Upper Peninsula Michigan

[woodedareas]

Next month we will be spending about 3 days in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and since we have never been there before we were wondering if anyone has any thoughts about areas that we should visit or areas that we should avoid. We would appreciate any recommendations.

[moosetags]

We spent some time in the UP last October. We stayed at the St. Ignace KOA which is not far from the Mackinac Bridge. It was very nice with 5 point hook-ups. We were their last campers of the season. The Bridge itself is an experience while pulling an Airstream. It is slightly unnerving, but worth the effort. The views are spectacular.

Most of the tourist stuff had already closed for the season when we were there.

[pmclemore]

Tahquamenon Falls SP near Paradise will be a great place to spend 3 days. Lots to see, good hiking, and not too far away. Go to the museum at Whitefish Point for artifacts from the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Pat

[sander17]

If you want to stay near Mac Island, there is Brevort lake National Forest campground near St. Ignace. No hookups, but very nice with a lake and big sites. (See campground reviews)

If you go near Houghton/Hancock, you could take the ferry to Isle Royale National park to see the moose.

You picked a great month to visit the UP. By august, all the black flies are gone and the weather is much more stable than earlier in the summer.

Have a great time!

[Aage]

Da Youpers are great people. It's just the 'skeeters you got to watch out for, they're like t'carry ya off!

[airedale]

White Fish Point!!!! Thats a great place, Mackinac is a cool place and the Soo Locks are cool, I was just up there yesterday! Have a good time.

[Steve & Susan]

There's a nice KOA in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario.
The Valley Camp Ore Boat museum, the Soo Locks boat tour, the Agawa Canyon train ride and the Casino in Sault Ste. Marie - all are great fun. Pulling your AS across the Mackinac bridge is a snap - just stay away on Memorial Day (or is it Labor Day?) - seems the Youpers have nothing better to do thatn walk across the bridge. It makes a 15 minute drive into several hours as they close half the lanes!
Have a great trip - it's a BEEYOUTIFUL part of the country!

[drag'nwagon]

The real UP starts in Marquette, head north from there up US-41, and you will find yourself in a different place and time! If you are coming in from the west I highly reccomend Porcupine Mt. state park (aka Porkies).

[loudruff]

A couple of years ago, Larry and I stayed at a beautiful little municipal park on Lake Superior at Grand Marais. Rt. 77 north end dead ends at the Lake. We were on the way to see the Grand Sable Dunes. Very nice little park with hookups and even cable tv hook up. We started at Marquette and went east from there and saw the sights all along the way. Lots to see and a very pretty drive.
Lou

[woodedareas]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. We will be staying at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Hope I spelled that correctly. We will also be staying for one night in Rapid River at Wispering Valley RV Park. I will be driving from Door County and instead of going to Tahquamenon in one shot I thought I would stop in between at Rapid River. Our first 2 days will be in Door County at the WagonTrail RV Park. We were there last year and it was great. I love the fried perch and cherry pie available in the area. Good thing my cardiologist is around.

[airedale]

The Tahquamenon Falls are really close to White Fish Point, so you know, I think its less than 30 minutes, you should check it out!

[Tom Nugler]

Ya, don forget to try a pastie, uh.
What's a pastie? Mackinaw Pastie and Cookie Co.
Have one for me. OK.

Tom.

[AirsDream]

Go here: Campgrounds and State Parks in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

If you can get into the Bay Furnace Campground just west of Christmas (just west of Munising), it's definitely worth it ... primitive and so not usually too crowded, and it's RIGHT ON Lake Superior. First come, first served here.

Try driving between Grand Marais and Munising on H58, after checking with locals on road conditions. Also, in the Grand Marais / Munising area, there are several really nice waterfalls that you can walk to (I'm an inveterate waterfall hiker!) - though these are short walks. Try Googling "Sable Falls," "Chapel Falls," and "Mosquito Falls." All three are nice. Beware that the roads to these are not all suitable for RVs ... a reasonable tow vehicle ought have no problem, but sometimes there is quite a bit of loose, soft sand. There are LOTS of other waterfalls along the south coast of Superior, and of course, Taquahmenon falls south of Whitefish Point.

[UpNorthAir]

If you get to the Soo (Sault Ste. Marie) Try grabbing a bite at The Antlers . Here is a link to thier web site: AntlersGiftShop.com -- Antlers Restaurant and Gift Shop -- Home Page

If you are a kayaker or hiker Pictured Rock Lake Shore is awesome.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (U.S. National Park Service)


Have fun and enjoy the U.P. it is a really kewl place.

[razorback]

Great area! Be sure to see both the upper and lower falls at Taquamenon. Whitefish point has all the beautiful shoreline rocks. If you see people at the edge of the water stooped over, its the UP version of the "Sanibel Stoop", only they are picking up beautiful smooth round rocks. On the way back to Paradise from Taquamenon there is a little cafe on the left with some killer whitefish and a cold brew to slug it down with. Whitefish was one of our favorite places along with Barago SP on the western side of the UP.

The bad part is you'll miss the cherries coming ripe off the trees in mid-July in Door County. We are leaving Monday for a month's stay in Door County (just in time to get foundered on the fresh cherries!).

[woodedareas]

Last year we stayed in Door County and will be doing the same this time. I love Lake Michigan perch and there are some great fish fries. I can not be that complimentary about fish boils.The cherries are great. I didn't realize that some cherries are for cooking purposes and others can be directly consumed. The pies are great. Thanks for the information on the rocks at Whitefish, as I love to collect items as we travel.

[razorback]

You are right. The red cherries are for cooking and are very sour. The eating ones are red and yellow and are delicious. If you haven't tried the canned cherry salsa, don't miss it. It is such a taste sensation we always bring a couple of cases home with us. We will be stocking up on some extra jars of it to take to the FCU Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Rally in October. Can't wait!

[JBeilfuss]

Practical note..take lots of good bug spray. Black flies can carry you away. You will love the falls and Whitefish. Great place on way up is Wilderness Park near Mackinaw City. Sites right on the beach of Lake Michigan, looks like the Carribean at it's best! John