Trip north

Fredcook · 08-13-2019, 01:43 AM

Morning all, so the wife and i are headed on vac Thursday after work. We were supposed to be going to destin but due to weather and gulf conditions we have changed it and are going to make a big loop. Headed up thru Wisconsin going to green bay then to munising Michigan to check out pictured rock. From there to traverse city sleeping bear dunes. Going to check out lee land and do some kayaking take in some wineries and do some hiking. Haven’t been up in this part so we are very excited, have heard a lot of good things about the areas we are headed to. Just staying one night in Green Bay and one night in Munising then six in traverse city. If any one knows of anything that is a must see or do let me know.
Hope everyone is having a great summer.

notanlines · 08-13-2019, 03:02 AM

Fred, I would PM John and get a quick response from him. He isn't a Yooper, but that is where he and his family hang. Brenda and I have had pasty a couple times at Muldoon's in Munising and it is one of the best.
1246 W State Highway M28, Munising, MI
We stayed in a little town, Newberry, off highway 28, for a night at Evening Star Motel. Very neat and clean. And inexpensive. One of the best mushroom-Swiss burgers ever was had at Timber Charlie's Food and Spirit.
https://www.michigan.org/property/ta...lls-state-park

Fredcook · 08-13-2019, 04:21 AM

Thank you for the info

**JRTJH** · 08-13-2019, 06:12 AM

Munising Tourist Park is "literally on the Lake Superior shoreline" and you can park on the beach with full hookups. There's not quite anything else that matches sitting in the trailer on a "crisp summer morning" drinking a cup of good coffee while the sun rises over the lake, changing from pink to orange to brilliant sunshine with a clear blue sky reflecting off the water.... Yeah, I know, sort of dramatic, but if you're going to stay in Munising and can get a site along the western part of "Tourist Park" (sites 72-79) plan to "park on the water for an early sunrise).

As for the Pictured Rocks boat tour, take it, get in line early enough to get one of the top deck front row benches (wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days) and bring lots of film or batteries and SD cards.

The shipwreck boat tour isn't as inspiring as the coastline boat tour, so if you need to choose only one, do the coastline tour.

Muldoons is a great place to eat a pastie, get the authentic beef with rutabaga(no self respecting Yooper would eat chicken or vegetarian) and the apple pastie for dessert is a wise addition. As for "sit down restaurants" in Munising, don't expect much for the severly overpriced costs at every one I've tried. Save your money and eat at Muldoon's....

On your way to the lower peninsula, if you're going through Newberry, spend an afternoon at Tahquamenon Falls. There's parking for large rigs and the falls are "abundant" this year with all the rain.

Oh, there's a very small waterfall on the side of the road between Munising Tourist Park and Muldoon's, so stop where you see the wide spot on the shoulder, just before the hill, it's on the right side of the road, going to Munising and worth the 10 minutes to stop and look.

If you decide to skip Tahquamenon Falls, take US 2 along the southern edge of the UP. You'll spend most of the time inland, a mile or so from Lake Michigan, but the 30 miles or so that US 2 is on the water's edge are some great sites.

Not much to do in St Ignace except eat a pastie at Lehto's or catch the ferry to Mackinaw Island.

Traverse City is a great "central point" to spend a few days doing day trips to Sleeping Bear Dunes, Sutton's Bay, Old Mission Point (and lighthouse built in 1870). If you're staying at the State Park campground (almost downtown TC) don't forget to take time to walk across the road to walk along the beach on Grand Traverse Bay.

The Great Lakes, "Unsalted and shark free" is literally at your fingertips from Green Bay to Ecanaba, to Munising and then back to Chicago.

CrazyCain · 08-13-2019, 06:36 AM

Agree with everything Notanlines Jim and NRTJH John have said. Just spent 5 days in Traverse City and had a riot. EVerytime i go to the UP, i stop at Lehto's for the pastie. Enjoy the Mackinac Bridge, a real Gem for Michigan and my favortie part of going and coming fromn the UP... ENJOY

maccam1 · 08-13-2019, 05:18 PM

Just came back from mackinaw city,after a week there,if heading further east,mackinaw mill creek campground was awesome.
In st..ignance,castle rock was neat..went to sault ste.marie to the soo locks was very intresting.

Fredcook · 08-14-2019, 01:11 AM

Sounds great everyone and all the info is great. Doing a sunset boat tour for pictured rock, doing some kayaking on the plat river, sleeping bear dunes is on our list as well. I have made a list of the locations you all have listed and will give to the wife. She loves waterfalls so im sure there will be a visit. Again thanks

ctbruce · 08-14-2019, 03:54 AM

If you are day tripping, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is a dont miss. Recommend it highly.
https://www.shipwreckmuseum.com/

Frank G · 08-14-2019, 05:46 AM

The route from Mackinaw City to Traverse City.

Take rt 31 to Levering Mi, turn right on E. Levering Rd to Cross Village. There you will find Legs Inn, a Michigan Landmark, Great food and gardens overlooking Lake Michigan. Then travel south on Rt. 119, this will take you through the "Tunnel of Trees" one of Michigan's most scenic routs. Just before you get back to Rt 31 in Petoskey there is Toms Moms Cookies in Harbor Springs. In Petoskey, at the Odawa Casino on Rt 131 they allow overnighting, decent food and on occasion one of the machines paid for dinner, another time it paid for the trip. Follow Rt 31 to Traverse City. On route the City of Charlevoix has a lot of offerings, Great eateries down town. This is not the fast route, I could spend days covering it. So much to do and see.

Enjoy your trip

**JRTJH** · 08-14-2019, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fredcook

Sounds great everyone and all the info is great. Doing a sunset boat tour for pictured rock, doing some kayaking on the plat river, sleeping bear dunes is on our list as well. I have made a list of the locations you all have listed and will give to the wife. She loves waterfalls so im sure there will be a visit. Again thanks

If you're doing the sunset tour, TAKE A COAT.... While it may be 80F on shore, as the sun gets low in the west, out on Superior, the temps will get to the 50's and maybe the 40's, depending on the prevailing winds. Wind blowing from Canada, across Superior can be "damned cold" even when the people in Munising are complaining of the temp being too hot to go outside.

Fredcook · 08-14-2019, 03:55 PM

Yes sunset tour is what we are doing so thank you and love the info on the sites will take a look at all that we can. We are staying at indgo bluffs when in mich. and in munising we are at pictured rocks rev park and camp ground. Thanks again

**JRTJH** · 08-15-2019, 06:21 AM

Pictured Rocks RV Park is relatively new. Part of it opened last year the rest, this year. We have intended to ride through and see what's there, but so far, haven't been through Christmas without the trailer in tow yet this year.

So, after your stay, if you'd post a review of the campground and what you think of the "great metropolis of Christmas".....

hornet28 · 08-15-2019, 02:11 PM

"great metropolis of Christmas" That's a good one

jimborokz · 08-26-2019, 02:26 AM

Have never been to MI but this thread is making me want to go there.
Just wondering, what is a pasty? Sounds rather tempting. I'm guessing a regional delicacy.

hornet28 · 08-26-2019, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimborokz

Have never been to MI but this thread is making me want to go there.
Just wondering, what is a pasty? Sounds rather tempting. I'm guessing a regional delicacy.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/...nsula-pasties/

jimborokz · 08-26-2019, 03:46 AM

Yummy, tks.

Frank G · 08-26-2019, 07:12 AM

You can have all the Pasty's you want but we will drive 400 miles to dine on Planked Whitefish at the Driftwood Motel in St Ignace.

roadglide · 08-26-2019, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimborokz

Have never been to MI but this thread is making me want to go there.
Just wondering, what is a pasty? Sounds rather tempting. I'm guessing a regional delicacy.

We call them NM Empanadas with hatch green chilly from NM.

**JRTJH** · 08-26-2019, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadglide

We call them NM Empanadas with hatch green chilly from NM.

no...No...NO!!!!!!!

Empanadas are "MEAT" (no potatoes or rutabaga) rolled in a pastry shell... Empanadas are a "southwest flavored Natchitoches Meat Pie". A pastie is significantly different... There's LOTS more than "just meat" in a pastie......

Not to suggest that Natchitoches Meat Pies or Empanadas are not delicious, just that they aren't even close to the same thing as a UP pastie......

ctbruce · 08-26-2019, 09:24 PM

Pasties are the bomb. Go and get one.

Don't make the mistake I made when ordering. The a is short sound not long.

A pastie is way different from a pastie.

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