Our family recently took a trip to Duluth.
Luke attended a conference & the rest of us tagged along.
Lucky us!
We went during the Fall 'peak' week & got to enjoy the beautiful
Fall colors on the trees.
The drive there & back was just amazing.
We arrived Thursday morning eager to check in to the Edgewater waterpark.
Knowing we would be early we stopped at Grandma's for lunch
& then hit up the chocolate shop.
The boys had a great time looking around Grandma's restaurant,
riding the motorcycle,
& squishing pennies into Duluth artifacts!
Visiting the chocolate shop.
Just as we were about to leave Canal Park
we were pleasantly surprised when a BIG ship came cruising in.
And the boys got to witness the lift bridge in action.
They were amazed...& so was I.
No matter how many times you see the ships, watch the bridge,
look at the enormous lake, take in the sites at canal park,
it's always a great time.
One of the big highlights was swimming at the waterpark,
but honestly...the boys loved everything we did in Duluth.
A picture tradition going down the yellow slide!
(except each time we visit we keep adding another boy to the family fun!)
The boys & I walked the trail along Superior & I wanted to see the train go by.
Sure enough...just as I say that the train went by!
Next time we're taking a ride on that baby.
While Luke was at his conferences during the day
the rest of us got to have fun with all the shops, play areas, and pools.
We did a little bit of everything & loved it all.
Here's another ship heading out to sea.
The boys & I went to play at Adventure Zone.
They had a great time playing arcade games, jumping on inflatables
& running around like WILD!
While we were at Adventure Zone I became the master of the ball machine.
I won each boy a ball.
So of course we had to go check-in to the next hotel, The Inn at Canal Park,
to play with the balls!
We always get ground level so the kids can bike around, we can play yard games,
walk to the bonfire pit for smores & run to the lake as often as we want.
Did I mention...we love visiting Duluth!
Here is the view right outside our room.
When dad arrived back from his conferences he helped unpack the rest of the car,
for the 2nd time!
(since we wanted to spend time at the waterpark & canal park)
Octoberfest was hot & heavy the weekend we visited
so we all joined in on the fun.
There were a lot of parents with kids
(assuming they were other conference families)
& we all had a riot dancing & drinking to one of the
best polka bands!
We also got to go to the Aquarium as part of the conference group.
We got the whole place to ourselves,
along with drink & desserts!
In the tree house at the Aquarium.
After a late night at the Aquarium,
we got back to the hotel, put on our jammies,
& enjoyed some smores right on the lake at The Inn.
Our friends the Hanson's also went to the conference
& we got to spend a lot of time with them!
Ingrid enjoyed the smores too!
Surprisingly the night was warm & calm & absolutely beautiful.
We didn't want to go to bed!
Sitting by the fire.
Running around by the lake-late at night!
Biking the trail.
Checking out the lighthouse.
View of the lift bridge from the lighthouse.
We had yet another wonderful trip to Duluth.
We'll be back for sure...& next time we're going to make sure to
go farther north to Gooseberry Falls & other sites.
