If you’re heading up to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this summer, Escanaba is worth a stop for its historic downtown and surrounding tranquil nature rich with outdoor recreation.
Nestled in the Bays de Noc leading into Lake Michigan along the southern Upper Peninsula shoreline, Escanaba offers a mix of a quaint town with prime dining to remote getaways in an untouched wilderness.
Whether you love teeing up on the course or traversing miles of wooded trails on your ORV, or if you prefer a stroll through town tasting diverse cuisines, followed by a stop at a historic lighthouse and a night under the stars, the Escanaba area beckons visitors with an array of alluring summer activities.
“Summer in Bays de Noc brings perfect weather and views for a great getaway. Long days set the stage for casting a line, paddling quiet bays and rapid rivers and soaking up the sun on sandy beaches. Bike scenic routes, tee off on local golf courses, then wind down with live music after dark. With wide-open water, fresh air and nonstop options, Bays de Noc delivers a summer built for adventure,” Visit Escanaba’s website says.
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Here’s what to know when visiting Escanaba.
Where is Escanaba?
Escanaba is a town of around 12,000 located on the Little Bay de Noc on the Lake Michigan coast in the southwestern Upper Peninsula.
If you’re heading north from Detroit, prepare to drive 435 miles, or 6 hours and 24 minutes by car. Coming from Lansing, the drive is 375 miles, or 5 hours and 37 minutes. Driving from Grand Rapids in west Michigan, the trip will be 382 miles, or 5 hours and 49 minutes. The drive from Traverse City in northern Michigan is 263 miles, or 4 hours and 39 minutes.
Tour a historic or new lighthouse
Take your pick from among three lighthouses to visit along the Lake Michigan coast in the Escanaba area.
Sand Point Lighthouse, built in 1867, once served as a key beacon for ships transporting iron ore from U.P. iron mines and lumber from sawmills, per the Delta County Historical Society. Though the lighthouse was deactivated in 1939, an offshore crib light operated by the U.S. Coast Guard services local marine traffic. To set up your self-guided tour of Sand Point Lighthouse, contact the historical society at 906-789-6790.
Located east of Escanaba on the remote southern tip of the Stonington Peninsula, Peninsula Point Lighthouse operated from 1865 to 1934. The lighthouse, once a prime beacon for ships transporting goods like iron ore, fishing and lumber on a coastal stretch with dangerous rocks and shallows, per Visit Escanaba and the Forest Service. You can visit the site for free, climb the 40-foot circular staircase in the lighthouse’s brick tower for panoramic Lake Michigan views, and enjoy a meal in the outdoor picnic area.
Just north of Escanaba, Gladstone features the Gladstone Lighthouse, built in 2010, among the newest lighthouses in the U.P. and the only active lighthouse in the Escanaba area, per Visit Escanaba. The lighthouse is located in Van Cleve Park along the Little Bay de Noc shoreline.
Hit the trails in your ORV
The Escanaba area boasts hundreds of miles of trails perfect for a day riding your off-road vehicle (ORV) with friends.
Local options include the 26-mile Norway trail, 41.5-mile Forest Island Trail & Forest Island Route, 70-mile A Route, 32-mile J Route and 17-mile AG Route – Hermansville, per Visit Escanaba.
If you need an ORV license and trail permit, you can purchase them from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources online through eLicense, via the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app or in person at DNR license agents and dealers. A license costs $26.25 and a trail permit costs $10.
The Michigan DNR will host its next Free ORV Weekend Aug. 15-16, offering a chance to ride the trails around Escanaba without the cost of a license and trail permit.
Stargaze under dark night sky
A night bundled up under the open sky presents a chance to enjoy outstanding views of stars, planets, the Milky Way and, on occasion, the northern lights. From Lake Michigan beaches to local parks, the Escanaba area is a prime destination for stargazing, Visit Escanaba notes.
At Fayette Historic State Park east of Escanaba, nestled in the tip of the Garden Peninsula, you can watch the stars surrounded by the historic buildings of Fayette, a long-abandoned iron town. The park is open to the public until 10 p.m., or, if you’d like to stay out longer, consider booking an overnight camping trip.
You can turn a visit to Peninsula Point Lighthouse into an evening stay, waiting until the sun goes down to camp out under the night sky on the shoreline of the Stonington Peninsula. The remote setting and defunct lighthouse are ideal for best celestial views on a clear night.
Escanaba’s Ludington Park spans 1 mile along the Little Bay de Noc coast, and offers waterfront stargazing along a sandy beach until 11 p.m. Come early and enjoy swimming, sunbathing or a picnic before sunset.
Savor diverse cuisines at downtown eateries
Escanaba’s downtown dining scene reflects a diverse array of American fare and international cuisines, from Mexican to Chinese, Thai, Irish and Italian.
Enjoy classic American eats at Grab & Go or Rosy’s Diner, from burgers and fries to mac and cheese, soups, and sweets like cinnamon rolls and coffee. Pair grilled meats with drinks and live music at Hereford & Hops Steak House and Brewpub.
Explore southeast Asian cuisine at Thai’d UP, its menu featuring Thai noodle, curry and fried rice dishes, soups, dumplings and more, along with Chinese dishes. Pair your meal with a sweet, cool Thai iced tea.
La Cantina serves up Mexican cuisine, from tacos to burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, nachos and more. Top off your meal with sweets from churros to flan, fried ice cream, tres leches cake or cheesecake chimichangas. Choose from American or Mexican sodas or Margaritas for a refreshing beverage pairing.
Dobber’s Pasties dishes up the beloved Upper Peninsula specialty with meat or vegetable fillings, ranging from chicken, beef, ham and cheese, pizza or vegetable and more.
Tee up on a scenic golf course
Choose from among several prime golf courses in the Escanaba area for your day hitting the links with friends or family.
The Escanaba Country Club boasts Delta County’s oldest golf course, opened in 1915, with 18 holes. Expansive greenery surrounds you in this tranquil spot, from lush grass and trees to a river and pond. Rates range from $12 for a 9 hole cart to $41 for 18 holes-walking, along with additional equipment fees, per the country club’s website.
Bark River’s Sweetgrass Golf Club, west of Escanaba, is part of the Island Resort & Casino, ran by the Hannahville Indian Community. The 18-hole golf course is lined with tribal history, each hole named for clans, villages, allies, medicines and symbols, filled with vibrant greenery, waterways and trees, the course’s website noted. The base rate is $90, with complete pricing available online.
In Gladstone, just north of Escanaba, the Gladstone Golf Club offers an 18-hole golf course amid state forest land and, on part of the course, the Days River. Daily rates vary and complete pricing can be found online.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Escanaba is lakefront UP town. 5 spots to check out
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jenna Prestininzi, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
