Long August Vacation - Finale - Duluth, Minnesota - Tall Ships Festival

After spending a week in the western part of Upper Michigan followed by a week in Iron River, Wisconsin we capped off our vacation with the much anticipated Tall Ships Festival in Duluth Minnesota. I've decided to highlight this entry separate of the others due to its high photo content. 

Our interest in tall ships began many years ago when the Denis Sullivan was commissioned to summer in our home Port on Lake Michigan. In full sale it was the most beautiful thing we'd seen on the waters of our lake front. Several years later it was our fortune to not only board this spectacular vessel but to sail on her. It only deepened our love for these spectacular ships and the majesty they display in the waters. I am a dreamer, a reader and a lover of fantasy. Being near these great vessels and observing them can easy take me back in my imagination to a time I have only read about.

Pride of Baltimore

Pride of Baltimore II

Denis Sullivan

Mist of Avalon

Abby Road

Appledor V

Zeeto

US Brig Niagara

El Galeon Andalucia

We watched the parade of ships from Canal Park which is a gorgeous boardwalk park with plenty to do in and of itself. We found this out a few years ago, the last time we traveled in this region. We knew immediately that we wanted to watch the ships parade into port from this location.  The only disappointment we shared was that Mother Nature decided to whip up the atmosphere toward the end of the parade of ships forcing the two largest to take down their sails before making their way through the channel to port. In spite of that we were happy we decided to attend only the parade and avoid the festival when we found out it would be impossible to get our son aboard the ships. From what we heard later that was a good decision as the festival grounds themselves were poorly laid out and the crowds were downright crazy.  This only proved to increase our gratitude that we took the opportunity to sale the Denis Sullivan when we had the chance. Lesson learned, never turn down the opportunity to fulfill a bucket list item even if you don't realize at the time that it actually is a bucket list item!