MI Best - Weekend Section - Sept 11, 2022

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GRAND RAPIDS | KALAMAZOO | MUSKEGON | 9.11.22

When we chose the stories for this edition, all the events and dates were accurate. As always, find the mostup-to-date information on the event/ activity website, Facebook page or other direct information source.

[LOOK INSIDE] More fall wonder in Munising

CHECK OUT THESE MUNISING VACATION IDEAS: LIGHTHOUSES Navigational advances may have diminished the need for the prime function of lighthouses, but the uniquely built structures remain a beacon for people interested in history and beauty on the shores of the Great Lakes. Munising is the home of eight lighthouses, including the Au Sable Point light that can be toured and climbed from mid-June through Labor Day. Other lights have been renovated and can be seen up close while serving as the center for memorable vacation photos. Some lighthouses have been converted to dream-like private residences.

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Why now is the perfect time for

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one last fall hurrah in the U.P.

ith Labor Day in the rearview mirror and the prospect of snowmobiling on the 300-plus miles of groomed trails in the Munising area about two months away, a visit to Michigan’s U.P. might not seem to be in play.

However, Cori-Ann Cearley, president of the Munising Visitors Bureau, says there are other lenses to look through when considering a fall getaway – starting with the fact that peak fall colors are among the undiscovered joys for visitors who haven’t traveled to the U.P. in the fall.

“There’s plenty of time for one last fall hurrah,” said Cearley. “The fall colors are incredible, and once people get up here this time of year, they find there’s beautiful scenery to explore while hiking, biking, kayaking or on a boat cruise.”

The incredible natural wonders and extensive outdoor adventure opportunities

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SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

of Munising and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are legendary, with the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore often serving as the focal point of travelers’ visits.

But there’s so much more to see and do while enjoying panoramic views of Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes, from Munising’s shoreline. From majestic waterfalls to crystal clear waters that reveal a scuba diver’s shipwreck paradise, the region is more than a one trick pony destination.

“We call Pictured Rocks our ‘big gun’ attraction, and rightfully so,” Cearley said, “but one of the moments we love to see is when our guests come and discover all of the other beautiful and amazing parts of our area that they weren’t aware of.”

Cearley said mid-week crowds tend to

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dwindle with school back in session and that weekend trips are less congested as sports and other activities keep many families busy wherever they call home.

“We always talk about Munising as a region with so much to offer because it’s a place where people can kind of hit pause and relax any time of year,” she said.

“That’s even more true during the time between Labor Day and the first big snowfall. It’s a great time to get away from it all and find comfort in your surroundings.

“The outdoors – going on a hike or seeing things that bring you joy – are great stress-relievers. I think we’re all ready for something to take the edge off from everything.”

GRAND ISLAND Hop aboard a narrated bus tour and learn about the 3,000-year history of Grand Island, a 13,000acre bit of paradise in the Hiawatha National Forest that sits only a half-mile from Munising.

The southernmost island in Lake Superior, this natural phenomenon is ideal for hiking and biking to whitesand beaches, stunning elevated vistas and an “I’m all alone in the woods” secluded sites that offer silence from the rush of daily life. Visitors can get to the island via personal boat or ferry. The wilderness area offers unmatched scenery where travelers can see black bear and whitetail deer. Be sure to check out Echo Lake and bring your fishing pole.

PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE Practice your “oohs” and “wow!” before visiting this national treasure that features 40 miles of sandstone cliffs, rock formations, sea caves and sea arches that are equally stunning from the ground and the water. The dramatic colors are breathtaking and the sheer size of the protected lakeshore allows you a freedom that doesn’t generally exist where up to 700,000 people visit annually. Hike 100 miles of trails or jump on a guided boat tour to take in beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls and hardwood forests that will leave an impression for a lifetime – or at least until you come back to experience it again.

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HERE ARE 4 WATER ADVENTURES TO CONSIDER DURING YOUR VISIT TO PICTURED ROCKS AND MUNISING:

Pictured Rocks Cruises

Scenic water cruises by day, concerts at night:

As the official concessionaire of the National Park Service, Pictured Rocks Cruises is the only vendor that can show off all that the lakeshore has to offer.

There are three cruise options on tour boats that range from 65 to 78 feet long and accommodate between 129 and 250 passengers. Guests get to view the brilliance of the cliffs, sea caves and beaches on 2 ½-to 3-hour long voyages that travel between 32 and 40 miles along Lake Superior’s coast.

Munising adds ‘missing element’

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Shipwreck Tours, featuring Grand Island and Munising Bay

SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

hen Tom Dolaskie returned to his hometown of Munising in 2008, fresh off four years of service in the U.S. Air Force, it was apparent that the city needed an infusion of activity that served and entertained visitors coming to witness the natural beauty of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

“There wasn’t really anything that could add to why people were already coming here,” Dolaskie said recently. “I really believe in experiential tourism, and when you think of that ecosystem, you want to have options for people that open their eyes and keep them coming back or talking to others about what a great time they had.”

Dolaskie and a business partner started with creating a boutique hotel, later adding a fine dining restaurant and then several restaurants in addition to Gallery Coffee Co., a daytime coffeeroasting and custom drink shop that doubles as an entertainment venue with a full bar by night.

The coffee company’s 8,000-square-foot space, which had been vacant for roughly 30 years, turned into a community hub with a gallery of rotating artists displaying their work. After building out a stage and providing an intimate, relaxed vibe, the space began hosting comedy nights on Thursday and touring bands on Friday and Saturday nights throughout the summer.

The plan is to continue weekend entertainment all year.

Scott Kusmirek, a former drummer for the Gin Blossoms and Freddy Jones Band, has been on a roll booking acts of all genres, Dolaskie said. He’s brought blues, southern rock, country, rock and reggae bands to Munising. Ben Daniels and the Verve Pipe’s Brian Vander Ark were so impressed they sat down with crowd members during breaks and after their respective shows just to enjoy the setting and the people.

“We’ve got ‘the morning show’ for coffee and then ‘the night out,’ where people can have fun and find some great artists,” Dolaskie said. “It’s a pretty mellow environment and there’s a great

transition from day to night. I owe that to our team. Without great people who are passionate about what they do, it doesn’t work. It all runs and hums because of what the team does.”

Cori-Ann Cearley, the president of the Munising Visitors Bureau, has heard the communal response to shows at the Gallery Coffee Co., and she notes that others in the area are working to expand Munising’s entertainment resources The Munising Pub, By George Brewing and East Channel Brewing have all launched live music nights by booking talented local and regional artists. People have discovered the talent of U.P. musicians.

“Live music and nightlife have really been the missing element in some respects,” Cearley said. “Our guests and our locals have all these great options to have fun and be outside during the day, but now there’s something that continues into the night.

“It’s nice to have that activity.”

Of course, in Munising, the prime attraction is and will remain the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with cliffs that climb between 50 and 200 feet and flash stunning shades of red, orange, green and blue, along nearly 30 miles of Lake Superior coastline.

Visitors continue to discover the dramatic views of the sandstone cliffs on outdoor adventures. With a handful of summer weekends remaining and a breathtaking fall color season on tap, Cearley recommended taking a different perspective on the property by experiencing the sights from the water.

“If you’re on the water, you’re looking at the whole thing and getting all of that beauty,” Cearley said.

It’s a pick your pleasure and pace with water activities, Cearley said, as experiences vary from the silent serenity of a kayak, to cruising on large tour boats and exhilarating rides on a former U.S. Navy Seal vessel.

“Everyone is looking for their own way to travel and have their personal experience,” Cearley said. “It’s awesome that we have the ability to give people what they are after.”

Glass-bottom boats give passengers a one-of-a-kind look at two shipwrecks – the Bermuda and the Herman H. Hettler – that are peacefully preserved by Lake Superior’s waters. Munising and the Alger Underwater Preserve are the only place in the U.S. where wrecks are witnessed from a glass-bottom boat. The wrecks are visible through the clear water and provide an upclose look at history that is only exceeded by diving on the ships. The excursions also allow views of the cliffs, Grand Island and its caves, and the East Channel Lighthouse.

Riptide Ride This thrill ride, which takes place on a decommissioned Navy Seal jetboat, is unlike any other in Munising, making it an outdoor adventure all on its own.

Passengers will travel around Grand Island, stopping for scenic views of its cliffs and falls. Between the sights is when the action happens as the ride rips through the water at high-speeds, blasts into sharp turns and even pulls 360-degree spins to the delight of howling riders.

Kayak Tours There are multiple Pictured Rocks kayak tours available in Munising, and they all feature the stillness and beauty that will be a highlight of your trip. Guides lead groups along the shoreline cliffs and place visitors as close to the base and caves as you can get. There is a degree of risk as the weather can turn quickly and the rocks, which make the landscape so impressive, offer no relief or safety valve.

MICHIGAN’S BEST | 9.11.22 |

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Learn to climb frozen waterfalls along Lake Superior at Michigan Ice Fest

Michigan Ice Fest:

Why you need to register now to climb Pictured Rocks’ frozen waterfalls EMILY BINGHAM | ebingham@mlive.com

MUNISING, MICH.

Michigan Ice Fest, a celebration of ice climbing in the eastern Upper Peninsula, is bringing back a full roster of popular classes for its 2023 event.

Organizers of the annual gathering, held in and around Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore every February, just released the lineup for the next Ice Fest, scheduled for February 8-12, 2023.

Registration is now open and prospective attendees are encouraged to sign up now to avoid missing out on the most popular classes, such as night climbing, which have limited spots available and can fill up quickly.

Ice climbing is like rock climbing’s burly winter cousin, swapping out rock faces for frozen waterfalls and other

ice formations. Michigan’s Munising area is considered one of the best places in North America for the sport, thanks to the numerous waterfalls along Pictured Rocks’ Lake Superior shoreline.

Ice Fest is noncompetitive and encourages anyone interested in the sport to join in, from complete beginners to more experienced climbers. In addition to climbing instruction, the festival also features backcountry adventures, workshops in related skills like ice climbing photography, yoga for climbers, and classes geared specifically toward women and people of color.

Gear demos, social gatherings and presentations from pro athletes are also on the roster.

EMILY BINGHAM | ebingham@mlive.com

MUNISING, MICH.

If you’re looking for a memorable Michigan adventure this winter, then make your way to the eastern Upper Peninsula in February.

Michigan Ice Fest returns to Munising, welcoming beginners, experienced climbers and spectators alike to learn and celebrate the sport of ice climbing — think rock climbing’s burly winter cousin, swapping out rock faces for frozen waterfalls and other ice formations.

The non-competitive annual event largely focuses on classes and workshops, as well as opportunities for climbers of all skill levels to connect. The event draws people from all over the world, many of whom are total newbies to the sport, says Bill Thompson, one of Ice Fest’s organizers.

“Ice climbing is one of those sports that is really hard to get into because you just can’t go out and buy the gear and go ice climbing — you need professional instruction, so that’s what we provide,” Thompson says. “We provide all of the gear for people to try it out. We provide high-quality instruction.

We basically teach everything there is to know about ice climbing.”

Aside from basic instruction, the festival also features classes in night climbing, ice climbing

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photography and other adjacent skills, plus gear demos, social gatherings and presentations from professional athletes.

The Munising area, home to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is considered a prime spot for ice climbing in North America.

Not only are some of the local ice formations very accessible when compared to those in harder-toreach, mountainous areas of the American West, but the conditions made possible by Lake Superior — think white-out blizzards and wickedly cold temperatures — create an unforgettable atmosphere.

“We prefer it to be wild,” Thompson says. “People come from all over and they don’t get to experience winter like we do up here, so that’s why we like it to be a little spicy.”

Ice climbing guide services are also available in the area throughout the winter for anyone who can’t attend the weekend of the event.

INFO This is a previously run article from January 2022, please check event site for most current information.

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