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Am planning on a trip to Michigan's UP early in October and do not have a clue of what to see or do. Can I please have some help in this area? Neither Distance or Time is not material Also what type weather can I expect at this time of year? By the way, I will be coming up, crossing the "Bridge" and leaving by going down the Wisconsin coast of Lake Superior
Thanks in advance
ScotishBob
The major attractions of the UP can be listed rather succinctly, but note that they begin before you actually cross "The Bridge': Colonial Michilimackinac State Historical Park, Mackinac Island State Park, Soo Locks, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. As you can see, this is an area known for its quiet beauty and the chance to 'get away from it all'. There are also state parks and other woodland and shoreline activities to go with those major sites.
AZBuck
Are you going to go up to Door County in WI? It's on my wish list for a "someday" trip.
Donna
The UP is my go to place for a long weekend getaway. In fact, one of the things I love about going there is that you have a lot of the same scenic beauty that you'll find in Door County, without the tourist-heavy feel (although Mackinac Island is probably touristy enough for the entire UP!)
In addition to the places Buck mentioned, I'll also throw out the Shipwreck Museum near Paradise, Tahquamenon Falls, Exploring Copper Country around Houghton/the Keweenah Pennisula, and the Porcupine Mountains on the western end of the UP. Of course if you haven't looked yet, many of these ideas - and more - can be found as part of RTA's Map Center.
Tell me about Door County WI
From Pictured Rocks I'd be most tempted to pass through Marquette and drive along the lake up to Big Bay for a close-up look at the Huron Mountains. From there I'd head to Houghton and on up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor. Although I have not been there, the Porcupines look very inviting. I can say with experience Ontonagon is a nice visit. Be sure to sample the pasties in Marquette/Negaunee or better yet, over in Hancock, just across the bridge from Houghton.
When I was in Houghton in mid-October 2013, arriving the 17th and departing the 20th, the leaves had mostly turned and many were gone. It was blustery--highs in the upper 50s and overnight lows in the mid- to low 30s. Early on the 20th we got a dusting of snow.
Foy
Door County is that part of Wisconsin that sticks up between Green Bay (the actual body of water, not the city) and Lake Michigan. It's a place where Wisconsinites (and others) go to 'get away from it all'. I spent some time camping there as a child, but haven't been back since, so I can't speak to how much of its charm it has managed to hold onto in the (too many) years since then. But the fact is that it is surrounded by water, sees great fall color, and fits in with the apparent theme of someone headed for the UP. It is, however, a bit out of the way and would require some serious backtracking for any trip that's basically headed along the southern shore of Lake Superior.
AZBuck