Skip to main content

Minnesota Notes

Image
By
The past three days I have been in Northern Minnesota for work. I spent the past the time in the Duluth and Two Harbors area. I flew in Tuesday and out early (6 am local) on Thursday. Here are just a couple of thoughts and reviews. 

 Airports: 

Albany International: The airport keeps changing and improving. The last time I flew out of Albany was in May and they were expanding the security area and also adding a few shops/restaurants in the main concourse area. The project is done now as there are now six - compared to the prior three - security lines. (Although you never had more than a 15 minute wait.) There are new places to eat (a coffee beanery and an pizza company) and a more wide open concourse area. There is also now a small coffee shop in the C concourse (only three gates) where there had nothing in the past. More options the better! Parking, since I got to the airport at 5:30 i was able to get a very good space in the economy lot but that lot continues to expand as their is now a red, blue, and green lot (all gravel) in addition to the 40 or so rows of paved parking. 

Cleveland: 

Because of a bumpy ride (rain from Albany to Cleveland) the plane got in about 10 minutes late, and I only had about 30 minutes to get to the gate. I really don't recall much about it, but I had no trouble getting to the gate on time and the airport appeared very nice. 

Minneapolis:

Minneapolis's airport is extremely nice. I landed in Concourse F and had to almost high tail it to Concourse C to get on the flight to Duluth. (40 minute layover.) I was impressed at how wide and open the airport was, the number of shops, and also the restaurants that were throughout the concourses. I wish I had more time to stop and check the airport out. 

Duluth:

Duluth is like a time trip to the past.  Five gates, although two are mainly used for Northwest, the only commercial carrier into Duluth.  Correction there is also  Allegiant Air - which I had never heard of and appears to links small cities to either Orlando or Las Vegas - that flies out two days a week to Las Vegas. 

The terminal is a trip back to the 70s with orange and brown colors. The security is right at the gate and actually opens for that flight only. There are about 10-12 commercial flights a day out of Duluth. Minneapolis and Detroit are the only destinations.  

Detroit:

Detroit is very large, very modern, very clean. Terminal A (79 gates) has an elevated tram that runs within the concourse connecting the North, Center, and South segments of the terminal. It was something sleek and modern within the airport. 


Tuesday in Duluth: 

Stayed at the Hampton Inn right on Lake Superior. Tuesday afternoon was overcast on our arrival, but we headed to lunch at Grandma's Saloon along the Canal District. It seems like "Grandma" has a monopoly in Duluth. In a one block section, there was Grandma's Sportsbar, then her saloon, then her marketplace, then her box car that serves ice cream. Plus, she has a marathon as well. My thought was that they should change the town's name to Grandma's from Duluth. In all seriousness, Grandma's is a three decade old locally owned chain that is in Minnesota and North Dakota. 

Next, I spent about three hours along the Lakewalk and Canal Park. Very scenic, and a great recreational outlet in the city. The Lakewalk includes a boardwalk and a bike/rollerblade trail.  It stretches about three miles from Canal Park along the shore of Lake Superior to Lake Place Park and Leif Erikson Park. It parallels a lot of I-35 through the city and the parks (Lake Place and Leif Erikson) that are actually built over I-35 connect the lakewalk to the city proper. 

Canal Park features two lighthouses at the lake end of the ship canal and the Aerial Lift Bridge. Great views of the lake - which on Tuesday had waves more consistent to the Atlantic Ocean along the rocky coasts of Maine - and of the many barges and freighters that utilize the lake. Lake Place Park is the first park (heading Northbound) that was built over I-35 in Duluth. A very nice, clean, and well landscaped park. A number of neat perspectives and views of the various buildings and landmarks in the city can be found here. Dinner was at Pickwick's which was established in the city in 1914. If you ever go, have the smoked whitefish appetizer. Very good and the horseradish sauce that comes with it is excellent. I had the Ribeye and a healthy portion of cheese au grautin potatoes to go with it. I was too full for desert. 

Wednesday - Two Harbors/Gooseberry State Park: 

Began the morning walking the Lakewalk at sunrise for a gorgeous view of the lake and lighthouses along with the fortune of seeing the aerial lift bridge in action. MN 61 is a great drive especially the two lane portion north of Two Harbors. Many scenic views and of course two curving tunnels through the rocky landscape. Lunch was at Betty's Pies. Excellent food and the reputation is well known. By the time we left lunch at 1 pm, there was a line outside (for lunch!) to get in. I had the Chocolate Banana Cream Pie. Wow the best I ever had! If you go, you may also want to try the Pie Shakes. Unfortunately for us, the blender was "broken" and we went with the pies. Be sure to try their burgers as they have a number of great combinations including the Beargrease and Whiskey Row. 

Gooseberry Falls State Park: A good way to spend an entire afternoon hiking and exploring. Gooseberry Falls are part of the Gooseberry River. There are four sets of falls (Fifth, Upper, Middle and Lower). The upper, middle and lower all cascade with the steel arch brige carrying MN 61 as a backdrop. There also a number of trails leading to spectacular views of Lake Superior. Another great side drive is on old route 61 (Lake County and St. Louis County Route 61) which runs from just North of Duluth to Two Harbors. The entire route hugs the Lake Superior Coastline with many scenic views and pull offs. Numerous cabins and lake homes line the highway but there is plenty of space along the shore.

If you have a chance to have a very nice evening meal go to the Scenic Cafe. A very rustic interior and exterior with an unbelievable menu and excellent presentation. Unique salads and a healthy wine and beer list. I experienced quail (Grilled Quail) for the first time here, and it was very delicious. The espresso chocolate cake is excellent as well. As for the location, it is right across the winding two lane highway from the lake. It is a great back drop to your dining and also when the windows are open a great fresh breeze fills the room. Duluth and the North Shore of Lake Superior is a very gorgeous and rugged area. It is certainly a place I hope to one day maybe vacation at and explore further in my lifetime.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Former US Route 50 and the Pioneer Route Lincoln Highway on Johnson's Pass Road

By
Johnson's Pass Road is one of the oldest highway corridors in California.  Johnson's Pass was part of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road as it was completed during 1856 over the Sierra Nevada.  The pass would later be incorporated into the Pioneer Branch of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 and US Route 50 in 1926.  Johnson's Pass Road would be bypassed by a new alignment of US Route 50 over Echo Summit in 1938.  A replacement of the Meyers Grade east of Johnson's Pass would be opened to traffic in 1947.   Johnson's Pass Road remains accessible to traffic and is still signed by the Lincoln Highway Association.  Pictured as the blog cover is the view from the top of Johnson's Pass Road overlooking modern US Route 50 and Lake Tahoe.   Part 1; the history of Johnson's Pass Much of the history of what become the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road is discussed in the  September 1950 California Highways & Public Works  during its Centennial Edition.  The or...
Post a Comment
Read more

Former US Route 50 and the South Lincoln Highway from Folsom east to Placerville

By
The corridor of Folsom of Sacramento County east to Placerville of El Dorado County has been a long established corridor of overland travel dating back to the California Gold Rush.  The Folsom-Placerville corridor was once part of the path of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road which became the first California State Highway and later the South Lincoln Highway.  In time the South Lincoln Highway's surface alignment was inherited by US Route 50.  The Folsom-Placerville corridor also includes the communities of; Clarksville, Shingle Springs and El Dorado. Part 1; the history of the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, South Lincoln Highway and US Route 50 through Folsom-Placerville Folsom is located on the American River/Lake Natoma of eastern Sacramento County.  That lands now occupied by the City of Folsom were part of Rancho Rio de los Americanos prior to the finding of gold at Sutter's Mill during 1848.  During the California Gold Rush the lands of Rancho Rio de los Americanos were p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Old NC 10 - The Central Highway: Old Fort to Black Mountain through the Royal Gorge

By
A unique way of tracing the remnants of the Central Highway is through the mountainous terrain of Eastern Buncombe and Western McDowell Counties.  From the east on US 70, you reach the base of Blue Ridge Mountains at the town of Old Fort.  Old Fort is a tiny rail town that the old Central Highway and now US 70 goes through.  The Central Highway can be followed via a right onto Mill Creek Road from US 70.  Follow the highway as it takes you closer to the mountains.  When Mill Creek Road bears right to head towards Andrews Geyser stay straight until the road ends at a gate.  The nearby Piney Grove Church can be used for parking.  At this point, the old Central Highway began a 3.5 mile climb of the mountain to Swannanoa Gap.  NC 10 and later US 70 travelers followed this road for over 30 years until a new and modern four lane US 70 was built to the south.  This same four lane road would eventually become Interstate 40.    The Centra...
Post a Comment
Read more