A variety of indigenous wildlife and majestic waterfalls make Michigan’s Upper Peninsula a jewel of the state.
The area is home to the 200-foot-wide Tahquamenon Falls, which is one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, boasting a vertical drop of 50 feet. There are more than 300 other waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula, but only about half of them are accessible by foot.
Before venturing out into the 3.8-million-acre national forest, be sure to stop at the Western Upper Peninsula Visitor’s Bureau for tips and safety information. Swimming underneath the falls and kayaking over the larger falls is prohibited.
If gazing at cascading water is not enough excitement for your family, see what lies along the nearby footpaths. The excursion to the waterfalls is half the fun, as many of the trails require at least a 15-minute hike. The North Country Trail, part of a national trail that connects New York to North Dakota, passes through Taquamenon Falls State Park and provides a view of the Mackinac Bridge, which connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.
Odds are that whitetail deer, red foxes, coyotes, snapping turtles and moose are a few of the woodland creatures that the kids can spot along the trails in this area — where only 3 percent of the state’s humans reside.
You can’t miss the waterfalls if you visit, but you also can’t pass up the pasty. This local delicacy, a meat turnover, provides hungry hikers with a delicious end to the day.