U.P. Michigan Info needed for this weekend..
 

Hi, we are heading up to the Paradise, MI area with our three young kids to explore the area and see T. Falls, Crisp Point Lighthouse, and the Lk. Superior shoreline. Can anyone suggest any other not to miss stops? We will have an ORV with us so any suggestions about the seasonal roads and trails along the Lk. Superior shore would be helpful. We are staying at the Best Western Lakefront hotel in Paradise and will be exploring from there. We will only have two and a half days. Are the leaves turning up there yet? I assume so. Any help is appreciated. Does the T. Fall Restaurant & Brewery still have decent food? Thank you.

I was just at the brewery a few weeks ago and it was great! Drink some blueberry beer for me.

We went to the Oswald's Bear Ranch. It was cool. They have some big cubs that you can go into the cage and pet!

http://www.superiorsights.com/oswaldsbearranch/

There is a zoo up there too that promoted feeding bears, but we didn't have time to investigate. Have fun!

I'm not much help to you, but you should have a great trip. We were in the UP a couple years back with our kids and they enjoyed the glass bottom sunken boat ride and the Whitefish Point (not sure if that was the name - something Point) where they have the Edmund Fitzgerald movie and things from the ship. My son (now 9) still talks about that. Not sure how far those are from where you're staying. Seemed like everything was 1 hour from where we were so I would think they wouldn't be too far from you.

We also visited the Oswald Bear and thought it was cool.

The Luce Conty/Newberry fire is pretty much out now, but over 18000 acres burned up that way and was just contained Sep 3. There might still restricted areas as far as ATV/ORVs go, but I think that all of the roads are now open and you can get to the falls or wherever else you might want to go.

We were there in mid to late August when the fire was mostly done and all things were open.

henny16, you are thinking of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

mcmckissic1, based on the places you already mention, I would add Point Iroquois Lighthouse (just west of Bay Mills), Au Sable Point Lighthouse, and Sable Falls. I last visited most of those places in 2005 http://www.mightymac.org/superior1.htm

Keith

Thank you , thank you so much for all of your great responses!! This site is so wonderful. Can't wait to visit the UP again, it's been about 6 years or so!

mcmckissic1

Would really appreciate it if you would post a trip report when you return. We are thinking about heading up that way (actually more in the Mackinac area, but may head further north) in October (for the first time). Have a great trip!

I will for sure post a trip report next week when we return...thanks again for the very helpful information.

Keith,
Great pictures! I've been to most of the places except for the Crisp Point Lighthouse.
ST

Hi there...I promised a trip report on here when we returned from the U.P. this past weekend. The weather was absolutely PERFECT, it could not have been any better. We really enjoyed staying at the Best Western Lakefront Hotel in Paradise. By far, the nicest and newest hotel in Paradise. The pool and jacuzzi were very nice as was the comp. breakfast. The hotel was situated right on Lake Superior so the views were spectacular!! If you don't want to awake before 6 a.m. I would consider requesting the 2nd or 3rd floors. We were on the 1st floor and were awakened every morning about 6:30 by the walking and moving about from people above us. Just a suggestion. We went to T. Falls, Crisp Point Lighthouse, the Two Hearted River area, Vermillion Life Saving station, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and the Soo Locks. We jammed that all into two and a half days. We really needed more time but it was so beautiful up there with the fall colors, we had a blast! So did the kids. I would definitely recommend making the trip and staying on the lake. Any questions about the area, just post and ask me!!

maj- email me with any questions you have about going up near where we were. [email protected]

Thanks for the information. You actually answered my questions -- fall colors, sights to see. If I have more, I will email you, thanks again. We are traveling with our dog so are limited on where we stay and what we do. Will probably stay in Mackinaw City and go up to T. Falls and Soo Locks and just drive around and explore the area one day. Thanks again.