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Biking UP Michigan

To keep cool in summer, head for the Great Lakes. Our journey through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the nearby Petoskey Area combines rides on comfortable bike paths and vehicle-free roads with exploration of natural wonders, historic sites, and the arts.
Circling Mackinac Island
Bike riders next to the clear waters of Lake Huron on a paved road

Few places in the United States can eclipse the cool beauty of the Great Lakes in the heat of summer.

We'd planned this road trip for several years in a row, but family obligations stopped us each time. Finally, everything fell into place in the summer of 2018.

Each morning, we'd take a ride on a major bike trail. Each afternoon, we explored historic sites, natural areas, and the rugged beauty of the coastlines of the Great Lakes.

We focused on Northern Michigan: Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior in the Petoskey Area (just "Below" the Mackinac Straits) and the Upper Peninsula ("Above" the Mackinac Straits) of Michigan.

Above Below
Above Below, written by John's great uncle Curt Knoblock

After his service in World War I, John's great uncle Curt Knoblock was among those who established the dolomite mine at Drummond Island. Uncle Curt managed part of the operation for many years.

In 1952, his memoir of the experience was published as the book Above Below, recounting stories of characters he knew on Drummond Island and De Tour.

Since John had never seen the Great Lakes before, we couldn't call this a homecoming so much as a look into the past coupled with the beauty of the present. We met our own cast of characters along the way.

Itinerary

Auburn, Indiana

MUSEUMS: Auburn Cord Dusenburg Museum
DINING: Cebolla’s Mexican Grill
LODGING: Hampton Inn Auburn

Grand Rapids Area

BIKING: Big Rapids Riverwalk
MUSEUMS: Gilmore Car Museum
DINING: Flat River Grill, Lowell; Crankers and Biggby Coffee, Big Rapids LODGING: Holiday Inn Big Rapids

Charlevoix

PARKS: Birch Lake, Charlevoix Harbor
DRIVING TOUR: Charlevoix Mushroom Houses
SHOPPING: Uncle Bills Orchard

Petoskey & Harbor Springs

Petoskey stone hunting
BIKING: Little Traverse Wheelway, North Western State Trail
HIKING: North Country Trail, Top of Michigan Trails Council
PADDLING: Lake Michigan
PARKS: Oden State Fish Hatchery, Spring Lake Park
DRIVING TOURS: Bay Harbor, Bay View Association
EVENTS: Outboard Marathon Nationals
SHOPPING: Downtown Petoskey, Bahnhof Sport, High Gear
DINING: City Park Grill, JW Filmores, Mim's Mediterranean Grill, Northwood Family Restaurant, Original Pancake House, Petoskey Brewing
LODGING: Bay Inn

Mackinaw City

PARKS: Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Wilderness State Park
MUSEUMS: Heritage Village, Icebreaker Mackinaw, McGulpin Point
DRIVING TOUR: Tunnel of Trees Scenic Drive
DINING: Audie's Family Restaurant, Carmichael's
LODGING: Days Inn Bridgeview Lodge

St. Ignace

HIKING: Lake Huron Boardwalk, Chief Wawatam Park
MUSEUMS: Museum of Ojibwa Culture, Fort de Buade Museum
PARKS: St Anthony’s Rock
SHOPPING: Indian Village
DINING: Java Joes, Jose's Cantina, Mackinac Grill
LODGING: Baymont Inn

De Tour & Drummond Island

BIKING: Maxton Plains
PARKS: De Tour Roadside Park, De Tour Botanical Gardens, Big Shoal Bay Beach
Drummond Island Ferry
Drummond Island Welcome Center
MUSEUMS: Drummond Island Historical Museum
DINING: Northwood Restaurant, Sune's IGA Market
SHOPPING: Country Store

Naubinway & Engadine

PARKS: Top of the Lake Rest Area, Mill Pond Park
MUSEUMS: Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum
Engadine Farmer's Market
DINING: Farmhouse Restaurant, Gould City

Manistique

HIKING: Manistique Boardwalk, Palms Book State Park (Kitch-iti-tipi), Fayette Historic State Park
DRIVING TOUR: Garden Peninsula
DINING: The Dock

Marquette

BIKING: Iron Ore Heritage Trail, NTN North 550 Trails
HIKING: Au Train Beach, North Country Trail, Presque Isle Park, Picnic Island Park
MUSEUMS: Marquette Maritime Museum, Michigan Iron Industry Museum
DRIVING TOUR: Lakenenland
SHOPPING: Lakeshore Bike, Quick Stop Bike Shop, Touch of Finland
DINING: Big Boy, Hudson's Classic Grill & Bar, Vango's Pizza
LODGING: Cedar Motor Inn

Ishpeming & Negaunee

BIKING: Iron Ore Heritage Trail
HIKING: Jackson Mine; Canyon Falls, North Country Trail
MUSEUMS: Cliffs Shaft Mine Museum
SHOPPING: Da Yoopers Tourist Trap
DINING: Midtown Bakery & Cafe, Negaunee; Ralph's Italian Deli, Ishpeming

Houghton & Hancock

BIKING: Houghton Waterfront Trail
HIKING: Nara Nature Park
PARKS: Houghton Waterfront Park
MUSEUMS: A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Finnish American Heritage Center
Finlandia University
SHOPPING: North Wind Books
DINING: The Library Restaurant and Brew Pub, Roy's Pasties & Bakery
LODGING: Super 8 Lake Shore Drive

Keweenaw Peninsula

BIKING: Copper Harbor, Keweenaw Rocket Range
HIKING: Estivant Pines
PARKS: Snow Gauge Park, Bete Grise Preserve/Mendota Lighthouse, Bete Grise Beach, Fort Wilkins State Park, Keweenaw NPS Visitor Center, McClain State Park
SHOPPING: Downtown Calumet
DINING: Carmelitas Southwestern Grill, Calumet; The Mariner North, Copper Harbor; Harbor Haus, Copper Harbor
LODGING: Laurium Manor Inn

Ironwood

BIKING: Iron Belle Trail
HIKING: North Country Trail
PARKS: Hiawatha, Lake Gogebic State Park, Miners Memorial Heritage Park, Ottawa National Forest, Black River Harbor
DRIVING TOURS: Black River Scenic Byway
SHOPPING: Downtown Ironwood
DINING: The Cedars, Maplewood
LODGING: AmericInn

Ironwood to Marquette

BIKING: Iron Ore Heritage Trail
HIKING: North Country Trail
PARKS: Bond Falls, Agate Falls
MUSEUMS: Alberta Village
SHOPPING: Alberta
DINING: Jerzis 41, Champion; Iron Bay Restaurant, Marquette
LODGING: EconoLodge, Marquette

Munising to Paradise

HIKING Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore: North Country Trail, Munising Falls, Sand Point Marsh, Miners Falls, Miners Castle, Log Slide
MUSEUMS: U.S. Coast Guard Museum
DRIVING TOURS: H-58 Scenic Highway, Grand Marais
SHOPPING: Downtown Munising
DINING: Dogpatch, Munising; Triangle Restaurant, McMillan

Paradise

HIKING: North Country Trail, Taquamenon Falls State Park; Whitefish Point
MUSEUMS: Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
DINING: The Inn
LODGING: Magnuson Lakefront

Sault Ste Marie

HIKING: North Country Trail
DRIVING TOUR: Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway
MUSEUMS: Point Iroquois Lighthouse, Soo Locks Visitor Center
DINING: Dancing Crane Coffee Shop, Zorba’s Greek
LODGING: Baymont Inn, St. Ignace

Mackinac Island

Star Line Ferry
BIKING: M-185 Loop, Mackinac Island State Park
HIKING: Lake Shore Nature Trail, Browns Brook Nature Trail, Arch Rock, Chimney Rock, Devil’s Kitchen, British Landing Nature Center, Crack-on-the-Island
SHOPPING: Ryba’s Fudge, Joanne’s Fudge
DINING: Bistro on the Greens, Mission Point; Cannonball Drive Inn; Chianti’s, Mission Point; Grand Hotel Grand Luncheon Buffet
LODGING: Mission Point Resort