On average, I find myself returning to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula every couple of years, usually for a camping trip or a scenic road adventure.
I’ve visited many of its well-known destinations over the years, including Tahquamenon Falls, Mackinac Island, and the Keweenaw Peninsula during peak fall color season—an experience deserving of a post of its own.
Over this Independence Day weekend, I explored Drummond Island, drove the breathtaking H-58 (Adams Trail) through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from Munising to Grand Marais, and visited Sault Ste. Marie.
As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Rather than describing each stop in detail, I’ll let the photographs speak for themselves, accompanied by a map showing where each one was taken.
Big Shoal Beach on Drummond Island
Located at the eastern end of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Drummond Island is the state’s second-largest freshwater island and one of its most secluded destinations. Reached only by ferry, the island offers a slower pace of life where forests, inland lakes, rocky shorelines, and quiet roads replace the crowds found at more famous tourist attractions.
Known for its extensive network of off-road trails, rich wildlife, and ancient limestone formations collectively known as the Drummond Island Alvar, the island attracts outdoor enthusiasts seeking camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and four-wheel-drive adventures. Yet even for visitors who simply enjoy a leisurely drive, Drummond Island offers something increasingly difficult to find: a sense of remoteness without feeling inaccessible.
One pleasant surprise was Big Shoal Beach. Its crystal-clear water and wide, white limestone shoreline immediately reminded me of Flamenco Beach on Culebra Island, Puerto Rico. While the two places are separated by climate and geography, both share the same peaceful feeling of standing at the edge of remarkably clear water, inviting visitors to slow down and simply take in the scenery.
For me, Drummond Island was less about checking another destination off the map and more about appreciating the quiet beauty of Michigan’s eastern frontier. It is the kind of place where the journey is just as rewarding as the destination, and where Lake Huron, forests, and open skies create an atmosphere that encourages you to slow down and enjoy being there.
H-58 through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from Munising to Grand Marais
Running between Munising and Grand Marais, H-58 is one of Michigan’s most scenic driving routes. Following the southern shore of Lake Superior through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the trail winds through dense forests, quiet stretches of wilderness, and a series of breathtaking natural landmarks. Here, the journey is every bit as rewarding as the destinations themselves.
My drive included several of the area’s highlights. I stopped at Miners Castle, the iconic sandstone overlook offering sweeping views of Lake Superior, admired the expansive views from the Twelve Mile Beach Overlook, climbed the towering Grand Sable Dunes, visited the picturesque Sable Falls, and finished the day in the charming lakeside village of Grand Marais.
What makes H-58 special is the remarkable variety packed into a relatively short drive. Colorful sandstone cliffs, endless freshwater horizons, windswept dunes, forest trails, and quiet beaches each reveal a different character of Lake Superior. It is a route best experienced at an unhurried pace, with plenty of time to pull over, explore, and appreciate one of the Midwest’s most spectacular natural landscapes.
Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie was the final stop on this Upper Peninsula journey, though it was my second visit to the city. Sitting on the St. Marys River at the gateway between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, it is a place where engineering, history, and nature come together in a uniquely northern setting.
This time, I joined a Soo Locks boat tour, which offered a close-up look at one of North America’s most remarkable engineering achievements. Watching massive freighters being raised and lowered between the two lakes gave me a new appreciation for the scale of Great Lakes shipping and the vital role the locks have played in regional commerce for more than a century.
One place I was especially happy to visit was Island Books & Crafts. More than just an independent bookstore, it felt like a gathering place for readers, artists, and lifelong learners. Browsing its shelves reminded me of the values described in American Nations, where the culture of Yankeedom emphasizes education, civic engagement, and intellectual curiosity. Whether or not the bookstore intentionally reflects those traditions, it embodied the kind of thoughtful, community-oriented spirit that makes small towns across the Great Lakes region so memorable.
For me, Sault Ste. Marie is more than a border town. It is a place where ships, stories, and ideas all pass through—a fitting conclusion to another memorable journey across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Recommended Readings
— Linden Lake
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