Marquette, MI

Address:Marquette, Michigan

Marquette, Michigan, is a natural playground full of wildlife, rivers and hiking trails. Go freshwater fishing in the Great Lake Superior, or kayaking and canoeing in one of Marquette's many rivers or relax on the beaches and many parks in the city. Marquette is also a busy college town, home to the Superior Dome, the largest man-made wooden dome in the world and where the Northern Michigan University football team plays. There are a number of neighborhoods in town where you can shop, dine and visit historical sites.

Nature lovers will love Marquette. Here more than anywhere else in the state, you can see white-tailed deer, elk and timber wolves that wander freely, as well as the tiny, endangered Kirtland warbler breeds. Bald eagles can be seen in this part of the region almost as easily as the robin, Michigan's state bird. Also, nearly 30 endangered animals and 200 threatened plant species find protection in the forested areas of northern Michigan. While you enjoy the scenery around Marquette, remember that you are in a natural habitat. The area is frequented by black bears and Lyme Disease is prevalent, so if you decide to hike or bike through wooded areas be sure wear long pants and closed shoes.

There's an extensive network of biking and walking paths throughout Marquette. The city has been gradually expanding the paths throughout the years and has been promoting itself as a walkable community. Many trails are ideal for mountain biking. The Pere Marquette Rail-Trail is a 22-mile, paved, and very wide trail that begins in downtown Midland and ends in Averill and Sandford. In the Pere Marquette State Forest, there are tracks for riders at every level. The 13 miles of curved trail are very well-groomed and become cross-country ski trails in the winter. The Harlow Lake Sampler in the Marquette area is a popular and challenging trail system with great views of Lake Superior and Presque Island. Two thousand mountain bikers gather in Marquette every November for the Iceman Cometh Challenge, a 27 mile point-to-point mountain bike race.

Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Northern Michigan ranks among the best freshwater fishing spots in the world as it is home to thousands of inland glacier lakes. During the coldest winter months, when the lakes are frozen, ice fishing is extremely popular. The area has several small inland lakes that are less windy and offer a variety of fish, such as rainbows, splake, northerns, perch, walleye, and crappie. Several outfitters in northern Michigan can set you up with the gear and anything else you'll need. Permanent, heated ice-shanty rentals are available and usually require a $100 deposit that's returned after the ice fishing season. During the warmer months you can enjoy floating around in kayaks and canoes. Rentals are available in nearly all of the towns along northern Michigan's rivers and lakes, and many offer guided, organized canoeing trips.

In the Village neighborhood of Marquette there's a mile-long shopping district with shops, gift shops, banks and restaurants. In downtown Marquette, historic brownstone buildings, trees, benches and street lamps line Washington, Front and Third Streets. The shopping district has many clothing and gift shops, boutiques, galleries, museums, professional services and restaurants.

The Marquette Maritime Museum is located along the Lake Superior shoreline near the U.S. Coast Guard Station. Open during the summer season, it offers an extensive collection of maritime artifacts exploring the maritime history of Marquette. Tours of the historic Marquette Harbor Lighthouse are also available. The Upper Peninsula Children's Museum is located along Baraga Avenue. The Marquette County History Museum is located along Front Street in the downtown district. It's also worthwhile to check out the DeVos Art Museum at Northern Michigan University.

There are many parks in Marquette. Presque Isle Park on the north side of the city, bordering Lake Superior, is Marquette's most-popular park. There's a nature loop, which you can walk or drive, as well as a marina, concession stand, picnic tables, barbecue pits, walking/skiing trails, playgrounds and a waterslide. Moosewood Nature Center has natural history displays and live animals exhibited in tanks arranged to represent their natural habitats. Marquette has two popular beaches, South Beach Park and McCarty's Cove. McCarty's Cove, both with picnic areas, grills, playgrounds and lifeguards. In winter you can enjoy great skiing and mountain views at Sugarloaf Mountain, just a few miles north of downtown Marquette.

In northern Michigan, fresh fish generally rule the culinary scene. Lake trout and whitefish are favorites. There are also many family-owned restaurants that offer home-style cooking. The Sweet Water Café offers a variety of healthy and organic meals, and is unique in the region for doing so. The New York Deli & Italian Place is an interesting little spot on west Washington Street that's a deli during the day and an Italian restaurant at night.

Visitors to the northern Michigan region will find a wide range of lodging options, from luxury hotels to rustic cabins and campsites, quaint bed and breakfasts to historic inns. For longer stays, cabin and waterfront-housing rental options are widely available throughout the region. The cheaper motels are clustered west of town on US-41, but there are better, equally affordable options downtown. The grand Landmark Inn on Front Street has rooms overlooking the lake. You can camp at the Tourist Park Campground on Sugarloaf Avenue.

Marquette is located in the central region of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.