lighthouses

freshcoast

itinerary

Summer, glorious summer. There’s no better time to explore the Fresh Coast. Blue skies, crystal clear waters, and long summer days stretched out in front of you to enjoy.

BODEGA BREAKFAST

Make the most of your morning with breakfast at Bodega, where everything is freshly baked and locally sourced (when possible), including just-out-ofthe-oven breads and fresh-squeezed juices for cocktails. Speaking of cocktails, Bodega has a full bar so you can sip a Mimosa or Paloma with your Huevos Rancheros or El Zorro Burrito.

MARITIME MORNING

Dive into some Fresh Coast history at the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. The iconic red building is not only the perfect photo op, it also houses historical artifacts including the largest collection of Fresnel lenses on the Great Lakes, and an exhibit on shipwrecks and life saving feats on Lake Superior, including the Edmund Fitzgerald. Take the guided tour, which includes a footbridge to the lookout. It’s worth the price of admission alone.

FRESH FINDS

You’ll find summer’s bounty in abundance at the Saturday Farmers Market. Stroll the tables and fill your basket full of fresh-picked goodness: berries, baked goods, homemade jams, handrolled pretzels, and more. Swing by the Marquette Co-Op to pick up additional provisions and you’ve got the makings for an afternoon picnic.

BIG BAY CRUISE

Head out of town on 550 towards Big Bay for a leisurely afternoon cruise. Find the perfect picnic table and unpack your spread at Perkins Park on Lake Independence. Enjoy the walking trail and observation deck in this peaceful park, and if you’re feeling up for it, even a nice, relaxing dip.

SCENIC VISTAS & WATERFALLS

On your way back to Marquette, turn off 550 onto 510 and stop at Thomas Rock Scenic Overlook. This mellow one-mile stroll along a wide, flat gravel and paved trail offers big rewards with stunning above-the-treetop views of Big Bay, Lake Superior, and on a clear day, the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Continue cruising down 510 until it turns to dirt. After crossing the Yellow Dog River, park and follow the trail less than a mile down to Yellow Dog Falls. The sound of the rushing water will let you know you’re close. Surrounded by a lush green forest in the McCormick Wilderness, these spectacular falls are fairly easy to reach and refreshingly cold on a summer’s day. If you are up for a longer trek, several more sets of falls await you another mile or two in.

DINNER WITH A VIEW

Once you are out of the woods, head downtown for dinner at Iron Bay Drinkery, housed in an old brick foundry, with superior food and views of the Lower Harbor and historic Ore Dock. Sit on the patio and start with the smoked whitefish dip, served with watermelon rind pickles and sesame crackers. Then dig into a hearty burger or whitefish your way: chowder, tacos, tots, sammie, or fried with chips. Pair with a local brew or craft cocktail with fresh herbs from Iron Bay’s herb garden.

SUPERIOR SIPS

For a unique experience, head to Superior Culture, Marquette’s own small-batch kombucha house. If you have never tried this healthy, fermented tea before, order a flight of “booch” to discover your new favorite.

With 10 rotating taps featuring seasonal beer, cider, mead and seltzers made with fresh-pressed, organic and wild (when possible) ingredients—with alcoholic and nonalcoholic options—you never know what you might find, but you can be sure it will be delicious and refreshing.

STARRY NIGHTS

Cap your evening off with a stargazing stroll along the shoreline at Presque Isle Park, or head 15 minutes down M-28 to Lake Superior Roadside Park. With lights of the city some distance away, and dark skies across the lake, turn your gaze upwards for a stellar view of the celestial skies.

lake superior

Experience the natural splendor and the many moods and thrills of Lake Superior,

but while spending time near or on the water, please remember to be safe and respect the Big Lake.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Located on the southern shores of Lake Superior in the central U.P., Marquette County boasts 83 miles of Superior Shoreline. As the largest freshwater lake in the world, Superior’s surface covers 31,700 square miles and its cold, clear waters reach depths of 1,332 feet.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE

Average temperature of Lake Superior in Marquette, MI

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

35.2°F 33.1°F 33.1°F 34.5°F 37.8°F 45.3°F

JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

ON THE WATER

Paddle your way around isles and coves on the greatest lake of all, or across inland lakes big and small. The Cove at Presque Isle Park is the perfect spot to launch a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard into Lake Superior. If you’d prefer a more gentle adventure or lack experience, head to one of the County's smaller lakes like Harlow, Deer or Teal for a more serene scene.

Down for some fun in the sun? Splish, splash and relax at popular in-town spots like McCarty’s Cove, Clark Lambros Beach Park and South Beach or more remote options like Wetmore Landing and Little Presque Isle Beach.

59°F 64.6° 60.8°F 53.6°F 45.3°F 39.6°F

Source: SeaTemperature.info

DEEP HISTORY

The Anishinaabeg call it Gichi-gami, roughly meaning “great water.” In the 1600s, French missionaries called it Le Lac Superior, or “upper lake,” denoting its location at the top of the Great Lakes region. Today, Yoopers and Michiganders most commonly refer to it as the Big Lake, Gitche Gumee or Mother Superior.

MARQUETTE UNDERWATER PRESERVE

Established in 1990, The Marquette Underwater Preserve sought to promote the conservation of the area’s submerged historical resources. The preserve consists of two areas along Lake Superior’s shoreline, both offering excellent scuba diving opportunities. The Marquette Unit features 24 miles of surrounding shoreline, allowing divers to explore wrecks of wooden schooners, steamers, commercial fishing vessels and even unique geological formations. The second unit, the Huron Islands, is approximately 25 miles northwest and features some of the most impressive coastline in Michigan.

The Big Lake has long served as an important waterway for trade and shipping in the Great Lakes Region. However, its history of immense storms, strong winds, and powerful waves has made it infamous for sinking many ships, including the iconic Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975.

LAKE SUPER SaFety IOR

Tips

01. Swim where there are lifeguards. Never swim alone. Before entering the water, make sure someone knows you are doing so.

02. Check the City of Marquette website’s beach flag advisory system before swimming in Lake Superior. Flags are put up at South Beach, McCarty's Cove, Middle Beach, and Picnic Rocks to indicate dangerous to highly dangerous rip current conditions. Also, check the National Weather Service's Rip Current Forecast. 03. Rock formations are a likely place to find dangerously strong rip currents. This includes the Picnic Rock area, which is located on Lake Shore Boulevard. Do not swim in this area. Move down the beach to McCarty’s Cove where lifeguards are located.

04. Know how to “break the grip of a rip.” Learn more from the National Weather Service at ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

05. If you see someone caught in a rip current, going into the rip current area yourself is not the best solution. 06. Strong winds on Lake Superior that create huge waves are amazing to see and photograph, but they, too, can be deadly. Do not go into the water or out onto the breakwall or Black Rocks at Presque Isle Park during high winds.

Lake Superior Safety Tips courtesy of Northern Michigan University & NMU Police Department