Sault Ste. Marie Michigan - Whitefish Bay
Waterfalls, Hiking & Camping - South Shore Lake Superior Circle Tour

On earlier Lake Superior Tours in the Upper Peninsula, we traveled west to east, ending up in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. In 2005, we had an opportunity to reverse that route, starting at the Soo and going west.

From the "Soo" we took Michigan 28 west to the Brimley turnoff, then in Brimley, continued west on Lake Shore Drive. We had dinner at Bay Mills Resort & Casino. Decent price for the meal; service could use improvement - but they were busy. The Casino also has an RV park. Later, we stopped by a wayside on Pendills Bay and caught another postcasd Lake Superior Sunset. (see above photo)

Lake Shore Drive eventually leaves the lakeshore and morphs into Curley Lewis Highway. It ends at Highway 123, which we took north towards Emerson and Paradise. At Emerson is the Riverside Mouth campground unit of Tahquamenon Falls state park. Highway 123 stays within view of the lake until you get to Paradise, a community with a number of craft shops, including a quilt shop - which made it a required stop for us. Beyond Paradise, 123 continues north until it ends at Whitefish Point lighthouse and Bird Observatory.

Get Acquainted with 2012 Passport Regulations - There are new requirements for motor travel between the United States and Canada.

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

The Michigan side of the "Soo" is best known for the Soo Locks that handle the biggest freighters going between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. There's a riverside park with an observation deck that allows the visitor to get an upclose view of the big ships and how the locks work. During our 2005 tour, we crossed the bridge from Ontario to the US Soo in the evening on the weekend of the 4th of July. Unfortunately this timing meant no time to stop as we had to find a spot to stay that evening. In 2006, we had a chance to re-visit the Soo and tour the Locks.

< < < The Tower of History

The Soo Locks

A must see stop while in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan or traveling through

See the Soo Locks here

Here's some shots looking east from the bridge between the two "Soos." The shot on the left shows one of the power generation dams on the American side. The shot on the right shows the southern part of St. Mary's Island - which is on the Canadian side.

One of the fun places to stop in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan is The Antlers, a bar and restaurant on Portage Ave. near the Soo Locks Boat Tours dock. As the name suggests it's rafters and walls are filled with antlers and you are surrounded by all sorts of other wild things.

Links, More things to See and Do in Sault Ste Marie

Chamber of Commerce Website Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Events

See our webpage on the Soo twin across the border
Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario

Point Iroquois Lighthouse

A few miles west of Brimley, along the Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway, is the restored Point Iroguois Lighthouse and Museum. There's also a nice little nature trail that runs out to the point and back plus a set of wash rooms making this an attractive rest stop area. See more here.

Whitefish Bay, Whitefish Point Upper Peninsula Michigan

On the way to Tahquamenon Falls, if you have time take a side trip north to Whitefish Point Lighthouse. First activated in 1861, it continues in operation today - although in an automated version of its earlier self. Lighthouse tours are available. We also enjoyed walking the nearby beach.

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, is also located here at the northeastern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, "Whitefish Point is a phenomenal concentration spot for migrating raptors, waterbirds, and song birds."

< < < A required stop in Paradise at Village Fabrics & Crafts so Joanne can browse their quilting fabrics. Go here for a listing of more Quilt Shops around Lake Superior.

Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario

Whitefish Bay to Marquette Michigan

Michigan UP Copper Harbor & Keweenaw Peninsula

Ontario East Shore Lake Superior Tour

Get Acquainted with 2010 Passport Regulations - There are new requirements for motor travel between the United States and Canada.

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Lodging