Summer in the Upper Peninsula - Lots of things to do and see
Memorial Day to Labor Day conveniently mark the heart of summer, with warm weather lingering into September. All warm weather attractions and accommodations await you with open doors and welcoming smiles.
When days turn warm and nights are balmy, U.P. folks bring out their summer toys. Please join us. Either bring along your boat, fishing gear, golf bag, and camping equipment, or contact one of our outfitters.
White sails mark the waters, along with kayaks, canoes, and fishing craft, all the way from sleek charters to paddle boats. Great Lakes charter captains hope for strikes of whitefish and salmon. Fishermen cast for pike and perch in inland lakes. Others try their luck for trout in rippling streams.
Water-related attractions include maritime museums, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, five underwater diving preserves, a glass-bottom tour boat, and tours through the internationally-known Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. Ocean-going freighters flying flags from many nations add a sense of drama as they ply the waters up and down the Great Lakes.
Low rolling dunes mark the northern Lake Michigan beaches for miles. Farther north, trails lead across Lake Superior’s Au Sable Dunes to overlooks of Lake Superior.
Along the shores of this peninsula stand more than 40 historic lighthouses and beacons, all worth a photo. Many offer indoor tours. Eight are museums with interpretive displays and guides. Three are converted to bed and breakfast inns. Chat with friendly folk in villages scattered across the peninsula. Our woods and waters attract artists of varying crafts. Linger in our galleries and studios to meet the local artists. Browse among their works. To capture the ethnic flavor of our region, take in our regularly scheduled arts and crafts festivals. Some are major juried shows.
Sidewalk cafes add charm to cityscapes lined with trees, flower boxes, and park benches. Universities and colleges add a sense of dignity. Also check out museums, theaters, playhouses, and summer festivals of the performing arts.
Major chain stores can be found in most cities, along with locally-owned establishments with a charm all their own. Here, one can find original items from clothing to gifts and souvenirs.
Take time to relax at outdoor summer band concerts, city parks, beaches, and picnic areas. Each area boasts its “don’t miss” highlights. The two-mile-drive or hike around Marquette’s Presque Isle Park displays the beauty of the island and Lake Superior. Sault Ste. Marie’s Soo Locks offers a close-up view of freighters from around the world. Iron Mountain’s Fumee Falls is a close-up with nature -- majestic pines whispering in the breeze, a waterfall, and hiking path. Houghton and Hancock provide glimpses of its copper mining past, and gateway to Isle Royale National Park. Historic St. Ignace is the U.P gateway to Mackinac Island where the mode of transportation is horse-drawn carriages and bicycles.
Lodgings open doors wide to welcome summer guests. While major chains are open year around, some quaint and secluded cabins lay welcome mats exclusively for summer visitors.
The U.P. summers are green. Summers are children romping along a sandy shore, teens playing beach volleyball, and Mom and Dad skipping rocks in the lake while Grandma nods and smiles from the shade. Summers are blueberries ripening in the warming sun, butterflies, long twilights, local ice creams on a hot day, and fresh breezes off the sweetwater inland seas.
Venture off the beaten path to discover the contrasting beauty of wilderness in summer.
Back to Top