UP 2023, with Donna and Steve

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 UP 2023, with Donna and Steve


Stambaugh…A silent prayer at the early 20th century unmarked gravesite of our family's two still-born babies. May they be born into eternal life.

Houghton…A walk along the Portage Lake Ship Canal, departure point for Isle Royale, and home to a unique restaurant, The Ambassador. Mmmm, good.

Lac La Belle…Near the tip of the Keweenaw, the peninsula on the Upper Peninsula. Our cabin there, the departure point for scenic and historical trips…

Fort Wilkins…a restored mid-19th century fort on Lake Fannie Hooe, the end of the good road.

Copper Harbor…formed by a hook of land and barrier islands protecting the harbor and town from the fury of Lake Superior.

Brockway Mountain Drive…a miles-long scenic drive along the backbone ridge of the Keweenaw,with grand views of Lake Superior, Lake Fannie Hooe, Copper Harbor, and environs.

Jam Pot…where an order of Greek Catholic monks make and sell bakery and jam.

Calumet…historical site of copper mines, explained by a National Historical Park ranger on a walking tour. One memorable sight: a giant chunk of solid copper ore.

Eagle River…Fitzgerald’s Restaurant right adjacent to the Lake Superior beach. Mmmm, good.

Ishpeming,,,Da Yooper Tourist Trap, with its funny outdoor displays, and loads of tourist stuff for sale inside the sprawling shop.

Marquette, site of Northern Michigan University, and Lawry’s, a great pasty shop.

Au Train Lake…Our second home base for our tours around the Peninsula. It is a beautiful, spacious cabin with a cathedral ceiling and fireplace, and large window overlooking the lake, a destination in itself. Legend has it that Al Capone, the Chicago mobster, had it built for his girlfriend. The present owners have restored it and other cabins over the past few years. 

Munising. We visited Munising Falls, Au Train Falls, Bay Furnace, and Grand Island Overlook, but a main highlight of the trip was a cruise aboard a tour boat of the waters off the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The sandstone cliffs are colored by mineral seepages, making rocks into pictures.

Our last day, we took in a classic car show in Munising, hiked to Miner’s Falls, and saw Miner’s Castle. We drove to Grand Marais and saw an outdoor art exhibit, and something unusual. In the bay of Grand Marais, formed by a hook of land and man-made breakwaters, seven float planes revved-up and took off with a roar. 


It was a trip that brought up both surprises, and memories of previous visits for Donna and Steve and Patti and Thom. It got us thinking…where do we go next?

   




  

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