Michigan’s Upper Peninsula known as the “UP” has 29 percent of Michigan’s landmass, yet only 3 percent of the state’s population. 84% of the UP is covered by forest and contains nearly 400 species of birds. Surrounded by Great Lakes Michigan and Superior, the UP has more than 100 waterfalls and 12,000 miles of rivers and streams. It has more than 3,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, but only one interstate highway (I-75). Lake Superior contains about 10% of the world’s fresh water and has 89 known species of fish. People who live in the Upper Peninsula are known as “Yoopers”. It’s in the dictionary 🙂

She & Me spent two weeks camping at Brimley State Park located right on Lake Superior just west of Sault Ste Marie.

Our first excursion was to the previous site of Kincheloe Air Force Base where Me was stationed from 1975 until the base was closed in 1977 due to force reductions following the Vietnam War. The Strategic Air Command base supported B-52 bombers and KC-135 mid-air refueling tankers. The base is now home to the Chippewa County airport and the former base housing is now a civilian neighborhood. A large part of the base is now the Chippewa Correctional Facility including the dormitory where Me lived (see photo below). Many of the remaining AFB buildings are abandoned or in disrepair so it was a bit disappointing to revisit after nearly 45 years.

She & Me left the base to see the sights in Sault Ste Marie. The first stop was The Palace Mexican restaurant that has been open since 1903 and is famous for its Chili Con Queso.

Then on to the St. Mary’s Rapids Canal locks. The Soo Locks is the largest waterway traffic system in the world. First built in 1855 with many significant updates over the years to accommodate larger and more frequent ship traffic. The current 28,000-ton freighters are 1,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. Over 7,000 ships pass through the locks during the 10-month shipping season. There is a 21-foot drop between Lakes Huron and Superior.

Sault Ste Marie waterfront and sunset over Lake Superior (the orange tint is due to wildfires in Canada).

Our full-day excursion to Point Iroquois lighthouse, Whitefish Point and Lighthouse, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, and Tahquamenon Falls.

Point Iroquois Lighthouse

Whitefish Point & Light-Station

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum featuring artifacts from the sunken freighter Edmund Fitzgerald. The Edmund Fitzgerald was lost with her entire crew of 29 men on Lake Superior November 10, 1975, 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan. Me arrived at Kincheloe Air Force Base in August of that year and remembers well the weather that caused the ship to go down and the angst that beset the town of Sault Ste Marie in the following months.

The ship’s bell was recovered in 1995 using the yellow diving suit called the “Newtsuit” or “Exosuit” shown behind the model of the ship below. The bell was replaced on the wreck by a replica bell listing the names of all the sailors who died.

The two mangled lifeboats from the Edmund Fitzgerald were found shortly after the sinking. They are now on display on the museum freighter ship Valley Camp located in downtown Sault Ste Marie.

Tahquamenon Falls (pronounced like “phenomenon”). There are upper and lower falls, the upper being the more dramatic.

Day-trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan

Au Sable Light Station near Grand Marais, Michigan

Me toured the Valley Camp Freighter Museum ship moored in Sault Ste Marie

This Valley Camp porthole view represents our departure from the UP. But, on our way out we stopped in Trenary, a little town famous for toast. A Finnish family started the Trenary Home Bakery in 1928 by re-baking day-old bread and encrusting it with cinnamon & sugar. The result is a hard bread similar to large melba toast, sweet & spicy and perfect for dunking. We wanted to eat at their only cafe in Trenary, but when we got there we were told it has closed permanently. Fortunately, Trenary Toast can be purchased in most grocery stores and mini-marts in the UP. It can also be ordered online at TrenaryHomeBakery.com. Bon appetit!

Stay tuned for our post from Wisconsin including a phenomenal tour of Green Bay’s Lambeau Field.