Explore Michigan’s Shipwrecks, Waterfalls, and Quarries

On your way up the coast, visit this curved shoreline park for its bountiful birding opportunities, large monarch butterfly population, and quiet shores. You can also stop to view the exterior of the Tawas Point Light while at the park, which dates back to 1853. You'll want to make this a quick visit so you can make it to Alpena in time for a shipwreck tour and boat ride, which takes off at noon.

Enjoy health-conscious American plates and craft beers at the Fresh Palate for lunch. The restaurant provides organic and locally-sourced options and makes an obvious effort to reduce waste and recycle. Enjoy your meal on the outdoor patio before continuing on your trip.
The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays. You can grab a sandwich around the corner at the Take 5 Deli if the restaurant is closed or if you are in a pinch.

Take a glass-bottom boat to tour the shipwrecks of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The crystal clear waters and glass viewing wells allow you to plunge close to the wrecks without even needing a diving suit. On the tour, you will hear about the legends of Thunder Bay and Lake Huron's Shipwreck Alley, a stretch of treacherous water that has claimed over 200 vessels.
From May 24 to June 9, tours are only held on Saturdays and Sundays, but starting June 10 until October 9, tours are held daily.
Please visit the official website for more details and the boat tour schedule. Tours at noon are held daily from June 10 to September 4.

Overlook the world’s largest limestone quarry at this roadside outpost. The area was once submerged in a shallow sea, which allowed limestone to be deposited over 350 million years ago. The calcium in the water settled out and formed a deposit that is hundreds of feet thick, which created a booming limestone industry in the area. Bring binoculars — the trucks and machinery appear tiny from the vantage point but that’s only compared to the gigantic hole in the ground, which has now been mined for over 100 years.

Continue west until you reach the Ocqueoc Falls, where you will stop off to view the biggest waterfall in the lower peninsula and the only universally-accessible waterfall in the United States. Bring a swimsuit to jump into the refreshing swimming hole. Travelers can continue on a hike after the falls if they’d like. Park at the lot off of the Ocqueoc Falls Highway.

Dine at the docks of the Cheboygan River at Pier M33. The restaurant features excellent selections from an established Michigan chef, including seafood dinner pastas and entrees. Sit out on the patio for calming views of the river and a delicious meal.
The restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Catch the sunset at the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, a historic 1889 lighthouse set at the tip of the lower peninsula with panoramic lake views. The straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge sit as the backdrop to this gorgeous brick and stone building, which once navigated sailors through the rough straits.

For incredible sunrise views of the lake and the Mackinac Bridge in the distance, stay at a rustic lakeside cottage just south of the lighthouse. Enjoy a bonfire on the private beach and a blissful morning walking directly out onto the beach.