15 Ways Michigan’s Upper Peninsula May Surprise You
I am the quintessential city girl. Trains, 24-hour bodegas, street traffic, high-rise buildings — that’s MY thing.
So any visit to Michigan would understandably get me excited thinking about Detroit, the birthplace of the auto industry and home to Motown. But that’s not where I was headed on this trip; my destination was the western section of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a remote finger of land surrounded by enormous Lake Superior. It would be a new experience for me, but then again the most important lesson in traveling is to leave your inhibitions at the door — and that’s just what I did.
The western Upper Peninsula (the “UP”) is a mix of dense forest, lakes and rivers small and large, and quaint towns. For an area that has more trees than people (Copper Harbor’s population, for example, is 90), there’s no shortage of activities or sights. From exploring underground mines, dining on fresh-caught fish and other local specialties, to hiking through the Porcupine Mountains, I now understand why “Yoopers” (full-time residents of the UP) speak of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with an incredible amount of love and pride.
Andrea was a guest of Pure Michigan on this trip. All photos by author.