Whether you're an avid bird watcher or just want to witness an amazing spectacle of nature, Duluth's Hawk Ridge can be an unforgettable experience. Rising 800 feet above Lake Superior on the east end of Duluth, tens of thousands of hawks, eagles and other birds of prey concentrate here before crossing Lake Superior on their annual migration. Timing is everything: Hawks begin migrating there in mid-August and continue through November, but huge flights generally occur from Sept. 10 through 25.

Runner-up: Swan Park, Monticello