Freshwater Springs and Pictured Rocks Lakeshore

A lively café serving all-day breakfasts with creative pancakes and omelets, along with a selection of pizzas.
Leave St. Ignace, Michigan, but first, grab fuel for the road at this adorable creative café. While your hotel offers complimentary breakfast, you can also pick up some delicious breakfast options from this stop if you prefer, such as hot omelets and pancakes. If not, grab a cup of Joe and head out for your adventure-filled day. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.

A picturesque roadside beach located 12 miles (19.31 kilometers) west of the Mackinac Bridge on the northern end of Lake Michigan in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Stop to take a breather from driving along the highway and just relax for a bit at the secluded shores of Sand Dunes Beach. There are protected wildlife and grasses on the shores to observe and admire. Play in the quiet sands or splash in the cool waters before continuing your sightseeing journey through the Upper Peninsula. 🅿️ Street parking is available.

A large, crystal-clear freshwater spring in Michigan that attracts thousands of visitors annually with its constant temperature and abundant trout population.
One of the most quintessential Northern Michigan destinations, Kitch-iti-kipi, also known as "big cold spring" in Ojibwe, is the largest natural freshwater spring in the state. The waters are so clear in the spring that you can see all the way to the water's floor and watch giant lake trout swim by.
From the parking lot, you will walk down a short path until you reach a dock. From the dock, you will board a glass-bottom raft that will take you to the center of the spring for breathtaking views of the emerald-green waters. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.

A quick casual dining restaurant, offering a diverse menu of fresh, hand-crafted burgers, hand-cut fries, and beverages for all ages.
After visiting the spring, drive north to the northern town of Munising, Michigan, popular for its proximity to the iconic Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. You are probably hungry, so stop in at one of the local restaurants for lunch. We recommend chowing down on a smoked UP burger or an original whitefish sandwich from Eh! Burger, a quick eatery to stop at so you can arrive early for your next excursion. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ Street parking is available.

A National Park Service-authorized company that has provided narrated boat tours of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for over 50 years.
Visiting Pictured Rocks can be done by hike, boat, or kayak, but we prefer visiting via a cruise, which will bring you to all the magnificent points of interest in this national park in one go. The cruise lasts 2.5 to 3 hours and will travel alongside the most visually mesmerizing 32 miles (51.5 kilometers) of shoreline you could ever imagine. The cruise will leave from this docking point in Munising, and onboard will be a captain who narrates and relays the history of the tour boat and the region. Arrive well before your departure as seating on the cruise is on a first-come, first-serve basis—many flock to the upper deck's right-hand side for the closest views, but truly any seat on board will leave you with an unforgettable experience.
While onboard, the cruise will bring you to over 15 different scenic stops, including painted coves, caves, arched rocks, huge sandstone walls, and captivating rock formations. You can take the classic cruise which brings you to all these attractions, or a classic cruise with the Sprays Falls for a little extra money, which brings you on a bonus excursion to a remote waterfall. Either way, you won't regret your cruise trip through the Pictured Rocks, possibly one of the best sights in the Midwest.
Please note that cruises are available from mid-May through mid-October. They frequently sell out, so make sure to check the schedule and book your experience well in advance on the official website.
You've successfully completed your first cruise trip through Pictured Rocks! The boat will dock off, and you can stop off at the gift shop for souvenirs on-site if you'd like for mementos to remind you of your trip. 🗓️ Check the opening hours and book your experience in advance.

A lookout with interpretive exhibits offering breathtaking views of Lake Superior and Grand Island.
Get the opposite view of the lakeshore on land at the Miner's Castle Upper and Lower Overlooks. Located just 5 miles east of Munising, the overlooks are iconic landmarks along the Pictured Rocks shoreline. This is the only cliff area in the park accessible by vehicle. Park your car in the lot then take the wheelchair-accessible trail through the path with informative plaques for breathtaking overlooks of Lake Superior and Grand Island. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.

An overlook adjacent to Miners Castle, accessible via stairs and a steep trail.
Take the stairs and a steeper trail leading to the lower overlook adjacent to Miners Castle. The walk down will allow you to further see the sweeping views and interesting rock formations lining the cliffs.

A café offering award-winning traditional Cornish pasties and a gift shop featuring unique U.P. items and souvenirs.
It's time to eat! You cannot visit the UP without trying their famous pasties, which are homemade northern delicacies resembling chicken pot pies. These thick crusts are filled with beef, chicken, or vegetable, and combined with a mix of vegetables, ranging from potatoes, onions, carrots, and rutabaga. Muldoon's in downtown Munising offers family-made pasties and a quaint gift shop you can browse around in. 🗓️ Check the opening hours before your visit. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.

A picturesque Lake Superior beach with a distant view of the East Channel Lighthouse on Grand Island, popular for sunbathing, evening walks, and its relatively warmer shallow bay waters.
Unwind for the evening at Sand Point Beach, a calm, less populated beach where you can spend the evening viewing a spectacular sunset that melts into the water. You can relax on the beach, dip your toes in the water, or enjoy the view from a picnic table.
🅿️ On-site parking is available.

A five-start hotel located 23 miles (37.01 kilometers) from Eben Ice Caves and providing accommodations with a shared lounge, free private parking, a restaurant, and a bar.
Stay the night at the Roam Inn, a quaint rustic boutique hotel that sits facing the Lake Superior shores. Surrounded by the Hiawatha National Forest, the hotel is a former home that dates back to 1896. There is a restaurant and bar onsite if you'd like to unwind with a nightcap. 🅿️ On-site parking is available.