As I have shared before there is just something magical about my home state! My family has been discussing various places to visit and re-visit this summer around Michigan and we cannot wait to head out and cross the Mighty Mac in the near future! For those of you non-Michiganders the Mighty Mac is the Mackinac Bridge, the 5th longest suspension bridge in the world which connects Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) with the Lower Peninsula.
Starting at the most eastern location and working our way westward, here are my top 5 picks for kid-friendly stops in Michigan’s Eastern U.P. for your family to visit this summer!
1) Soo Locks :: the Soo Locks connect the waters of Lake Superior with Lake Huron and are managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Stop in their visitor center to learn the history of this marvel of engineering and then head outdoors to their viewing tower to watch a boat approach and travel through the locks (which is basically a giant water elevator for boats!). You can visit the official Soo Locks visitor center webpage HERE for more details.
2) Tahquamenon Falls State Park :: the Tahquamenon River progresses through two sets of waterfalls, the Upper Falls and Lower Falls, within hiking or short driving distance in this state park. The Upper Falls drops nearly 50 ft and are over 200 ft across, making them one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. The Lower Falls are a series of 5 smaller falls that cascade around an island and can be reached by rowboat (available for rental in season). Check out the official state park webpage for more info on all the activities and facilities available at these locations HERE.
3) Oswald’s Bear Ranch :: this was by far one of my kids’ favorite places in the U.P.! They loved walking around Oswald’s Bear Ranch to see the many rescued bears who had been abused, neglected, or orphaned as cubs. The ranch has 240 acres and is the largest (bear only) bear ranch in the USA. Visit the Oswald’s Bear Ranch website for more info and hours of operation.
4) Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore :: there is so much to do and see at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore that you cannot possibly do it all in one day (or even a week!). If you’re passing through quickly I HIGHLY suggest paying to rent a pontoon, take a kayak tour, or enjoy a boat cruise along the water to see how the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore got its name. To learn more about the park and the available programs visit their official Nd Service webpage HERE.
5) Kitch-iti-kipi (Big Springs) :: this is Michigan’s largest freshwater spring and is found in the Palms Book State Park. The spring is over 200 ft across, 40 ft deep, and a constant 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Accessible year-round with a self-guided observation raft that allows visitors to travel out in to the spring and see the water gushing out of the fissures at the bottom. Learn more about the Palms Book State Park HERE.
There are so many wonderful places to discover as you travel between these points as well I hope you take the time to enjoy the journey!