2019-12 Munising Michigan PART 2 OF THE U.P.

2019-12

Marquette Michigan
Munising Michigan

lots of waterfalls in the Munising area
I didn't explore them much on this trip

U.P. part 2

Campground: Ojibwa Casino. This was plan A. In the past they had about a dozen nice campsites in a pine tree setting. Due to rebuilding and enlarging the casino it has been torn down. Not even enough parking for Rv’s in the parking lot. Lots of construction going on. As of June 2019.

Campground: Chocolay River Rv Park. This was plan B. It’s a Passport America campground. New. Unfortunately when I tried to get a site, the new campground was completely full due to workers in the area building a new pipe line. As of June 2019 (will probably be full up for the next year.

Campground: Plan C. Kewadin Christmas Casino, near Munising Mich. Cost: Free. 30/50 amp electric. No water or sewer, but that’s available across the street at a Forest campground. Setting is parking lot style and sites are close together as two campers can use each electric post.

Note: would not recommend Bay Furnace Campground, National Forest. During June anyway, the mosquitoes are terrible, even during the daytime. But they do have water and a sewer dump ($5 for non campers)

Well every Rv-er knows it’s good to have a backup. Didn’t expect to have to go to plan C, but it still worked out. I have a few things I want to tour in the Marquette area and will be able to do that in a few days with my friend Ron the Ranger.

Munising. 

 This is a beautiful area to explore and of course see the Pictures Rocks National Lakeshore. A number of lighthouses are in the area as well as numerous waterfalls. I’ve seen many of these things in the area in the past so I decided to do something different this time.

I took the Glasss Bottom Shipwreck Tour, $31 senior rate. Well worth the price. A two hour tour traveling the west side of the bay opposite Picture Rocks. The scenery is stunning, a spectacular lighthouse, wonderful rock formations along the shoreline, with caves and arches of sandstone. The glass bottom views of the ship wrecks were good and you could even see much of the wreckage over the side of the boat as well. Later this summer they should have their new, larger glass bottom boat in service. Should be quite the ride.

Perfect day, sunny, great day for picture taking. The town is worth checking out. See if you can count how many “Visitor Centers” there are in town. Most are gift shops with good info on the local area. Try a Pastie, have a meal at the Dogpatch, a local favorite. During the summers, they have free concerts at the Bayshore Park. Nice place to sit out on the grass and listen to some good music.

Munising Michigan lighthouse

Shipwreck boat tour wonderful tour

could see the shipwrecks thru glass bottom boat
and even over the side of the boat

Grand Island Lighthouse

all pictures are on the opposite side of bay
from Pictured Rocks NP

water colors were spectacular

Grand Island waterfalls

Mosquitos and Horseflies

Somethings bugging me. Mosquitoes and horseflies are starting to get annoying as well. Having grown up in the Copper Country region of the U.P. I don’t ever remember them being a problem. Even on this trip while traveling around the Keweenaw Peninsula, staying at the Hancock Beach and exploring all the way up to Copper harbor, I didn’t encounter any mosquito or horseflies.

Which may be a good tip for the summer traveler. The time frame is important as well as I’m traveling up here mid June through July. Mosquitoes and horseflies are less later in the season…. Say late July, Aug and Sept.

• Copper Country region, fine for your hikes and touring , little to no mosquitoes.

• Marquette to Munising, The towns are fine, but anywhere you enter the “woods” heavy bug spray and hat nets are recommended. Ekk.

• The route I took between Marquette and Munising, along hwy 28 is lined with wetlands, like if that isn’t a major breeding ground for bugs, I don’t know what is.

• Most highways in the U.P. are now 65 mph, previously they were 55. Hwy 75 is now 75 mph.

• Many WaySide Parks throughout the U.P.

• Munising has lots of waterfalls just a short drive away.

Lake Superior shoreline, your choice
sandy beaches or rocky

Marquette Area

plein air painting
great way to spend an afternoon

Ranger Ron and I enjoying
some time along the shores of Lake Superior

Ishpeming, Negaunee and Marquette

My good friend Ranger Ron had the day off so we did a bit of touring up here in Da U.P. The route along hwy 28 between Munising and Marquette is a perfect area for stopping frequently at the many Wayside stops and Scenic Viewing areas. You’ll have your choice of beautiful sandy beaches or agate beaches along the shoreline. And your more than welcome to take a dip in the lake. Personally I don’t being a wimp and no longer used to 48 degree waters.

I’m using the App. “Atlas of the Obscure” and found a number of interesting places to explore. Of course it being Sunday, all the attractions are closed so it was just a day to take outdoor pictures and use the internet to learn more about each site we stopped at.

Cliffs Shaft Museum

This was high on my list to visit. It’s an Iron Ore mine and two of the shafts have Egyptian Revival obelisks. The elevator works and hoist is called the HeadFrame. In 1919 the wood headframes needed to be replaced so the newly formed Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company wanted something distinct since they would be seen throughout the region. The obelisks were designed by Prairie School architect George Washington Mather.

Even though I wasn’t able to go on the tour which bring one inside the obelisks as well as a newer modern headframe it still made for a great adventure.

built in an era when everything was
designed to look Egyptian 

A quick stop at “Da Yoopers Tourist Trap” is always a fun stop, right on U.S. 41 it has a lot of quirky displays outdoors and of course every tourist do-dad must have for vacationers.

The Superior Dome. Loving architecture, this was a must stop and was really hoping to see the inside the Dome, unfortunately it was all locked up until after the 4^th of July. It’s the largest freestanding wooden dome in the world. Part of the NMU sports complex it’s a multi-function facility. Structurally it’s a geodesic dome. 781 massive Douglas fir beams. Still I got a good look from the outside and was impressed that it can be seen throughout many part of the town.

Lakenenland. A large one-man sculpture park, just outside of Marquette. It’s open to the public for free, including a newly built bandshell, covered picnic area with a large stone fireplace. The main draw are all the mental sculptures. Depending on the time of year (I’m here the end of June/ first of July) I would recommend just driving through the displays on a circle dirt road….. why you ask? Thousands of mosquitoes! don’t even think about getting out of the car without bug-spray on. 100% deet recommended. As this is the beginning of that stretch of the U.P. that’s swamp/wetlands. Ekk.

You’ll find it east of Marquette on M-28.

stay in vehicle, the mosquitoes will eat
you alive

More photos

Lake Superior

Munising ShipwreckTour