Duluth Shopping

Funky, exotic, with a definite feminist undercurrent, Global Village is a great place to pick up a gift for your alternative loved one at home. It's a great place to browse with gifts, clothes, cards, and music on floor one and futons and home decor on the second floor.

What to buy: They have lovely imported tea sets and some exotic clothing that's of fine enough quality to wear to work. There are great postcards and cards that aren't of your run-of-the-mill Hallmark variety. There are also fun percussion instruments from various cultures.

What to pay: For what you get, the prices are very reasonable, even cheap.

The Miller Hill Mall is just like any other mall in Minnesota with stores like: Abercrombie and Fitch, Old Navy, American Eagle, Victoria Secret, JcPenny, Yonker’s, Maurice’s, GAP, Wet Seal, Barnes & Nobel and many other stores. They do close at 7:00PM on Saturdays.

It's tiny but fragrant and packed with little delicacies. Basically smoked fish and all kinds of cheeses is what they have there. They also have crackers and paraphanelia to enjoy, well, smoked fish and cheese. They have little picnic sets complete with wine glasses, a corkscrew, plates, and flatware.

For a romantic outing, get a bottle of wine from a bottle shop and stop by Northern Waters to pick up some cheese and fish and go over the liftbridge to the beach on a warm evening in July and watch the full moon rise over the lake. There's no place like Duluth when you're in love.

What to pay: It's pricey, no doubt. This is a splurge, but the good things in life are worth it, no?

Country by the Lake is a quaint folk art craft sale just over the lift bridge and often gets missed, because it is not in Canal Park. Many items are homemade such as the soaps, candles, crafts, pictures and special orders on request. I had to mention it, because it is one of my mom’s favorite stores.

What to buy: Lynn makes her own candles and they are wonderful!

There are many quaint little shops right down at Canal Park within walking distance of the motels, restaurants and the museum. They range from clothes and tee shirts to antiques. If you have some extra time to spend, explore the shops at Canal Park.

The DeWitt Building has many great shops that offer unique items. The cutest candy shop is located in the building that makes homemade chocolates and sugar candy. There is also a store that sells ice cold orange cream sodas that are great on a hot day!

My mom kind of digs looking at somewhat kitschy junk!! Now, I'm not saying that's all you'll find at this place. In fact, upstairs they have a lot of useful things if you actually own a boat (but, c'mon, how many of you actually own a boat?). Most of the main floor is full of tourist-oriented, overpriced junk.

What to buy: Check out the website . . . you can even shop online if you're interested.

Fitger's Brewery was Duluth's first when it opened in 1857. The last bottle of Fitger's was brewed in 1972, but the building now houses a hotel as, 4 places for a bite or a beer and a number of interesting shops.

On the second floor, you'll find the Fitger's Brewery Museum where you can see an enormous copper brew kettle and learn about the history of the brewery.

What to buy: On the first floor, you'll find a shop packed with interesting wooden objects, many of which were made in Indonesia. It's pretty expensive, but the items are fun to look at.

You'll also find a good bookstore as well as some other shops specializing in outdoor clothing and all-weather gear.

The complex has free covered parking just outside the entrance.