Each year in early October, my wife and I try to get away for the weekend to check out the fall colors. This year we weren't able to get away as early as we usually like, due to family get-togethers and some work-related commitments, so we decided to go up to Duluth this past weekend. Most of the fall colors had peaked by the time we arrived and were already starting to look a little rusty/brown although there were still reds, oranges and golds to be found. My wife still enjoyed seeing this fall display and we both always enjoy visiting the "Zenith City of the unsalted seas."

We arrived in Duluth on Saturday afternoon and checked into our hotel near the Miller Hill Mall. This year's trip included a visit to Enger Tower, a five-story bluestone structure that sits atop Enger Hill overlooking the Twin Ports. We also took a ride out to a pumpkin patch, of sorts, on the North Shore Scenic Railroad's Pumpkin Patch Express, which left early Sunday morning from the historic Duluth Depot, which also houses the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Duluth Art Institute, St. Louis County Historical Society Museum and the Veterans Memorial Hall. We spent quite a bit of time in Canal Park and the many shops in that area and strolled along the shore of Lake Superior on the Duluth Lakewalk. We had planned on going out on the lake on the boats of the Vista Fleet but they sold out quickly because it was the last day of lake tours.

We decided to take a drive up the North Shore and visit Two Harbors. By the time we got there it was starting to get dark but we manged to watch an ore ship being loaded, walked a little ways onto the breakwater but ended up turning around because the wind had picked up and it was getting pretty dark and checked out a couple of trains that were sitting at Duluth & Iron Range Depot Museum. By this time we were ready to head back to the hotel and a good soaking in the hot tub.

We woke up Monday morning, ate breakfast, packed our bags and hit the road, slowly making our way back to Faribault, with a couple of stops in the Twin Cities, before finally arriving home.

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