August 2026 Michigan Travel Journal

Aug 31

I recently took a trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to visit my sister and brother-in-law. This was my second time visiting the area, but it felt like an entirely different experience from my first trip. When I visited last November, the UP was buried under tons of snow, so it was nice to return and see everything green and snow-free this time around.

My trip began at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in Cleveland, Ohio. From there, I flew to Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a layover before continuing on to Escanaba, Michigan. After two flights, I had officially arrived in the Upper Peninsula!

Along with doing plenty of thrift shopping, my sister and I made a stop to see Benny the Beard Fisher, a massive wooden troll tucked away along the Manistique River at Northland Outfitters in Germfask, Michigan. Standing 14 feet tall and stretching an impressive 30 feet long, Benny is hard to miss! The sculpture was created in 2023 by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who is known for creating large-scale works of art from recycled materials. Benny is made from repurposed materials such as wooden pallets and tree branches.

Another stop during my trip was the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, where we took a scenic drive through the refuge and spent some time watching the wildlife and enjoying the plants and scenery along the way. It was nice to slow down and simply see what we could spot from the road.

We also went camping and kayaking, both of which were firsts for me! We stayed at Widewaters Campground in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, surrounded by the Hiawatha National Forest. The campground sits along the Indian River and a chain of smaller lakes, tucked between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.

Kayaking ended up being one of my favorite experiences of the entire trip. I absolutely loved being out on the water and already can’t wait for the chance to do it again. Along the way, we spotted common loons, swans, eagles, and plenty of other wildlife. I don’t think I have seen so many swans in my life! We even had a tiny unexpected passenger when a dragonfly decided to hitch a ride on my brother-in-law’s kayak! It was such a peaceful and memorable experience.

One evening, we spent some time in the kitchen making a roasted strawberry rhubarb pie using rhubarb grown right in my sister and brother-in-law’s yard. There’s something extra special about baking with ingredients picked right outside the house! The pie turned out absolutely delicious—so good, in fact, that all three of us went back for a second piece.

If you’d like to try it for yourself, you can find the roasted strawberry rhubarb pie recipe we used here.

I also took a hike on the Iron Ore Heritage Trail , a 47-mile, year-round, multi-use trail that crosses the Marquette Iron Range in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, connecting the Lake Superior area around Marquette and Harvey with Negaunee, Ishpeming, and Republic.

The trail is open to bicyclists, walkers, runners, hikers, off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, cross-country skiers, and birdwatchers; however, not all sections of the trail are open to all users.

The trail follows mostly abandoned railroad corridors that once helped bring lumber to furnaces and forges and transport iron ore throughout the area. Iron mining transformed this part of the Upper Peninsula. Mines, furnaces, railroads, towns, and enormous ore docks developed to move ore from the Marquette Iron Range to Lake Superior and, ultimately, to industrial centers elsewhere in the United States. Along the trail, you’ll find educational markers highlighting various aspects of the area’s mining history.

I started my hike at the Marquette Welcome Center, located at 2201 US 41 South, Marquette, MI 49855. It is a great place to start or end a hike, as the welcome center has modern restroom facilities, telephones, picnic areas, a pet exercise area, and paved parking. Right behind the welcome center, you’ll find the trail and the shores of Lake Superior.

I’m already looking forward to returning to the Upper Peninsula in October, when I’ll be spending two weeks house- and cat-sitting for my sister. I’m excited to experience the UP in the fall and hopefully see some beautiful autumn colors while I’m there. There is still so much of the area I haven’t explored, and I can’t wait to see what I discover on my next visit!

One of the last things I did during my visit was take a boat cruise on Lake Superior to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from the water. It was such a beautiful way to experience the colorful sandstone cliffs, rock formations, and incredible scenery along the shoreline. Pictures really don’t do it justice—it was absolutely beautiful and a wonderful way to wrap up my time in the Upper Peninsula!

Jessica Dickey

August 2026 Michigan Travel Journal

flourandfootsteps@gmail.com