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Places to see in the UP

4K views 42 replies 24 participants last post by  ckupq 
#1 ·
I would like to plan a trip with my wife and son to see the UP over 4th of July. Planning on seeing pictured rock, and tahquamenon falls. i'm looking for low budget places to stay and places to see that aren't all touristy. I dont mind busy places just dont want to go from busy place to busy place the whole time we are up there.

we will be doing some camping along the way but it would be nice to have a bed to sleeping on and a warm shower through out the trip.
 
#3 ·
We stayed at Muskallonge State Park one summer for a week. Nice place. You are practically right on Lake Superior. Just cross the road, walk down a huge flight of stairs, and you're on the beach. Muskallonge is about in the middle of pictured rocks and the Tahquamenon Falls.
 
#6 ·
If you're the hiking type go hike hogsback just north of marquette on county road 550, if you are a little less of the hiking type hike sugarloaf just south of hogsback and on the east side of the road.

Cliff jumping off the black rocks in presque isle park in marquette.

Big Bay puts on a good fireworks show, or at least they did when I was a drunk college kid.
 
#7 ·
If you can only afford one boat tour from Munising, I'd recommend the Glass Bottom Ship Wrecks tour instead of the Pictured Rocks. In addition to seeing all of old sunken ships, you can see some of the Pictured Rocks too.

Make sure you check out some of the many waterfalls around Munising. A lot are within hiking distance from parking.
 
#8 ·
Just outside Whitefish Point (which I bet will be very busy on the 4th, BTW) there's a sweet beach and nature reserve that takes some dedication to get to. Probably won't be crowded at all. https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.761326,-85.139666&spn=0.036102,0.097589&t=h&z=14

Mouth of the Two Hearted (rustic campground here but might be full). If you go here you will see all of the leftovers from the forest fires last spring. Pretty crazy. https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.698523,-85.417714&spn=0.018072,0.048795&t=h&z=15

Gotta see Grand Marais if you haven't yet. Get a beer at Lake Superior Brewing Co. https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.678181,-85.961838&spn=0.036157,0.097589&t=h&z=14

There's a really scenic road now between Grand Marais and Munising.

Chapel Beach. Amazing. It takes a hike to get back there (including both the dirt roads and the hike itself) so that deters some people. NO DOGS ALLOWED :( . https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.548207,-86.433778&spn=0.018122,0.048795&t=h&z=15

Sandpoint beach in Munising. https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.453559,-86.60059&spn=0.009077,0.024397&t=h&z=16

Kinda pricey but the guided sea kayak tours of Pictured Rocks or Grand Island (depending on weather) are awesome. http://www.northernwaters.com/

Hotel in Munising that is nice: https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.440075,-86.655672&spn=0.00454,0.012199&t=h&z=17

Lots more to the west if you are going that far. As for camping, make sure you get the Mi DNR camping app. It shows all of them. First come first served on them though so it could get tight on the 4th, but I bet you can find something.
 
#18 ·
Just outside Whitefish Point (which I bet will be very busy on the 4th, BTW) there's a sweet beach and nature reserve that takes some dedication to get to. Probably won't be crowded at all. https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.761326,-85.139666&spn=0.036102,0.097589&t=h&z=14

Mouth of the Two Hearted (rustic campground here but might be full). If you go here you will see all of the leftovers from the forest fires last spring. Pretty crazy. https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.698523,-85.417714&spn=0.018072,0.048795&t=h&z=15

Gotta see Grand Marais if you haven't yet. Get a beer at Lake Superior Brewing Co. https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.678181,-85.961838&spn=0.036157,0.097589&t=h&z=14

There's a really scenic road now between Grand Marais and Munising.

Chapel Beach. Amazing. It takes a hike to get back there (including both the dirt roads and the hike itself) so that deters some people. NO DOGS ALLOWED :( . https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.548207,-86.433778&spn=0.018122,0.048795&t=h&z=15

Sandpoint beach in Munising. https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.453559,-86.60059&spn=0.009077,0.024397&t=h&z=16

Kinda pricey but the guided sea kayak tours of Pictured Rocks or Grand Island (depending on weather) are awesome. http://www.northernwaters.com/

Hotel in Munising that is nice: https://maps.google.com/?ll=46.440075,-86.655672&spn=0.00454,0.012199&t=h&z=17

Lots more to the west if you are going that far. As for camping, make sure you get the Mi DNR camping app. It shows all of them. First come first served on them though so it could get tight on the 4th, but I bet you can find something.
Awesome suggestions! My wife and I are going camping in the UP for 10 days in June... these will help a lot. :thumb:
 
#10 ·
Do a search on here for similar threads, there are a few a year with tons of good info. I know I've responded to a few with tons of info and I don't feel like typing it out again.

Also check on Lauren's facebook page, she asked about it a few weeks ago and I started listing tons of good ideas. If you go up toward the Keweenaw(an absolute must in my opinion) I've got about a million suggestions for you.
 
#13 ·
Go find Crisp Point Lighthouse.
 
#23 ·
Fayette State Park. It is an easy drive from Grand Marais and there's no cost to check it out.

If you're staying in Grand Marais I recommend The Diner for the best pizza in the UP and The Agate Cross B&B for a place to stay.
 
#26 ·
St. Ignace has free fireworks every Saturday night in the summer. The Shepler Ferry Dock is a great place to view from.

I also really like the whole Kewanaw region.

And, don't miss ths shipwreck museum/coast guard station at whitefish point.

X2 on the glass bottom boat ride and pictured rocks in Munising. Also, if you are divers, there are great charters out of Munising and St. Ignace.
 
#34 ·
Munising itself is pretty freakin boring, but there's a decent amount of stuff in either direction from there.....pretty much the whole northern coast of the UP has great scenery, but if you ask me the northwestern part(Keweenaw area) takes the cake hands down
 
#35 ·
Check out the Keweenaw region. The C&H Mine tour is there, and just walking around the grounds is cool if you do not wan tto do the tour.

Copper Harbor and Eagle river is cool, I like the beach @ Eagle river. When heading back south, take the 26 South out of Copper Harbor and watch for the Monk's bakery on the left. It is easy to miss. It has some of THE BEST baked good I have ever eaten. Cheap too.

Hit Fayette and Kitch-iti-kipi aka Big Spring (in Palms-Book state Park) on the way back, as they are on the southern shore of the UP.
 
#36 · (Edited)
If you head way west look these guys up.
http://www.kosirs.com/
They are based in WI but only a mile or two from Iron mountain MI. The river you run is actually in MI. Lots of fun.

edit. sorry. Forgot you were taking your son. ^ Maybe not a good suggestion.

http://www.garlynzoo.com/
This zoo is small but it's all in the shade and you can feed almost all of the animals. So fun for kids.
 
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