Birthday Along Pictured Rocks

It was my birthday and I planned to spend it enjoying the beauty of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I was staying at the Alger Falls Motel in Munising. The tourism board had arranged a two boat rides for me the day before and I had another one to go. It was a beautiful day for it too.

The Pictured Rocks Cruises is the one I was looking forward to the most because it highlights the most beautiful rock formations in this area.

I had the tour scheduled for the morning and it did not disappoint. The sites are just breathtaking, from Miners Castle to Painted Coves and Lovers Leap. It reminded me a lot of some of the things
I saw in Los Cabos, Mexico.

There were kayakers below us seeing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from a whole different angle. I have to admit I was a bit jealous that I wasn’t able-bodied enough to join them.

After I got off the ship, I decided to take a drive around town. Munising is a fairly small town considering it has one of the most spectacular spots in the Midwest.

There are local shops and restaurants along the main road. I looked around a little and stopped at the Frozen Flamingo for ice cream.

Before I headed back to the motel for a rest, I went to Horseshoe Falls. I heard it was one of the most accessible of the many waterfalls in this area and that was true.

Horseshoe Falls has an easy to follow walking path to and around the falls. I loved the signs along with way with Native American sayings, as well as information about the falls. There is also a large spring that comes into the area.

I picked up my friend Lynn from Escanaba airport in the evening. I had looked around for a restaurant for a nice birthday dinner and found one not far from there in Gladstone.

The Freshwater Tavern had both atmosphere, overlooking Lake Michigan, and delicious food (even the rolls).

Before we headed back to the Alger Motel in Munising, we took a scenic drive along Lake Superior for the sunset.  

Although my time in this town was coming toward, there was lots more Michigan to come.

Lakes of Beauty in Munising

My first trip up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was in the wintertime. I took a ride to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and, even in winter, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. 

I vowed to come back and explore this area more and it seemed like an ideal way to spend my birthday.

I left Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee and drove through Wisconsin to the UP. I had decided that Munising was a base for me to start and it was the right choice.

It was near sunset when I arrived at the Alger Falls Motel. The Munising tourism board had set me up there for two nights. The rooms were large and the location was central.

 

I was a bit hungry and decided to go for something local. I drove down to Muldoon’s and had my very first Pastie, a local favorite they were known for.

 A pasty is a hand pie looks like a cross between a turnover and a calzone, or for those who have been to the U.K., a meat pie. I decided I was not in a beef mood and got one vegetable, and one apple for dessert.

I took my pasties down to the Munising dock. It was a beautiful scene of boats and glistening water, and the perfect way to end the day.

After a full night’s sleep back at the motel, I was ready for an extremely full day in Michigan. Lake Superior was the center of it all and the turquoise water was waiting for me.

 

First up was a fairly new attraction, the Munising Pirate Cruise. It was a warm, beautiful day for this family filled cruise.

It was a nice combination of pirate fun for the kids and adult sightseeing. I enjoyed watching and photographing both as we went up Grand Island and back along the cost of Pictured Rocks.

 

It was even more beautiful than I had imagined. I saw the Grand Island lighthouses, old and new, and rock formations that could only be made by nature.

I grew up near the ocean. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining about enjoying life on Long Island, but the idea of these calm, clear, colorful, hurricane and shark-free waters of the great lakes appeals to me much more.

 

After the boat ride, I had most of the day free until another cruise in the evening. I headed back to the motel for some rest and then out to a late lunch/early dinner.

I decided on a local favorite, Dogpatch, for the salad bar and delicious pulled pork.

Despite rain in the forecast, it was ideal evening weather for the Shipwreck Tours with a glass bottom boat.

The boat was going in the same directions as the morning one, but the itinerary and purpose was different. We were going to see many of the shipwrecks left in these clear waters of this Great Lake.

 

The windows on the bottom of the ship were large and clear and it was easy to see the wrecks. The boat went in and out of some of the Grand Island caves, even stopping in one for us to get a closer look, as well as selfies.

The formations of these caves were a work of art. I was looking forward to seeing the ones on the other side, at Pictured Rocks, the next day.

 

I was extremely relaxed on this amazing body of water and had another peaceful night sleep. I was excited that I had more days to explore the wonders of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.