We’ve spent the last few days in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula. The miles and miles of northern forests dotted with lakes, ponds, and streams between tiny little towns every so often, reminds me of northern Maine or the Adirondacks, only with the Great Lakes.

We crossed over Mackinaw Bridge on Sunday as the sun was going down, leaving the mainland and entering the UP. Crossing the bridge at any time would be cool, but doing it as the sun sets while sitting way up high in a motorhome is remarkable.

On Monday, we drove along the northern coast of Lake Huron stopping along the way at overlooks, scenic turnouts, and little dead end roads with awesome views. Then we headed up to Sault Ste. Marie and spent time at the Soo locks, which are impressive. We watched a ship go through from Lake Superior to Lake Huron and then spent time in the visitor’s center with hands on learning activities great for kids and adults of any age. After eating lunch in a restaurant across the street, we drove along the shore of Lake Superior. Stopping at a beach there, we officially have been in all 5 Great Lakes. Although I could have done that all day, we made our way back to St. Ignace, where Ace waited for us. There, we went to Castle Rock, a scenic look out over the lake that you climb 195 feet of outdoor stairs to get to. It was actually worth the stairs to see the view. We got home with a little bit of time to spare so I left it up to the kids whether we stay put for the night and move on in the morning, or whether we get a head start and drive that night. They wanted go hit the road. We ended up spending the night at a highway rest stop right on the lake with a beach. We parked and played until it got too dark.

We left Ace parked at the beach rest stop and took the car up to Oswald’s Bear Ranch on Tuesday morning. They rescue black bear cubs and raise them for life, which is 25 to 30 years. We got to feed and pet a baby bear, such a cool experience or us animal lovers. We got back to Ace, hooked up the car, and continued on to Manistique, Michigan, to camp at Manistique Lakeshore Campground on a site right on Lake Michigan courtesy of our new friends Charles and Laura. We had dinner and drinks together around the campfire until bedtime.

Wednesday morning, after packing up and getting laundry done, we walked the Manistique boardwalk and the pier to the lighthouse and headed south. We spent most of the day at the Upper Peninsula Michigan State Fair in Escanaba, spending too much money and eating too much fair food, but we had a blast and the people in Michigan are just the best. I came here the first time last July to a town in the South called St Joseph and immediately said I could live here. This trip only confirmed that and made it stronger, I really love this whole state and could easily make it home. We’ll see what the future holds. Leaving Michigan, we drove straight from the state fair to Green Bay Botanical Garden with only a half hour left before they closed. We rushed through the beautiful outdoor gardens taking pictures and smelling the flowers; it deserved more of our time. We didn’t get to our campground until after dark but had no trouble setting up real quick.

Come back again to read my complete review of Cedar Point tomorrow and then hear about our time in Green Bay Wisconsin! And as always, feel free to leave a comment or question.