The city of Duluth, with its location on lake Superior, has opportunities for swimming. Lake Superior itself can be used for swimming in the summer months, and there are several lakes around the city where camping as well as swimming is also possible. In winter, there are a number of indoor swimming pools, but the camping grounds will be closed.
Minnesota is located in the middle of the North American continent. It is the American state which is furthest north, with the exception of Alaska. The Minnesota winters are cold with temperatures occasionally reaching -60 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer is warmer with temperatures occasionally going up to 114 degrees Fahrenheit.
In general, the city is cooler than the surrounding countryside. Duluth is known as "the Air-Conditioned City", since Lake Superior has a cooling effect on the city climate in summer. The ground is covered in snow from October to April. However, due to Lake Superior acting as a heat sink in summer, it is also a heat source in winter, delaying the seasons and making November warmer than April.
Duluth, Minnesota, is situated at the western end of Lake Superior, the westernmost of the Great Lakes. Together with Superior in Wisconsin, it forms the "Twin Ports", the worlds largest inland port. The city is also a tourist destination, one of the main attractions being Canal Park, connected to the Park Point sandbar by the by the Aerial Lift Bridge. The park consists of restaurants, shops and hotels, largely housed in old warehouses which are converted into an entertainment district. In the park there is a walkway along the lake, a pier with a lighthouse, the Great Lakes Aquarium and a floating ship museum.
Swimming in Duluth can be done in the summer in the lakes surrounding the city, when the water is warm enough. Park Point, six miles in length and the longest freshwater sandbar in the world, has swimming beaches.
The state is known as the Land of 10,000 lakes, and number 11,842 lakes over 10 acres in size. Many of those are friendly for swimmers. Near Duluth, Chub Lake, Boulder Lake and Bear Lake are all good for swimming in summer.
In winter, swimmers have to use one of the indoor swimming pools in the city.
There are several campgrounds within the city limits of Duluth itself. Most of them offer sites in woodland, with picnic tables, electricity and showers. There are tent spots available in most of them. Several also offer other activities, such as softball and volleyball fields. Many are pet friendly, and a few offer free Wi-Fi.
A few are situated on the water, such as the Fond du Lac campground, which is situated next to the St. Louis river and offers boat tie-ups, boat ramp and a fishing pier. The Lake Head boat basin has its own boat docks. Spirit Lake Marina also offers boat slip rentals.
A few miles outside the city there are several campgrounds near lakes. Amnicon Acres is situated on Lake Amnicon, and provides both fishing and swimming. Manitou Valley sits on the Black River, near Manitou Falls (the highest waterfall in Wisconsin) and the Pattison State Park. Northland Camping and RV Park has a swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, a playground, laundry and bathhouse.
