Where to go when … ANY MOOD STRIKES

By Christa Lawler clawler@ duluthnews.com

Duluth has a place for every mood —whether you want to examine your inner Norwegian or dance to Charlie Parr without being packed intoatight venue.

Here are tips forwhere to go:

When you want live music but

When you want to see ‘weather weather’ Lake Superior, man. When it rains big or snows hard, then the wind is whipping hard enough to dredge up ghost ships on the horizon, the world’slargest freshwater lake has amagneticpullfor the peoplewho live along its shoreline. When you see the funky colors swirling on the meteorologists’ screen, get thee to asafe space with a lake view and see what sounds, shapes and spectacular splashes Gitche Gummi makes.Also, please know that the wilder the weather,the more surfers you will see playing in the swells. Best viewing of these super athletes: Stoney Point, South Lester and Park Point.

When you want to own this city

Blah blah blah, the Superior Hiking Trail. It’sthe best dang thing running through this city and beyond. That said, some parts are superior,LOL, to other parts. If you want to prove you are the Duluthiest Duluthian in Duluth’shistory,you need to hike the Ely’sPeak section. (You can take the trail, even though some people do scale it.) The route is treacherous, the vistas are (chef’s kiss), and the bragging rights are huge. While you’re there, find the old train tunnel and take the signature dark-figure-in-the-bright-cave-entry portrait.

When you want alegal fire on the beach green space between Earth Rider Brewery and the Cedar Lounge in Superior has been converted to festival grounds.

This will happen: Some night you will be parked out on the beach at Park Point with seven friends and, oddly,eight ukuleles and you will decide “Hey afire would be nice.” Don’t do it. Collect your instruments, pack up your hammocks, shake the sand from the leg of your pants and simply travel to Wisconsin. Unpack the snacks and tunes. Create your fire where it is legal, but stay 10 feet away from beach grass, thx.

When you want to feel the feels of Norwegian royalty Enger Tower was agiftfrom Norway in the 1930s. The five story bluestone cylindrical structure looks out over the Duluth harbor and St. Louis bay —inaddition to Lake Superior It’safun and safe climb and it’swindy at the top. Take in the scene, man. This is your new city.While you’re there: check out the Zen garden and don’t forget to bong the bell, areplica of asimilarpiece in sister city Ohara, Japan. It’ssuch amust-see spot, we included it twice in this section. And we’re OK with that.

PARKS that form along the cliff. There are many local climbing clubs that will help beginners. During the other months of the year, the park has wellmaintained trails and a nine-hole disc golf course.

Keene Creek Park

Located at Bristol Street and 63rd Avenue West in the Irving neighborhood, this park has a variety of features from tennis and basketball courts to a skate park and a short paved trail beside the creek. Most notable is the large dog park nearby, helpful when missing a four-legged friend back home.

Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park, on the corner of 25th Avenue West and Third Street, is deceptively large. Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, it stretches to 37 acres and features a particularly beautiful walking trail with bridges, rocks and Miller Creek. It has a small stage and occasionally hosts outdoor events Fun fact: it was the site of the city’s first playground It has picnic areas and a disc golf course. It also has a winding road throughout much of the park that can be driven.

Enger Park

Maybe you’d prefer a park with a view?

Enger Park, near 16th Avenue West and Skyline Parkway, has you covered. Perched on top of the hill, the park offers views for miles. The view can been seen from the hillside pavilion or by climbing the 80-foot stone tower. Surrounding the tower is well-cultivated Japanese peace garden and pagoda, featuring the American-Japanese peace bell, a gift from Duluth’s sister city Ohara-Isumi. There’s room to picnic, hike, and bird watch. But be warned, it is also a very popular site for weddings and engagement photos on the weekends.

Take caution if you don’t want to end up an accidental photobomber.

Rose Garden

Speaking of places popular for weddings and engagement photos, the Rose Garden is also a common spot. The park sits at 13th Avenue East and London Road and is accessible by the Lakewalk which traverses 7.5 miles of the city. It contains brick paths through its impeccable garden of roses. Be warned and an idyllic view of Lake Superior. There are several cement benches to sit along the paths.

Hartley Park Up in the Woodland neighborhood, Hartley Park features 10 miles of multi-purpose trails for everything including mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. There’s the large Hartley Pond, which provides easy access to canoe or kayak or fish. It has hiking trails for every level of ability, from the inexperienced to more adventurous hiker. Personal recommendation: take the tunnel trail to the segment of the trail called “The Pines” on a day with a slight breeze.

The tall pine grove waves overhead with a slight creaking sound.

Brighton Beach Park (Kitchi Gammi)

News Tribune file photos sitting at the start of Minnesota Highway 61 and Congdon Boulevard. It’s the end of the Lakewalk, but also offers plenty of room to pull off and park. It has many picnic tables and rocks along the water’s edge. It’s a popular spot to skip rocks and access the water.

K&B GRILLED CHEESE

It doesn’ttake much to make agoodgrilled cheese, right? Bread, cheese, that super secret layer of mayonnaise, the butter substitute that is only whispered about among people who won’t judge you. K&B Grilled Cheese bills itself as bringing gourmet sandwiches and it deviates offthe beaten GC path with aspinach artichoke variation, one that adds buffalo chicken, or simply bacon. The bread is homemade— owner Kevin White said he bakes up to 50 loaves per week. This food truck has been in circulation for about six years, but in the past has mostly been on the festival circuit. In the absence of festivals, you can find K&B Grilled Cheese at Duluth Cider or Cedar Lounge.Also: they don’t even need to do the mayonnaise trick.