Oh how I love Duluth and the North Shore

This last weekend Rick and I took a little trip to Duluth, 

We usually head up the North shore to Lutsen but this year

 I waited too long and wasn't able to get into the place we like to stay. 

So we we opted to stay in Duluth and explore the area.

I LOVE this Arial lift bridge, 
one night after dinner we walked over to watch a huge ship come in the harbor
(to deposit a load of coal).

It was called "The American (something)" and was over 1000 ft long.
We had to drive over this bridge to our hotel, we only had to wait once for a small boat to pass under.
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It was this guys birthday on Tuesday,
it was fun to have a weekend away to celebrate HIM!

 This guys has always loved to "skip rock"

 I will tell you....he is a master skipper!
Monday morning we drove up the shore about 40 minutes to Gooseberry Falls State Park

We enjoyed hiking to the falls, they were spectacular!

 

A view from above the "upper falls"

I could sit in awe of this all day long.

These steps made hiking up to the top of the falls a bit easier on the knees! 

We got to see some of the fall colors close up.

Just so vibrant against the blue skies

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Our hotel was on the edge of the marina, it was fun to sit on our little deck and watch them transport

  these big boats from the water to their new winter parking spots.

If you've never been to Duluth I highly recommend it, there is so much to see and do!

 The downtown is full of historic buildings. There are so many yummy places to eat, and not enough meals in the day to try them all, and then there's the ocean.... I mean Lake Superior!!!

I can not say enough about it's beauty

Bonus photo

Happy Birthday to 2 of my favorite guys

30 years ago I gave him his 1st born son for a birthday gift!