After 4 days of roughing it we wanted to shower and find a nice bed. Off to Duluth for a couple of nights! We decided to take a more scenic route down Highway 1. If you like speed, curves, and feeling frisky than I suggest this. However, we got stuck behind a car (thank goodness) and couldn't drive too fast. My face was glued to the window looking for MOOSE!
Finally we hit Lake Superior and I saw a sign that said Lutsen - 35 miles. O.M.Goodness! Someday I I will elaborate on my summer up north. The snippet is that my mom thought it would be a great experience if I worked at a resort for a summer like she had done when she was younger. So I googled Minnesota resorts and discovered Lutsen Resort and Sea Villas.
I just had completed my college freshman year (18 years old) and was hired to work as a front desk receptionist and activities worker for 101 days at Lutsen. My mom and grandma drove me to the Resort in one day (9 hour trip). I remember as we drove I told Gma that "I don't know if I really like trees…" Well I had to adjust quick because they dropped me off without a cell phone or car, I did not know anyone, and said "see you at the end of summer."
I lived with Jamaicans, Bulgarians, Lithuanias, Canadians, and many more ethnicities. There were three to five in an efficiency room. Forty people shared 1 phone, 1 washer and dryer, and 1 freezer. Anyways, more another time on that! I wanted to show Evan this part of my past.
This is the main lodge and where I worked most of the time. The different types of rooms and rentals are ridiculously expensive! For example for one night it can cost up to $579!! Get this people - people book these units for weeks at a time. Outrageous!
A view of the Poplar River, bridge (weddings were held there a lot) and Lake Superior.
It is absolutely breath taking.
People would stand on this beach for hours looking for agates. I'm no geologist, but I thought they were crazy than, now even more crazy for staring at rocks for hours. Thanks Evan for traveling back north to see a part of my history :)
It was quite drive to Lutsen, so when we finally pulled into Duluth it was pretty late. Quick supper at Perkins, now onto finding a place to stay. Sometimes I'm not the biggest spender on motels/hotels and this was one of those nights where I didn't really care and just wanted to shower. Evan decided to do a Motel 6… not Super 8. Motel 6. As we were driving along the ghetto of Duluth, Evan made the comment that it would only be the ghetto if there was barb-wire fences. About 2 seconds after saying that there was barb-wired fences. Awesome.
And wouldn't you know it Motel 6 had rooms available! We stayed and well, it was sketchy. Evan even though so, but I honestly didn't care because the shower worked and there was a bed.
Fun fact: I went running in the morning on July 1st through the ghetto. Even though I'm on vacation I knew I had to keep trying for this half marathon. Because I was scared I ran my 4.5 miles pretty fast!
Fun fact: I went running in the morning on July 1st through the ghetto. Even though I'm on vacation I knew I had to keep trying for this half marathon. Because I was scared I ran my 4.5 miles pretty fast!
The next day we went to Glensheen Mansion, Canal Park, Duluth Aquarium, and celebrated my birthday! I had remembered my Gma talking about this mansion when she dropped me off at Lutsen. Evan had been there with his parents and siblings when he was younger, so it was bits and pieces he remembered.
This mansion was stinkin' huge! They had gardens, stables, 39 rooms, yacht house, and tons of landscaping.
How the story goes is that the wife and nurse got murdered by the daughter's crazy lover in the mansion. Supposedly the mansion is haunted, but the tour guide was instructed not to talk about that. Instead he showed us the first three floors. These people were beyond their years when building it. The sinks were made out of silver so if the maids dropped a plate it would break, instead it would just made a dent in the soft sink! Also, the master bathroom had one of the first showers for the husband. It was more like a pressure washer! I thought we could have used that after our trip!!
They had a lot of horses, but were also on the edge of the car creation. Imagine having to hook up a horse and go to the grocery store. I have problems carrying a watermelon on Scoot. Imagine carrying a watermelon on a bouncing horse!
Walking through the garden we saw a track. You can about imagine how excited I got :)
I like to think MOOSINATED!
We walked around outside enjoying the scenery and started on a trail. Where it would lead us, we didn't know... until...
... the graveyard. A little creepy, eh? Apparently the wife would joke and say at least their neighbors were quiet. YIKES!!
Oh lookie - it's Evan and I :)
1/4 of 100 Birthday
I am not sure what we saw in DQ was a good sign or a sign to be cautious this year. As we were eating our ice cream treats we saw these crazy people covered in fake blood with black make-up on their faces! It was a Zombie Walk!!! Talk about specialness on my day! I was too afraid to hold up my camera and take a picture, so I creepily put my camera on the table and clicked away trying to get a decent picture. I did ask one of the Zombies where it was taking place and I guess it was just right around the block! SCORE! Evan and I were going to ZombieLand!
We couldn't find the Zombies and since I never saw a MOOSE or DA BEAR, I decided it was time to try on their furs. Fur is back in fashion.
Great Lakes Aquarium
I'll admit it: I rarely can keep still and when touring the Great Lakes Aquarium, I was a little iffy. However, it turned out to be a lot of fun! I learned a lot about the Great Lakes.
Fun fact: Lake Superior can cover Canada, Mexico and USA and still be a foot deep. Now that is a lot of H2O!
I'll admit it: I rarely can keep still and when touring the Great Lakes Aquarium, I was a little iffy. However, it turned out to be a lot of fun! I learned a lot about the Great Lakes.
Fun fact: Lake Superior can cover Canada, Mexico and USA and still be a foot deep. Now that is a lot of H2O!
AND WE WERE MOOSINATED!!!!
Staring contest...
I couldn't quit grinning about Moosie.
Man-a-gawea steering his vessel.
And we discovered a kids play center… you are never too old to climb a tree house and go down a Mr. Twister slide!
Lift Bridge
If you like architect, moving objects, or an engineer than we strongly recommend checking out the Duluth Lift Bridge. Whenever a massive ship needs to pass from Lake Superior to the Duluth Harbor traffic will stop for about 10 to 15 minutes, the bridge will lift all the way to the top, and the ship goes through. And we were lucky enough catch it!!
Going up….
If you like architect, moving objects, or an engineer than we strongly recommend checking out the Duluth Lift Bridge. Whenever a massive ship needs to pass from Lake Superior to the Duluth Harbor traffic will stop for about 10 to 15 minutes, the bridge will lift all the way to the top, and the ship goes through. And we were lucky enough catch it!!
Going up….
In comes the ship...
The ship we saw was a Laker...
After watching the Laker, we headed to Pizza Hut. Hail to the HUT!
The next day we headed down to the Twin Cities for a Twins baseball game. However, we had to get some last minute fishing in at the St. Louis River. Finally I caught my Small, Small Mouth Bass :)
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