Hey Guys!
This post continues our time exploring the beautiful Great Lakes!
Read Day 1 here, Day 2 here, Day 3 here & Day 4 here.…Click here to see links to all of my blog posts
We checked out of our hotel, the Comfort Inn in Manistique, MI, and headed to Munising, MI for a boat tour of Pictured Rocks National Shoreline.
The drive from Manistique to Munising takes approximately 50 minutes.
Once we arrived to Munising, we headed to check in for our boat tour.
We had booked the 10 am cruise but had to arrive 30 mins prior to departure to check in. You will want to arrive early if you want a good seat on the boat!
Tip: The parking here is very limited…..arrive early for your tour!
On the way, we passed this informational plaque talking about the historical waterfront.
Tip: We had to go through the Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center to check in as the main building was under renovation. Purchase your tickets here.
I had pre purchased our tickets prior to leaving for our trip because these tours can sell out quickly. The cost was $54 pp.
We spotted another informational plaque that talked about the history of the boat cruises.
The first tours to operate along the Pictured Rocks Cliffs was in the 1920’s. The tour ran every Sunday.
A shot of the Pictured Rocks boat
After waiting for a few minutes, we boarded the boat.
I had read that the right side of the boat would give you the best views so we went upstairs and sat outside on the right side.
Tip: Dress warm! It’s cold on the water!
We were prepared for that cold weather! 😉
This cruise lasts approximately 2 hours and I highly recommend it! This area is beautiful and you will not want to miss it!
Tip: You can also do a kayak tour instead of taking the boat…..read reviews here.
There are four different boat tours to choose from but we chose the Spray Falls Cruise which includes seeing the 70 ft Spray Falls waterfall that plunges into the lake.
Click here to see the different tours that are offered
When you take one of these cruises, you will be rewarded with spectacular close-up views of sandstone cliffs that lie within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Not long after we pulled away from the dock in Munising, the sandstone cliffs began to rise in the distance.
The views were unreal—massive walls of mineral streaked rock in oranges, greens, reds and purples.
The onboard narration gave context to the geology, history and the names of the formations —like Lover’s Leap, Miners Castle, and Grand Portal Point.
After cruising past countless natural sculptures and caves, we finally reached the highlight: Spray Falls!
The 70 ft waterfall poured directly off the cliff into the vast, deep-blue water of Lake Superior.
The boat slowed down so everyone could get a picture of the beautiful waterfall.
On the way, we passed the iconic Chapel Rock……aka the Tree of Life.
The tree grows atop Chapel Rock, a sandstone pillar located near the shore.
The tree’s roots stretch across open air to the mainland, where they draw nutrients from the forest soil creating a surreal natural “bridge” of life.
Read reviews here
Tip: You can also see this tree by hiking the Chapel Loop Trail …however, it’s 6-10 miles roundtrip depending on your route.
I decided to head downstairs to get some pictures from the back of the boat on the lower deck.
The views were incredible!
A few more pictures of the sandstone cliffs
As we neared the marina in Munising, we spotted an old wooden lighthouse.
The lighthouse is called East Channel Lighthouse.
It was built in 1868. It is one of the few remaining wooden lighthouses on Lake Superior.
It is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the Upper Peninsula. It is no longer an active lighthouse and it’s privately owned and not opened to the public.
Tip: The boat offers a few snacks, soda and water but it’s cash only. There are restrooms on board as well. No pets are allowed on the boats. You can bring food on the boat.
After arriving back to the dock, we exited the boat and headed back to our car where we had our leftover pizza for lunch.
We had also picked up some of these delicious chips at the gift shop after exiting the boat!
Read reviews here for Pictured Rocks Lakeshore & here for the Spray Falls boat tour
Tip: There is also. a shipwreck boat tour that you can do here…read reviews here.
After lunch, we headed to our next stop.
The town of Munising is so cute! The population is around 2,000 people.
Click here for things to do in Munising & here for things to see/do in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Our next stop was Miners Falls.….it was a 20 min drive from the boat dock.
Click here & here for a list of waterfalls in this area
The hike to Miners falls is only 1 mile roundtrip.
We saw lots of fungi growing on the trees along the trailhead.
The walk to the falls was really beautiful…..everything was so green and lush!
Once we neared the falls, there were approx. 77 steps that led down to a wooden observation deck where you could view the falls.
Miners Falls is one of the most scenic waterfalls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
It’s tucked away in a forested corner of Pictured Rocks. The waterfall plunges about 50 ft over a rugged sandstone outcrop into a rocky gorge below.
Tip: You can hike the full Miners Loop and see the falls, Castle rock and beach.
Read reviews here
After leaving the falls, we drove to our next stop.
There is an admission fee for this area…..it was $25 for a vehicle or $15 per person if you walked in….both are valid for 7 days with your receipt.
Click here & here for things to see and do in Pictured Rocks
After paying our admission fee, we headed to the miners castle overlook.
The views were incredible!
Miners Castle rises 75 ft above Lake Superior.
A nearby informational plaque 
There were two other overlooks located here but we missed those.
I will say, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was one of our favorite places we visited on our trip and I would highly recommend spending at least 2-3 full days here….there’s just so much to see here…from waterfalls, to hiking trails to cool tours! I hate that we missed a lot of it!
After leaving here, we headed to Miners Beach.
The drive to Miners Beach from the overlook is only 5 minutes.
After getting parked, we had to walk a short distance on a wooden boardwalk to reach the beach.
Wow! We couldn’t believe the color of the lake!
I definitely was not expecting to see a lake that looked like Caribbean waters!
This beach was breathtakingly beautiful!
The sand was so clean and white….I would have sworn that I had been transported to somewhere in the Caribbean!
The beach stretches for about one mile along the Lake Superior shoreline and is framed by rocky outcrops and cedar forests.
Tip: Click here for hiking trails in this area
Not only was the beach beautiful, but there was hardly anyone around! It was so peaceful.
Tip: This is a popular launch point for kayakers heading toward Mosquito Beach, Lovers Leap and Grand Portal Point. There is also a small waterfall at the eastern end of the beach during wetter weather.
There was a gravel path that ran next to the shoreline, offering scenic views.
Views along the trail.
After walking the trail for a while, we decided to walk down to the beach.
The water was so clear!
It wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be….it was actually very refreshing.
The water temperature of the lake is usually around 60+ degrees.
We decided to sit on a piece of driftwood and just relax and enjoy the views.
We could have spent a lot more time here but we had lots more places to see!
Read reviews for the beach here
So, we headed back to our car and drove back into Munising …..the drive took about 25 mins from the beach.
Our next stop was the Munising Front Range Lighthouse.
The lighthouse was built in 1908 and is located right in the town of Munising.
The lighthouse is set amid a historic park setting, with an adjacent 1 1/2 story brick building that was the former keeper’s quarters.
The grounds are open to the public but the lighthouse is not open to visitors.
It stands 58 ft tall and is still an active lighthouse that has a continuous red light.
Read reviews here & Click here for more lighthouses in this area
After leaving here, we decided to look for some coffee.
We had not seen many coffee shops on our travels thus far….I searched coffee shops in Google maps and found one called, Rustic Grounds Coffee.
It was a short drive from the lighthouse.
The unique coffee shop operated out of a vintage trailer…it was so cute!
They had so many options to choose from!
I ordered the honey lavender latte and I can’t remember what the hubby ordered.
Unfortunately, the coffee was so sweet that I couldn’t finish drinking it. It had a great flavor if only it hadn’t been so sweet. 🙁
Read reviews here
After getting our coffee, we headed to our next stop which would be Tahquamenon Falls State Park.
We passed through the cute town of Newberry on the way to our next stop.
One of the most popular things to do here is the Oswald’s Bear Ranch.
After driving for 1 hr 40 mins, we finally arrived to the state park.
Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses approximately 50,000 acres. The park is Michigan’s second largest state park. The nearest town to the park is Paradise.
We were here to see the Tahquamenon Falls.
So, after getting parked, we walked a short distance to an observation deck to see the falls.
The falls is a 50 ft drop that spans 200 ft across ranking it as one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River!
At peak spring runoff, it surges with up to 50,000 gallons per second, averaging around 7,000 gallons a second annually!
Read all about the falls and the park here
The falls is also known as “Root Beer Falls” due to its color.
The amber brown hue and frothy white foam come from tannins leached from cedar and hemlock swamps upstream.
Tip: There are over 20-35 miles of trails in the park...see a map here. There are also moose, bear, otters, beavers and 125+ bird species that can be found here.
Since the views here were partially obscured by trees, we decided to walk to another observation area.
As we were walking the trail, we spotted this cool looking fungi growing on a tree.
The gorge view observation deck required walking down 181 stairs! That also meant walking back up 181 stairs…..glad I had been working out for 4 mons prior to this trip! 😉
The boardwalk felt endless!
Finally arriving to the observation deck.
This location definitely gave you better views of the waterfall.
Of course, we had to take our picture if front of the falls. 🙂
The park has access to the Upper Falls and the lower falls.
The lower falls is located about 4 miles downstream and has a series of five cascades that wrap around an island. It is accessible from the new Ronald A. Olson pedestrian bridge…..or you can rent a rowboat and visit the island that way.
Tip: The park features a restaurant called Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub, campgrounds, a gift shop and a lodging cabin.
A few more shots of the falls 
If you’re looking for something unique to do, the park offers the iconic Tonnerville Trolley train & riverboat tour where they take you on a 21 mile ride downriver to a secluded vantage point near the Upper Falls. – UPDATE: sadly this is closed now.
As we were walking back to our car, we spotted this exhibit that included a black bear and some informational signs that told about the park.
Read reviews for the park here
Next up on our Great Lakes adventure was the place we’d be calling home for the night, Sault Ste. Marie.
It was located approximately 1 hr 20 mins from the park.
We drove through the small town of Paradise on the way.
I actually had tried to book a cabin here because this area has a high concentration of moose but the cabin I wanted had a 3 night minimum.
Tip: Just 10 mins north of Paradise lies the historic WhiteFish Point Light Station, the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior along with the Great Lakes Shipwreck museum and the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory.
Paradise holds the title as Michigan’s wild blueberry capital so every August the town holds a Wild blueberry festival.
The town also has a logging museum that you can visit. It features vintage tools, a recreated logging camp and live demonstrations.
Tip: For best restaurants in Paradise, try the Berry Patch UP North Diner, Brown’s Fish House or the Wheelhouse Diner.
If you stay in Sault Ste Marie, make sure you book a hotel in the right country as one is located in the US and the other is across the bridge in Canada.
Arriving to Sault St Marie, Michigan.
This town is so cute!
Arriving to our hotel, the Lockview Motel.
There were very few hotel options in this area and the Lockview was perfectly situated near the historic Soo Locks so that’s one reason I booked this hotel.
After getting parked, I headed inside to check in.
A map of Sault Ste Marie
After getting checked in, we headed to our little cottage.
Our room had two queen beds, a sitting area, and a small bathroom.
It was an older property but it was clean and they had kept it up so we were fine with it.
Read reviews here
If you stay here, you get a 10% discount if you eat at the restaurant next door called, Lockview Restaurant.
We were hungry so we didn’t care where we ate at…..we walked next door to the restaurant and got seated right away.
The restaurant has been opened since 1945.
It was really big on the inside and had a second floor as well.
We took a few minutes to look over the menu.
I came so close to ordering the popular U.P Pastie because I told my hubby I had read about them during my research. The pasties are dough that has been filled with ground beef, pork and vegetables and then baked to a golden brown.
My hubby convinced me not to order it since I could get those anywhere so we both ended up ordering the Lake Superior Whitefish dinner.
The whitefish comes from Lake Superior and is bought fresh each day from a local fisherman.
We also ordered a side of the cheese curds.
The food and the service were excellent!
Read reviews here & Click here for things to see/do in Sault Ste Marie
After dinner, we walked across the street to the Canal Park to see the historic Soo Locks.
Shots of the cute town
Click here for historic homes you can see in this area
The park is free to visit but we had to be checked by a security guard before we could enter….she even had to look in my purse.
Near the entrance, they had these cool replicas of the locks.
The Soo Locks are a series of parallel locks that enable ships to avoid the treacherous rapids (a 21 ft drop) on the St. Mary’s River — allowing for safe passage.
The Locks have been operating since 1855.
These incredible locks connect Lake Superior and Lake Huron, allowing massive freighters to safely bypass the 21 foot drop in the St. Mary’s River.
The Soo Locks are vital to the US economy, moving 86 million tons of cargo annually, including 95% of the nation’s iron ore. The locks help facilitate navigation for around 10,000 vessels annually, except during the winter closure when maintenance takes place which is Jan. 15 – March 25th.
During World War II, the locks were especially critical – transporting 90% of the country’s iron ore between 1941 and 1943.
The locks were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966.
They are managed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
There is a visitor center located here and it’s opened from May through October….it was closed by the time we arrived.
Tip: Every year on the last Friday in June, the public gains rare access to walk between the MacArthur and Poe Locks, offering unmatched up-close experiences….we missed it by 2 days!!
You can take a boat tour that lets you cruise alongside passing freighters while guides share tales of the lock’s past and present.
Tip: A massive new lock is under construction and should be open by 2030.
Walking the grounds of the park
There is a very nice observation deck that has 2-3 levels where you can view the locks.
It gave you great views!
You can also call this number and see when the next ship will be going through the locks….we asked a park ranger and he said it would be midnight so we had to pass on that! 😉
In this picture you can see where the water is lower….
How does a 1000 ft ship fit through this?!
Read reviews here
After checking out the locks, we decided to walk around the cute little town.
It was full of old, colorful buildings.
Read the history of the town here
We spotted Bigfoot and my hubby insisted on having his picture with him! 😉
We spotted this cute mural on the side of a building and of course, since my shirt matched the flowers, I had to have my picture taken in front of it. 🙂
We decided to walk to the end of town and see the Sault Ste. Marie International bridge.
The bridge was opened in 1962 and sees an average of 7-10k vehicles crossing this border bridge every day.
This is the bridge you would drive to cross over into Canada….the town across the bridge in Canada is also named, Sault Ste Marie.
The sun was setting so it made for some nice shots.
As we were walking back to our hotel, we spotted another Bigfoot. 😉
We spotted this old, historic VFW.
Once we were back at our hotel, I spotted the old historic sign that used to sit in front of the hotel so I had to have my picture with the sign! They should have never removed this sign…it’s so cool!
I think the hotel first opened in the late 60’s or around 1970.
Walking to our cabin
After making it back to our room, we called it a night!
Read reviews for our hotel, here
Thanks for reading!
Stay tuned for Day 6!
Here’s a shot of my itinerary….as you can see, we had more things on the list that we never got to.
I’m going to go back to my other posts that I’ve already published and add my itinerary to those days as well so you can see what our itinerary actually looked like!
