Wisconsin and Minnesota

I am headed to the upper midwest for three months. Wi and MN are on the list of states to spend some time in. Anyone have some suggestions on what to do/see? Already been to the Mall of America.

two of the best parts of MN, IMHO, are the North Shore along Lake Superior and the bluff country along the Mississippi in SE MN. Actually the trip around Lake Superior through Canada is interesting and I would also recommend the southern shore trip into WI as well - visit the Apostle Islands and Bayfield. I would recommend, along the N. Shore, Burlington Bay Campground in Two Harbors, MN It is run by the city and it right on the Lake, and they will take reservations if you call (218-834-2021) You could also stay at any of the State Parks along the N Shore - they are all beautiful. We volunteered last summer at Temperance River and it is great.

Down in the Bluff County there are also state parks (Whitewater is larger and very nice - no mosquitos!) and private campgrounds. Also some very interesting little river towns.

Feel free to email for additional info: [email protected] :)

Surprising, Duluth, MN, is a tourist destination. Being from down south I would never have believed that. All I had ever heard was jokes about Duluth until I married a girl that grew up there. We go up every other year to see her brother and other family members still living there.

The drive up the North Shore of Lake Superior is fantastic. Up in the town of Grand Maria is a great city park with a big campground with full hookups.

On up at Ely is a great wolf preserve with live wolves on the place. West of there is a preserve for bears. This is an old timber camp. They take you out to an area where the bears are fed. You are on a raised platform with an unbelievable number of black bears wondering around below you. (When we go up there we go to Tower, MN, and stay at the Fortune Bay Casino campground. It is about half way between these two preserves.) Also Ely is in the area of the boundry waters. If you are into canoeing this is a great place.

Father west is Bemidji. This is where the Mississippi River begins at Lake Itaska. You can actually wade across the Mississippi. North of Bemidji is something called "The Great Bog". It is the only place like it in the country.

All> Update on the suggestions. We visited many of the places suggested and are now in the UP of MI.

Was also surprised with Duluth. We did the harbor area boat tours, museums, and of course Grandma's resturant. Played one of the hardest golf courses I've every been on. Hickley, Ely, Tower, and Two Harbors all visited. Betty's Pies in Two Harbors was great. Missed out on the canoeing. Weather a bit chilly for that. Didn't stop in WI, but enjoyed the scenic drive along Hwy 28/41.

As Texans we are having some withdrawal symptoms with the lack of BBQ up here in Yankee land, but enjoying the 70 degree weather.

We're open to more suggestions for our present stay in Michigan.

Skyking, we will be in UP of Michigan starting the 25th of this month. I've been there many times and I love the area. It is beautiful. The daisies and wood lilies should be starting to bloom. Get over to the east end around Cedarville and visit Macinac Island. There is a nice maritime museum in Cedarville. If you get the chance, take a charter tour or fishing tour with Norman Perkins, (Les Cheneaux Island tours) 906-484-3776, out of Cedarville. If you contact Norman, tell him I sent you. Call soon as he books up quickly. Probably the prettiest drive is Hwy. 2, along the lakeshore. Easy road and many scenic pulloffs. If you have your birth certificate, you can go into Canada in Sault Ste Marie and take the train to WaWa and back. We are going to do that while we are there. I've heard that it's a lot of fun. Good luck and have a nice trip. If you get my way, feel free to contact me and I can suggest some good campgrounds that are reasonable price here in Wisconsin.

Mike,

Skyking8's post was last year - June of 2007.