Whitefish Point, Michigan
Location: Lake Superior
Ease of Getting There: 7/10
Ease of Staying There: 8/10
Ease of Eating There: 7/10
Websites of Town: Michigan.org and shipwreckmuseum.com
About 10 miles north of Paradise, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula, you will find Whitefish Point. You will feel like you found the end of the earth – where sand meets water and sky. As you walk the beach on a clear day, you can see Canada about 20 miles away. Whitefish Point juts out into Lake Superior and is home to the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior, Whitefish Point Light Station. All vessels entering or leaving Lake Superior pass by this lighthouse. This area is often referred to as Shipwreck Coast since more shipwrecks have happened here than any other area on Lake Superior.
A full day in the area can start with seeing the lower and upper Tahquamenon Falls, which is about a half hour south from Whitefish Point. After heading back to Whitefish Point, tour the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Whitefish Point Lighthouse. Open every day from May 1 to October 31, from 10 am-6 pm, learn about maritime transport on the Great Lakes and tour the grounds of the Shipwreck Museum. You can even climb the lighthouse! Bird enthusiasts will love the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory. This is a bird migration hot spot where over 340 species have been recorded. If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, head to the Vermilion Nature Preserve. With a wide sandy beach and low shore dunes, bring a book and pack a picnic lunch. This nature preserve is also home to the federally endangered piping plover, a small, sand-colored shorebird.
There aren’t a whole lot of lodging options available in Whitefish Point; however, you can easily stay in the Tahquamenon Falls area about 10 miles away, or in Sault Ste. Marie about 35 miles away. As for food, consider the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery & Pub, located in Paradise, or head to Sault Ste. Marie for a plethora of delicious options.
From Detroit, Whitefish Point is 368 miles away and takes about 5 ½ hours by car. From Chicago, this U.P paradise is 500 miles away and takes about 8 hours by car. Well worth the trip.