160 - Helpful Area Information
For Iron River, Crystal Falls, Amasa and the rest of Iron County, contact the IRON COUNTY CHAMBER of COMMERCE. It's a clearinghouse for all kinds of information about the area and its recreation, lodgings, and culture, not just about member organizations. www.iron.org is an outstanding info source on events, culture, history, and much more. The super-helpful staff is happy to mail info. The physical chamber is just east of downtown Iron River, in the A-frame just south of U.S. 2 overlooking the river. Open Mon-Fri 8-4 Central Time. (888) TRY IRON. (906) 265-3822.
Visitor information for all lodgings and visitor attractions in Iron Mountain, Norway, and the rest of Dickinson County is handled through one combined super-source, the DICKINSON COUNTY CHAMBER/ TOURISM ASSOCIATION and economic development group, open weekdays 8-5 Central Time. (800) 236-2447; (906) 774-2002. The helpful staff fields questions and mails information. Its web site is www.ironmountain.org
It shares a building with the Upper Peninsula Tourism & Recreation Association (UPTRA), which publishes the information-packed Upper Peninsula Travel Planner, a free glossy magazine. The same office houses the MICHIGAN WELCOME CENTER, providers of heaps of printed info about tourism-related businesses throughout the state. It's in downtown Iron Mountain on U.S. 2/Stephenson Ave. at A St. Look for signs from U.S. 2. Park in the rear. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time, to 5 in summer. (906) 774-4201. Handicap accessible.
PUBLIC LAND
Much of Iron and Dickinson counties is either federal or state land. The Michigan DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES administers the far-flung parts of the Copper Country State Forest through two offices, open weekdays from 7:30 to 4 Central Time. The DNR website is www.dnr.state.mi.us/ The DNR Norway office is on West U.S. 2. (906) 563-9247. The DNR Crystal Falls office is on U.S. 2 just west of the intersection with U.S. 141. (906) 875-6622. . . . The OTTAWA NATIONAL FOREST has an office on Iron River's east edge, on Lalley Road just south off U.S. 2 by the state police post, near Angeli's Market. It's open from 8 to 4 Central Time. (906) 265-5139. TTY: (906) 265-9259. www.fs.fed.us/r9/ottawa/
EVENTS
For Iron River/Crystal Falls, consult the calendar on www.iron.org or call 888-TRY-IRON. The biggest events are the U.P. Championship Rodeo in Iron River the first full weekend in July, and the Bass Festival with a run, a parade, and fishing contests in early July. . . .In the Iron Mountain area, the Pine Mountain Music Festival in late June and July brings three weeks of high-caliber music, mostly classical music with some folk, jazz, and pop, to the Upper Peninsula. The series almost always includes two operas and several workshops. Call (877)746-3999 or visit www.pmmf.org . . . . In February the Continental Cup ski jump competition comes to Pine Mountain.
PICNIC PROVISIONS and PLACES
Most of these places are mentioned in points of interest, restaurants, or campgrounds in each area.
Angeli's Central Market on U.S. 2 on the east side of IRON RIVER is the premiere gourmet stop for a big part of the western U.P., with outstanding wines, produce, baked goods, deli. Incredible!
On a much smaller scale, Sommers Sausage Shop on the main street of CRYSTAL FALLS offers homemade sausages, sandwiches, soups, and a full line of groceries.
Iron County picnic spots: outside IRON RIVER: Lake Ottawa west of Iron River, Pentoga Park on Chicaugon Lake near Gaastra, Bewabic State Park, and the First Roadside Table on U.S. 2. Near CRYSTAL FALLS: Runkle Lake Park east of town.
IRON MOUNTAIN sets such a high standard for home cooking, the deli departments of the big supermarkets, Super One and Econo Foods, on U.S. 2 east of downtown are way better than average. But why not patronize the nifty little places like The Gathering Place, the Moose-Jackson Café, and Damian's Pasta House downtown (sandwiches, deli items, breads, desserts), Crispigna's Italian Pantry on the North Side (good meats, cheeses, and Italian wines) or Monette's IGA at 375 Woodward in Kingsford, with good hard rolls, meats, and bread?
Dickinson County's most distinctive picnic destinations: Lake Antoine and Iron Mountain City Park in IRON MOUNTAIN. Fumee Falls roadside park on U.S. 2 in QUINNESEC. Strawberry Lake in NORWAY.
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