LANSING — Mackinac Island. Sleeping Bear Dunes. Isle Royale.
Those might be the top summer travel destinations in Michigan for residents and outsiders alike. And for good reason. But what about the places you might pass a billboard for on the way? The places you can stop, stretch your legs, and maybe see a side of Michigan you didn’t know existed.
These possibly lesser-known, out-of-the way attractions are perfect for spending an hour or two while in Northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula.
Here’s some off-beat stops to make this summer:
Iron Mountain Iron Mine
Located right off US-2 on the western end of the Upper Peninsula is the Iron Mountain Iron Mine, a former working iron ore mine where guests can get a glimpse of what it was like to be a 19th century miner. Visitors board a mine train to take a trip into the original “exploratory tunnel” miners used to find the pockets of iron ore.
The 45-minute tours include the mine train ride and a short walk through the tunnels. From mid-June to the end of August, the tours run daily from 9:20 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. CST. From September to mid-October, tours run Thursdays to Sundays.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $14 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are admitted free. Coupons and special group discounts are available on the website. Iron Mountain Iron Mine is located at W4852 Hwy U.S. 2 in Vulcan, Michigan.
Traverse City Fairy Trails
The Traverse City Fairy Trails are located at the The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City. The trails are about 1/10th of a mile and are lined with countless “fairy houses” built by locals and visitors alike.
The trails and houses are maintained by Life and Whim Studio to encourage children and their imaginations, as well as promote enivronmental stewardship and active lifestyles.
The trails are open all year and are free to visit. Guests are encouraged to bring or build their own fairy houses to add – as long as they’re made of all-natural materials. Bikes are not allowed on the trailhead. Pets are allowed as long as they’re leashed.
The Fairy Trails are located at 1490 Red Drive in Traverse City, Michigan.
Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide
At Crystal Mountain, visitors can ride the Loki Quad chairlift to the top of the mountain, hop on a specially-designed sled and cruise down two 1,600-foot-long curved tracks on the Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide.
Riders control the speed through tunnels, dips and high-bank turns. To ride alone, guests must be at least 52 inches tall and 80 pounds. Children smaller than the limit must ride with an adult.
Rides are $15 per person or guests could purchase a day pass to get access to the other activities at Crystal Mountain, like the climbing wall and trampoline.
The park typically opens at 11 a.m. throughout the summer, with reduced hours in September and October. It’s located at 12500 Crystal Mountain Drive in Thompsonville, Michigan.
Good Hart General Store
Through the winding (and maybe a little spooky) Tunnel of Trees on M-119, a quaint red general store sits.
The Tunnel of Trees is worth the drive in its own right. The scenic highway features a picturesque view of Lake Michigan that begins just outside Harbor Springs and extends 21 miles north to Cross Village. Indigenous lore explains the hairpin turn on Lake Shore Drive just south of Good Hart as where the devil scooped out a hollow after a plague. It’s been rumored you can hear “voices and sounds” coming from the hollow after dark.
The Good Hart General Store is the oldest business still standing in the area and was first opened in 1934. Visitors who stop at the store can enjoy homemade baked goods, pot pies, fresh jams and preserves, other prepared foods, and apparel and gift items.
The Good Hart General Store is located at 1075 N. Lake Shore Drive in Good Hart, Michigan.
Contact Sarah Atwood at satwood@lsj.com. Follow her on X @sarahmatwood. Contact Ryan Bentley at rbentley@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Off-beat, little-known attractions: Here are 4 to check out in Northern Michigan, U.P
Reporting by Sarah Atwood and Ryan Bentley, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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