Hello everyone,We are in southern Michigan now and soon heading to the Upper Peninsula. I would like to get some recommendations on where to stay and what to do. We will be going from east to west across the entire UP. We like hiking/walking, biking, kayaking, eating and beautiful scenery.We do not need RV parks with lots of amenities, we are not golfer, no need for a pool and we have no kids with us. Simple and clean work best for us.We just spend a wonderful few days in the East Lansing area visiting Michigan State Univ. I have not been back here since graduating in 1981. Any advice is welcome.Thanks in advance,Stuart & Leslie

Great place to stay in Mackinaw for a few nights to see the bridge and take a day trip to Mackinaw IslandMackinaw Mill CreekSault Ste Marie -Look out your window drinking morning coffee and watch the freighters pass by only a few hundred yards away. Aune Osborn CampgroundAt west end of locks under railroad bridge is WEST PIER Drive In which is the best keep secret of the best old fashioned burgers and frys anywhere. Randu

+1 Stay at Aune Osborn campground and watch the boats come past as you read a good book while sitting in your lounge chair drinking your morning coffee. In the afternoon take the SOO Locks cruise and go through the locks while having a local beverage of choice. Follow Lake Superior to Whitefish Point and see the Bell of the Edmund Fitzgerald at the Shipwreck Museum. Then go to Taquamenon Falls State Park and camp there. There is a good brewpub on the premises for dinner. Travel to Munising and camp at the Munising Tourist Park right on the shores of Lake Superior. Bring a hoodie. Take a tour boat from Munising along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore or take a glass bottom boat tour of the wrecks in Lake Superior or take your kayaks and enjoy the shoreline.. On the way to Marquette, stop at Lakenenland and view the metal sculptures. In Ishpeming. Stop at Da Yooper Tourist Trap for some laughs. Stay at Van Riper State Park on the shores of Lake Michigamme. Have dinner at Mt. Shasta Restaurant and view the pics of the crew of "Anatomy of a Murder". Continue your trip to Silver City and see the Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine National Forest. Great hiking spot!! Stay there or in the town of Houghton at the City Park on the canal. Take a side trip to Copper Harbor. On the way, visit the Iron Ore Mine Tour in Hancock.

Lake Michigamme Shores, Champion, Mich. is located in a central location. Easy drive to Copper Harbor and other points in the far North. Much better than moving 2 or 3 times. I agree with the Painted Rocks, Soo, Straights, etc. I would add the casino that is about 10 miles West of Escanaba. They have an outstanding RV Park with lower rates.

We really enjoyed the Porcupine Mountains at the west end of UP. The state park campground right on Lake Superior is a good choice.

The name of the casino RV park is Island Resort & Casino at Harris MI. 58 sites and you do not have to gamble in the casino to stay there. Very reasonable rates.

Michigan "UP" advice needed | Good Sam Community

Dog_Trainer
Explorer
Jun 14, 2014
On your route don't leave out a day at Pictured rocks and the evening boat tour to view them from the lake they are along your route near the city of Munising. We are leaving june 25th and into the UP for 3 weeks.
bcgarrison
Explorer
Jun 14, 2014
Neebish Island neebishislandresort.com
2500HDee
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
S-n-L wrote:
Hello everyone,

We have decided to head to Mackinac Isl, then to the Soo Locks, then follow the northern route to the Porcupine Mtns then Copper Harbor. After that off to Duluth, MN.

We will have lots to look forward on our next trip here.

Thanks again for all of your help,

SNL

If you have time, you should make an effort to hike the Escarpment Trail in the Porkies. It is about 4 miles one way and offers some spectacular views of The Lake of the Clouds. To do a one way hike I have parked at the top near the lookout and left the truck there, then I rode my bike down the road to the start of the trail and locked it up. Then my wife and I took our time and hiked to the top. When we got there the truck was waiting and we were able to drive down and pick up my bike. The trail is uphill if you do it this way but my wife had no problem doing it 6 months pregnant. Be sure to bring water, snacks and most importantly a camera. If you are lucky you may even see some black bear.

If you have more time you can put together some really nice longer hiking loops (~16 to 20 miles) and go over to Government Peak and down to Lake of the Clouds.

When you are in Copper Harbor stop in and see Sam at the Keweenaw Adventure Company for information on hiking, biking and paddling in the area. You will not be disappointed.

Edit: One more thing, on you way toward Duluth, stop at The Adventure Mine in Greenland, MI and take an amazing underground tour of a turn o f the century copper mine. You can even take tours where you rappel down mine shafts to lower level. Matt and Vicky have put together a wonderful experience there.
S-n-L
Explorer
Jun 12, 2014
Hello everyone,

We have decided to head to Mackinac Isl, then to the Soo Locks, then follow the northern route to the Porcupine Mtns then Copper Harbor. After that off to Duluth, MN.

We will have lots to look forward on our next trip here.

Thanks again for all of your help,

SNL
reinita
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Our favorite is Muskallonge Lake State Park. Just electric at the sites. Many have a lake view even if not right on the water. They can accommodate big rigs. You can do day trips to tahquamenon falls and pictured rocks. There's a great store down the road, Deer Park, where you can get anything you need and rent a boat: http://deerparklodge.typepad.com/deerparklodge/2007/04/muskallonge_lak.html
You're also across the street from Lake Superior. Pack a picnic lunch, hang out and look for agates. Perfect!
Have a safe trip.
dverstra
Explorer
Jun 10, 2014
Dadoffourgirls wrote:
If you take US 2 along the north shore of Lake Michigan, stop at Gustafson's for some of the best smoked whitefish. They are near Moran/Brevort.

Also stop for a pasty at the Whitetail Restaurant in Brevort.
ktosv
Explorer
Jun 10, 2014
If you are traveling through Gaylord, stop and see the elk. One of the viewing areas is east of BR I-75 on Grandview Blvd. We stopped the Friday of Memorial Day weekend just before dusk and saw about 30-40 elk. Some of the bulls already have good sized antlers.

Gaylord Elk

If you had time, with the winter we had I bet now would be a great time to see elk in the wild in the Pigeon River Forest.

Parrothead Mike mentioned Indian Lake just west of Manistique. Nearby is Kitch-iti-kipi, or the Big Spring at Palms Book State Park. It is a large spring feed pond/lake that you can take a raft out onto and look to the bottom of the pond. You probably can't kayak it, but it is cool to see.

Palms Book SP

If you take the suggestions to go to Whitefish Point, you might as well visit Tahquamenon Falls while you are right there. The kids enjoyed it so much last summer we took a road trip in February (2 weeks after #5 was born) to see it almost frozen over. There are hiking trails that connect the upper and lower falls.
Dadoffourgirls
Explorer
Jun 10, 2014
If you take US 2 along the north shore of Lake Michigan, stop at Gustafson's for some of the best smoked whitefish. They are near Moran/Brevort.
dverstra
Explorer
Jun 10, 2014
Great to see that you are in Michigan. In Traverse City, go north on Hwy 37 (its on the center peninsula) and do a winery tour. On your way to the Bridge, stop in Mackinaw City and see Fort Michilimackinac.
S-n-L
Explorer
Jun 10, 2014
Thank you all, wow, there is so much to do and so little time. We will be in the UP for about 5 days. We have a large rig so I am not sure if we can stay at the state parks. We prefer full hook ups with 50 amps but can easily stay in a more primitive site and can boondock as well.

Leslie and I will be researching all of these places and make some decisions soon. We are now in Traverse City, MI and looking forward to touring this area over the next few days. Tomorrow off to Sleeping Bear Dunes!!!!

Best,

SNL