going to the up.where should i stay us or can. staying in soo. which boat tour is best? should i go to mackinaw island?

Yes visit mackinaw....boat trip
http://www.locktours.com/
Other info.....
http://www.exploringthenorth.com/soo/locks.html
Enjoy......S

The UP is awesome! We started by staying one night in the Iroquois on Mackinac Island then traveling further up. Try to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (in Munising I believe) and take the boat tour. Very beautiful! Enjoy!

If you are from the US and planning to make a lot of purchases in Canada, you may wish to stay on the Canadian side to get the $800/person exception on duty. You need to stay in Canada at least 48 hours and not used your excemption in the last 30 days.

Otherwise, you should stay on the side of the border that you will be wanting to spend most of your time.

Crossing at the Soo used to be quick and painless, but that was before 9/11. Last July when I was in the Soo, the line waiting to cross into the US stretched almost all the way across the International Bridge.


Keith

On the Canadian side at Sault Ste. Marie is the Agawa Canyon train which has day trips. In the middle of the UP near Newberry is Tahquamenon Falls which has a 6 hr. rail and riverboat trip.
Also, if you heading towards Houghton, you may want to take the ferry from Copper Harbor to Isle Royale National Park. You can find all the info by doing a search on google.com

Thanks for all the great info. I thought the train,boat ride to the falls looked interesting. Has anyone done this trip? Also are the flies an issue? I'm looking at so some small motels right across from the locks or is there a better location? Would like to be near the water.

If you do the train-boat visit to the falls it will take a large block of time and only visit the upper falls briefly. If you drive, you can visit both upper and lower falls (along with Whitefish Point) and choose how much time you spend at the falls.

For a boat tour. I recommend the Lighthouse tours that Sheplers has out of Mackinaw City http://www.sheplerswww.com/cruise/lhc_desc.htm or the lighthouse tour at the Sault www.soolocks.com

I've done both and think the Mackinaw tours are better. The Soo tour includes a trip through the locks.

They do not have tours every day, so check in advance to make sure when to go.

At Mackinaw City, there are also free Vespers Cruises on Sunday nights in the summer. They explore the Mackinac Bridge, then float for a brief ecumenical service of singing and prayer.

Keith