OT: Roadtrippin’ through the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin
After being deprived of any real adventure and not getting outdoors enough since lockdown, we escaped to my parents’ cottage in Frankfort, MI for the week. But rather than taking the quick way back home to Chicago, we decided this weekend we’d take the long way back and drive west through the Upper Peninsula and then south down Wisconsin. Wondering if the board has any recommendations for must-see/must-do/must-eats.
Current itinerary is...
Friday: Drive north on US-31 and make a stop in Petoskey, drive over the Mackinac Bridge, and then drive west along scenic US-2. Then we’ll cut up north towards Munising to see Pictured Rocks and stay the night in Marquette. 5.5 hours drive time.
Saturday: Drive south on US-41 through Green Bay and then head up the peninsula to Door County, WI. Staying the night in Sturgeon Bay. 4 hours drive time.
Sunday: Head south back to Chicago and stop at Mars Cheese Castle before crossing the border. 4 hours drive time.
Appreciate any ideas!
In my opinion the ONLY way to really see the pictured rocks is on a boat. Get on a tour boat or rent a pontoon or kayak if you have time. Also there are tons of waterfalls near munising worth checking out, I think Tannery falls was my favorite because you can walk behind them but not as popular as some of the others. Check out Grand Sable dunes near Grand Marais if time permits.
Love Tannery falls. Doesn't get a lot of visitors because it is one of the smaller ones, but it's nice not being around the crowds.
Little pic I took of the falls a few years back.
I've seen things you citiots wouldn't believe.
Black bears in trees off the slopes of Mt Arvon.
I watched the Borealis glitter in the dark near the mouth of the Huron.
You can have your tourist traps. Give me the McCormick Wilderness and the back country between L'Anse and Big Bay.
A bucket list item of mine: snowmobile the L'Anse to Big Bay circuit. That's some ruggedly beautiful country.
would you do that circuit naked? muy macho....
If you are going to do Pictured Rocks, do it justice or plan to go back soon. From Seney, continue north on M-77 to Grand Marais and take H-58 all the way through the Lakeshore to Munising, stopping at various places other people have mentioned. Having hiked it end-to-end last summer, I recommend the log slide, the lighthouse (about a 1 mile hike from parking, but easy walking), and Miner's Castle as a bare minimum of sites to see. Plan on at least two additional hours drive time, plus more time stopped for enjoyment and learning than you expect. Get an early start from Frankfort and don't expect to arrive in Marquette until just about dark.
If you choose to go to Kitch-iti-kipi, consider taking NF-13 north to Munising, then just visit Miner's Castle in PIRO. I was camping up there a couple weeks ago and 13 has been recently repaved, and had very little traffic except for occasional logging trucks. Turn off US-2 about 8 miles west of Garden Corners.
Southbound from Escanaba you can take M-35 along the coast instead of US-41. Wells State Park at Cedar River has a nice beach for a break.
Great recommendations, thank you. Continuing north on 77 and driving on H-58 sounds really cool. We were also contemplating doing the cruise tours (2.5 hours) for Pictured Rocks. Not sure if we should do both or choose one of the two.
We’ll definitely plan on taking 35 along the shoreline.
If you can spare the time from Petoskey to Mackinac, hang a left off of 31 and take 119 - Tunnel of Trees scenic route along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Stop for lunch in Cross Village at Legs Inn.
Mickey Lu's in Marinette, WI is a must.
Whistling Straits is on that route, just outside of Sheboygan - if you're a golf fan. Rainieri's Four of a Kind, Il Ritrovo, and Field to Fork are a couple of my favorite restaurants in Sheboygan.
Port Washington is a cool town on the Lake Michigan coast with some good restaurants and shops, not too far north of Milwaukee.
Ore Dock Brewery in Marquette.
And read some Jim Harrison when you get home.
Second vote for Legs Inn for lunch.
Check out canyon falls near L’Anse. If you follow the river for a little bit beyond the falls there’s a really good place to do some cliff jumping. Also if you’re going to be in Marquette black rocks is a cool place to jump.
Loved all the suggestions about the UP, although when in the Copper Country pick up some Vollwerth’s sausage. The company has been around for over 100 years.
I love Door County as well. When in Sturgeon Bay take Bayshore Drive north toward Egg Harbor and keep going through Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay all the way to Gills Rock. Beautiful drive and wonderful little towns. If you have the time take the car ferry over to Washington Island. On the way back take the Hwy 57 route through Bailys Harbor along the east coast of the Door peninsula to complete your first pass through Door County. You will be back I am sure.
Lake of the Clouds in Porcupine Mountains is worth a stop for sure.
I'm hopefully getting married just north of Menominee this October. I've never been to that area, but I hear it's about perfect that time of year. If you find any restaurant gems near there, I'd love to hear for possible catering ideas.