MUNISING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Some people go to Grand Marais for the first time almost by mistake. A scenic drive along the Lake Superior coast from Munising and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore brings many visitors for the first time. Other travelers come to explore the natural beauty of the area and one or more of the recreational opportunities.

Upon arriving in Grand Marais, one is taken by the beauty of Lake Superior which dominates the view from nearly every spot in town. Whether coming for a day or a week, Grand Marais has plenty of outdoor fun to offer in any season.

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If you are staying over there are several options. The Superior Hotel is a step back in time. It was built in 1894 as the Pippin Hotel and was remodeled in 1939 and renamed the Superior Hotel. They still do some things the old way at the Superior Hotel. For instance, rooms have neither televisions nor bathrooms. The television is in the common area and all rooms share two bathrooms down the hall. Another popular option is camping. Close by is Woodland Park on Lake Superior. A rustic choice is Lake Superior State Forest Campground, 12 miles east of town and just 6 miles from Muskallonge Lake State Park.

Regardless of where you stay, there is a lot of outdoor fun to be found. Hikers can make their way along the famous North Country Trail. For something different, check out the Grand Marais School Forest. It is well protected and has an excellent system of well-marked trails. It is also a real school. Students are able to learn outdoor skills including tree identification, conservation, wildlife identification, survival skills and a whole lot more.

The forest has several loops of varying difficulty ranging from about a half mile to more than three miles with reasonable elevation changes. Some of the loops intersect the North Country Trail. If you need a hiking break there is a Disc Golf Course in the forest as well. An excellent map is posted at the Forest entrance. In winter the School Forest becomes a cross-country ski trail and this entire region is one of the most popular destinations for snowmobiles. Sledders have miles and miles of trails to run. The whole town welcomes them by the hundreds, catering to the specific needs of the snowmobilers.

Sable Falls is the closest waterfall, just a few miles west of town. Biking is a popular way to tour the area. The roads are mostly paved, including H-58 which was paved a few years ago. Fishing is great. You can try your luck on the inland lakes or just catch whitefish right off the pier. The harbor is perfect for all types of kayaks. Lake Superior is where you find the Hiawatha Water Trail. It is a sea kayaking route that runs from Grand Marais to Big Bay, 120 miles. Grand Marais is the site of the annual Sea Kayaking Symposium. Of course, if you just want to kick back the beaches are right on the edge of town and they are beautiful.

ARCHITECTURE

The architecture in town provides a glimpse into the past with several unusual buildings from the good old days. The most noticeable structure is the Pickle Barrel House. The Pickle Barrel House was originally constructed on the shore of Sable Lake for William Donahey. He was the creator of the Teenie Weenie children’s comic strip. After the building was moved to town it served several different purposes from ice cream shop to private cottage. These days the Pickle Barrel is a museum exhibiting Mr. Donahey’s work and is open during the warm season.

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Another building that will catch the eye is the old Hotel Nettleton building constructed in the 1890s. It is easy to spot due to the steel ladder/fire escape that adorns the front of the building from the second story up to the third story. During one period when the building was vacant, it was known for village kids sneaking in at night to have seances up on the third floor. It is currently privately owned.

The Superior Hotel was built in 1894 as a private residence and was converted to a lodging establishment about two decades later as the Hotel Pippen. After 1939 it was updated and became the Superior Hotel. It soon became an important hub of community activity. In addition to refreshments and confections the hotel had the town’s main switchboard and all long-distance calls came to Grand Marais through the hotel. Later the Western Union Telegraph Office was located there as well. Much of the history of Grand Marais is preserved there and you can still get a comfortable room at the Superior Hotel.

A couple dozen other historic locations remain in town. The best way to visit them is to use the self-guided tour booklet, “Promenade Through the Past”. The “guide” provides a map, historic photographs, and details. You can get a copy “Promenade Through the Past” in the lobby of the Superior Hotel and most businesses around town.

If you get hungry while wandering around town there are good restaurants. My favorite is The Lake Superior Brewing Company. It’s not because they are necessarily better than the rest. It’s just that they still offer those scrumptious Scotch Eggs, one of my favorites, though not recommended for breakfast. The brewery is right across the street from the Grand Marais Outfitters.

These days you can’t visit Grand Marais without hearing about the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the North Country Trail. Most of the famous rock formations are near Munising 30+ miles to the west on Route H-58. The North Country Trail skirts the shore of Grand Sable Lake and runs to the shore of Lake Superior. Until a few years ago, few people made the drive between the two towns because, except for a few miles near Munising, the road was unpaved, and very rough. Consequently, visitors to Pictured Rocks seldom made the drive to Grand Marais, especially if hauling a camper.

After the road was paved, the journey became much more comfortable and the road winding along the shore of Lake Superior turned out to be a favorite for motorcycle riders. The summer months in Grand Marais changed from quiet and peaceful to manic busy. It was good for the economy, but it changed the character of the town. At about the same time the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was expanded eastward and now comes nearly to the town line. All this made the shore of Lake Superior much more accessible in the Grand Marais area. Now you can enjoy this beautiful area in all four seasons.