The recent warm spell had many Michiganders in the out-of-doors doing unusual March activities: walking Great Lakes beaches, golfing, and enjoying the early bursts of spring color.  Many people wondered why they booked a trip south for spring break!  It made us at Seeking Michigan think–with all  the wonderful places in Michigan to visit–why leave at all?  We’ll occasionally post articles that guide you to some uniquely Michigan regions.  Our first stop: Copper Country.

Say ya to da UP eh

The Keweenaw Peninsula has a fascinating history – from remote outpost to the boom of mineral wealth to a university center and tourist destination.  The Keweenaw has a unique ethnic flavor as many immigrants from Finland, Sweden and England landed there to work the copper mines.  Houghton is the county seat and home to Michigan Technological University.  It’s a great base of operations, as you’ll find many of the conveniences of chain hotels and restaurants here.   You can taste the heritage of the region by diving into a cornish pasty at Amy J’s Pasty and Bake Shop or stopping for a bite to eat at Suomi Home in Houghton.  Suomi Home is noted for its Finnish pancakes and other Scandinavian treats.

Mining Past

If you press north, you’ll pass the Quincy Mine where you can ride down the mine shaft like the actual miners did in the nineteenth century.  Ghost towns of the mining area dot the landscape in the Keweenaw.  If you have Michigan Ghost Towns: of the Upper Peninsula in hand, you can explore them for yourself.  Some areas are mostly untouched from the mining era and to experience these places is almost like time travel.

If you need a respite as you head to Copper Harbor, the Laurim Manor Inn gives insight into the past granduer of a mining executive’s home. Built for Thomas H. & Cornelia Hoatson, owner of Calumet & Arizona Mining Co., no expense was spared building this forty-five room mansion.  The inn is a good base to explore Calumet, Central Mine and Ahmeek.  If you travel with your pet, you may want to time your visit with the Blessing of the Pets at the Phoenix Church and Museum in Phoenix, Michigan.  It’s a tradition that dates back to the patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi.

Open Water

The Keweenaw is noted for its extreme weather.  Past winters saw up to 390 inches of snow dropped on the region.  In the summer, it can reach the 80’s or 90’s in Houghton.  If you like to escape the heat, you only need to continue on US 41 towards Copper Harbor.  On a recent visit, the air temperature dropped fifteen degrees as you approached the open water–quite a relief!  There are great detours along the way, including the towns of Eagle Harbor and Eagle River and the Keweenaw National Historical Park.  There are miles of walkable/wadeable beaches where agate hunters may find the perfect specimens for their collections.  A must stop on the way to Copper Harbor is the Jampot.  It is a confectionary run by a Byzantine order of monks.  It’s a unique retail experience to say the least.  Plus, they make some of the best thimbleberry jam, breads and artisan caramels you can find.  The Jampot is also adjacent Jacob’s Falls, so you can enjoy your treats in wonderful natural setting.

The literal end of the road is Copper Harbor.  US 41 originates in Copper Harbor and you can follow it all the way to Miami, Florida.  Copper Harbor was an outpost at one point, as evidenced by the Ft. Wilkins historic state park.  Run by the Michigan Historical Center and the DNR Parks, the site interprets the mid-nineteenth century era fort and is part of a busy state park campground (Check availability in advance.).  Outdoor recreation opportunities are everywhere, from hiking or biking (rentals available in town) in Estivant Pines (a virgin pine forest), to heading out to the tip of the Keweenaw in search of thimbleberries.  Maritime enthusiasts can enjoy the Copper Harbor Lighthouse or the boat tours that explore shipwrecks, and ride alongside the Great Lakes freighters in Lake Superior.  There are a number of lodging options in Copper Harbor, including the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge.  For a great capstone to your day, grab a wild bilberry sundae from the Berry Patch ice cream shop and head up to the top of Brockway Mountain for the sunset.

You can explore more of the history of the Keweenaw at seekingmichigan.org and plan your trip at puremichigan.org