Our Roots: calling lake superior home

Duluth, Minnesota; The second largest city on the Northern Shore of Lake Superior. It is an adventure seeker's dream, and it is where we call home.  Three quadrillion gallons of water wade in the depths of Lake Superior, making it the world's largest freshwater lake. A great place to build a company that crafts quality clothing based around this big idea of water conservation, huh? 

And that is exactly what we did. We set up shop right here in Duluth, MN, and haven't looked back. If we aren't busy operating Northern Wake Company, it is safe to assume we are taking full advantage of our favorite Great Lake. Although Lake Superior is home to some well-known tourist attractions, we wanted to share a few of our favorite things that keep us busy.  

Jet Skiing in Canal Park:
Canal Park in downtown Duluth serves as a great place to take an evening stroll, grab a great dinner, and catch some incredible views.  However, on one Saturday a few years back, we were looking for more of a thrill. We loaded up and strapped down our stand up jet skis, and dropped them into the playground that is Lake Superior. Little did we know, we were about to take one of our favorite pass times and turn it into even more of a thrill. Because of its size, Lake Superior's water temperature doesn't fluctuate more than 10-20 °F annually. On our first ride, the water sat at a brisk 48 °F, but it only took a few minutes of riding before we were hooked. There is nothing to this day that has made me feel smaller, or rather realize how big our world really is, than driving a tiny jet ski underneath the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge. Crowds of people intently observed us and waved from the pier. Since our first ride, we have made it more of a regular event, and try to get out on more than one occasion each Fall and Spring. We have even hit the lake with 7-foot swells, what a time! Take a look at one of our riding days here.

Our Favorite Swimming Spots: Park Point Beach and "The Ice Box"
If you are at all like us, it is hard for you to stay away from the water!  We are always looking for some thrill, but there is something about just swimming and a day at the beach that can't be beaten. Here are a few of our favorite swimming spots around the Duluth area. We won't share all of our secrets, so you will have to find them on your own if you are looking for more! 

Park Point Beach is located directly across the bridge from Canal Park. It is the worlds' longest continuous freshwater beach and is the perfect destination for a hot day, with great friends. All you need is a grill, some burgers, and a cooler, I guarantee you will have a good time. As previously mentioned, Lake Superior is never really "warm", so be prepared with a sweatshirt if you plan to stay in the water for an extended period of time.

If you are looking for a little more adventure, be sure to hit "The Icebox" located directly off the Canal Park Lakewalk. The sagging cement structure sits about 50 yards out from the Lakewalk, and serves as a great spot to swim, explore, or even jump from! Make sure you exercise some caution with this one, as it can be dangerous. On a hot day, there will be plenty of people hanging around it, but if you can endure a slightly colder day, you will likely have the whole thing to yourself. We spent part of labor day weekend doing some jumping that can be seen in a short video here.

If you live in or around the Duluth area, consider yourself one of the lucky few! Take advantage of the beauty that lies right in your backyard while you have the chance. If you are a less frequent visitor or have never been, we can guarantee a trip to this city will be an unforgettable experience. For a full list of things to do in Duluth, check this out. Make sure you take your trip in style and get some Northern Wake gear while you're at it!

Signing off,
Nick Anderson
Co-Founder

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