eastern midwest - Midwest Living

Nature
lover
EASTERN MIDWEST
The Great Lakes anchor many
of the eastern Midwest’s
outdoor adventures, from
kayaking and canoeing to
swimming off sandy beaches
or reeling in giant walleye. But
visiting here doesn’t require
lots of activity—unless you
consider sipping local wines
or sunbathing active. Whether
you’re high-energy or laid
back, a trip here is just the
right speed.
TAKE ME
AWAY
Giant, multihued
formations draw
visitors to
Pictured Rocks
National
Lakeshore in
Michigan.
background
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula boasts shoreline on three of the five
Great Lakes (Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior), plus
dense forests and even a small mountain range (the Porcupine
Mountains). These beautiful landscapes draw visitors here
for ample kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking and hiking
opportunities (800/562-7134; uptravel.com).
Michigan’s
UP
getaway
EASTERN MIDWEST
itinerary
Seney National Wildlife Refuge
1
DAY
Seney National Wildlife Refuge houses
a mosaic of wetlands, bogs and forests.
Visitors come to spot some of the nearly
200 bird species, including woodpeckers,
warblers, ducks, loons and hawks. Explore
the refuge via car or canoe, on foot or by bike.
About 45 miles north, guests find Pictured
CARVED
BEAUTY Nature
carved the
sandstone rocks
into unique
formations,
spread along
nearly 15 miles of
Lake Superior
shoreline.
2
D AY
Northern Waters Adventures in Munising
offers guided kayaking tours along the cliffs,
and Glass Bottom Shipwreck Tours takes
Rocks National Lakeshore’s dramatic
rock formations. Hiking trails lead along
the cliffs and to wetlands, waterfalls and a
lighthouse. Scuba divers, snorkelers (and
the occasional swimmer willing to brave
the cold water) take off from the plentiful
and peaceful beaches. With a permit,
visitors can pitch a tent at a camp site
here, although those looking for less rustic
lodgings can head to Holiday Inn Express
in nearby Munising. For dinner, the fresh
fish at Navigator Restaurant is a hit with
seafood fans.
visitors to waterfalls and sunken ships. For
a city experience, Marquette sits an hour’s
drive west of Munising. Shoppers can easily
pass a morning or afternoon on Washington
Street in downtown Marquette. It’s lined with
boutiques, galleries and eateries, including
local-favorite Babycakes Muffin Company,
where the blueberry muffins are top-notch.
HOCKING HILLS
STATE PARK
Explore 2,000
acres of beautiful
sights just outside
Logan, Ohio.
Highlights include
100-foot-tall Ash
Cave and fern-filled
Conkles Hollow
(740/385-6842;
ohiostateparks.org).
Cuyahoga Valley National
Park The 33,000-acre
park a half-hour south
of Cleveland, Ohio,
includes spectacular rock
formations and costumed
interpreters (800/2579477; nps.gov/cuva). The
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic
Railroad runs through the
park (800/468-4070;
cvsr.com).
4
Must-visit
beaches
East Race Waterway
Get wet on the nation’s
first artificial white-water
course, in South Bend,
Indiana. Less than
10 minutes is all it takes to
splash down the waterway
(574/299-4765; sbpark.org/
parks/erace.htm).
Hoosier National Forest
Indiana’s national forest,
located in Brown County,
has more than 200,000
acres and offers camping,
hunting, fishing, boating
and over 260 miles of trails
(866/302-4173;
fs.usda.gov/hoosier).
Mackinac State Historic
Parks The best family
deal is a $75 s­ eason-long
membership, which admits
two adults and any of their
children or grandchildren
to several top-notch sites
in and around Mackinac
Island and Mackinaw
City, Michigan, including a
lighthouse, a reconstructed
1770s fort, a reconstructed
1880s sawmill and a
nature park (231/436-4100;
mackinacparks.com).
Sleeping Bear Dunes
National Lakeshore These
400-foot-tall sand dunes
outside Traverse City,
Michigan, are gorgeous.
The 65-mile lakeshore
includes North and South
Manitou islands, accessible
by ferry from Leland (26
miles northwest of Traverse
City) (231/326-5134;
nps.gov/slbe).
4
Other places
to play outside
4
5
Indiana Dunes National
Lakeshore Just north
of Chesterton, Indiana,
a protected area features
hiking trails, sandy beaches,
swamps and bogs. See a
19th-century home, working
farm and other historical
spots during ranger-led
tours (219/926-7561;
nps.gov/indu).
SILVER BEACH
COUNTY
PARK The park
surrounds St.
Joseph, Michigan’s
clean, wide,
family-friendly
beach. Nearby,
the Silver Beach
Center features
a fantastic
indoor carousel
(269/982-0533;
berriencounty
.org/parks).
Kelleys Island A
­ ttractions
include Kelleys Island State
Park (for the rental yurts
and fabulous beach), fishing
spots and Victorian B&Bs.
Get there by ferry,
20 minutes from
Sandusky or Marblehead,
Ohio (419/746-2360;
kelleysislandchamber.com).
3
1
Rustic
places
to stay
Great
catch
Lake Huron chartered fishing A
half-dozen boats depart daily from
Oscoda, Michigan (877/867-2632;
oscoda.com). We like Capt. Bill
Carmichael of Rainbow Charter Service
(989/739-5696; angelfire.com/biz7/
rainbowcharters/).
The Murphin Ridge Inn
Refreshingly quiet weekend
escapes draw guests to the
rural Adams County, Ohio,
inn (70 miles southeast
of Cincinnati). Guests
choose between modest
­Shaker-style hotel rooms
or more luxurious log cabins
(877/687-7446;
murphinridgeinn.com).
®
living.com
® midwest
MIDWEST LIVING
TRAVEL
BEST
OF THE
MIDWEST
Turkey Run Inn Trees
nearly hide the stunning
lodge and cabins at
Indiana’s Turkey Run State
Park, 65 miles west of
Indianapolis. A restaurant
and indoor pool make it a
destination (877/563-4371;
indianainns.com).
2015
RS OF
E EDITO
FROM TH
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shadow
BEST OF THE
EL 2015
MIDWEST® TRAV
15
20
KE T L IST
BUC
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DRIVES l LAKE
AURANTS
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RESORTS RESTMORE!
SHOPS
&
PLUS
FOLLOW OUR
ITINERARIES
Display until May
$7.95 U.S.
LEMON CREEK
WINERY AND
FRUIT FARM A
$10 keepsake
glass lets visitors
sample any five of
26 wines, including
Chardonnay and
Cabernet Franc.
Families can
enjoy the you-pick
apples, berries and
peaches in Berrien
Springs, Michigan
(269/471-1321;
lemoncreek
winery.com).
The Lakehouse Inn and
Winery A glass-walled
tasting room overlooks
Lake Erie in Genevaon-the-Lake, Ohio. The
business also offers a small
restaurant with a porch,
several cabins for rent and
a B&B (440/466-8668;
thelakehouseinn.com).
4
4
Spots to
sip wine
2
Huber’s Orchard, Winery
and Vineyards In Starlight,
Indiana, a family-owned
business draws guests
for a park, a farm market,
you-pick peaches, a
cafe and estate-bottled
wine (812/923-9463;
huberwinery.com).
19, 2015
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