Welcome to Curtis Michigan’s Annual Oktoberfest!
Families vacation in Curtis Michigan for the variety of activities that nature and area businesses have to offer! Curtis Area Chamber of Commerce 3rd Annual Oktoberfest. Held in downtown Curtis at the corner of Lake St & Main St. from 12:00 - 8:00 pm. Live Musical Entertainment by THE POLISH MUSLIMS! http://www.thepolishmuslims.com/events.html
Enjoy Minnow Racing,German Food, Soup Cook off, Pumpkin Painting, Curtis Women’s Club Pie Sale, Penny Scramble, Local Vendors, Best Dressed Bavarian Contest, Door Prizes, Kids Free Art Tent
Soup Cook off Noon - 1:00 pm
Live Music from 1:00 - 7:00 pm
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Historic Whitefish Point
Categories: Entertainment, Family Fun, Featured, Recreation
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is the only one of its kind dedicated to the perils of maritime transport on the Great Lakes. It is fittingly located at Whitefish Point, Michigan, site of the oldest active lighthouse on Lake Superior.
Explore the Haunting World of Shipwrecks
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Lake Superior. Deceivingly beautiful, yet the big lake’s unrelenting fury has earned her the reputation of being the most treacherous of the Great Lakes. Throughout the museum gallery visitors see dramatic shipwreck legends come to life. Artifacts and exhibits tell stories of sailors and ships who braved the waters of Superior and those who were lost to her menacing waves. The bell of the famous Edmund Fitzgerald is displayed in the museum as a memorial to her lost crew. Whitefish Point marks the critical turning point for all ships entering or leaving the lake. The waters that extend west from Whitefish Point along the 80-mile stretch of rugged shoreline have earned the ominous title, “Lake Superior’s Shipwreck Coast.”
| Lightkeeper’s Quarters |
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Take a trip back in time on a guided tour of the fully restored 1861 Lightkeepers Quarters. You’ll hear first-hand accounts of keepers and their families who manned this side-by-side duplex building while tending the light. The Lightkeepers Quarters features period furnishings, descriptive panels, and artifacts from the days of the U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U.S. Life Saving Service.
Visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum Website >>>>
Tahquamenon Falls - Eastern U.P.
Categories: Camping, Family Fun, Featured, Photos, Recreation, Uncategorized
Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses close to 40,000 acres stretching over 13 miles. Most of this is undeveloped woodland without roads, buildings or power lines. The centerpiece of the park, and the very reason for its existence, is the Tahquamenon River, with its waterfalls.
The Upper Falls
One of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. It has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. A maximum flow of more than 50,000 gallons of water per second has been recorded cascading over these falls.
The Lower Falls
Four miles downstream is the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island. Although not as dramatic as the Upper Falls, they are equally magnificent. The falls can be viewed from the river bank or from the island, which can be reached by rowboat rented from a park concession. The island walk affords a view of the falls in the south channel.
The Tahquamenon River
Rising from springs north of McMillan and drains the watershed of an area of more than 790 square miles. From its source, it meanders 94 miles before emptying into Whitefish Bay. The amber color of the water is not rust nor is it muddiness; it is caused by tannin leached from the Cedar, Spruce and Hemlock in the swamps drained by the river. The extremely soft water churned by the action of the falls causes the large amounts of foam, which has been the trademark of the Tahquamenon since the days of the voyagers.
Recreational Activities
The park offers visitors a wide variety of recreational opportunities. During the spring and summer, camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing, nature study and photography are popular activities. Fall colors provide a beautiful picturesque view of the park. In addition, hunters will find ample opportunities to pursue their sport. Winter offers opportunity for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with miles of marked trails. Ice formations along Lake Superior and frozen waterfalls are a photographer’s delight. Moose are occasionally seen wandering through the park, and from time to time, bald eagles are also spotted by visitors. Black bear, coyotes, otter, deer, fox, porcupine, beaver and mink are a few of the other wildlife which can be seen in the park. The abundant bird life includes spruce grouse, sharptail grouse, pileated woodpeckers and a variety of waterfowl and songbirds. One of the few nesting sites in Michigan for the sandhill crane is found in the park.
Camping
Four campgrounds are available in the park; two modern campgrounds at the Lower Falls and a modern and semi-modern campground at the Rivermouth. Each of the modern campgrounds have approximately 90 sites and each site is equipped with electricity, a fire pit and a table. Hot showers and flush toilets are also features of the modern campground. Sanitation stations are available at the Lower Falls and Rivermouth Units. There is no campground located at the Upper Falls. This is the land of Longfellow’s Hiawatha - “by the rushing Tahquamenaw” Hiawatha built his canoe. Long before the white man set eyes on the river, the abundance of fish in its waters and animals along its shores attracted the Ojibwa Indians, who camped, farmed, fished and trapped along its banks. In the late 1800’s came the lumber barons and the river carried their logs by the millions to the mills. Lumberjacks, who harvested the tall timber, were among the first permanent white settlers in the area.
For More Information Click Here >>>
Nearby Best Up North Lodging >>>
Multicolored sandstone cliffs, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, inland lakes, wildlife and the forest of the Lake Superior shoreline beckon visitors to explore this 73,000+ acre park. Attractions include a lighthouse and former Coast Guard life-saving stations along with old farmsteads and former logging trails. The park is a four season recreational destination where hiking, camping, hunting, nature study, and winter activities abound. At its widest point the Lakeshore is only five miles and hugs the Superior shoreline for more than 40 miles. This was the first National Lakeshore and was authorized in 1966
Operating Hours, Seasons
Visitor Center hours are listed under the Facilities section of this site. Park headquarters at Sand Point in Munising is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, year round, with the exception of federal holidays.
There is no particular “best season” to visit the Lakeshore for each has its own charm and variety of activities. In the spring, wild flowers bloom in great profusion and add to the beauty of the natural scene. The summer brings pleasantly warm weather and abundant sunshine. Fall boasts a colorful display as the hardwood forest changes color. A mantle of snow sets the stage for wintertime adventure.
Getting There
PLANE - Grass airfields are located near Grand Marais and Munising. Regularly scheduled commercial airline service is located in Marquette, Escanaba, and Sault Ste. Marie Michigan.
CAR - Michigan state highways M-28 and M-94 lead to Munising; state highway M-77 leads to Grand Marais. County road H-58 and other spur roads provide access throughout the park.
BUS - Regional bus lines stop in Marquette and Escanaba.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Local bus service (Altran, (906) 387-4845) offers backpacker shuttle service in summer; reservations are required.
Weather & Climate
The climate varies as much as the seasons. Summertime high temperatures can reach the 90’s with much cooler evening temperatures. Temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s are more common. Wintertime temperatures below freezing are common. Layered clothing for changing weather and a rain suit are recommended.
Accessibility
Each drive-in campground has at least one handicapped accessible campsite. Paved trails and boardwalks provide access at Miners Castle, Munising Falls and the Sand Point Marsh Trail. Visitor centers are accessible.
For More Information Click Here >>>
Newberry Best Up North Lodging >>>
Munising Best Up North Lodging >>>
The TOONERVILLE TROLLEY, an authentic narrow gauge railroad, takes you 5 1/2 miles through thick forest, the habitat of bear, deer, moose, gray wolf, and many types of birds. This incredible train has been in operation since its early beginnings in 1927. Partners Joe Beach and Robert Hunter developed this unique train ride and river boat tour that provided the only access to the Upper Tahquamenon Falls.
Visitors and dignitaries from afar travelled here for this unique opportunity to view one of Michigan’s greatest attractions! Utilizing Hunter’s Logging Railroad, Mr. Beach and Mr. Hunter began a business that is still moving along the tracks to this day. Mr. Hunter’s great grandson Kris Stewart continues the family dream.
Tahquamenon Country and a Family’s Commitment
The Stewart Family is committed to providing guests with an incredible experience combining the 24″ narrow-gauge track - Toonerville Trolley ride of yesteryear with an old fashion Riverboat Trip that is second to none in Wilderness Adventures!
Toonerville Trolley Riverboat Tour
Soo Junction, MI
1-888-77TRAIN
Depot: 906-876-2311
Visit Toonerville Trolley Riverboat Tour Website >>>
Oswald’s Bear Ranch - Newberry
Categories: Family Fun, Featured, Recreation
Welcome to Oswald’s Bear Ranch. Your hosts Dean and Jewel Oswald invite you to explore their world of the American Black Bear! This complex is the Largest (bear only) Bear Ranch in the entire United States! We are found only in the Wild Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Rescued cubs are brought here every year and they are always a joy to see! Area youth enter contests yearly to name these newborn creatures. People love to see them grow, play and become adult bears!
Located just 20 minutes south of Tahquamenon Falls, or from Newberry go 4 miles north on M-123 towards Tahquamenon Falls. Turn left at 4 Mile Corner (Deer Park Rd., Muskallonge Lake, H-37 H-407).Then it’s 4 1/2 more miles to see the home of Tyson Bear (died July 2, 2000) certified weight of 880 lbs.
The Largest Black Bear in the U.S. and possibly the World.
Also see 30 Live Roaming Bears!
Oswald’s Bear Ranch
Open the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend thru Sept. 30th
PHONE : 906 293-3147
Owners : Dean & Jewel Oswald
Admission: $15/per car or $10 for motorcycle or individuals
Visit Oswald’s Bear Ranch Website >>>
