[Walter Grey]

I am planning on making a trip to the UP or Northern LP for a couple weeks this summer and I would like some ideas on which place to stay at.


I am looking for a peaceful place to enjoy mainly unspoiled nature (pristine waters, silky sand, beautiful spruce forests, and places to watch the sky without light pollution) without having to worry about crowds, and maybe do some partying in town while I am up there.

[michigan lizard]

My family went up to Munising/pictured rocks last summer. I would suggest that.

[leroythelion]

Finding stuff to do for two weeks in the UP might be a little challenging. I would combine it with Traverse City and Mackinac Island. I've backpacked from Grand Marais to Munising (took 5 days) but you may not be into that.

[WestsideMac]

We stayed for a week in a house right on the lake near Curtis, MI in the UP about 7 years ago. Lots of fishing and other activities especially if you get on either Manistique or South Manistique Lake.

We've also camped for a week at Muskallonge Lake State Park about 13 years ago.

There are some cool things to do, but some will be half your day just driving to and from the activity. We went to Saulte St Marie to check out the locks and a winery one day. We also went to some of the trails/painted rocks area via Muinising and to Tahquamenon Falls.

When I was a kid we camped in the Porcupine Mountain State Park. I can't recall much we did beyond hiking with it being so long ago, but I'm sure there are some things to do. Now that is the far west side of the UP though so not sure how much there would be to do and it's probably even more of a drive than the other places.

I know there is a lot more to do than those things, but those are some things we did that were day trips and still able to do. Traverse City would be quite a drive depending on where in the UP you stayed. Now if you stay in the northern LP that wouldn't be as much of an issue. If you did stay in the Northern LP there could be a lot of things to do. Sleeping Bear Dunes is fun and Fishtown in Leland is cool to check out. That area has access to alot of beaches in places like Charlevoix, Petoskey and others that can get busy, but typically are nice beaches on the lake. There's plenty of trails and other activities to do. Fishing too.

For the Northern LP we are lucky in that my ILs have a cabin near Mancelona that is pretty good access to all those places mentioned. Traverse City and Mackinaw are nice places, but definitely get busy. They attract the tourists big time. So staying in them may have more housing options, but will be busy. Almost better to find somewhere else to stay and go visit it for the day, in my opinion.

[EscAlaMike]

Munising and places near Painted Rocks and Marquette are some of the top summer destinations in the UP. Rooms and rentals tend to fill up pretty quickly.

I would suggest staying further west near the Porkies. My family and I stayed in Ontonagon this past summer and we had a blast. The place we stayed had private access to Lake Superior, and the location was convenient to the Porkies and the Keweenaw Peninsula. There are several waterfalls in the area that you can just walk right up to and wade in or whatever you want to do. That side of the UP is much more cost-friendly than Marquette/Munising as well.

Feel free to DM me if you want more specific info.

[Hemlock140]

I enjoyed the Traverse City Cherry Festival one year. In 2024 it's June 29th to July 6th.


https://www.traversecity.com/events/...erry-festival/

[craig11152]

The wind will be your friend because there are no shortage of flying biting insects of assorted sizes out in the summer.
Sitting on a sandy beach with a decent wind coming from offshore is a good place to relax.
I'd rather be up there sometime between October and April but that is just me.

[SophiaGrace]

Combining your time in the Upper Peninsula (UP) with a visit to Traverse City and Mackinac Island is an excellent way to make the most of your two-week trip. In the UP, you can explore the breathtaking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising or head further north to Copper Harbor for scenic hikes. Traverse City boasts a delightful downtown area with shops, restaurants, and nearby wineries to delight in. And don't forget to experience the unique charm of Mackinac Island, where cars are replaced by horse-drawn carriages. Whether you're a seasoned backpacker or prefer leisurely strolls, there's something for everyone to enjoy in this picturesque region of Michigan.

[MikeBear]

Originally Posted by Walter Grey

I am planning on making a trip to the UP or Northern LP for a couple weeks this summer and I would like some ideas on which place to stay at.


I am looking for a peaceful place to enjoy mainly unspoiled nature (pristine waters, silky sand, beautiful spruce forests, and places to watch the sky without light pollution) without having to worry about crowds, and maybe do some partying in town while I am up there.

I suggest Beaver Island, MI. https://www.bibco.com/

[beachmouse]

The kind of classic Up North road trip starts in Traverse City, where you can day trip to Sleeping Bear NL from there, continues through Petoskey/Charlevoix, has a stop at Mackinac Island (your choice of day trip or overnight there) and then goes on to Taquemenon Falls before finishing in the Munising/Pictured Rocks NL area.

The LP stops can be a little crowded in town but it’s easy to spread out on federal/state land. For partying you’re talking in town in TC, Charlevoix, or Petoskkey or maybe renting a boat for a day party on Torch Lake near TC.