Upper michigan

Camping family · 10-14-2020, 04:10 PM

The wife and I are planing a trip to upper Michigan next year. Thinking around July or August maybe as late as September. Who has been to the upper part, where did you stay and what’s to see. Done some searching found plenty of National parks but would rather stay at an rv park as most national parks do not have full hook up.

Thank you in advance

tech740 · 10-14-2020, 05:29 PM

We are planning to go that way also next year. Log cabin resort and campground is where we plan to stay in Curtis. Looking forward to kitch-ita-kip and maybe moving on to copper harbor for a day or two also. Depending on the are you plan to go munising has many falls to visit. There is Thaqumanon also. Soo locks is pretty neat along with Fayette. If you don’t mind driving there is a lot to see.

Camping family · 10-14-2020, 05:47 PM

Driving not a problem. Yes the locks are nice I’ve seen them. But the wife has never been to,the upper part of mich .

roadglide · 10-14-2020, 05:48 PM

I was there first couple weeks of September. The weather was really nice everything was open including the casinos. Mackinac Island is Worth visiting take the buggy ride around the island. The only museum I visited was fort Mackinac that was very interesting and a lot of nice views of Lake Michigan. The Soo locks Boat tour Lake superior along the Canadian and American border is interesting.

**chuckster57** · 10-14-2020, 05:52 PM

IIRC that’s John’s (JRTJH) neck of the woods. Maybe PM him?

RCW · 10-14-2020, 05:56 PM

Pictured Rocks is a must see! Take the cruise out of Munising for the best views!

Stumpy75 · 10-17-2020, 03:48 AM

I just got back last week from a week in the UP. The weather in the fall can be variable. I had 8 days of rain/drizzle and cold... But the colors were still nice. Forecast for tomorrow in many areas of the UP is for 2" of snow... Peak color usually arrives around the end of September or early October. It was a little earlier than normal this year.

All that being said, the UP in the summer is a great area for getting away from things. Mid to late summer will get you away from the worst of the mosquito season, but you will still need bug spray. Cell service is spotty to none in some areas, but usable around most towns.

I happen to like the area around Copper Harbor for the history and the hiking trails in the area.

I stayed in the Lake Michigamme area(Michigamme Campgrounds-full hookups), which allowed me to explore a lot of the western UP. They had good wifi and cell coverage from Verizon was good.

As mentioned, Pictured Rocks boat tour is usually fun, and there are all sorts of waterfalls to explore in the area. Van Ripper State park is nearby, with a lot of nice trails. Craig State Wilderness Park is also nearby if you like the wilderness side of camping. That park is walkin only...

If you like more of the eastern UP, there's the Soo locks, Whitefish Point, Machinaw Island, the falls and the Seany Wildlife area, just to mention a few things. When there, I have stayed in Kritters North Country Campgrounds(some full hookup sites) a few miles north of Newberry. Ok wifi, and marginal Verizon service. Nice place, and great owners! There is also a newer park(an old KOA) just south of Newberry. I have not stayed there, so I don't know anything about it.

Have fun planning!

CrazyCain · 10-17-2020, 04:25 AM

I thought you were talking about the the northern part of lower Michigan until you mentioned Curtis and realized you meant the Upper Peninsula..

Everywhere in the UP is heaven, especially Lake Superior....

Enjoy Michigan's UP, way to much to see and never enough time!!

Northofu1 · 10-17-2020, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyCain

I thought you were talking about the the northern part of lower Michigan until you mentioned Curtis and realized you meant the Upper Peninsula..

Everywhere in the UP is heaven, especially Lake Superior....

Enjoy Michigan's UP, way to much to see and never enough time!!

I will second that emotion.

P.S. Can't we install like buttons or the thumbs up thumbs down options?

**JRTJH** · 10-17-2020, 08:01 AM

The UP, at least in my opinion, is the "unspoiled, less populated" version of Wisconsin Dells. There are fewer people, fewer and smaller towns and villages, fewer pizza delivery services and even fewer Subway sandwich shops...

The charm and the draw, again IMHO, is the unspoiled, unpopulated, back to nature opportunities that still abound in the UP. You won't find "long lines at every store" in the UP. You won't find the "street full of balloon shops along the beach front". You won't find the row of fast food places in every town and you won't find the "RV luxury resorts" with every amenity and free bus service to town"... Reason: There's probably no town to go to.....

What you will find in the UP (along with the mosquitoes and black flies) is a place you can walk with nature, stop and watch the waves break along the rocky shoreline and not see another "human with an ice cream cone" all afternoon.... That, to me, is the "charming piece that makes the UP even more of a destination rather than a way to move from the city to a summer housing area.

**chuckster57** · 10-17-2020, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckster57

IIRC that’s John’s (JRTJH) neck of the woods. Maybe PM him?

I was wondering when you might see this thread and respond

Camping family · 10-17-2020, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

The UP, at least in my opinion, is the "unspoiled, less populated" version of Wisconsin Dells. There are fewer people, fewer and smaller towns and villages, fewer pizza delivery services and even fewer Subway sandwich shops...

The charm and the draw, again IMHO, is the unspoiled, unpopulated, back to nature opportunities that still abound in the UP. You won't find "long lines at every store" in the UP. You won't find the "street full of balloon shops along the beach front". You won't find the row of fast food places in every town and you won't find the "RV luxury resorts" with every amenity and free bus service to town"... Reason: There's probably no town to go to.....

What you will find in the UP (along with the mosquitoes and black flies) is a place you can walk with nature, stop and watch the waves break along the rocky shoreline and not see another "human with an ice cream cone" all afternoon.... That, to me, is the "charming piece that makes the UP even more of a destination rather than a way to move from the city to a summer housing area.

Thank you I know how piece full it is. Have visited my brother who lived in Pickford a few times before his passing. But never been there camping or with the wife who has never been to the UP. we just purchased a 5th wheel and plan on making the trip next year. Been looking for places to park the camper and then drive and see the beautiful places.

Northofu1 · 10-17-2020, 12:56 PM

I like it because it reminds me of Northern Ontario, minus the rattle snakes around the Georgian Bay portion of Lake Huron.

CrazyCain · 10-17-2020, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

The UP, at least in my opinion, is the "unspoiled, less populated" version of Wisconsin Dells. There are fewer people, fewer and smaller towns and villages, fewer pizza delivery services and even fewer Subway sandwich shops...

The charm and the draw, again IMHO, is the unspoiled, unpopulated, back to nature opportunities that still abound in the UP. You won't find "long lines at every store" in the UP. You won't find the "street full of balloon shops along the beach front". You won't find the row of fast food places in every town and you won't find the "RV luxury resorts" with every amenity and free bus service to town"... Reason: There's probably no town to go to.....

What you will find in the UP (along with the mosquitoes and black flies) is a place you can walk with nature, stop and watch the waves break along the rocky shoreline and not see another "human with an ice cream cone" all afternoon.... That, to me, is the "charming piece that makes the UP even more of a destination rather than a way to move from the city to a summer housing area.

That description is PURE MICHIGAN John!

gearhead · 10-17-2020, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech740

We are planning to go that way also next year. Log cabin resort and campground is where we plan to stay in Curtis. Looking forward to kitch-ita-kip and maybe moving on to copper harbor for a day or two also. Depending on the are you plan to go munising has many falls to visit. There is Thaqumanon also. Soo locks is pretty neat along with Fayette. If you don’t mind driving there is a lot to see.

Have you stayed in this campground before?

notanlines · 10-18-2020, 03:20 AM

Just a thought if you are interested, off I75 you are generally within 25 miles of being able to swim in three of the five great lakes. Mighty cold for the uninitiated I better add!

tech740 · 10-18-2020, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearhead

Have you stayed in this campground before?

I have not. I plan to this summer. The sites back in the trees look fantastic. Granted I am going off photos. I am about 4 hours south of there so it would be a drive to scout it out.

tech740 · 10-18-2020, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

Just a thought if you are interested, off I75 you are generally within 25 miles of being able to swim in three of the five great lakes. Mighty cold for the uninitiated I better add!

Superior is so cold. Even when the locals call it warm/

gearhead · 10-18-2020, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech740

I have not. I plan to this summer. The sites back in the trees look fantastic. Granted I am going off photos. I am about 4 hours south of there so it would be a drive to scout it out.

I'm about a 24 hour drive from there. I've learned not to trust RV park pics too much.
Are you saying the deluxe pull throughs or the back in sites with the tree line behind them? The deluxe pull throughs do look pretty good.
The back in sites look like they could get crowded if many people are parking a boat next to their RV.
The only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on a reservation are the bugs in July. I'm going to have to get off the fence soon.

gearhead · 10-18-2020, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tech740

I have not. I plan to this summer. The sites back in the trees look fantastic. Granted I am going off photos. I am about 4 hours south of there so it would be a drive to scout it out.

I'm about a 24 hour drive from there. I've learned not to trust RV park pics too much.
The back in sites look like they could get crowded if many people are parking a boat next to their RV.
The only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on a reservation are the bugs in July. I'm going to have to get off the fence soon.

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