Wisconsin and Northern Michigan

T

thataway

Active member
We are currently on a road trip, and are at Lake Geneva, as we explore the areas in the title of this thread. I see that there are several C Brats near our projected routes--Oshkosh tomorrow for couple of days, then the Doors area, and finally up to the NP of Michigan.

I would love suggestions of places to go and see as we travel along. No the boat i not with us--I was not yet cleared for C Dory travel by my back surgeon, so we are in the dirt boat!
 
Bob,

I can recommend a stop in the town of Rhinelander WI. My folks had (and now my sister has) a cabin just S. of Rhinelander on RTE 17. Rhinelander has a good water ski show on Boom Lake (Shows are performed every Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30pm on Boom Lake at Hodag Park in Rhinelander thru Labor Day. Admission is free. Food concessions. For more information call 715-362-0625) and a cute logging museum. Also, you'll get to see the famous, mythical Hodag. It probably won't be the highlight of your trip, but I had a lot of fun in that area as a kid.
 
Hi Bob!

Please give Marie our best!

I just returned from a month-long, boatless trip in the truck camper out west and was in the UP as recently as Sunday morning. I hadn't been there for a number of years and Boomer and I spent four days in the UP.

Although we spent most of our time along the north coast, right on Lake Superior, we have also explored the southern coast of the UP as well, running along the northern tip of Lake MI. Either one is beautiful.

I can suggest a visit to the small town of L'anse, which is on the route to Copper Harbor, located on a peninsula which stretches way into Lake Superior, where there is a ferry that goes to Isle Royale. There is a very nice township campground in L'anse, which overlooks a bay of Lake Superior. The location is gorgeous, right above the bay, and it only runs $20@ night, but they don't have sewers at the sites, although there is a dump station on the way out.

Also, definitely go to Sault Ste. Marie, on the St. Mary's river, where the ocean-going freighters lock through to reach Lake Superior. There are two campgrounds RIGHT on the river, one public and one private. Both run about the same price and we stayed in the private one this time, scoring a corner site right on the river. Very nice place.

While in the UP be sure to try a local delicacy - the pasty! That is pronounced with a soft "a"! It is a handheld, dough-covered meat pie with beef, chicken or veggie stuffing. The meat selections have veggies in them also. I recommend Muldoon's on the main drag in Munising, where I had lunch on Saturday. I bought two frozen pasties that Marcia and I had Sunday night when I got home. They were great with some gravy.

Of course, the residents of the the UP proudly call themselves "Yoopers" and an interesting souvenir place to be found in a few places in the UP is "Da Yooper's Tourist Trap" which is interesting and worth a stop.

The UP is packed with national forests with various sorts of campgrounds, with many on streams or small lakes. There are lots of private places, too.

Gas prices last week were about $4.39 with diesel running $3.79! Be sure to fuel up when you can, as I planned to do so in a few small towns only to discover that their stations went out of business.

Hope this helps and if you decide to head to Ohio you have a place to stay!

Best,

Nick and Marcia
"Valkyrie"
 
I always enjoy spending time on the Keweenaw Peninsula of the UP. Lots of mining history and that faded, slightly bittersweet atmosphere of land where you can tell there used to be more houses and goings-on (lilacs where the dooryard used to be, mining equipment and artifacts, apple trees, etc.). There are also some really nice/huge pines, and of course the big lake, lighthouses, etc. Has the feeling of an open-air museum you can just wander around in, without every patch of land or road having lines or rules. Calumet is a neat town to drive through (Italian Hall was there [1913 Massacre/Arlo Guthrie], and they have a historic opera house, etc.).

Of course the UP in general is a neat place to wander around (as is the rest of the area you plan to traverse).
 
Bob,

How could I forget the Whitefish Point Maritime Museum right on Lake Superior? The museum is near the graveyard of the Edmund Fitzgerald and houses many of the ship's artifacts.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
Thanks! We will keep booking these ideas and putting in the planing machine! UP--got it--for upper Peninsula--not NP! See what our flat landers do!

Beautiful part of the world. We did note that gas is over $4.05 a gallon even down the Lake Geneva area-I suspect we will find diesel over $4.00, but hoping for some of that $3.79!
 
Concur with all the comments on the UP. Gas just dropped below $4/gal today. This weekend is Seafood Fest (Rotary fund raiser) in Houghton (gateway to the Keweenaw). All next week is Finn Fest celibrating the regions Finnish heritage. Finn Fest is scheduled every 3 to 5 years (I think) by a organization in the Minneapolis area and draws Finns from as far away as Finland. Most events are on the 28th and 29th. Give me a call if you get to the area but I may be headed to Isle Royale as I have to get C-Green out there soon.

Jay
 
Hi Bob,

Lots of good suggestions already provided. The Keweenaw is a must see. This is copper country and there are several mines for your to visit. The Delaware and Quincey mine in Houghton/Hancock come to mind. The route or US41/M26 North is a very scenic trip. The town of Calumet is the only Town that is a National Park. Beautiful buildings with cast iron facades from the late 1800's. The town of Eagle River has a delightful light house that alternates a white and red warning beam. Brockway Mountain Drive near Copper Harbor is very scenic. On a clear day you can look west and actually see Isle Royale. Agates can be found along the rocky shoreline if you decide to get your feet wet.

Munising is a must stop with the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Park. While there have a burger at the Dogpatch Saloon.

Sault St. Marie and the locks are also a must stop. From there you can head South and visit the Les Cheneaux Islands. E. J Mertaugh Boats in the town of Hessel always has several antique wood boat restorations underway.

If you decide to take the southern route across which is Route 2, of Fayette State Park is a treasure. It is ghost town from the 1800's. that was abandoned when the charcoal smelting process of iron was becoming obsolete and all of the hardwood trees in the immediate were depleted. The harbor here, Snail Shell Harbor, with it's dolomite cliffs, is beautiful.

There is lots to see and do in the U.P. It is pretty rural by anyones definition so plan ahead for accomodations. I have spent a lot of time in the U.P; camping, boating, kayaking, and diving and it is my favorite place to visit.

Take advantage of eating a few pasties and smoked fish, in particular the white fish, they are wonderful.

Check out my photo album and Mark's, Not-For-Hire, for photograps of some of the areas I and others have suggested.

Have a safe trip and wonderful time in Northern Michigan.

Best regards,
 
Hi Bob,

Here are our suggestions:

Door County Wisconsin

Take Hwy 42/57 to Sturgeon Bay. Sturgeon Bay is a nice city that is on a larger canal. There are a number of marina's there, nice little restaurants, shipping building facility, etc.

Keep going north on Hwy 42/57, then take Hwy 57 east toward Lake Michigan. You can then follow this road in a loop around Door County (up Lake Michigan and down Bay of Green Bay) - you'll go thru Jacksonport, Baileys Harbor, Sister Bay, Ephram, Fish Creek, and Egg Harbor. When you are in Sister Bay you can continue North and head up toward Washington Island (if you like smoked fish, stop in Ellison Bay for some smoked white fish). We are not big fans of Washington Island (not much to do) but many people love it. A car ferry runs over to Washington Island and then on the other side of Washington Island you can take a passenger ferry to Rock Island.

Sister Bay, Ephram, and Fish Creek are our favorites. Many stops along the loop to stop at roadside markets, shops, etc. Just above White Fish Dunes State park there is a county park named Cave Point County Park. This park is right on Lake Michigan and is a great place to stop to see the lake and some of the rocks, cliffs, etc. If you like pies, then you must stop in at Sweetie Pies in between Sister Bay and Ephram - by far the best pies I've ever had.

http://www.doorcountypies.com/

If you need a place to stay, PM me as our Cottage is located on the water (bay side) near Dykesville. We are not in the area, but I'll set you up with the key and directions. Just a small cottage built in 1923 with a cooper roof.

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _album.php

0426_2003_cabin_001.jpg

Of course, if you are a football fan at all (and even if you are not) - Lambeau Field and the Packer Hall of Fame is a nice place to visit in Green Bay. You'll be amazed that a small little town like Green Bay can support a major football team - but we put our kids on the season ticket waiting list when they were born (oldest now 20) and they still are around 50,000 on the list (started out around 55,000).

In the UP of Michigan:

Fayette Michigan is a fun place to see. We have been to this harbor many times in our boat.

http://www.fayettemichigan.com/

Of course, Mackinac Island is fun to visit. Harbor Springs, Beaver Island, and Charlevoix are worth the visit.

http://www.mikebartonphoto.com/gallery/ ... harlevoix/


We are on the motorhome heading for Quebec / New York City but our boat is in Sturgeon Bay. (You'd be welcome to take our boat out for a ride also - in a slip on the canal)

Certainly let us know if you have any questions or need information on your trip.

Have a nice trip,

Robert
 
Bob,
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park is a very beautiful place in Michigan which is near Traverse City, Frankfort, Leland, Traverse city has a nice campground were we stayed once upon a time. Lots of cherries and fruit grown up in that area. Farm stands everywhere. Mackinaw Island and on over across the top to Ashland and Bayfield, Wisconsin on Lake Superior. You have to try the whitefish livers, good stuff in Bayfield at Maggie's Restaurant.
D.D.
 
Hi Bob,

I hope you are enjoying your time in Wisconsin. Fran and I met you and
your wife last fall in Florida at Marc's get together. We live in Northern
Door County (Ellison Bay,WI) and would enjoy seeing both of you again
if your are coming to the area. We have a beautiful spot to park your
motor home while you are in Door County if you need a place. I can
also fill you in on all the places to see while you are visiting.

I can be reached on my Cell# 920 421-1316
Home# 920 854-4624


Regards,
Ron and Fran Hill
 
I can recommend Mackinac Island, especially the Grand Hotel with the World's longest wooden porch. The hotel dates back to 1897 and is a great attraction. One is supposed to be dressed for the evening to even appear out front, but I was there in a flight suit after 5pm in June, 1994 courtesy of a DC Army National Guard UH-1 helicopter - but that's another story...

Pete
 
Bob,
I echo Brazo's comments. Door County is gorgeous. If you are in the area, you'd regret not taking the drive he suggested. As for the Motorhome, when we had ours, we enjoyed staying at Potowatomi State Park on the south side of Sturgeon Bay. Not as busy as Peninsula SP in Fish Creek, but very nice... just a little more spacious between campsites. Of course your trip up thru the UP and Northern Wisconsin is going to provide a lot of nice scenery also. Let me know if you will be in Door County the last week of June. I hope to be up there then with my C22. Colby
 
Too many choices, eh! All the suggestions are great and there is more; you could easily be here until fall color season which I also recommend.

Enjoy, Jay
 
If you're in the L'Anse area, we live in Aura (10miles east) and have a large area for RV parking. Our boat is docked in Pequaming (historical area built by Henry Ford) Just give us a call and we,ll provide directions. A good stop if you head up to the Keweenaw Peninsula. 906-524-7066.

Hank and Pat
 
Hank,
Thanks for the invite, unfortunately, we didn't see that message until we had decided on another route...

We did have a delightful evening with wine and a movie in Ron and Fran Hill's beautiful movie theater! The next day as we were doing the near by "back roads" we discovered "Avanti", a C Dory 25 which is owned by Linda and Joe Cecchini who are typical C Brats (but didn't know it). They have owned sailboats for many years. They had visited the C Brats, but did not realize what a great extended family we are. Hopefully they will join our group after their shakedown cruise!

In the past as we have driven the byways we have discovered other C Dory owners who did not realize the universal appeal of the C Brat site. We should all encourage these folks to join the fold (its addictive!)

We are headed for Bayfield tomorrow, and will spend a few days in that area, and then over to the UP, and then back to warm Pensacola! Tonight it will be in the mid 50's in the Woodruff area!
 
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