The Fifty-first State – A Drive to Upper Peninsula Michigan
by Debra Karplus
Driving from the flatlands of Central Illinois to Marquette, Michigan, in the mitten-shaped state’s Upper Peninsula is an unforgettable journey for first-timers. The metamorphosis of landscape as one travels north will make you want to stop frequently to photograph the scenery or write journal entries in your travel diary. You probably won’t need your camera until you have driven beyond the downstate soybean and corn fields, and the traffic and industrial and commercial areas of Chicago and its outlying suburbs.
Crossing into Wisconsin near Kenosha, you’ll immediately notice changes in highway names and terrain, and will be captured by more lush greenery along the road. Stay on Interstate 43 until Green Bay. It’s a great halfway stop and a fine place to get out and stretch. Even in summer, you’ll be well aware that you are in Packers country, the longtime football team that has been the pride of this medium-size city. Wander up the main road and you’ll find ample outdoor shops, in case you don’t have all the attire you might need in Michigan.
Michigan will greet you with breathtaking cliffs that envelop you as you enter the state through Iron Mountain. Turning onto Route 95, you’ll arrive at Ishpeming where you’ll be surrounded by beautiful clear, blue lakes. When you arrive in Marquette and drive through the hilly campus area, you’ll entertain fantasies of what attending college would be like in such a lovely town, situated on Lake Superior.
You may be tempted to spontaneously explore some UP Michigan’s hidden treasures. Venture east on Highway 28, and you’ll be curious as you approach the Lakenenland Scrap Iron Sculpture Park, located just west of Munising, and north of the Hiawatha National Forest. You likely had never heard of this destination, but admission is free and you’ll be awed at this one-man show of sculptures created solely by ironworker turned artist Tom Lakenen. This one-of-a-kind site may be the highlight of your journey.
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