September 13-17, 2009

Hotel Information

ICOET has reserved blocks of rooms available at special rates at five hotels in Duluth's Canal Park district. These hotels are a short, convenient walk to the DECC conference facility. Estimated one-way walking distance is listed for each hotel via the Buchanan Street pedestrian drawbridge connecting to the DECC. See map (PDF:881KB) for more information. Numbers by hotel name correspond to their location on the map. Complimentary continental breakfasts are provided for guests at these hotels.

When contacting a hotel by phone to make your reservation, be sure to ask for the "International Conference on Ecology and Transportation" special room rate.

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Air and Ground Transportation

Air

The Duluth International Airport (airport code DLH) ) is located approximately 10 miles northwest of downtown Duluth and the DECC conference facility. The airport is served by Northwest Airlines and Allegiant Air.  

Ground transportation to and from downtown Duluth is provided by taxi or public transit bus. Rental cars are also available.

The providers listed below have either been recommended to ICOET or are listed from publicly available information. ICOET does not have contractual arrangements with any of the providers listed below, nor can we guarantee their quality of service.

• The Inn on Lake Superior (888-668-4352 or 218-726-111) provides a shuttle van for Inn guests only. It does not make routine trips to DLH; contact the hotel when you arrive to check if the van is available and to schedule a pick-up.
• D&J Shuttle Service (218-940-8088) has a 10-passenger white shuttle van with company logo; will also have ICOET sign. $5 per person one way, cash/check only - no credit cards. They provice service to all conference hotels. Please call to confirm your specific pick-up time.
• Go Green Taxi (218-722-8090)

Conference attendees can also reach Duluth by flying into the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (airport code MSP), approximately 160 miles south of Duluth. The Minneapolis-St Paul airport is served by a number of regional, national, and international carriers.

Skyline Shuttle (888-354-2677 or 218-724-4676) to and from Duluth (reservations required) and rental cars are available from this airport. Drive time between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth is approximately 2 hours, 40 minutes.

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International Travel Guidelines

All international conference attendees are strongly encouraged to check current requirements for crossing US borders.  International visitors regardless of country of origin must present a passport or secure document when entering the US by air. Note that beginning January 31, 2008, the US has ended the practice of accepting oral declarations of citizenship at the border from travelers entering the US by land or sea.

Official information on required travel documents available from the Department of Homeland Security. Information on visa requirements available from the US Department of State.

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Conference Meals

Your ICOET registration includes the following meals – Monday (FHWA Awards luncheon, evening Welcome Reception), Tuesday (Keynote luncheon), Wednesday (field trip lunch, dinner), plus beverage and snack breaks between sessions. Conference hotel amenities include complimentary continental breakfast for guests.  If you are not staying at one of the conference hotels, please check to see if your hotel offers complimentary breakfast.  All other meals are on your own.

Area Attractions

Great Lakes Aquarium is home to a variety of species found primarily in the Great Lakes Basin. The aquarium includes an otter exhibit, regional birds, and an 85,000-gallon tank containing species from the deeper waters of Lake Superior near Isle Royale. Additional exhibits showcase animals from both freshwater and marine habitats around the world. The ICOET 2009 Welcome Reception will be held at the aquarium.

Aerial Lift Bridge and Shipping Canal are located in Canal Park, a short walk from the conference site. The aerial lift bridge is a distinctive feature on the Duluth skyline, and an unusual type of bridge with a deck that can be raised to provide 138 feet of clearance for ships passing through the canal. Visitors can monitor the Duluth Shipping News for scheduled arrivals and departures to see the bridge in operation.

Great Lakes Floating Maritime Museum is located adjacent to the DECC conference facility. The floating museum is home to two historic ships, the S.S. William A. Irvin and the Coast Guard Vessel Sundew, which are open for tours. On board both ships, visitors are treated to stories of the two great vessels by knowledgeable tour guides preserving the rich history of maritime life along the Great Lakes.

Duluth Lakewalk features a boardwalk and adjacent paved trail for bikers, runners, and in-line skaters. Never more than a few feet from Lake Superior, the Lakewalk is approximately 4.2 miles long and offers excellent views of the harbor. In addition, interpretive signs dot the route with information on the history of the area. The Lakewalk is part of the National Scenic Byways Program.

Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad offers 90-minute excursions from downtown Duluth. The route follows the shoreline of the St. Louis River estuary, Spirit Lake and Mud Lake and provides opportunity to view shorebirds and other wildlife.

North Shore Scenic Railroad operates excursion trains on three routes from Duluth using historic rolling stock from the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Fully narrated tours tell the history of Duluth and the harbor.

Duluth Depot was built in 1892 for the Union Railroad. After it served its last train and underwent major renovations, the Depot reopened in 1973 as a center. The historic part of the building houses exhibits by four different museums, including the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, and its theater wing serves five performing arts organizations. North Shore Scenic Railroad excursion trains still depart from the Depot, and the French Norman style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Glensheen Estate is the historic home of the Chester Adgate Congdon, a mining magnate and political figure. The estate is located on the shore of Lake Superior, with a 39-room Jacobean Revival mansion, formal gardens, and naturalistic landscape that have retained much of their original design. Glensheen is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Partner Place of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Open for tours year round.

Additional information and listings available from Visit Duluth and Explore Minnesota.

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