cn0805_0152
cn0805_0152
cn0805_0152
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Lake Superior, Tahquamenon Falls, the Keweenaw<br />
Peninsula and the Houghton-Hancock Bridge are among<br />
the many splendors of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.<br />
GET UP AND GO!<br />
continued from page 30<br />
“Everything is there — bike rides, horse carriages,<br />
visiting the fudge factory, putting on Old West clothes<br />
and getting your picture taken,” said Janet Kallabat of<br />
Sterling Heights, a frequent visitor to the island.<br />
Kallabat likes to catch the ferry in Mackinaw<br />
City. “Its really fun to walk around and check out<br />
the shops there,” she said, “and when the wind is<br />
blowing on a nice day, the ferry feels so good.”<br />
Accommodations on the island are not cheap, especially<br />
if you opt for the granddaddy of them all — the<br />
Grand Hotel. A bonafide U.S. landmark, the Grand is<br />
famous for its 660-foot front porch and exclusive atmosphere<br />
- visitors can’t even stroll the grounds unless they<br />
first pay a $10 fee. Overnight rates start at $205 — per<br />
person — and go steeply up from there. On the plus side,<br />
all rates include a full breakfast and five-course dinner<br />
daily served plantation-style by white-gloved waiters.<br />
TERRIFIC TRAVERSE CITY<br />
Heading “Up North” doesn’t necessarily mean<br />
crossing the Mackinac Bridge. Many Metro<br />
Detroiters like to get away from it all in and around<br />
Traverse City on Michigan’s West Coast.<br />
Traverse City is an attractive hodgepodge of<br />
hotels, restaurants, casinos and upscale shops.<br />
Nearby are some gorgeous sites, including Sleeping<br />
Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the stunning<br />
Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan’s Wine Country. No<br />
trip to the area is complete without a drive around<br />
the Leelanau and some casual wine tasting.<br />
You’ll have no problem finding a place to stay in<br />
a variety of price ranges. One of the nicest is the<br />
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, a large resort with all<br />
sorts of extras including a children’s center, day<br />
camp, tennis center, beach club and 54 golf holes<br />
including Jack Nicklaus’ The Bear and Gary Player’s<br />
The Wolverine. Rates start at about $130 a night<br />
per person, and a variety of packages are available.<br />
THE UNBEATABLE UP<br />
Crossing the Mackinac Bridge is like going into<br />
another world. The grass seems greener, the air<br />
smells sweeter, the people are friendlier and often,<br />
the prices are a lot cheaper.<br />
There are dozens of places to explore in the UP.<br />
Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Paradise is easily<br />
accessible for those seeking the quiet and solitude of<br />
the wilderness. The park encompasses close to 40,000<br />
acres stretching over 13 miles, most undeveloped<br />
woodland. The centerpiece is the Tahquamenon<br />
River with its large and lovely<br />
waterfalls. Another favorite site is<br />
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore<br />
with its multicolored sandstone<br />
cliffs, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland<br />
lakes and forest of the Lake Superior<br />
shoreline. A day cruise to inspect<br />
the cliffs up close is a must for any<br />
visitor.<br />
Also situated on Lake Superior<br />
is Marquette, one of Governor<br />
Jennifer Granholm’s designated<br />
“Cool Cities.” The college town combines an historic,<br />
attractive downtown with natural vistas.<br />
Further north are the twin cities of Houghton and<br />
Hancock, gateway to the Keweenaw Peninsula, also<br />
know as Copper Country. The mines have long ago<br />
shut down but several are still available for tours while<br />
others lie in picturesque ruins. If you’re staying in the<br />
area, check out the Ramada Inn in Hancock (about<br />
$89 per night) and be sure to request a room overlooking<br />
the Portage Canal and its unique vertical lift bridge.<br />
Life is slow and lazy in the tiny towns of the<br />
Keweenaw. The highlight is Copper Harbor at the<br />
peninsula’s tip, a funky collection of mom and pop<br />
motels and atmospheric restaurants, shops and art<br />
galleries. Nearby is historic Fort Wilkins, a well-preserved<br />
example of a mid-19th century military post.<br />
The premium resort in the area is the Keweenaw<br />
Mountain Lodge, built in 1935 and perched high in<br />
the mountains. Accommodations are in charming<br />
log cabins with stone fireplaces, and the expansive<br />
grounds include golf, tennis and fine dining. Cabins<br />
start at $99 per night.<br />
Each area of the UP offers its own charms, but all<br />
have a few things in common — Native Americanowned<br />
casinos, fudge shops and pasty stores. What are<br />
you waiting for? Pack up the car and get going!<br />
34 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2005