the harbor vibes: catching a high-diving contest, marveling at the world’s largest rubber duck, indulging in ice cream and chocolates, and eating lunch while watching ships come and go beneath the iconic Aerial Lift Bridge.
We also toured the William A. Irvin, a retired freighter built in 1938 (I think?). Again…it’s the details. We all found it to be pretty interesting though!
We discovered that not only did the aquarium have pirates visiting, it also had a cute little beer garden, with a food truck, live music, and a big, sweet nature playscape that was fully fenced in, which made it super family-friendly! While hanging out there, we met another family who immediately felt like kindred spirits, and they had lots of favorite spots to share! Jonna and Ben, if you're reading this, please take us up on a visit to Charlottesville, VA!!
Soooo, next stop is Minnesota’s North Shore, guided once again by local recommendations. We can’t wait to explore more of these hidden gems... though, I'm not sure they're really hidden...I suspect it's just us East Coasters who are totally not in the know!