St Ignace, Whitefish Point and Max

The three of us enjoyed the educational boardwalk in St Ignace.  It starts just beyond the Island Ferry docks and follows the bank beyond the lighthouse.  The town is still full of gift shops and quasi museums. It does give me the feel it is trying to become a destination not just a place to wait to go to the island.  The merchants have a weekly fireworks show, Wine and beer tasting.  Weekend street dances, musicians and plays in the park.   

We have one more day of sight seeing in the U.P.  Les, Brady and I chose to drive up to Whitefish Point.  You follow highway 123 to the end and then just go a little farther and there you are. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum ( I have a correction to an earlier blog.  Apparently the plaques at the Sault Saint Marie Valley Camp Museum are out dated.  There has been more Edmond Fitzgerald wreckage recovered and it is at this museum [1995 the ships bell was recovered and on display with the blessing of the crews families]).  We were taken with this open village like atmosphere of the Lighthouse (1849), Coast Guard quarters, Museum, gift shop and various building on this site.  We chose not to go in the museum.  At this point on our trip we are getting ship overload and felt complete by roaming the grounds and beach.  I have heard that this is a wonderful museum and very spiritual with a great documentary available.   The beach is made up of perfect, colorful, smooth stones, soft sand and old twisted driftwood.  The summer has been so warm that the lake was full of swimmers and sunbathers.  Though it was a very quiet day for us it was further affirmation that the U.P. is one of the most unique and beautiful places on earth.

The next day we completed our last bit of shopping (fudge and smoked fish).  

We headed to Mount Pleasant.  Max was just moving back to college and had a few days to himself before his residence started moving back.  It s always great to be able to spend time with him and see how happy he is (BTW:  His room is awesome.  He has a great fun sense of style).  Max’s girlfriend Trisha also moved back with help from her Mom.  It was great meeting Sue and spending some chatty time together.  It is easy to see how Trisha became the gracious women she is.   I look forward to future get togethers. 

We stayed at a nice family camp ground with many trails through the woods.                                        Brady spent much time back there and was able to play with at least 3 varmints.

8 AUG 11

Wetherells visit to St Ignace, MI

It feels so civilized to be back to the east side of the U.P.  We have and internet connection most of the time.  Usually we have 3 to 4 bars on the phone and family is coming to visit. 

We are staying at Tiki RV park in St Ignace.  The same family has owned park since 1972.  The Wetherells came up on Friday night and pitched a tent on our site (Les and I kept offering our living room but camping is on the familys mind {even after the air mattresses deflated [two nights in a row]}).   Saturday we headed to Tahquamenon Falls just outside of Paradise.  We stopped at the lower falls.  As a girl, my folks always took us to the upper falls (the big dramatic water fall experience).  The lower falls is an interactive spot.  Lovely board walkways though the woods, that lead to overlooks of the cascades down miles of subtle drops, falls and pools. It didn’t take long before Abby, Jessie and I figured out how to get into the water.  People who were better prepared were swimming and lunging under the falls. 

We were dressed for wading.  Wading up stream is not a problem.  You did feel the pressure on your legs.  But… Turning around to come back to shore was different ( you couldn’t dig in with your toes anymore).  I was glad when the three of us got back to the bank without drama or incident.  We wanted to stop at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery for lunch.  But I didn’t bring the beer map and phone bars are at a premium in Paradise.   We did have a happy accident in finding the Fish House. This is an almost scary but yummy restaurant with fresh catch fish.

Castle Rock is still only $1.00 to climb.  Some of the best money you will spend in the U.P.  This is a great climb up, super view and the fun of the classic gift shop.  It doesn’t matter how many times you climb Castle Rock, Each time is new.  Castle Rock is the perfect opener to my personal favorite.  

Now, I was a grownup the first time I went here.  We never did when I came with my dad for the simple reason that it is a “G@#$%^N Tourist Trap”.  However this is a geological miracle.  Discovered in the 1950’s, the Mystery Spot defies explanation.  Some (Chris) may think they have answers.  That is all well and fine BUT…..the Mystery Spot is a real experience beyond description.  Abby and Jessie were willing participants.  The whole family got involved to embrace and perhaps question the Mystery.

Along Highway 2 there is about twenty miles of sandy public beaches.  All you do is park along the road, walk over the sand and lake grass.  This beach rivals any I have seen in NC, HI, FL or Spain (however the usage season may be shorter).  This day the water was perfect and clear.  A seagull gave us a personal fishing show.  It was perfect in simplicity.  Shortly after it was time for the kids to go home.  Thank you so much for visiting.  We all had so much fun, but I believe I will forever have a small fear of Pixi sticks J.  

(31 JUL 2011)

Piers Gorge, Norway MI

This is our last day in the north western side of the U.P.   So glad we are heading to Piers Gorge in Norway, MI.  This was highly recommended by our friends Tammy and Marc.  We stopped for lunch at “Mikes on Main”.  This is a terrific walk back to 1975.  A great little bowling alley restaurant with the best fried chicken I have ever had.  Yes fried chicken.  I still don’t know what was different it was just great! 

Piers Gorge is just 5 minutes from town on the Menominee River on the Wisconsin boarder.  There are at least 11 miles of trails that are very walkable and give you plenty of opportunity to climb and jump rocks.  This area is overwhelming with the vertical bedrock walls the cedar trees that have been forced to grow horizontally, the uncountable water falls and the shear amount of water that flows over them.   Familys were swimming, fishing and having picnics.  There were no barriers or do not signs anywhere.  This was probably the most natural, wild and beautiful places I have ever seen.  We very easily spent an entire day there.  Highly recommend.

Time to pack up and head to Tiki campground in St Ignace.  Elizabeth, Chris and the girls are coming for the weekend.  Fun will be had by all!!!

 27 JUL 2011

Copper Harbor in a day - bad idea

It is important to know how big the U.P. is.  Les and I thought we were being pretty clever.  We found a RV Park that was pretty central for a good price so we would be able to have many nice day trips.  Well, Copper Harbor and the Keweenaw Peninsula are still quite a drive (4 ½ hours from Escanaba).  We still decided to make it a day trip.  See the landscape and know that we were to the top of Michigan.  It was as most U.P. drives, beautiful. All of our U.P. Friends have told us what a great area Hancock- Houghton is.  They are right.  We wove through this great surprise of a college town with the back drop of Copper mines.  The smatter of sophistication of perfect houses and shops was a big changed from the Coyote pelts hanging at a road side log cabin just a few miles down. Just beyond in Calumet we ate at the Michigan House Café and Red Jacket Brewing Company. 

 This is a red brick building left over from the wealthy copper mining hay day ( 1847-1887).  We had a nice Hifenvitzen, but the winner was the baked havarti dill appetizer with raspberry sauce.  I will mess with this one until I can perfect it (super yummy). Onward, to the top of Michigan.   

The roads are winding and very green on the way to Fort Wilkins (1844 – 1846).  The purpose of the fort was to protect the copper industry in the area.  But if it only was used for two years you can’t help but think this was more government over reaction to a none problem.  Better safe then sorry I suppose.    It is now a state park.  So just your MI Passport is needed and they do have a full camp ground available.  The grounds are well maintained and you want to walk around and check it out.  There are a few people in period costumes that are very willing and able to talk about the life style at the fort and its renovations.  Isolation and the cold were big factors here for the solders.  

 We drove home on the 26.  It is a great road that skirts the shore of Keweenaw. We had great views of Eagle Harbor Light station.  Rock pickers were having a great time finding copper beach stones.   We had a nice time, but it was a big day to get there and home.   

Thanks to Becky and Jon for their generous tour guide offer.  We hope you will still have your door open to us next year. We will plan better for a trip to the Keweenaw area and spend more time.  But not in the winter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 25 JUL 2011

Pictured Rocks - Munising, MI

If there are any Kid Rock fans out there you have seen the Pictured Rocks of  Munising MI in his music videos.  I will believe that they have been around longer then “Rap a Billy” (No offense intended Mr. Ritchie).  Saturday morning our family of three drove up for the day to take a boat cruise and see the cliffs and some of the many and accessible water falls.  After the 120 degrees temps of the previous week, who would think Mr. Alcook would need to buy a fleece for the boat trip.  For $30.00 each (Brady stayed in the truck) you ride for 2 plus hours on a narrated (you could hear if you stood inside under the speaker {but….. really……, they are big cool looking cliffs and rocks how much narration do you really need?}). 

 Here are some stats.  The cliffs are 500 million year old sandstone, volcanic and sedimentary rock, formed by glaciers.  They are as tall as 50 to 200 feet.  The colors range from tan, ochre and brown with layers of green and white.  The separate cliff formations are named;  Miners Castle, Painted Coves, Caves of Colors, Lovers Leap, Rainbow Cave, Indian Head, Gull Rookery, Grand Portal, Battleship Rock, Flower Vase, Indian Drum, Chapel Rock and Chapel Cave.  You will really have to see them for yourself to pick your favorites.  Les picked Battleship Rock, I picked Indian Head.  It was a great windy, rough voyage that we enjoyed.  Unlike Whale watching in San Diego we were ready for it to be over.   

We had a great lunch of rubens, burgers and beer (Linenkugels  Sunset Wheat { Light wheat with a tiny hint of licorice {if you come from a household where the black jelly beans go first you’ll love this}) at “Lil Abners”  (no expense was spared in the cartoon strip decor).  Now, off to the falls.  Munising is smeared with water falls.  Many are within ½ mile of the parking lot others are healthy hikes for the overnighters.  Anyway, there are 21 falls in the Munising area.  We saw a few of the easy to get to ones; Tannery Falls, Miners Falls and on the way home Wagner Falls (our favorite).  It would have been great to spend more time in this area and easy to do.  Although there is much hiking available it seems to be well marked and excisable.  Something we are saving for next time is the glass bottom boat “Shipwreck Tour”.  This is also a 2 hour tour and another $30.00 each.  This is a come back to place.  Easy to spend four or five days.

23 JUL 2011