13 Romantic Things to Do in Duluth, MN For a Night Out
Whether you’re taking your date out for the first time or are celebrating a special anniversary, there are many romantic things to do in Duluth for your night out!
From helicopter rides over the city to just enjoy dessert together at a local restaurant, you can plan the perfect night for that special someone.
Tyler and I have spent 6 of our 9 anniversaries so far in Duluth and we have done a mix of everything during our time there. Aside from these days, we visit Duluth at least once a month, so we’ve got great experience in our favorite town!
In this post, we’ll go over some of the best romantic activities to plan your date night!
Romantic Things to Do in Duluth, MN
1. Take a Carriage Ride Through Canal Park
Canal Park is an adorable area to begin with for a night out in Duluth, but what could be better than a horse-drawn carriage ride through Canal Park?
Top Hat Carriages brings you through the Canal Park area on a horse-drawn carriage, so you can just enjoy yourself while you look at the sights.
The tour brings you down Main Street, around the Lakewalk, and will give you a pretty great introduction to Duluth.
And if you’re visiting in winter, they also offer sleigh rides up and down the Lake shore. It’s chilly, but a really unique, romantic experience with your lover.
2. Take a Helicopter Tour Over Duluth
I stand by the fact that one of the most romantic things you can do is book a tour of the area, from above.
Lake Superior Helicopters offers helicopter tours over several locations like the Aerial Lift Bridge, the North Shore, Park Point, and more.
You can choose between shorter rides, like 5-10 miles, or longer ones that go for 60 miles!
Probably the most beautiful takes place at night when all of Duluth is lit up and you can see the lights shining in every direction.
Tyler and I have taken a few plane rides over different locations (one being the Great Barrier Reef!) and it’s always one of our favorite experiences to remember.
3. Book a North Shore Scenic Train Ride
If you want to see the area in a unique way but aren’t up for flying, check out the North Shore Scenic Railroad, which leaves from the Duluth Union Depot.
The train has different themed rides throughout the year from Christmas in December to pumpkins in October, but you can also just go for a standard ride.
The train leads you part way up the North Shore, so you’ll have some views of Lake Superior.
I’d personally recommend the Pizza Party Express, where you take a ride up the North Shore and get to enjoy pizza and dessert as you go.
They also have special events on various days like the Elegant Dinner Train, a Costume Party Train, and a Fall Colors Tour.
4. Watch the Sunset Over Lake Superior
One of the most classic ways to spend a romantic evening together is to watch the sunset.
And Duluth offers (in my opinion) some of the most amazing views for sunset, in a few different places.
First, just walking along the Lakewalk and watching the sun set over Lake Superior is phenomenal.
Or, you could head all the way up to the top of the hill on Skyline Parkway and see the views from above. They are amazing up here, and watching the sunset is a real treat.
5. Enjoy a Rooftop Dinner
It’s one thing to have a nice dinner date, but what about having a dinner date at a rooftop restaurant?!
There honestly aren’t many to choose from, but when you have one as extravagant as Harbor 360, you don’t really need many choices.
This restaurant is found at the top of the Raddison Hotel in Downtown Duluth, and it rotates with amazing views of Canal Park.
Their menu has burgers, sandwiches, and comfort foods, as well as a full bar.
Dining here is a pretty unique experience and definitely makes for a pretty fun night out.
6. Book a Sauna Together
Booking a couples sauna is a great way to relax and spend time together. The Cedar and Stone Sauna offers a couple of different experiences.
There are private saunas, which would be the best option for a romantic night in Duluth, but you can also join a communal sauna!
7. See the City From Above at Skyline Parkway
As I mentioned above, Skyline Parkway is a pretty great spot to view the sunset, but it’s also amazing any time of day!
If you’re looking for a nice way to just spend some time with your partner or date, head up to the viewpoint and just see the views below.
You can see for miles and miles around Duluth, see the Aerial Lift Bridge from above, and the start of the Sawtooth Mountains.
8. Have a Romantic Dinner Out
Aside from the rootop/rotating restaurant at the Raddison, Duluth has plenty of other romantic restaurants to spend your date night at.
Tyler and I’s personal favorite is Va Bene, not only for the amazing Italian food, but for the incredible views over Lake Superior, right from your table.
The Boat Club Restaurant, Bellisio’s, and Pickwick are a few other great options for more upscale dining around the area.
9. Ride the Alpine Coaster and Lutsen Gondola
If you’re anything like Tyler and I, then your romantic nights out may look a little different. We love an adventurous date, and this is the place to be for that
The Luten Alpine Coaster is a fun way to let your inner kid out as you soar down the mountain on the coaster.
And then you can take a ride up the Lutsen Gondola to slow it down a bit and see the incredible views from Moose Mountain.
This is the best spot to see the North Shore’s fall colors, and during summer, there is typically lots of purple lupine growing in the valleys.
10. Grab Dessert to Share
Maybe it’s just me, but one of my favorite romantic activities in Duluth is to just grab dessert to share at one of the local restaurants.
There are dozens (and I mean dozens) of restaurants, dessert shops, and more in Duluth.
But if I had to choose a favorite for dessert, it would be Love Creamery. And a close second is The Cozy Hen’s cheesecakes.
You could even just find a restaurant and order dessert, or grab dinner while you’re at it.
11. Soak in a Hot Tub Overlooking the Lake
There’s really just something about relaxing in a hot tub together, chatting or getting to know each other better. And what’s better than a hot tub overlooking Lake Superior?
Pier B Resort is one of my favorite hotels in all of Duluth, and it has the most perfect outdoor hot tub right on the shores of the big lake.
During the winter, it overlooks Bentleyville. And in the summer, you can watch events happening at Bayfront Festival Park, right from the hotel.
It is open year-round, as long as there’s no severe weather. And because the resort is in walking distance of Canal Park, it’s really easy to spend some time here, and then go explore other parts of the city!
12. Book a Photoshoot at Leif Erickson’s Rose Gardens
My family visited Leif Erickson Park every summer growing up, and we always took dozens of photos in front of the rose gardens.
I always say couples walking hand-in-hand through the flowers, snapping pictures together, and even getting married in the pavilion.
So naturally, it was one of the first places that I brought Tyler during our first Duluth visit together.
There are thousands of flowers to see, lots of opportunities to take pictures together, and you could even hire a photographer to take your pictures together here.
13. Explore Glensheen Mansion
If you and your date or partner love some history, then taking a tour of the Glensheen Mansion might be a nice way to spend your date night.
This historic mansion sits on a lot overlooking Lake Superior and has been named as Minnesota’s most visited historic home.
You can wander through the 39 rooms, see the beautiful decor, and experience what it was like to be one of Duluth’s most wealthy families back in the early 1900s.
Conclusion: Things to Do in Duluth for Couples
Whether you’re heading out on a first date or your 20th year together, there are tons of romantic activities in Duluth to do with your significant other.
Tyler and I will continue to be spending our anniversaries here and exploring more and more romantic spots, and I hope that you’ll enjoy your night outs too.
