#SorryNotSorry Michigan

After living here 12 years, we finally trekked to the promised land of Mitten State Snowflakes.  The Upper Peninsula!!!!!   Our trip included the 3rd most voluminous waterfall east of the Mississippi (OOOOH!), the largest surface area freshwater lake in the world (Gasp!), and the the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere (wow!).

I think the experience clinched the fact that Michigan is just not our thing.  If you enjoy trees and lakes and miles upon miles of trees and lakes and trees, then this is paradise.  When it comes to outdoor rec, we'll save our vacation budget for the wild west.

The girls are only allowed to have a fire if they scavenge enough wood from empty campsites.

Lower Falls campground @ Tahquamenon State Park was crowded, loud, and densely spaced. I think it is this busy throughout summer even when it is not 4th of July week.  During mid-day cars would back-up on Highway 123 to access the 2 entrances.  The few hiking trails were muddy and buggy while the campground and Falls areas were mysteriously bug free.  Perhaps they bomb them.  We visited the semi-modern Rivermouth Campground of the State Park and noticed the layout was much better with many river sites and less people.  There are also some signed Forest Service campgrounds in the general area which would have perhaps been more primitive.  

Beach Vaulting at Whitefish Point

Hitchhikers at Whitefish Point did not further endear the area to the Carrolls.

We booked 3 nights at the Tahquamenon Falls campground.  There is not 3 days of stuff to do there - so we made an unplanned daytrip to Munising to the fabled Pictured Rocks.  I had high hopes that this scenic wonder would satisfy my interest in rock outcroppings and redeem Michigan's geologic wonder cred.  We dayhiked Munising Falls and then wandered east to the Chapel Falls/Rock/Beach hike.  The hike was pleasant, surprisingly light on mosquitos, and the falls at the halfway point were nice.  The trail let out where the unusually warm creek met Lake Superior.  The surrounding beach featured views of the "Grand Portal Point" area of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  

Warm Chapel Creek tumbles into Lake Superior.

We passed through Sault St. Marie on the way back to St. Ignace on 4th of July.  The girls were totally uninterested in the Soo Locks, but Jeff and I felt adequately informed by the interpretation at the visitors center.  Our last night was camped at The Straits State Park on the point north of the Mackinac Bridge.  We went into St. Ignace for a nice fireworks display.

Meditating above the Mighty Mac.

Our final report card on the U.P.  = meh
I don't think we feel like we need to come back.  Sorry Porcupines & Isle Royal.


From now on I'll be working on this sweet Grand Circle Road Trip for Spring Break 2018.

route TBD