Wisconsin and Upper peninsula

[Vallgrlx2]

We are headed through Iowa (from Nebraska) on to Wisconsin, then north to Upper Peninsula Michigan in mid July. We would love more information on

Best things to visit in Wisconsin
Best places to visit in Upper Peninsula
We like nature and being near the water

We appreciate your help!

Many thanks
Vallgrlx2

2015 Coachmen Catalina 243 RBS
2015 Ford 150 Eco Boost
Two sassy Scottiea

[elind]

How far to the U.P. of Mich. are you planning to go? I live near Houghton, Mi. and traveled most of the U.P. Also there is Door Co. northeast of Green Bay that offers a lot for the tourist.
There's the Porkies on Lake Superior with a lot of hiking, the Keweenaw Peninsula that has a National Park with history of copper mining, Munising that has Picture Rock National Park, water falls and the Soo Locks.
PM me if you have detail questions.

[dennisewitte]

We just got back from 12 days in the UP. We stayed 2 nights at Wilderness State Park near Mackinac Island, 2 nights at Tahquamenon Falls SP near the falls, one night at Bay Furnace NF campground near Pictured Rocks, 4 nights at McLain SP near Isle Royale boat, and 2 nights at Porcupine Mountains SP. It was awesome. The Michigan State Parks have 30 amp power at most all sites. Take plently of mosquito spray.

[elind]

Originally Posted by dennisewitte

We just got back from 12 days in the UP. We stayed 2 nights at Wilderness State Park near Mackinac Island, 2 nights at Tahquamenon Falls SP near the falls, one night at Bay Furnace NF campground near Pictured Rocks, 4 nights at McLain SP near Isle Royale boat, and 2 nights at Porcupine Mountains SP. It was awesome. The Michigan State Parks have 30 amp power at most all sites. Take plently of mosquito spray.

Glad you enjoyed the Keweenaw.

I live just south of Chassell on US 41 and you didn't stop?

[rockfordroo]

You don't say which parts of Wisconsin you plan to pass through, so here's just stuff off the top of my head.

Manitowoc, WI on Lake Michigan north of Milwaukee has a very nice maritime museum with the USS Cobia, a WWII submarine. Quite a few WWII subs were built in Manitowoc. Welcome to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum Website | Wisconsin Maritime Website

North of Manitowoc is Door County, as already pointed out; see Sturgeon Bay, WI.

Wisconsin Dells, north of Madison, is the Water Park Capitol of the world. But they also have WWII Duck rides on the Wisconsin River, as well as regular boat excursions on the river. Plus a casino and the Crystal Grand Music Theater. Circus World circus museum is close by. And you can't forget the famous Tommy Bartlett Ski, Sky and Stage show. Official Site For Wisconsin Dells | The Waterpark Capital of the World | Wisconsin Tourism

Make sure you take in at least one of the many lighthouses on Lakes Michigan and Superior. Lighthouses of Lake Michigan - Lake Michigan Lighthouses & Lighthouse Tours Upper Peninsula Lighthouses on Lake Superior open to the public and scenic Lighthouse Cruises

Bayfield and the Apostle Islands (Madeline Island), WI are very interesting places. Take the boat ride to Raspberry Island lighthouse. Bayfield Chamber of Commerce and The Apostle Islands Madeline Island Chamber Of Commerce - Apostle Islands, Wisconsin

[joy-rick]

If you are in the Madison, WI area a great place to visit is Spring Green, WI. You can visit a wonderful, eclectic, unbelievable collection of "stuff" at House on the Rock. Also, if you are interested, is the home of Frank LLoyd Wright.

The UP of Michigan offers soooo much! Just don't underestimate its size. It is a long way from one end to the other. If you do go all the way to the eastern end, a visit to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie is fascinating. There is a city park right along the edge of the Poe Lock (no joke, that's the name) with bleacher seats so that you can watch the big freighters entering and leaving the locks. Very, very impressive!

Another great side trip is to cross the International Bridge and visit Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada. However, if you're going to do that don't forget your passports and vet statements for your pets.

Also, the Tahquamenon Falls and the maritime museum in Whitefish Bay.

Don't forget the "Big Mac" bridge and Mackinac Island.

[Denny B]

We were up there 2 weeks ago. The scenery, weather, and people are fabulous. However, we cut our time there short because the black flies were eating us alive. Couldn't campfire, BBQ, and our poor little dogs were being driven crazy. My wife's face actually started bleeding while she was talking with fellow campers while I was packing up to go.
I believe the flies thought the repellent we applied was special sauce.
I'm hoping your experience will be much better than ours.

[widogmom]

Assuming you'll head up 51, the headwaters area of WI is beautiful. Boulder Jct./Sayner area has a phenomenal rec trail system and also great mountain biking (Win-Man near Manitowish Waters). Camp Holiday in Boulder Jct. is a top-notch facility run by super folks (we just spent 4th of July holiday there, as well as Memorial Day weekend, and are going back for one more trip this year). I hope you have a wonderful trip!

[ROO3636]

Devils Lake State Park
Kohler Andrae State Park
Road America (if there's anything going on at that time) & Elkhart Lake

[2016251RKS]

Way back in the day there was a frisbee tournament in Houghton, MI / sponsored by the "Library" bar, I believe. The UP is like Alaska, without mountains or glaciers, but with lots of "bugs" and wide open spaces.

[SailorSam20500]

Stop at the Hilltop Restaurant in L'Anse, great sweet rolls, I know people who drive up there from St. Ignace to get them. Also, in that area, you can scale the "highest mountain" in Michigan Mount Arvon a mind numbing 1,979 feet of elevation.

[Steltenpohl]

Rivers Bend Campground
Iron Mountain. MI
Best Campground in the UP
Lots to do and see.

[ShermanD]

Mackinaw Island, boats there run from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. BTW Motor homes and Pickups pulling Trailers are $5 an axle to cross the bridge each way, but the views from there are awesome.

[SaskCampers]

Don't forget Oswald's Bear Ranch in upper Michigan if you like wildlife. Just google it they have a site. Too bad you can't be in the cage with the little ones anymore it seems.

[mopwr4me2003]

Depending on the way you take, if you go through Madison there is the Dane county fair, it has some free concerts. Also the taste of Madison is coming up too. Then there is the Wisconsin dells. Tons of stuff to do there. Door county is a great place just passing Green Bay. Take a stop at lambeau field and do a tour of that. We were just in door county in fish creek at fish creek campground. Nice little place with water and electricity on all sites for around $35/ night. Clean place and easy pull through sites. You are in the middle of everything for the whole area. Further up from that you could go to wolf river or Apple river and do some rafting. Also there is copper falls state park which is up in that area you will be in. Tons of things to do heading up this way. Enjoy the trip and have fun.

[2OLDDIGGERS]

The drive from Houghton to Copper Harbor is fun.

[Seasonal]

Wagon Trail Campground, Door County

[Hannah]

I was there last summer in August and didn't see a fly. Had a beautiful week in Door County (Bailey's Harbor Campground). Then I took the ferry across Lake Michigan from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Ludington, Michigan (stayed in Ludington SP there). There were lots of motorhomes on the ferry. They drive your rig on for you (no choice in that) and bring it off for you. Pets must stay in the motorhome. It wasn't cheap but balanced out as it saved me lots of miles and lots of big city driving. It was about a 4 hour trip and fun sitting by the railing and watching the lake go by. Visited the UP a couple of years ago. Beautiful and so nice and cool. Don't miss Mackinaw Island. Have a wonderful trip!

[tomrob1161]

In the UP don't miss Tahquamenon Falls SP & White Fish Point. White Fish Point is on Lake Superior and has a fantastic collection of shells.

Have a safe fun trip.

[markb422]

We are from the LP but like the UP and make a camping trip across the bridge at least once in the summer. Others have wrote about the black flies and they are nasty. They seem to be worse in July but for us they are totaly gone in August. So that is when we go. In the Keewanaw Penninsula there is a lot of history In Fort Wilkins St Park at the nothern tip of the pennisula and in Calumet which was a boom town in the copper era. There are copper mine museums and tours there. The history of the building of the Mac. Bridge is very interesting along with the history of the soo locks. You can take a ferry boat to Mackinaw Island no motor vehicles on the island. Again, a lot of history there. If you like it wild, go to Seney National or Porcupine Mountain SP both are huge. Lake Superior is the greatest of the great lakes in my op. We call it God's bathtub.