The U.P. of Michigan
GST Season V - Chapter 2
Quest for the West
Munising, Michigan and the Upper Penisula
“If you are looking for something special, just look U.P.!”
Have you ever wanted to relive something special? A walk through a forest of ferns concealed by a canopy of trees... how about that perfect sunset?... that warm sandy beach encompassed by pristine waters?... Or, that first kiss! Well, the kiss might be difficult to relive, but the others, they await you in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
We too wanted to relive those moments having visited the area just one year ago. Munising and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is the first location we chose to revisit in our 3 years of adventure. “Pure Michigan” is more than a slogan on a vehicles license plate, it is a rallying cry for everything there. The water, the land, the people are all Pure Michigan!
The state is surrounded by 5 Great Lakes, none of which is greater than Lake Superior. Its water is captivating, the bluffs of Pictured Rocks provide a glimpse of clarity and depth, but walking the shoreline reveals its secrets. Five hundred and fifty ships lie in its bedrock, with the “Shipwreck Coast” (Munising to Whitefish) being the graveyard for 200 of those ill-fated vessels.
This land and its resources remain pure. I can only guess that the long harsh winters, vernal springs, and short summer nights are the reason. The same environment helped shape the people . Theses citizens are as rugged as the sandstone cliffs the region is named for. They are as warm and inviting as that beach, and have a way of speaking that burns into our hearts and soul like that aforementioned sunset.
Q: People will ask: “Where is your favorite place that you have been to?”
A: We say: “That is an impossible to choose.”
Yosemite is grand, Savanah’s Spanish Moss is eerily beautiful, and Glacier, well...
“Glacier will take your breath away!”
But when all is said and done, Michigan is pure...
Pure Michigan. ❤️
“If you are looking for something special, just look U.P.!”
Travel safe all… and we will see you on the trail!
John and Caroline 🍀
Points of Interest:
Soo Locks
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: Located in Paradise, Michigan and home of the Edmund Fitzgerald bell.
Bike: We rode our e-bikes the 8 miles to Sand Point Beach from the KOA Campground on several occasions.
Hike any of the 100 miles of trails within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore:
Castle Rock via Mosquito Falls - 9.3 miles
Munising Falls to Sand Beach - 4 miles
Miner’s Castle Overlook - 2.8 miles
Log Slide to Au Sable Lighthouse - 4.5 miles
Little Beaver Lake to Lake Superior lakeshore 5.7 miles
And finally: Enjoy the local favorite food: The Pasty. You could even consider doing your own comparison!
(See our example of A Miner’s Pasty Review) 😂
Most Scenic Motorcycle Routes in the U.P. of Michigan:
Riding motorcycles in Upper Peninsula will keep you on well maintained roads, a few curves, and at the end, reward you with some beautiful views or several interesting sights along the way. (See map above.)
A canopy of trees is what you will find at this KOA campground.
RV Location:
Munising - Pictured Rocks KOA
E10102 East M-28
Wetmore, Michigan 49895
906-387-3315
We added a second YouTube for this area. Let us know what you think! Thanks for watching.
