Good times start with good food, and Duluth is full of it. While the on-campus dining options aren’t half bad, you’re going to get bored of dining hall means pretty quick, and you’ll need some backup options! Plus, once you’ve nailed down an apartment you love and you’re living in the middle of town, you won’t want to trek all the way to campus for a meal three times a day. That’s why we’ve listed some of the best restaurants and bars to try when you’re not on campus!

Best Restaurants

Duluth Grill
Pickwick Restaurant & Pub
At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe
Northern Waters Smokehaus

Best Bars

Grandma’s Saloon & Grill Canal Park
Fitger’s Brewhouse Brewery and Grille
7 West Taphouse
Canal Park Brewing Company

If you’re living in Duluth, get ready to spend lots of time outdoors. There’s tons of great things to do up in the great white north, from patrolling Duluth’s Lakewalk to catching a breathtaking (literally) view atop Enger Park’s stone tower perch. Duluth is also home to lots of history, so if you’re down to learn some more about the place you’ll be calling home for the next four years, you should check out its museums! There’s the Great Lakes Aquarium, The Duluth Depot, the Tweed Museum of Art and many more.

On campus, you’ll find lots of fun to be had hanging out with friends and enjoying the fresh Duluth air. Students play football, go on skiing excursions, visit both the town and the countryside and rave about the surrounding wildlife (expect frequent deer sightings!). What will you find when you’re at UMD?