The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is teeming with breathtaking locations worth exploring. But Marquette is unquestionably in a class of its own. Northern Michigan University is located in this lovely, historic city that has a lakefront location, making it one of the best spots in Michigan to discover the state's natural beauties.
The historic downtown of Marquette, Michigan is where the city's cultural Centre is located. Here you'll find eateries, stores, boutiques, tourist attractions, and brick structures that depict Marquette's rich mining and shipping heritage. Nevertheless, Marquette is also a haven for environment lovers, offering an unending array of activities from skiing to boating, biking, and hiking, depending on the season.
You can spend some time in Presque Isle Park or ascend Sugarloaf Mountain. Due to its long history as a significant shipping port in Michigan, Marquette also enjoys bragging about its extensive maritime heritage.
Are you eager to discover this wonderful city in the Upper Peninsula? Discover the top activities in Marquette, Michigan, by reading on.
- Discover Presque Isle Park
Welcome to one of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan's most stunning locations. Presque Isle Park, a 323-acre woodland that is regarded as the pinnacle of Marquette's outdoor pursuits, is a veritable paradise for nature lovers.
The park's beauty is wholly organic. It is located on a narrow peninsula that faces Lake Superior. In fact, Marquette commissioned Central Park designer Fredrick Law Olmstead to create a public park in 1891. He counselled the city to leave the region unaltered because its natural beauty speaks for itself.
Today, the park is best known for its two-mile Peter White Drive loop, which can be travelled by bike, car, or foot. The loop travels through a grove of lovely trees and has numerous vantage places from which to pause and take in the views of Lake Superior.
There are numerous hiking paths scattered across the park. Keep an eye out for white-tailed deer playing or possibly a snowy owl. The old rock formation known as BlackRock's, which towers 15 feet over the park's lovely lake, is among its most well-known landmarks.
In Marquette, Michigan, at Peter White Drive
2. Take a hike up Sugarloaf Mountain.
Beautiful hiking paths and breathtaking views would be the one thing Marquette has an abundance of. Just a few miles from the center of Marquette, Sugarloaf Mountain offers one of the best examples.
Hiking up Sugarloaf Mountain is among the nicest things to do in Marquette. Be assured, however, that this is a straightforward trip that usually takes no longer than 20 minutes to ascend the half-mile trail.
The majority of people park in the lot and climb the 304 stairs to the top. Wide-ranging vistas of the Upper Peninsula's natural beauty, including Marquette and Presque Isle Park as well as Lake Superior, are the reward.
Additionally, there are a number of wooden viewing platforms with various angles at the peak of the mountain. Among other things, you'll be able to see Hogsback Mountain, the Superior Dome, the Upper Ore Dock, and others.
3. Proceed to the Lakenenland Sculpture Park
A 37-acre forest area called Lakenenland Sculpture Park is dedicated to the whimsical, joyful scrap metal art created by local artist Tom Lakenen. The hamlet that is located between Marquette and Munising adores the sculpture park.
The park is encircled by a meandering dirt road that is hidden by tall woods. More than 100 of Lakenen's original works are situated along the path, which can be driven or walked. What else? The park is open every day of the year at no charge.
The artist is Tom Lakenen, a former worker in construction who started making art out of scrap metal. On 37 acres, he started the park in 2003, and it has since grown to be a Centre for culture and entertainment. Fish are stocked in a pond, and there is a bandshell where live music can be heard.
Visitors will also discover a fireplace area, picnic tables, a bog walk, and easy access to the North Country Trail in addition to the sculptures.
Location: Marquette, Michigan, 2800 M-28 East
4. Observe Dead River Falls.
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan features many of waterfalls. You can cross off a handful of them while you're in Marquette. One of Marquette's most well-known and stunning waterfalls is Dead River Falls.
The Dead River Falls are a series of waterfalls that plunge through the rocky cracks and are situated in a valley covered with rocks. A dirt walk runs the entire length of the falls, providing numerous opportunities to view the river and the numerous stages of falls from various angles. The waterfalls plunge into a canyon below with their last drop.
EFG President @KomacMarko represented the Federation at this year’s American Institute of Professional Geologists' National Conference which is held from 6 to 9 August in Marquette, Michigan. He had the opportunity to introduce EFG’s activities at the Executive Committee Meeting. pic.twitter.com/MDT3TyHo83
— European Federation of Geologists (EFG) (@EfgInfo) August 8, 2022
Just a short distance from town are the falls. There is parking space available. Visitors will then go to Dead River Falls by taking the clearly designated path from here.
Initially, the trail serves as an access road. The pathway will become visible on the left after travelling on the gravel road for a quarter of a mile. As you proceed up the trail, you'll be able to observe the falls from a variety of perspectives.
5. Wander through Marquette's downtown.
In this Lake Superior town, downtown Marquette is a wonderful piece of history. As you stroll the streets that are bordered by old structures and take in the current shopping, dining, and entertainment atmosphere, you can sense how history is still being lived today.
Beautiful brick facades may be seen on a large portion of the downtown architecture, which is from the 19th century. A wide variety of stores, boutiques, galleries, museums, and restaurants are housed within the structures.
Amos Harlow established Marquette, which was initially known as Worcester after Harlow's Massachusetts hometown. The city's history is intertwined with transportation, particularly the shipping of minerals that were taken from adjacent mines. To honor Jacques Marquette, a French Jesuit missionary who had been exploring the area, the town's name was changed to Marquette.
6. The Marquette Maritime Museum should be visited.
A visit to the Marquette Maritime Museum is essential if you have any interest in the history of the Great Lakes. The museum features a variety of exhibits, including birch bark canoes, shipwrecks, and a collection of Fresnel lighthouse lenses, to convey the tale of Marquette's and Lake Superior's nautical history.
Given that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the structure itself is also worthwhile a visit. The stunning structure, which was constructed in 1891, is renowned for its rocky façade, front gable, and rounded arch windows.
The museum offers historical lessons, lighthouse excursions, and kid's art classes, among other things. The museum also hosts special events all year long and a winter lecture series.
Location: Marquette, Michigan, 300 Lake Shore Boulevard
7. Attend a match at Superior Dome
It's difficult to overlook this Marquette landmark. The Superior Dome, one of the biggest domes in the world, can be seen from many different locations throughout the city. It is a huge source of pride for the locals and also serves as the stadium for Northern Michigan University, which has its home campus in Marquette.
The Northern Michigan Wildcats play football, lacrosse, basketball, field hockey, and track & field in the dome-shaped school stadium. The dome is 5.1 acres in size, standing 143 feet tall, and has a 536-foot diameter.
Catching a game here is a thrilling experience because of the 16,000 cheering spectators all around you. However, when there are no scheduled games, guests are able to use the facility at will, including climbing the bleachers and running laps on the field.
Location: Marquette, Michigan, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue
8. Check out the Children's Museum in the Upper Peninsula
The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum might be worth a stop if you're taking the family to Marquette. The museum encourages a creative environment where children and their families can come learn about the history, culture, and traditions of the Upper Peninsula. It is designed for children ages one to thirteen.
Explore human anatomy and discover where our water supply comes from among the exhibits. Kids may also learn all about fossils or fly a genuine jet from the cockpit.
A three-tiered model railroad is another of the museum's most popular displays. There is even a workshop for creative performance at the museum.
123 West Baraga Avenue, Marquette, Michigan
9. Visit the DeVos Art Gallery
Visit the Northern Michigan University campus to see some outstanding artwork. The DeVos Art Museum, an Upper Peninsula regional art museum founded in 2005, is also a part of the School of Art and Design. Additionally, it is open to the public and free of charge.
Contemporary art is the focus of the DeVos Art Museum's collection, which includes the ongoing show UP Focus, which features artists that either originate from or have had an influence from the Upper Peninsula. There are also shows devoted to sculpture, oil paintings, printmaking, illustration, and more.
Location: Marquette, Michigan, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue
10. Visit the Shiras Planetarium to View the Stars
Visit the Shiras Planetarium, one of the few fully functional planetariums on the Upper Peninsula and in the Upper Great Lakes region, to get lost in the stars.
Since its debut in 1965, the museum has served as a major educational resource for tens of thousands of visitors. The planetarium is a part of Marquette Senior High School, however public viewings are allowed.
The dome planetarium offers laser displays and indoor stargazing. Visitors can experience a 45-minute tour of the night sky, planets, and constellations with their Minolta MS-8 star projector.
In Marquette, Michigan, at 1203 West Fair Avenue
11. Check out the lighthouse in Marquette Harbor
One of the more distinctive lighthouses in Michigan—certainly in the Upper Peninsula—is the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. The current lighthouse was built in 1866 to replace the old one, which was constructed in 1853. Kind of.
The barnyard-red structure that is perched atop a bluff overlooking Lake Superior that we can see today is actually a combination of various designs that were built on over time. The first brick Marquette Lighthouse, built in 1866, was only 1.5 stories tall.
The building from 1866 was added to over time as technology advanced, and features like a second story, a covered stairway, and a barn were added behind it. Red first appeared in 1965. It is now regarded as one of Michigan's most distinctive lighthouses.
If visitors register for a tour through the Marquette Maritime Museum, they can visit the lighthouse. The tour includes a stop at the grounds and the old keeper's and his family's residence. The front of the lighthouse and Marquette's coastline can be seen in photos taken by visitors who step out onto the catwalk.
300 North Lakeshore Boulevard, Marquette, Michigan
12. Make your way to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is without a doubt one of Michigan's Upper Peninsula's greatest treasures. One of Michigan's Upper Peninsula's four national parks, the conserved natural region has a view of Lake Superior's sapphire seas.
It is well-known for its cliffs of droopingly coloured sandstone, which are the result of thousands of years' worth of mineral infiltration. The cliffs' worn surface is covered in a stunning color collage as a result.
The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore offers a variety of activities, including hiking the trails, seeing the scenic beaches, boating, and kayaking. The southern shore of Lake Superior is bordered by more than 30 miles of cliffs known as the shoreline.
Visitors can also explore the inland lakes, sand dunes, waterfalls, and woodland that make up the remainder of this breathtakingly magnificent area beyond the cliffs.