I am in Omaha working a hail storm and things may be slowing down soon. I’m going to fly my wife up and then head to Minnesota and Michigan, and maybe Wisconsin if we can’t avoid it.
We’ll probably take 3-5 days to see the area. We like outdoor, scenic stuff. We’ve talked about looking for a waterfront rental/lodge where we can kayak. We live on a lake so the kayaking would be for the scenery. We want to see the region, so we won’t spend all the time in one place.
I drove to Omaha, so we’ll be in my SUV. If you see a black Honda Pilot with a ladder on top and Florida plates, be sure to salute.
Any suggestions?
Veganerd - depending on how much time we have, I might be interested in finding out where to collect some fossils. At this point I don’t know when we’ll do it, but just wanted to get some information so we can have a game plan when they release me up here.
I just got back from a weekend on Minnesota’s North Shore. The place is amazing. Duluth is a nice city, the hiking is amazing and you’ll be up and down the shore to the different hikes along the Superior Hiking Trail. For kayaking, you can go to a lot of the inner lakes or you can get a kayak on Lake Superior.
If it gets old or you want a change, Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands are not too far of a drive away.
If you’re coming to Michigan through the Upper Pennisula, stop and kayak along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Then on the way back south, hit Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes. If you’re into touristy stuff, stop at Mackinaw Island on the way through.
I would say Leelanau peninsula which depending on how you call it is part of “Traverse City area” Its the peninsula NW of Traverse City. Dunes, inland lakes, the big lake, etc… lots of great places stay and lots of out doors to see.
If you’re coming to Michigan through the Upper Pennisula, stop and kayak along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Then on the way back south, hit Traverse City and Sleeping Bear Dunes. If you’re into touristy stuff, stop at Mackinaw Island on the way through.
2nd this, If you go this route, lots of cool places, the Porcupine Mountains, to name another stop to look into. You could spend a day on Mackinac Island, just hiking around the island, and avoiding the tourist shopping stuff.
Keep in mind Minnesota is 50% larger that Florida in of itself. I would go straight to the UP of Michigan (13ish hour drive if you keep stops pretty basic).
Technically the Apostle islands are in Wisconsin I suppose, from their you head up to copper harbor, or take a trip out to Isle Royale from Houghton.
The northwoods is an addicting place to be.
Northern Minnesota starts at Duluth in my mind, northern Wisconsin is north of Highway 8, which is barely north of the twin cities.
The driftless region of SE Minnesota and SW Wisconsin is pretty neat, but not the big woods.
Duluth is the gateway to what you want to see. Head north up Hwy 61 to the north shore of Superior, or head east on Hwy 2 to the Apostle Islands and further on into the UP of Michigan.
Plenty of lake front lodges on the North Shore of superior with outdoors activities. Kayak on the big lake, hike through the many state parks etc… Love Tettegouche, Gooseberry, and Split Rock Light House state parks and they are very popular. Feeling a bit more off the beaten path, get into George Crosby Manitou state park. Can’t beat the hiking.
Kayaking the Apostle Islands is pretty cool too. That is only an hour and a half east of Duluth on your way to the UP of Michigan.
Duluth also happens to be overrun with craft breweries, so plenty of local brews to try at the end of the day.
Duluth also happens to be overrun with craft breweries, so plenty of local brews to try at the end of the day.
Yes, I’m not a fan of the trendy IPA’s so I avoid those but when I was up there i had the Superior Brewing Company’s Kayak Kolcsh. That is amazing stuff.
Pictured Rocks in the Upper Peninsula is beautiful. It’s going to be busier than other places in the UP, but worth the visit and not terribly insane.
Also in the UP, hiking in the Porcupine Mountains area is gorgeous. There’s plenty of semi-rugged activity available, but be sure to visit Lake of the Clouds. It’s not a heavily trafficked area.
Lower Peninsula, the Lake Huron shoreline is phenomenal. I now prefer it to Lake Michigan because Lake MI gets so damn busy, but it is less accessible (lengthier drive there and less to do). As much as I like Traverse City and that general area, its busy nature overwhelms me in the summer. That said, Petoskey is still generally not overwhelming and is lovely. Tap30 is a favorite restaurant there, solid pub food and a great beer list. Compared to Lake Huron, there’s certainly more to do in that area for restaurants, breweries, and boutiques, or even renting kayaks. It’s a good mix of quaint and activity.
I avoid Traverse City like the plague during summer, but the nearby peninsulas are good. Northport in the Leelanau Peninsula is pretty great. If you’re into cycling together, the riding on that peninsula is safe, varied, and fantastic. Wine tours are also good. Michigan’s sweet white wines do well, so don’t expect particularly tasty bold or dry reds.
Taylors falls is an hour oustside of the cities. Great hiking and exploring the bluffs on the border of minnesota and wisconsin. The potholes formed when the river was much higher are really cool.
I will definitely take you fossil hunting. 100% you will go home with bivalves and crionids from 450 million years ago when minnesota was a tropical ocean.
While I wait for engineering to finish my submittal late on a Friday here is my 5 day Minnesota excursion:
Day 1:
Depart Omaha for MSP. Drive time about 5 hours
Get a beer at Surly
Walk across the stone arch bridge and see Minneapolis
Day 2:
Half day fossil hunting with Veganerd (invite Sulliesbrew)
Drive to Duluth, 2 hours
Hang out around down town, more beer, good food (eat here)
Check out the world’s longest fresh water sand beach
Try and stay in the downtown area
Day 3:
1/2 day charter fishing on Superior for Salmon. Never done it but looks awesome.
Drive up to Lutsen area, stop and check out split rock, and other state parks along the north shore
Get a smoked white fish here
Get pie here
Day 4:
Drive to Grand Marais
Day trip paddling the boundary waters with either of these two
Day 5:
Drive to Grand Portage and hike to pigeon falls, or don’t drive that far north and hike eagle mountain (Minnesota’s high point) or the superior hiking trail.
You will need a state park pass
Book cabins through these guys
The Lutsen 99er is the last weekend of June and might make lodging hard to find.
Thank you for the great list. In about 2 hours I’m going to knock out the fossil hunting with Veganerd. Your suggestions are great, we’ll probably follow a couple more of them.
