Duluth

Why: On May 21, relive the boom era in the Twin Ports when two carefully preserved and restored homes—Glensheen Mansion, in Duluth, and Fairlawn Mansion, across the bridge in Superior, Wisconsin—open for a package tour ($10 for adults, $5 for children).

How: About a two-hour drive north of the metro on I–35.

Stay: Built in 1908, The Cotton Mansion (218-724-6405) is an exquisite 16,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance inn, made of marble, hand-carved stone, exotic wood, and paneled ceilings. The seven suites are priced from $135 to $265.

Eat: The New Scenic Café (218-525-6274) measures up to its name. Overlooking Lake Superior, the restaurant offers entrées, soups, and salads made from local ingredients—plus a wide array of wine and regional beers.

Pack: A good jacket for when the wind off the lake kicks up.

P.S.: You can’t make tour reservations. So go early—the doors open at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.