Cleveland, OH to Orr, MN

Hello everyone,

I'm currently planning a trip from the Cleveland, OH area up to Orr, MN to visit the Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary. I plan to leave on June 27 and return home around July 5.

The basic route I am taking will go west into Michigan, north into Michigan's UP, west across the northern edge of Wisconsin, through Duluth MN, then north to Orr. I'll be travelling alone, by car, and plan to stay in inexpensive hotels / motels along the way.

I've been able to stumble across a few items already, but my itinerary feels very sparse and could use some variety. Locations I'm planning on visiting include:

Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge
Ogemaw Nature Park
Palms Brook State Park
International Wolf Center

Any suggestions for things along the way would be welcome. I am particularly interested in:

- Parks / Natural Areas: Places where I could get out of the car for an hour or two and see some amazing scenery.
- Sanctuaries / Rescue Facilities: I love critters (it's the whole reason I'm going up to Orr).
- Anything Strange / Unusual: Is it haunted? Cool! Cryptotaxidermy? Awesome! Book store specializing in esoteric material? Great!

I'm also a home brewer and wouldn't mind ending a night somewhere in an amazing beer garden.

Thanks!

New members may not post links to outside websites. - Mod

Near Bemidji is Itasca State Park, home of the headwaters of the Mississippi River. If you follow the trail from the Visitor Center Parking Lot, you can actually wade across the headwaters. So bring a towel and wear shorts -- there are no changing facilities near the lake/river. Also bring spray for mosquitoes!


Donna

That sounds like a great idea, thank you. (o: