Day One - Mackinaw Island
I rode my bike around the whole island once!
Once we get into Mackinaw City (a 3 hour drive from my home town) you board a ferry boat to get on to the island. There are no cars allowed on the island. Just horses and bikes.
via sheplersferry.com
Once on the island, we will check into our hotel, and have the remainder of the afternoon to explore the island, hopefully on horseback!
Day Two- St. Ignace, Paradise & Newberry
First we are going to stop in St. Ignace to climb this- Castle Rock. It won't take that long. No- you don't climb the face of the rock, there are stairs with a very pretty view from the top!
Then it is onto Paradise, where we will spend the afternoon at Tahquamenon Falls.
both pictures via http://www.gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/tahquamenon.shtml
Once evening comes, we will head back to the car and drive the short distance to Newberry. Which was the closest place I could find a hotel for us to stay the night and get some dinner.
Day Three - Munising (and surrounding area), and Marquette
There is a waterfall, in a state park, that has no city name. It is outside of Munising. We are going here to see the Laughing Whitefish Falls.
image via lakesuperiorphoto.com
After that, we will head into Munising for a pictured rocks cruise, along the Pictured Rocks National Lake shore. The following four pictures are from munising.org.
Bridal Veil Falls (how appropriate!)
Chapel Rock and Indian Head
Miners Castle
After the cruise is over, we are going to drive the 45 minutes to Marquette, check into our hotel and have some dinner.
Day Four - Marquette
Yes, I dedicated a whole day just to being in Marquette. I couldn't help myself. We will be covering a lot of ground in Marquette. Literally.
First we will go to Presque Isle. Which is a park north of Marquette on Lake Superior. I THINK you can get to Little Presque Isle from here, by walking when the tide is low through the water. I doubt we will do that part though- Lake Superior is cold even in summer!
via flicker- via a yahoo search
From there we are off to Sugar Loaf Mountain
one of the trails up. Image via flickr - via yahoo search
You can see Superior Dome from the top!
Image via flickr.com
After that I'd like to try and find Morgan Falls and Alder Falls. Which, if I understand correctly, aren't the easiest to come by. No signs really, and the locals don't help much either. (So I've heard!) Sounds like a good way to get lost... or a good way to have some adventure!! (both pictures via flickr- via yahoo)
Morgan Falls
Alder Falls
Depending on what time it is when we get back, I would also like to go to Presque Isle Park. Not to be confused with Presque Isle! This is actually a place that is right in Marquette. About 3 minutes from the main part of town.
After all of that, we will need to have a nice relaxing dinner and go to bed! Another long day is up next!
Day Five - Ishpeming, Eagle River and Copper Harbor
Not too far outside of Marquette is Ishpeming. Once there we will visit the Black River Falls
image via flicker- via yahoo
Somewhere after Ishpeming, but before you pass through Houghton, there are the Canyon River Falls. Another place that has no city, but it awesome to visit. You can walk forever following the river back into the woods. I think the longest time I have ever spent just walking along the river is an hour and a half or so. You DO end up going off the regular path (tisk tisk I know!) but its so beautiful.
both photos via gowaterfalling.com
After that we will get back on the road and head to Eagle River to the Eagle River Falls.
image via gowaterfalling.com
After that we will go up to Copper Harbor, which is the furthest north you can get in Michigan. We are going to go up the Brockway Mountain Drive. Where we will have views like this:
image via mlive.com
I also found a little hotel (back down the mountain) that overlooks the water and we will be staying there for the night.
Day Six - Houghton, Greenland, Bruce Crossing, Iron Mountain
After we leave Copper Harbor we are heading for Greenland. We will stop quick in Houghton to grab some breakfast on the way. Once we get to Greenland we are going to go on a copper mine tour.
image via adventureminetours.com
Then we will go to Bruce Crossing, to see O Kun de Kun Falls and Agate Falls! (via gowaterfalling.com)
O Kun de Kun Falls
Agate Falls
Once back into town, we will grab some dinner and drive to Iron Mountain, where we are really only going to stay the night. Nothing else really planned here.
Day Seven - Escanaba, Manistique, and another no city pretty location
Escanaba is just a stop along the way to have some breakfast. Once we get to Manistique we will go to the Kitch iti kipi springs. It's basically a glass bottom boat. You pull yourself across the water by rope.
both images via flickr- via yahoo
Then we basically drive back towards St. Ignace following the lower half of the UP. We will stop at the cut river bridge, because it is beautiful-
Take the stairs down to this beautiful spot!
via flickr - via yahoo search
Once we get to St. Ignace and get back over the Mackinaw Bridge, we are going to stay overnight in Mackinaw City. They have a lot of cute shops and places to walk around- Like Alice's. It's a long running tradition that started with my grandma. I can't go through Mackinaw City without stopping at Alice's!
person photo
Day Eight - Grayling and Back Home
Technically day eight isn't much of anything. We will leave Mackinaw City, making a stop in Grayling to have breakfast. Why wait until then for breakfast you may ask? Another tradition with my grandma. Her family owns the Grayling restaurant. (Her picture is on the wall!) I love their breakfast, and we always make sure to stop there. So even though she's not going with us. Lance and I have to stop.
via graylingrestaurant.com
After that we are going home. Or well, we are going back to my moms house. We are celebrating Little Buddha's first birthday this day too! Which is very exciting as well, that I will actually be home for it!
Well, thats our trip! Did you make it through all 8 days with me?! I'm kind of tired just writing it out! A lot of the pictures you will have to imagine pretty fall colors in them instead of green. It's pretty either way though!
What do you think? Did I do good planning? To my Michigan Bees- did I miss anything important?
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