I'm based in Cleveland and contemplating a solo trip to Marquette, MI during Thanksgiving weekend (Nov 28 - Dec 1). I love nature, peaceful settings, and scenic views, but I'm concerned about weather conditions.

The Plan:

• Drive up on Thursday
• Stay 3 nights in Marquette at Landmark Inn
• Explore Presque Isle Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, waterfalls
• Enjoy sunrise views over Lake Superior
• Return Sunday

My Concerns:

• Winter driving conditions (8-9 hour drive each way)
• Potential snow

For those familiar with UP winters and Marquette:

1. Is this a crazy idea for a solo traveler?
2. Any specific tips if I decide to go?

Would appreciate insights from locals or anyone who's visited during winter!

I am looking for books to read that are set in the UP. Any fiction, travel narratives, or even true crime.

Bonus would be authored by a Yooper.

Thank you!!

EDIT: Thank you all for all the recommendations!! I knew this was the place to come. These will be my 2025 reading list. Heading to the UP next year for an extended stay and this will give me lots of goodness to anticipate my trip.

I took my family camping and hiking this year in the Upper Peninsula for all of our first time. I fell in love and knew I had to go back. My son has been wanting a winter boys trip since I took him snowmobiling and skiing in Colorado.

I’m thinking Xmas would be a great time to tell him we’re heading North for some winter adventures. I was thinking Copper Harbor or Porcupine Mountains area for some snowmobiling, dog sledding or other winter adventures.

Looking for reccomendations on locations, experiences and lodging. Please and thank you from someone who absolutely loves your piece of Heaven up there!

Hey all, I'm looking for some people to ice climb with. This will be my 4th season and I am without a partner this year. Who has room in their group?

Hey all, visited Pictured Rocks in late July last year and got eaten alive by Stable flies. I can handle Mosquitoes, but those buggers swarmed so bad the only respite we could find was swimming out into Lake Superior!

I'm planning on proposing at Tahquamenon Falls next year, but may visit Pictured rocks again. What time would be best to avoid these bugs?

I’m thinking about doing the Lake Superior Circle Tour between Christmas and the New Year, mostly because of my life schedule. I will be driving a 2022 4Runner and feel comfortable in snowy conditions, but I’m also not trying to take any unnecessary risks. Also, we will not be camping. What do you all think?

Edit: Thanks for all the comments and information. This whole idea started because I will be in the lower peninsula visiting family. I rode the cog railways at Pikes Peak and Mount Washington this year. It turns out that the only other one is in Houghton, which got me thinking that it would be kind of a funny road trip to claim I rode all three cog railways in the same year. Apparently the Houghton mine is open the day after Christmas 🤷🏻

Hey all, I am a recent retiree and troll transplant. Absolutely loving my new life up here after almost 50 years in the mitten. I am interested in some volunteering opportunities and wondered if anybody had any good resources or places to start. I am relatively young for a retiree, have reliable transportation, and let's just say I'm located in the 49762 for now but am highly mobile. Figured it would be a good way to beat my first winter up here eh? Thanks in advance for the suggestions/websites/contact info. Peace!

Update: I am always interested in animals, pets, outdoors, eldercare, have experience in education with all ages, demographics, and social class. Pretty much anything. Actually prefer to meet some people so the more friendly people, the merrier.

Me and my husband are strongly considering a move to the UP. My sister lives there, land is cheap, and the plethora of fresh water sources and wilderness just makes us happy.

We'd like to spend a good portion of our time homesteading. We have raised animals before, and built our own house (he is a master carpenter). We know it will require quite a lot of infrastructure for it to be productive, but I wanted to hear people's experiences who-

-keep livestock (chicken, pigs, cows)
-keep horses
-grow food year round

Is it possible to have a thriving homestead when winter is so long?

For Christmas I’d love to get my husband a long weekend at Bohemia and Nordic spa passes. I do not ski or snowboard. I was thinking of booking the first week of March. Is that still a good time? Any suggestions on lodging? Or any suggestions on Bohemia in general?

I normally camp when I come to the UP but I'd like to bring my wife and what will be a 2 year old up next spring/summer. Does anyone have recommendations for locally owned cabins for rent in the Munising or Marquette areas? With the baby I feel like a hotel would be a little cramped and I'd rather not give money to one of the short term rental companies. Being right in either town isn't necessary either as I'd appreciate some peace and quiet and don't mind a little driving.

Not very experienced with winter sports and skiing. But would love to experience a wintery Christmas with some good sights, small hikes, snow shoeing and stuff.

Not sure which are the spots to go to and where to stay. Any recs from frequent travelers?

And happy to get tips on car travel and winter gear!!!!

Anybody know of organizations or upcoming events that need volunteers for nature-related projects? Thanks!

Hi all—my husband and I are considering a trip to the UP in search of the northern lights with my MIL, who is in her mid 70s and battling metastatic breast cancer. She’s been doing well with her treatment, and we want to seize the opportunity to check this off of her bucket list. My husband is also excited about the prospect of going somewhere with snow.

It’s pretty last minute as far as scheduling, so I’m hoping to get insight from local folks about what it’s like traveling in the winter and staying locally.

We’re coming from Tennessee; my parents spent their honeymoon camping on the UP and have always said how beautiful it is, so when I was looking for dark sky areas it stood out. Even if we don’t have luck with the aurora, my MIL loves nature, so we’ll have a good time.

I’ve never been, so feel free to explain the basics to me 😅. We looked at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, which seems nice but doesn’t allow cooking aside from grilling, and the onsite food options seem to be limited or expensive. We’d be looking to stay for three or four days, maybe December 23-26/7.

My MIL gets around ok, but her stamina is limited, so medium and long hikes are out of the question. One of my primary concerns is keeping her comfortable in cold weather.

Thank you for your help!

I wanna move to the UP to buy my first home of my life. I would like to be in a city or within a hour commute with jobs. Im interested in the UP due to its nature so even better if the city is near lakes/rivers. I work in the trades (welding) so im hoping theres some work out there.

Hey everyone, I'm wondering whether NMU is a good college.

For some background:

I live in Wisconsin currently. There are plenty of public Universities here however; the UW System is not in a good situation right now. Over the last two years they have shuttered 6 of their 2 year community campuses and have laid off hundred and hundreds of staff and faculty across the system. Almost every campus has cut programs as well.

I'm curious how NMU is doing as far as stability is concerned. NMU is the closest public University to where I live that isn't a UW school.

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

This was a very long exposure. i like how it turned out.

Where to go for a fun time around with the boys?

I’m a big stoner can anybody list the places for best 🍃

Hi all, I will be moving to Schoolcraft county in the city of Manistique in the near future. Every year, sometimes twice a year I travel to Greece. Coming from suburban Detroit the airport choice was always simple by going through DTW. Do any of you who live up there full time and travel across the ocean? If so, what is the best way to book the flight?

Im not sure exactly where , its along Hwy 2.