Your U.P. Bucket List:
10 Things to Do Above the Mackinac Bridge
Paddling along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with Grand Portal in the background. PC: Pictured Rocks Kayaking.When planning an exciting summer vacation, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan should be on your radar. Although serene beaches and gorgeous waterfalls are scattered throughout the area, attractions like Mackinac Island, the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Tahquamenon Falls are some of the biggest enticements.
7 Amazing Facts About the Pictured Rocks
Within driving distance from the Detroit area, Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, Michigan’s U.P. is a perfect road trip for anyone traveling through Lower Peninsula and beyond. With many things to do nearby, check out what should be on your Upper Peninsula bucket list, when your adventure begins as soon as you’ve crossed the Mackinac Bridge.
1. Kayak Close Enough to Touch the Pictured Rocks
Get so close to touch the Pictured Rocks. PC: Pictured Rocks Kayaking.Operating out of Munising, Pictured Rocks Kayaking brings paddlers so close to the rocks they can touch them while gliding through colorful sea caves. Tours begin with a relaxing cruise on a boat before the kayaks are launched into the water near the best parts of the Pictured Rocks. Once finished with the paddle portion of the trip, you’ll board the boat for a ride back to shore.
2. Go Back in Time on Mackinac Island
3. Defy Gravity at the Mystery Spot
The Mystery Spot. PC: St. Ignace Visitors Bureau.5 Most Scenic Hikes in Pictured Rocks
4. Climb Castle Rock
Castle Rock. PC: St. Ignace Visitors Bureau.Learn About Pictured Rocks Boat Tours
5. Above the Bridge: Capture the Mighty Mac
Mackinac Bridge View Park. PC: St. Ignace Visitors Bureau.Overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan meets Lake Huron, Bridge View Park is a great place to enjoy a sunset or take a photo of the Mackinac Bridge. Check out the top 10 Instagram-worthy spots in the area. If you want another famous angle of the Might Mac, walk up the stairs to Straits State Park.
6. Burgers, Shakes, and Rock N’ Roll
Clyde’s Drive-in, St. Ignace. PC: St. Ignace Visitors Bureau.St. Ignace
Founded in 1949, Clyde’s Drive-in is an old-fashioned restaurant where you can enjoy delicious fast food from the comfort of your own vehicle. Roll down the windows and let the staff serve your food on a tray with a side of classic American flare.
7. Check Out This U.P. Zoo
A lion at GarLyn Zoo. PC: GarLyn Zoo and Wildlife ParkTop 10 Western UP Roadtrip
8. See Michigan’s Largest Waterfall
The Upper Falls, Tahquamenon Falls. PC: Instagrammer extra_guacemolly_pleaseParadise
With a drop of nearly 50 feet and more than 200 feet across, the Upper Tahquamenon Falls is the largest waterfall east of the Mississippi. Four miles downstream is the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Be sure to check out the gift shops, plus the restaurant and brewery!
The Best Waterfalls of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
9. Pose with the Cubs
Oswald’s Bear Ranch. PC: St. Ignace Visitors Bureau.Newberry
Oswald’s Bear Ranch is home to more than two dozen black bears and cubs that have been rescued around the country. Since opening to the public in 1997, the bear ranch has grown greatly over the years and is a perfect attraction for families.
10. See the Edmund Fitzgerald’s Bell
The bell of the Edmund’s Fitzgerald on display. PC: Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum – Instagram @greatlakesshipwreckWhitefish Point
Home of the bell of the famous Edmund Fitzgerald, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum has plenty of artifacts and exhibits that tell stories of sailors and ships that braved the waters of Lake Superior and those that were lost to its treacherous waves. You’ll also see the oldest lighthouse on the shores of Superior.
Fun Fact: Michigan has the most lighthouses of any U.S. state and is home to hundreds of waterfalls, with all but one located in the U.P. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip to the U.P. today.
Plan your trip!