Questions about Duluth, Minnesota
 

I am thinking about possibly one day moving to Duluth, Minnesota. If anyone here lives there, or has ever been there, I have some questions:

I know it gets very cold in the winter there, but can you still go hiking or jogging during the winter with proper clothing?

How bad is wind during the winter?

Are there decent job opportunities there?

Is it very scenic and beautiful there?

Is the landscape hilly or flat?

Is the crime rate very low?

Is the air and water very clean?

Any responses will be appreciated. Thank You :)

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I wouldn't want to winter there. We were there in Oct 2004, and took a boat tour of the harbors (Duluth and Superior WI) mid-month--it was the last one of the season.

That said, I was impressed with the city. It's hilly--reminds one of a mini-San Francisco. It's quite scenic--I got the sense it'd be a great place to be in the warmer months. It had the vibe of a happenin' place to be...

My gut feeling is that the air's probably clean, but the lake water less so. It is a working harbor....

I love Duluth. I think it is one of the underrated places in America.

Yes, you get some cold in the winter, but it is not one persistent deep freeze like so many think. You'll get your days below zero that make the national news, but you get lots of sunny winter days that are 35 degrees and relatively comfortable that you'll never see on the weather channel.

During my times there, I've been impressed with the University scene, the harbor restaurants and activities, but most of all the nearby outdoor activities.

The north shore of Minnesota (within 30 - 120 minutes of Duluth) is absolutely gorgeous, with several state parks and streams along the way. You also get vertical relief of 2,000 ft in several places, so it isn't the flatland that many associate with the midwest. There is nothing like fly fishing in a quiet stream with the view of Lake Superior 1,000 feet below you.

If you don't mind a couple colder months in the winter, you would be well-rewarded with Duluth. It is a nice place on the edge of the wilderness that is only a couple hours from Minneapolis / St. Paul.

Regarding your question about hiking or jogging in the winter.... You can safely jog in any weather above 10 degrees or so. You just get dressed in some warmer clothes. They often plow snow off the trails to make them accessible to runners.

As far as hiking along the north shore, You'll need to trade hiking boots for cross country skis or snowshoes for January through March. They get alot of snowfall up there.

I agree with Hazelm. We don't live there but have a ton of friends who do live there (and love it) and we visit often. Yes, it is hilly - built on the side of a hill although much of the housing is on top of the hill or back from there. The lakewalk is a fun place to walk, jog or bike in the summer, spring and fall and of course you can ski or snowshoe in the winter. I think a lot of places are colder than Duluth. It does get cold but not terrible very often. The Lake gives them some warmth in the winter and a nice breeze and cool (not cold - often) air in the summer. I have no idea how the job market is however. Our friends who live there are professionals and have been in their jobs for a long time. You should go there sometime in the summer and also in the winter to get the feel of the city. If you do decide to go check it out let us know and I am sure some of us can give you some ideas of what to do while visiting Duluth. If you move, I hope you like it as well as we do - and even more, as much as our friends do.

For me, anywhere in the mid-west would be way too cold in winter...

Suze doesn't like cold weather, so she shouldn't live in Duluth. I don't want to sugar coat it - winters can be cold in Minnesota, or anywhere in the upper midwest for that reason.

If you hate cold, don't move to Duluth. If you hate earthquakes, don't move to California. If you hate persisent drizzle, dont' move to Seattle.... you get my point.

That would be a great thread...
If you don't like x, don't move to y...

OK I get the idea...

BUT there is not persistant drizzle in Seattle, simply not true. But it IS very cold in the mid-west in winter.

There is definitely persistent drizzle in Seattle. It drizzles rain about 70% of the time for about 9 months straight. And then we get about 3 months of very little or no rain (summer).

That's just the way it is here in the Pacific Northwest. But we don't get the super freezing cold weather like in the midwest. We have a relatively mild climate here.

Suere, there's persistant drizzle in Seattle, it is called "Starbucks" (or to some, "Starburnt").

Point taken, Suze. The colder weather in the winter isn't for everyone.

red_dog, Look I live here in Seattle, I have been here for 20+ years... your version of historical weather is simply not true.

<<rain about 70% of the time for about 9 months straight. And then we get about 3 months of very little or no rain (summer).>>

Thanks to everyone who posted responses about Duluth :)

Why would you think about (or consider) moving to a place you know absolutely nothing about? Perhaps a visit (in winter) is in order?

My theory is that red_dog doesn't live in Seattle. He or she knows very little of the weather (or anything else) here.

"I know it gets very cold in the winter there, but can you still go hiking or jogging during the winter with proper clothing?"

Jogging? I see people here jog during the winter, but they are definitely of the hardy type. There are usually a few decent days in the winter when it rises above freezing.

As for hiking, you will definitely be contending with some deep snow, but many like that. Outdoor recreation in the winter is popular with locals, whether it is cross-country skiing (something the Duluth area is known to be very good for), snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling, downhill skiing (we have a half-decent hill, Spirit Mountain, which is actually very good for the Midwest), or otherwise.

"How bad is wind during the winter?"

To be honest, it's bad. Probably much worse than in, say, Chicago.

"Are there decent job opportunities there?"

Duluth isn't really a hotspot for employment right now.

"Is it very scenic and beautiful there?"

Yes, it's a very pretty area. The view from the hill is wonderful (if you can get over the industrial districts, which I don't mind looking at), with lots of green and blue and Park Point jutting out into the lake / harbor, there is tons of greenspace, the country and forest are right outside the city, and the downtown area has some nice architecture, in addition to the mansions in the East End (just east of downtown).

"Is the landscape hilly or flat?"

It's very hilly. The lowest elevations are around 600 feet, while the highest are well over 1,400. Especially in downtown and the neighborhood "above" it (Central Hillside), you'll notice some very steep streets, as in San Francisco steep.

"Is the crime rate very low?"

I wouldn't say very low, but it's not bad. Probably comparable or slightly below the national average. There is an increasing problem in some neighborhoods, particularly the Central Hillside and perhaps the "West End" (Lincoln Park), probably due at least in part to the immigration of unwholesome types from cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit.

"Is the air and water very clean?"

The air is perceptibly clean up here. Most of the smokestack industries have left the city (due to movement of steel production to Asia, etc.).

As for water, that's been a recurring problem

red_dog, I say give Duluth a try, since you are so dissapointed with both Portland and Seattle.

i would like to settle the "seattle has bad weather" debate once and for all. heres a link for seattle real time traffic cameras. check the weather out for yourself anytime. http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/trafficcams

It's always so comforting to see when a troll adopts a new name.