Quick U.P. Vacay

[Bulldog0156]

Pictured Rocks is great. If you’ve got time, do some hiking or do the boat tour. If you do the boat tour, book it earlier in the morning as the lake will typically be calmer. Tahquamenon Falls is nice, if you do the hike from upper to lower (or vice versa), definitely pack some water and some bug dope. Munising is great, but I’m partial to Grand Marais. If you make to GM, take a walk out to the pier, or head east of town on H-58 for and park along the lake shore about have way to Deer Park and you’ll have miles of shoreline to yourself to explore.

If you’re into huge greasy hamburgers, a Big-C from Clyde’s in St. Ignorance is worth it with a side of onion rings. I wouldn’t recommend trying to eat that thing while driving, but I can say I’ve done it and lived to tell the story. That's usually my "going home" meal after my annual October grouse trip.

On your return trip, plan on a stop in Brevort’s at Gustafson’s for some smoked whitefish and some crackers. Stop along the Lake Michigan shore and enjoy a sunset and a little taste of da yoop. If you’ve got kids, make another stop at Big Spring (Kitch-it-kipi) and let the kids check out the big trout.

Fayette State Park is also a good stop for the kids and isn’t too far of a jaunt down the Garden Peninsula. That’s a strange little microclimate with an equally strange set of local families. There’s essentially one road onto the peninsula and one road off. “Garden Green” was a thing for a long, long time before it became legal, and rumor has it they would round-bail their home grown produce at the end of the summer. Not my thing, but I’ve killed a few happy laid-back grouse on the peninsula.

I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time in the UP over the years and I've gotta say this- pasties just aren’t my thing. My mom has a wonderful pasty recipe handed down from generations from her friend from Hancock. They’re good (and a chit-ton of work!), but I’d rather have a mediocre cheeseburger. If you decide to stop and try them, I’m told Lehto’s are the best. Like I said, they’re just not my thing.

Have a great trip, grab a Yooper Ale (or six), and enjoy the sunsets. When you get home, just don't tell anybody. ;-)

-tom

My parents have a place on the lake

Wealth of info! Thanks. I will put Clydes on the list!

There's a Clyde's in the Soo too. If you're heading south on I-75 from the Soo, Gustafson's will be out of your way quite a bit but you can take the M-123 exit and hit King's fish market in Moran. They have some darn good food and feesh.

 

[Bulldog0156]

Man, so many good memories are coming up with this thread. Can't wait to head back to Yooperland next summer.

 

[Steelsearchin]

Good stuff!! We're actually going to be in kalispell next week! Wife and I honeymooned in big fork/glacier 15 years ago and now we get to take the kids. Sounds like things have been extra busy this summer, but we're looking forward to some early morning hikes.

 

[Gellar]

Black harbor, rainbow Falls, lake of the clouds, the Porkies, Eagle Harbor, beer, and Bond falls. We are going to the Pictured Rocks this morning. Tips for traveling with little kids: take your plans and throw 1/2 of the out the window!

 

[Gellar]

We got back home from the U.P. on Tuesday. It was a quick trip and we will be back. Some of the highlights were Copper Peak ski flying hill( I can’t believe someone would actually survive that, let alone have functioning knees afterwards), the many different waterfalls and the lighthouses. We stayed near ironwood for 2 nights and Marquette for 1 night. There were people at all of the places we visited but it was not so crowded to be intolerable. Next time we would like to spend more time near Copper Harbor, and be able to explore the backcountry of the porkies more. I was hoping to be able to kayak on Superior to see Spray Falls and other sights at Pictured Rocks but the waves were 3+ feet both days we were there. We have sea kayaks and did not feel safe taking them out but people were still trying it in recreational kayaks. Luckily everyone we saw abandoned that plan very quickly. I did get to check off swimming in Lake Superior at a protected bay near Marquette. It was the last of the Great Lakes that I hadn’t swam in. It was cold, but not as cold as I anticipated! Thank you for all of the help and recommendations!

 

[Gellar]

I’ve been meaning to add this but keep forgetting and the post by Buzz about trash on public land reminded me...We stopped at several MDOT rest areas while we were In the U.P. Why none of them were overly fancy, they had everything a family needed to have a picnic lunch while traveling and they were exceptionally clean. I know how hard it is to keep up with those roadside parks from experience and MDOT was doing awesome!

 

[Steelsearchin]

Nice!! Glad the yooper mdot folks are doing more than leaning on shovels and holding signs that say, "Fixing da road, come back later."

I'm sure the color change has kicked into gear by now, and thats one if the prettiest places on the planet.

 

[Rhino Hunter]

We got back home from the U.P. on Tuesday. It was a quick trip and we will be back. Some of the highlights were Copper Peak ski flying hill( I can’t believe someone would actually survive that, let alone have functioning knees afterwards), the many different waterfalls and the lighthouses. We stayed near ironwood for 2 nights and Marquette for 1 night. There were people at all of the places we visited but it was not so crowded to be intolerable. Next time we would like to spend more time near Copper Harbor, and be able to explore the backcountry of the porkies more. I was hoping to be able to kayak on Superior to see Spray Falls and other sights at Pictured Rocks but the waves were 3+ feet both days we were there. We have sea kayaks and did not feel safe taking them out but people were still trying it in recreational kayaks. Luckily everyone we saw abandoned that plan very quickly. I did get to check off swimming in Lake Superior at a protected bay near Marquette. It was the last of the Great Lakes that I hadn’t swam in. It was cold, but not as cold as I anticipated! Thank you for all of the help and recommendations!

Gellar,

I’m glad you were able to visit Da’ UP, Eh! LOL.

My family migrated to the UP starting in the 70’s, and I’ve been going up North ever since. My Grandma, my Mom and my Brother lived in the Bruce Crossing/Pauling area so I’ve been to Bond Falls a few times over the years. We also had a Deer Camp in the area for (30) years. My son went to MTU to get his engineering degree which gave me reason to visit the Keweenaw Peninsula many times over his 4-1/2 years there. My Dad retired in the East end of the UP by Whitefish Bay, so I spend a lot of time up there too. You definitely hit a lot of the highlights on your trip. And drinking a KBC beer always helps to enjoy the moment. LOL.

Again, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s truly God’s Country up there.

 

[Gellar]

Gellar,

I’m glad you were able to visit Da’ UP, Eh! LOL.

My family migrated to the UP starting in the 70’s, and I’ve been going up North ever since. My Grandma, my Mom and my Brother lived in the Bruce Crossing/Pauling area so I’ve been to Bond Falls a few times over the years. We also had a Deer Camp in the area for (30) years. My son went to MTU to get his engineering degree which gave me reason to visit the Keweenaw Peninsula many times over his 4-1/2 years there. My Dad retired in the East end of the UP by Whitefish Bay, so I spend a lot of time up there too. You definitely hit a lot of the highlights on your trip. And drinking a KBC beer always helps to enjoy the moment. LOL.

Again, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s truly God’s Country up there.

We will be back. It’s a shame we haven’t been to such beautiful country before as its only a short 5 hour drive to Ironwood. I have found several recipes for pasty’s and I will be making some very soon when I have time.