[glgeek]

greetings,
my wife and i are heading out Sunday for Michigan UP from the metro in Minnesota for 7 days. our second night destination is Copper Harbor. from there, we don't really have any plans. we like to camp and don't really spend much time in the cities.

-would anyone be willing to recommend some "must see" places in the UP or just on the other side of the bridge on the east shore of Lake Michigan?
-i think i would like to ride the bridge. doable on a Goldwing pulling a Bushtec?
-favorite road?
-a good place to eat?
-anything?

i would appreciate any info you would offer.
TIA
geek

 

[hunzee]

Isle Royale is a national park in Lake Superior that doesn't allow the use of vehicles. http://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm The boat leaves from Houghton. Have a pasty at the Copper County Bakery first.

Have a pasty at the Gay bar in Gay, MI by Lac Labelle, MI and follow the shore up to Copper Harbor. Stop and smell the roses. There's some pull outs where you can walk knee deep out a long way on pink and white rocks.

Take a swing through old downtown Calumet, have a pasty, and check out the buildings.

Return from Copper Harbor along the west side and you can camp at Mclain State Park. No pasties there so you'll have to stop in Eagle River.

Take a dip in Lake Superior @ Copper Harbor (the North end of US41) after a pasty. Then when in Maimi, you can take a dip in the South End.

Have a pasty at the Kaleva in Hancock.

Have lunch at the Superior View Restaurant in Freda, MI. They have pasties.

Take a copper mine tour on the hill above Hancock.

If you run in to Suzy, tell her I said Hi.

 

[Ron Woodburn]

Construction going on on the MAC Bridge. On the mid section of the bridge you will have to ride on the steel grating which can be unnerving for some, especially if it's raining or the fog gets it wet. Just relax, lighten your grip on the bars, no sudden moves, and you should do fine. I too pulled a Bushtec and it was not that noticable on the bridge. They will charge you as if you are a cage pulling a trailer. Crooks, I say, crooks.

Hit up M119 if you make it over the bridge. Nice ride. From the bridge you can catch it taking I-75 South to US-31 South to Gill Road at Carp Lake. Head West on Gill Road out to Lake Michigan and pick up M-119 South. Stop at Leggs in Cross Village for lunch or head to Petoskey and go into downtown area. Plenty of decent places to eat there. Before going to Petoskey though, just drive through Harbor Springs. Really nice quant town. Pricey though. Head south on US-31 to Traverse City if you choose, rides not too bad at all.

Have a wonderful and safe trip. Enjoy.

 

[Richard Clem]

UP

geek,

Don't miss Lake of the Clouds on your way to the Kewanau. Houghton-Hancock with it's lift bridge is a great stop too. Have a pastie, but if you have all that Hunzee suggests, it'll cost you milage. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is best-viewed from the tour boats. I just rode the Tunnel of Trees last night, but there is a back way in that's a nice ride by taking the 1st exit after you cross the bridge toward Wilderness State Park. Try to time it for lunch or dinner at Legg's Inn at Cross Village. It's 20 miles from there to Harbor Springs. If you or your wife have a taste for the finer things in life, this is a dangerous stop, but shouldn't be missed. Of course the biggest tourist attraction in the state is Mackinaw Island. I may be jaded, but I don't go there very often. Google it, you may disagree.

Richard

 

[glgeek]

thank you all for the replies !!!

i have printed out a map and indicated all the spots you have mentioned.

i think we will begin in copper harbor and work our way east, across the bridge and see how far we get before turning around. maybe Petoskey or Traverse City. or maybe the ferry from Ludington. not sure.

looks like we could use more time, but 7 days is all we get (on this trip).

thanks again,
geek

 

[glgeek]

Rode the bridge today, grating all the way. Wilderness State Park site on the lake. Petoskey tomorrow. Great ride!

geek

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[hunzee]

You can get pasties in Petoskey or Traverse City.

 

[glgeek]

Two thumbs up for Tunnel of Trees.
There are pasties in Mackinaw City.

Geek

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[glgeek]

we're home

1560 (s)miles

had a great time.

lots to see and the riding was fun.

thank you all for the suggestions.

geek

 

[Biker John]

I have to ask, why did you ride the grates when you didn't have to?
I ride them if I have to, but I don't like it.

 

[glgeek]

I have to ask, why did you ride the grates when you didn't have to?
I ride them if I have to, but I don't like it.

well . . . the right lane was closed for repair for part of the way so i was already in the left lane and i wanted to say i rode it the whole way.

not real profound, but that's my story.

geek

BTW:
we had a great time.

 

[hunzee]

My girlfriend and I had more than one bottle of Boonesfarm out on the end of the breakwaters a long long time ago.

 

[Circles]

My girlfriend and I had more than one bottle of Boonesfarm out on the end of the breakwaters a long long time ago.

If that was about 1968 or 69 I may have been out there with my girl too.


For folks taking future trips Lake of the Clouds was mentioned earlier, it is in Porcupine Mountain State Park. Great camping and hiking in the park. Agates can be collected on the beach at the base of the mountain between the park entrance and Silver City. Stop at the ice cream stand and walk across the road to the beach. You don't need to buy them for $10 in the gift shops, they are all over that beach.

 

[Rocketman911]

greetings,
my wife and i are heading out Sunday for Michigan UP from the metro in Minnesota for 7 days. our second night destination is Copper Harbor. from there, we don't really have any plans. we like to camp and don't really spend much time in the cities.

-would anyone be willing to recommend some "must see" places in the UP or just on the other side of the bridge on the east shore of Lake Michigan?
-i think i would like to ride the bridge. doable on a Goldwing pulling a Bushtec?
-favorite road?
-a good place to eat?
-anything?

i would appreciate any info you would offer.
TIA
geek

Copper Harbor I remember it well, but it has probably changed since 1975!

 

[bananawing]

That part of the bridge is referred to as a "cheese grator" if you screw up you will be nothing more than chum

 

[yooperfan]

I see I'm kind of late for helping with this trip, but there's always next time. Stop in Ishpeming, on Rt 41. Turn at the BP gas station and you'll run straight into Country Village, which includes shopping, dining, drinking, movies, bowling, camping, etc.... The ski hall of fame is within a half mile, as is Da Yoopers Tourist Trap. Get directions to downtown to find the Congress bar. People like the pizza there (I don't), but I go for the cudighi. It's across the street from Old Ish, an indian statue. Pasties are another favorite that can be found easier than pizza. You can find casinos in the U.P. if you're into that.