How to Spend a Week in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is the northern half of the state, surrounded by Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior. It is an area of vast wilderness, beaches and small towns. The Upper Peninsula offers something for everyone, from outdoor sports enthusiasts to lovers of music and culture. Visitors to the Upper Peninsula will find fantastic vistas, friendly people and a culture unique to the area. Read on to learn how to spend a week in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Take a ferry to Mackinac Island. Start your trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula with a visit to Mackinac Island and the Mackinac Bridge. The island, which is a short boat trip from the shore, is a picturesque place that has banned motor vehicles and oozes old-world charm. The Mackinac Bridge is an architectural wonder that spans over five miles, connecting Michigan's Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula.

2. Watch the Soo Locks. In Sault Ste. Marie, on the border of Michigan and Canada, lies the Soo Locks, the massive system of water locks that connect U.S. waterways to Canadian waterways. Built in 1885 and often called one of the engineering wonders of the world, the Soo Locks are one of the busiest water transportation systems in the world. Watch as enormous shipping boats pass through the locks, changing water levels as they go.

3. Visit the Pictured Rocks. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is one of the Upper Peninsula's most scenic areas of coastline. Located near Munising, Michigan, they boast more than 40 miles of stunning sandstone cliffs and clear, cold water. Visitors can rent kayaks to tour the shoreline individually or with tours, and opportunities for hiking and larger boat tours abound.

4. Head to Houghton. Hancock and Houghton are the two largest of the northernmost cities on the Upper Peninsula. They boast two universities, and are host to countless music, theatrical and artistic displays. In the winter, watch out for the Northern Lights, a common occurrence. See university hockey games and see the amazing ice sculptures at Michigan Tech's famous Winter Carnival.

5. Play winter sports. The Upper Peninsula gets a massive amount of snow each year. The large network of trails makes it a popular location for snowmobiling and cross country skiing, and ice fishermen can set up a hut on the ice. A number of ski hills offer affordable rates for skiing and snowboarding, and local businesses are always happy to see winter tourists.

6. Go fishing. Surrounded on all sides by water, Michigan's Upper Peninsula is the ideal place to cast a line. Fish near shore, off shore, or on one of the countless inland lakes for trout, pike, whitefish, and a number of other species.

7. Go north. Head to Copper Harbor, the tiny town at the very northernmost tip of the Upper Peninsula. Visit Fort Wilkins, the site of an old Army outpost, and watch the historical reenactments. Hike along the pristine Lake Superior shoreline and, if you're brave, take a dip in its notoriously cold waters. Have dinner at the Harbor Haus or Mariner North restaurants, and enjoy fresh fish directly from the lake. Take a sunset cruise or paddle on the lake at dusk, and enjoy the peace of Michigan's far north.