This Waterfront Park really embodies what the town of Houghton, Michigan is all about…read more Houghton, Michigan (in my opinion) is a pretty cozy/old fashioned/industrial city with this terrific Waterfront Park situated along the edge of Portage Lake within the Keweenaw Waterway. The main highlight is a pedestrian walking pathway, where all you have to do is stroll about and breathe in the fresh air of the UP - Upper Peninsula. Plus, another scenic aspect of the park is having the Portage Lake Lift Bridge as the centerpiece focal point, making for quality photo opportunities (especially when the sun is out, lol) for those visitors exploring around town. And...the Portage Lake Lift Bridge connects the cities of Houghton and Hancock, which the road eventually leads towards Copper Harbor, MI - "The Gateway to Isle Royale National Park". For me coming to Houghton on my eventual journey out to Isle Royale...I very much enjoyed becoming acquainted with the city. Btw, there is an Isle Royale Visitor Center right nearby here for those interested in purchasing souvenirs, watching a park film and having your NP Passport stamped. Overall, this Waterfront Park gave me a fresh perspective for appreciating what makes Houghton quite the charming town. I used about 1 hour just casually hanging out here, taking some time to sit down on one of the many benches to relax and people watch.

Parked by the water and went to dinner. After walked i bit around town and by the water. Peaceful…read moreand seems very safe. nice to be on vacation and not have to feel you need to be on alter and didn't see any homeless on the Upper P trip. Houghton is a college town ... several bar and restaurants. Water sports, fishing, hiking. This was our last stop on our Upper P trip. We actually went home a day early .. missed the dog. hope to return in the fall or spring ... especially the fall.

On my way to the lighthouse, I stopped to check out this pretty cool park. There is a great view of…read moreLake Superior and Picnic Rocks from here. The park includes a great looking playground, public restrooms and walking trails. It is named after George Shiras III who contributed the land for the park. Shiras was the first to do flash photography of wildlife at night. An entire issue of National Geographic in 1900 featured his work and there is a historical marker with a lot more detail on his life and contributions to conservation and study. There is a large parking lot available. [Review 17919 overall - 325 in Michigan - 1440 of 2022.]

Very fun park. Our 2 year old loves jumping on the tires and digging in the dirt. I suppose the…read moreElise would be pretty hot on a warmer day.

Baraga State Park is a small State Park situated in a perfect area across from Lake Superior that…read moreis between somewhere and nowhere. This isn't a State Park made to stay at for any extended period of time but rather a great stopping point for us on our Circle tour of the biggest lake of all the great lakes. We rolled in on a Friday mid-afternoon and couldn't be more pleased with our one night stay. Yes, the highway is nearby and you do hear the traffic but for our visit, it couldn't have been more perfect. We saw the sunset and the moon on full tilt out on Superior. It was truly a welcoming rest on our journey through the North. From Milwaukee, expect about a 5 or so hour drive. From there you have just about reached as far as you can go before you run out of road. Next stop, Copper Harbor. Our favorite amenity about Baraga was the bathrooms. They were absolutely the cleanest facilities we had use of during our 9-day jaunt. The showers were solid and the water was hot. Baraga was a great start for our camping adventures to come! We would stop through this place anytime!

My wife is not happy tonight as this park sits right alongside the main highway US-41 that runs up…read morethrough Baraga and north toward Copper Harbor. This was a mistake coming here as the road noise is terrible, it sounds like the Indy 500 and it is not conducive for an enjoyable camping experience. We won't camp here again and we will be sure to look into the next camping area we pick as an unhappy wife creates an unhappy life.

Visited Presque Isle Park with my hiking group. It's beautiful, especially at sunset. Beware of the…read morehorse flies!!! I don't know if they're seasonal, but they are troubling on this day! It's easy to park and maneuver the land. If you're in the U.P. Check it out.

Gorgeous views, breathtaking shoreline, perfect place for a picnic. So many spots to pull off and…read moresee a different type of view. From the cliff-like edges to the dark lava-like rock structures near Blackrocks, it's all a must-see. You could spend a whole day here in the summer no problem. Go hunting for beach glass along the rocky beaches, grab a bench and watch the waves, build a sandcastle on the beach, take a drive around the loop, there's endless ways to enjoy the park and all it has to offer. No hammocking, no dogs (from what I saw on the signage), and be prepared for wind while on the shorelines. Still a 10/10 and the best "park" I've been to.

My review is for the Fort Wilkins State Park Campground. And for all the campsites I have visited…read moreacross my travels these last few years...I'd rank Fort Wilkins right up there with the best of them!!! Pretty much, the campground has everything, or at least everything I desire for a great evening of camping outdoors in the heart of nature! First off...Fort Wilkins SP is located right just down the main road of Copper Harbor, MI. I arrived here in early June on a whim a couple of days before departing on the Queen IV Ferry out to Isle Royale National Park. But before venturing out towards Isle Royale, I wanted to spend a day or two exploring around Copper Harbor. Although I did have 2-night reservation for a cabin at the Minnetonka Resort right nearby...I decided to show up in town a day early as my excitement for witnessing another NP was pretty overwhelming, lol. So...for 1 night I needed a place to stay. I wanted someplace easy and convenient. And for times like these...I rely on the trusty camping app on my phone called CAMPENDIUM and they recommended Fort Wilkins SP. I arrived at the front gate/entrance area around 4pm on Wednesday June 2, 2021 and had no problem whatsoever reserving a campsite. I went inside the visitor building and booked a spot to put my tent up for the night. It was that simple. And best of all, Fort Wilkins was practically empty for June 2nd. There were barely any campers/tourists around. I had my choice of many campsites. It was a pleasure finding this park and booking a campsite right in person with the park ranger. Here are some fantastic details and aspects about what makes Fort Wilkins a 5-star destination for camping out.... - There are actually 2 sections to the Fort Wilkins Campground - the East and West sides. I chose the East Campground and I highly recommend the East Side!!! The East has restrooms, a shower house and laundry room as well. Plus, all the campsites are centered around the bathrooms and showers, so you don't have to walk far to use the facilities. - Amazingly, Fort Wilkins has free Wi-Fi!!! That was fantastic!!! You may be thinking what's so wonderful about having Wi-Fi? A lot of campgrounds these days offer free Wi-Fi. What's the big deal??? I'm mentioning this because all around the town of Copper Harbor, there's no cell phone reception! Crazy, right? I have AT&T and had no cell connection while hanging out before my boat ride to Isle Royale. Now here at Fort Wilkins to have some internet access was a huge relief off my back. I was able to connect with the world and my phone kept me entertained at night while inside my tent. Lol, thank goodness for the strong Wi-Fi here! - At the West Side of the campground...yeah the area is more secluded, but there you have a combo of vault toilets and bathrooms but without a shower section. The scenery is supposedly nicer, and campsites are more spread out. There's a playground nearby including cabins for those who'd prefer rustic lodging. - Even at the East Side of the campground I found the setting to be just perfect, even if the campsites were closer to each other. There was still plenty of space to feel like you have your own privacy. The East had a terrific feel for being in the woodsy forest and I felt far from reality while enjoying a restful night under the stars. - Each campsite had AMP Power, I believe I had 50 AMP good for charging multiple electronics of mine including my phone, generator, portable batteries and shaver. Yes, lol, I come prepared. But I was able to connect all my appliances. - My campsite had a firepit and picnic table. Although I ate dinner a few nights in a row at the Mariner North Restaurant (good dining option, btw), still lighting a fire to stay warm or cooking hamburgers and hot dogs in the firepit is feasible. - Prices. Since I don't live in Michigan, I had to purchase a $9 Out of State Recreation Pass plus it was $25 to book a campsite for the night. But...$34 for ideal camping conditions with clean bathrooms, showers, a laundry room with a Pepsi vending machine, Wi-Fi, 50 AMP Power, spacious campsites with a barbecue firepit and picnic table in such a remote part of Michigan like here at Copper Harbor was a homerun deal in my book!!! Lastly, I set up my tent on flat grass for a comfy night's rest too and any camper out there knows to be able to set up shop on fluffy grass is essential for a good night's sleep! Sometimes I've been forced to pitch my tent on hard flat ground and those conditions can make for rough nights. I can't say enough good things about Fort Wilkins State Park Campground. It was such an unexpected blessing and experience to find this place. Thank you Campendium!

Nice Beautiful place to stroll…read more The people in period costumes are acting, don't fall for it!!! Lovely walk around the woods and along the water We enjoyed our time here Park rangers were pleasant and helpful

Great water park thingy! Love swimming out in the lake!…read more Thanks for reading this review, have a great day!

From the owner: Water Warrior Island opened its first Island #summer2018 in Champion Michigan.read more