Alpert Family Spring Break to Two Harbors/Duluth MN (April 7-9)

My bride, our trio of minions, and I decided to head north to Two Harbors, MN (about 20 miles north of Duluth) for a weekend of fun, food, and relaxation. We had a two-weekend-for-the-price-of-one deal we had purchased from a radio station last fall. We spent the first weekend in December up there to celebrate my bride’s birthday. This trip was to use up the remainder of the deal.

Photographer's note: Please disregard the incorrect date/time stamp on the photos. The button I need to press to reset it isn't working.

We left after the minions hopped off of the school bus on Friday. After a brief stop at Hardees in Hinckley (could’ve really used @Rush ’s coupons there ) we made it up to Duluth as it was getting dark. I love going through Duluth at night with the lights of the homes on the hillside and along the waterfront. And the first view of Lake Superior always seems to take my breath away.

We made it up to Two Harbors and checked into our room. It was a one-bedroom whirlpool suite with a nice media room, kitchen, and living room. We had a lower level room, allowing us to walk right out to the lake whenever we felt like it!

The bride and minions settled in early so I had some quiet time. Just me, the fireplace, and a couple episodes of Gold Rush.


Saturday’s first task was to get to Kwik Trip to grab some doughnuts. We took some time to explore some streets of Two Harbors we hadn’t driven on our last trip. It is a town of about 3500 folks, which is 7 times the size of our local village so Two Harbors is big city livin’ for us.

A couple of early morning pics




We enjoyed our breakfast back at the room and then headed to the pool for an hour of swimming. The minions' favorite part of the pool was the inside/outside hot tub. They loved the outdoors side of it the best.





Misc. pics from outside our room:







Woodpecker!


After waking the bride and getting ready we drove down to Duluth and ate at Red Lobster near Canal Park. I had the maple-glazed chicken, my favorite on our few-and-far-between visits to Red Lobster. And of course we downed a ton of Cheddar Bay Biscuits!



We toured Glensheen, the historic mansion of the Congdon family right on the lake. We took the classic tour--$45 for the family. Our guide Peter was very friendly and answered the barrage of questions my minions hit him with. We were the only folks in his tour group. Even though the next group’s fifteen people were on our heels towards the end of the tour we were not rushed through and Peter took time to answer all of our questions. We learned that the Congdon family had an even larger mansion near Yakima, WA on/near their apple orchard.











Peter, our excellent tour guide!


















We stopped at a grocery store and a ShopKo in Two Harbors to pick up a few supplies. Back in our room we ordered a large pizza and nachos from a pizza café. We had them delivered and then enjoyed a film my bride picked up at Redbox entitled Nine Lives. Kevin Spacey voicing a cat. I give it one paw up--provided that paw is reaching for the remote to turn it off! But the minions enjoyed the flick and got a few chuckles out of it, so it was worth it!

We hit the pool again for an hour or so.

Upon returning to the room the minions were off to sleep quickly again. My bride turned in early. I planned to stay up to watch SNL. Just like at home I fell asleep on the couch before the news was even over!

I awoke at sunrise and sat outside to watch Lake Superior come into view. As I took in the beauty of the scene I penned the following haiku:

Superior Morn!
Really must I go today?
Dang. That really sucks! ​

I watched a little TV while waiting for the minions to wake up. I found a show called Wake Up, Wisconsin that I'd never seen before. At home we just get channels out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, so this show was interesting to watch. I wouldn't mind waking up to these two ladies each morning...

[Insert slap from bride.]

Another trip to Kwik Trip and we had our doughnuts. We watched part of Karate Kid III (Sweep The Leg Sunday instead of our normal Sweep The Leg Saturday) and I washed our dishes until the pool opened.

We swam for an hour and fifteen minutes, then woke up my bride, packed, and checked out. Saw a Las Vegas episode of Cops while packing, but I didn’t recognize any faces from VMB on this episode!

We headed south and decided to grab some lunch at Gordy’s Hi-Hat in Cloquet, MN. Apparently it’s been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. I was in the mood for a pizza burger today.

I love their big rock painted as a burger!


The before picture of the pizza burger didn't turn out. Here's the after picture instead!


Back on the freeway and south to North Branch, MN (bride found another ShopKo ) then over to the border at Taylors Falls, MN into St. Croix Falls, WI and the maze of roads and backroads home after that.

Final Thoughts:

*Great family times were had by all. The minions said they liked this trip because they learned a lot and were able to live life unplugged for a little bit.

*Each visit north is further confirmation that Lake Superior is awesome. I find it to be a great lake!

RICHARD

 

Great TR Richard, the pizza burger sounds delicious and what a great idea.
I see y'all stayed on the lake which looks beautiful.. lakefront can get hairy here in the deep South with all the critters(snakes) in the summer months..

Thx for taking us along

 

A lake, a pool, a historic mansion, an idyllic weekend with family.
Some awesome sounding minions, pizza and movies - and Cheddar Bay biscuits - nothing can top that!

Well done, Richard. Gran approves!

 

Nice report Richard. Really love reading about places in the States I don't hear much about.


Lovely pictures.

 

Nice report. Was particularly intrigued by the painted rock.

Thanks for posting.

Don

 

Sounds like a nice trip to Minnie Richard. Where did you stay up in Two Harbors? You stopped at Hardee's in Hinkley I assume just to be by Grand Casino??? ‼️

 

Hi, BigTop!
We stayed at Superior Shores Resort, just north of Two Harbors. Good times!

We thought about stopping at GC Hinckley for the buffet, but one of my minions is quite sensitive to smoke so we figured it probably wasn't the best idea. It's a great place to stop and stretch the legs when travelling...and lighten the billfold just a little bit, too!

Thanks for reading!

RICHARD

 

(1) What was worse in Chicago...the heat or the humidity?

(2) Thanks for thinking of me in researching the other mansion. I appreciate your efforts, @Sonya!

(3) My "If I Ever Get to Seattle" list just got longer! Thanks! My bride has cousins out there so I may find myself getting out there someday...

Thanks for reading! I hope you're having a great Spring in your neck-of-the-woods!

RICHARD

 

The ladybug companion rock is a nice touch, too!
Or maybe it just showed up in hopes of sharing the joint!

RICHARD

 

Nice pics. Great trip report thanks for sharing

 

What a great trip report..!! Nothing better than spending trip time with family.. especially young ones who marvel at all the new things they see and learn. Thank you for the pictures too..!

 

Thanks, @Joejoejackson and @blue808 !!!
I appreciate it!

RICHARD

 

Great report!! I live in Duluth a half mile from the Glensheen mansion. I drive by every day, sounds like your family had a blast!

 

We'll honk on our next time by, @h0und10!

My bride's dream house is that big one at London and McCulloch!

RICHARD