Munising - Michigan's Upper Peninsula

<html> <head> <title>Munising - Michigan's Upper Peninsula</title> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1"> <META Pragma: No-Cache> <META name="Pragma" No-Cache> <META Cache-control: No-Cache> <META HTTP-EQUIV="expires" CONTENT="Wed, 26 Feb 1997 08:21:57 GMT"> <META name="description" content="Profile of Munising, with candid descriptions of attractions, recommended restaurants, lodgings, campgrounds."> <base href="http://hunts-upguide.com/"> <link href="/style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <center> <table width="100%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0> <tr> <td width="18%" colspan=2 height=82 bgcolor="#306799" valign="top"> <table width="100%" cellpadding=22 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td align="left"> <b><font size="-2" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <font color="#FEE384">We welcome<br> your comments<br> experiences &<br> corrections.<br></font> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=10 height=8 alt="---"><br> <a class="whitelinkunderlined" target="_top" href="http://hunts-upguide.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/dehunt/feedback.pl">E-mail us</a> </font> </b> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="63%" height=82 bgcolor="#306799" align="center" valign="top"> <table cellpadding=22 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td align="center"> <img src="/images/online_words.gif" width=386 height=13 alt="The online version of the popular regional travel book""><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=500 height=2 alt="---"><br> <nobr><font color="#FFFFFF" size="+2" face="Georgia,Times New Roman,Times"><b>Hunts' Guide to Michigan's UPPER PENINSULA</b></font></nobr><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=500 height=7 alt="---"><br> <img src="/images/candid_words.gif" width=391 height=13 alt="A candid guide to enjoying and understanding the U.P."> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign=top width="1%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5" rowspan=3>  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=9 height=25 alt="|"></td> <td width="18%" rowspan=3 valign="top"> <a target="_top" href="/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/dehunt/click.pl?nextfile=http://hunts-upguide.com/up_travel_map.html"><img src="/ads/Small_map_ad_ver_6.gif" border=0 ALT="UP Travel Map ad" width=160 height=418></a> <p>  <a target="_top" href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MI/Munising.html?bannertypeclick=bigtemptr"> <img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/bigtemptr_both/language/www/US/MI/Munising.gif" border=0 alt="Click for Munising, Michigan Forecast" height=94 width=185></a> <br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=20 height=3 alt="---"><br>  <center> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </center> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 width="100%" height=9> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=790 height=9 alt="---"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="17%">  <table width="100%" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td width="100%" valign="top">  <table width="100%" cellpadding=10 cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor="#306799"> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#306799"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b> <a class="sidebar" href="/" target="_top">Home</a><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="85" height="5"><br> <a class="sidebar" href="pictured_rocks_munising_au_train.html" target="_top">Back to Pictured Rocks/Munising/Au Train</a> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="85" height="20"><br> </b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="100%"> <table width="100%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=10 bgcolor="#FFE09B"> <tr> <td align="left"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=100 height=10 alt="-"><br> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"> <center><font color="#C82F2C"><b>MUNISING<br>POINTS<BR>OF INTEREST</b></font><br> </center> <font color="#263692" size="-2"> <p> <a name="e478"><b>Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.</b></a> Sandstone bluffs up to 300 feet high have been shaped by wind, waves, and ice into dramatic columns and caves, and stained red, blue and green by seeping minerals to form colored "pictures" ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_pictured_rocks_national_lakeshore.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e476"><b>Hiawatha National Forest/ Pictured Rocks Visitor Center.</b></a> This is a recommended first stop for every new visitor---for maps, handouts, scheduled talks and walks on nature and history, and customized, impartial advice from a knowledgeable staff of adults who live here and know the area well. Also a nature bookstore ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_hiawatha_national_forest__pictured_rocks_visitor_center.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e479"><b>Pictured Rocks Cruises.</b></a> This cruise is the way to see the Pictured Rocks, preferably in the late-afternoon light, unless you have your own boat or take a kayak tour, ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_pictured_rocks_cruises.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e481"><b>Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tour.</b></a> This tour combines perspective about shipwrecks with the chance to peer down through a large boat's viewing wells at three shipwrecks south of Grand Island. ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_glass_bottom_boat_shipwreck_tour.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e1260"><b>Lake Superior.</b></a> Of all the U.P.'s features, none rival the largest freshwater lake in the world. ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e484"><b>Central Munising.</b></a> A wonderful picnic spot, with grills and gazebo on Munising Bay; a popular coffeehouse-bookstore, some specialty stores; and a kids' castle playground ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_central_munising.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e477"><b>Alger County Heritage Center.</b></a> Here you'll see an authentically furnished 1830s fur trader's cabin from Grand Island, and vintage Munising Woodenware products (clothespins, hand-painted bowls, and lots more), once marketed nationally ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_alger_county_heritage_center.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e480"><b>Northern Waters Sea Kayaking.</b></a> An adventurous way to see the cliffs, caves, and shipwrecks by Grand Island and the fabled Pictured Rocks ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_northern_waters_sea_kayaking.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e483"><b>Grand Island Scenic Overlook.</b></a> A breathtaking vista out beyond Munising Bay of Grand Island ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_grand_island_scenic_overlook.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e482"><b>Munising-area Waterfalls.</b></a> Avoid crowds and visit four delightful, secluded falls in and near Munising: Horseshoe Falls, a quaint private attraction; the Twin Waterfall Plant Preserve; and Wagner Falls off M-94 ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_munising_area_waterfalls.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e485"><b>Valley Spur Cross-Country Ski and Mountain Bike Trails.</b></a> Artfully laid out, meticulously groomed, this 38-mile trail system is a favorite destination of dedicated cross-country skiers from far and wide ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_valley_spur_cross_country_ski_and_mountain_bike_trails.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e486"><b>McQuisten Recreation Area.</b></a> The views from boardwalks on this beautiful pond are hidden gems for birders and naturalists, within walking distance of the Super 8 and Comfort Inn motels. There's an elaborate playground, too ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_mcquisten_recreation_area.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <p>   </font> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> </tr> <tr> <td>   </td> </tr>  <tr> <td align="center"> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> <td valign=top width="1%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="9" height=500 alt="|"> </td> <td valign=top width="63%">  <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0> <tr> <td valign=top align=center bgcolor="#018650" colspan=2> <center> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="30" height=8 alt="-"><br> <b><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"><a class="whitelink" href="pictured_rocks_munising_au_train.html" target="_top">Region: Pictured Rocks/Munising/Au Train</a></font></b><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="100%" height=3 alt="-"><br> <h1>MUNISING</h1> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="30" height=8 alt="-"></center></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="63%">  <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 border=0> <tr> <td align="left">  <font face="Georgia"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=6 alt="-"><br> <table align="right" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=117> <tr> <td> <a href="munising_map.html" target="_top"><img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/129.gif" width=117 height=250 alt="Munising minimap" border=0></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <a href="munising_map.html" target="_top"><b>Click to enlage</b></a> </font> </td> </tr> </table> Ringed by dramatic high, forested hills, Munising looks out on Grand Island across Munising Bay, sometimes sparkling blue, sometimes shrouded in mist. It has <b>one of the most beautiful settings of any Michigan town</b>, though motorists don't readily see it. From the east travelers approach the town on M-28 along a long strip of commercial sprawl. Then, as one turns left and passes through town just a block from Munising Bay, much of the striking bay view is blocked by buildings, often quite unattractive.<br><br>You can <b>see the grand view by turning <i>north</i> on Elm</b> (the main downtown intersection at the time and temperature sign). It's the same way as for Pictured Rocks Boat Tour dock. Just beyond Munising Bay looms huge, irregularly-shaped <b>Grand Island</b> with its ancient lighthouse and dramatic bluffs. Tucked just out of sight along the shoreline to the east is one of <center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=449> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/701.gif" width=449 height=221 alt="Munising Bay" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>It's easy to be confused about what you're seeing when you look out at the bay from Munising. Grand Island's eastern lobe and the mainland's Sand Point bracket the narrow view out to open water. </b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> Michigan's most famous sights: the <b>Pictured Rocks</b>. The picnic tables and benches here at <b>Bayshore Park,</b> up from the marina, are a good place to take a break and enjoy the often <b>sublime view</b> <b>of the</b> <b>harbor</b>,<b> Grand Island</b>, and the misty interplay of light, clouds, and water.<br><br>Grand Island helps protect Munising's splendid harbor from <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a> storms. From the early 20<sup>th</sup> century until 1953 most of the island was a hunting retreat and the pet project of William Gwinn Mather, head of Cleveland Cliffs Iron in Ishpeming and Cleveland. The 13,000-<center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=449> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"><b>...continued below...</b></font> <br clear="all"> <hr> <center> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </center> <hr> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/702.gif" width=449 height=149 alt="Munising hills" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>Munising has the good fortune of having two attractive buffers, the well-protected bay and steep hills which ring its southern half.</b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> acre island is now a <b>national recreational area</b> well suited to mountain biking and kayaking. Some summer people continue to have homes there. The <b>Grand Island ferry</b> is off M-28 four miles northwest of town. For a great view of the island, there's a <b>Grand Island</b> <b>scenic lookout </b>on a mainland hilltop off M-28 just west of Munising. <br><br><center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=449> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/703.gif" width=449 height=280 alt="Neenah Paper" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>The big Neenah Paper plant on the water front is the Munising area's biggest employer. The Georgia-based company's 350 employees here make an amazing variety of products. About 90% of the "leather" patches on the back of bluejeans come from here. The paper to which grit is added to make sandpaper is another product, as are the little labels you see on fruit in grocery stores.</b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> Grand Island</b> was <b>the area's first important settlement</b>, the home of <b>Grand Island Band of Ojibwa</b> and of other people before them. Groups of Ojibwa long made use of sheltered Munising Bay as a favorite summer camping grounds. The 1940 <i>Writers' Project Michigan: A Guide to the Wolverine State</i> recounts, "The splendor of [the Pictured Rocks] cliffs and the thunder of the waves in the caverns filled the Indians with awe; the Chippewa, who controlled most of the Upper Peninsula and camped here each summer, believed that the gods of thunder and lightning lurked in the resounding caverns. They believed that Paupukkeewis lived among the crags in the form of an eagle; and that many of the cliffs housed evil spirits that had to be propitiated at stated intervals. <b>Hiawatha</b>, their hero, hunted in these woods, <b>stalked game along these cliffs</b>, and waded past the palisades, indenting them frequently with his fist in its magic mitten."<br><br>In a small, stable town like Munising, Ojibwa history is alive and told by descendants, who may be bankers and lawyers, paper mill workers and casino employees. Grand Island became a fur-trading outpost, steamship fueling station, and destination for adventurous tourists. Abraham Williams and family, the area's first white settlers, ran a hotel on Grand Island along with supplying cordwood to steamships and many other money-making activities. <br><br>An <b>iron blast furnace</b> attracted permanent settlers to Munising in the 1870s. The town's growth was furthered by sawmills, a tannery, a paper mill, and after 1911 the <b>Munising Woodenware</b> Company, whose wide array of household products are represented in the local museum. <br><br> <table align="right" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=249> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/716.gif" width=249 height=609 alt="Munising Front Range Light" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>Just north of the highway through Munising, the Front Range Light is a landmark. Built in 1908, the 58-foot metal tower assists boats through the narrow harbor entry. Captains line this light up with the Rear Range Light up the hill behiind it to determine the proper route.</b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> The scenic sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks and Grand Island contributed to the large number of <b>shipwrecks</b> here. Winds off the cliffs sometimes caused ships to sink or run aground, often as they sought refuge in Munising's safe harbor. The waters off Munising are now the <b>Alger Underwater Preserve</b>, with eight major wrecks within the 113 square miles. Unusually clear waters and eroded underwater "caves" are other diving attractions. Contact the Alger Chamber of Commerce (906-387-2138) for a <b>dive brochure</b>, or visit <a target="_top" href="http://www.exploringthenorth.com/alger/algerhtml">www.exploringthenorth.com/alger/algerhtml</a>. Dives are easily arranged through Captain Pete Lindquist's Munising-based Grand Island Charters (906-387-4477.) His <b>shipwreck cruise</b> enables sightseers to peer down through glass windows at three of them. <br><br>Like most Upper Peninsula towns, Munising has been steadily losing population; it was over 4,400 in 1940, 3,000 in 1980, 2,783 in 1990, and under 2,500 in 2002. (Alger County, however, after shrinking to 8,972 in 1990, has grown to 9,862 in 2000.) Munising took a step to refocus itself on its natural beauty with <b>Bayfront Park</b>, a point of civic pride. Downtown has been spiffed up. But it's hard to compete as a place to live and shop with Marquette just 45 minutes away. As in other Michigan paper mill towns, Munising voters viewed their city as an industrial town, with tourism an undependable extra. Hence, the waterfront has been largely blocked instead of zoning it to enhance choice bayfront land and views. <br><br>A big boost to the local economy occurred in 1990 when the <b>Alger Maximum Security Prison</b>—or "Supermax"—courted by civic leaders, was built south of town. It has a staff of some 400 and can hold 532 prisoners. The Kewadin casino in Christmas has become a major employer. Sizable industrial plants using Upper Peninsula timber are an even bigger part of the local economy. The old <b>paper mill</b>, started in 1903, bought by Neenah Paper in the 2004, dominates the shoreline just east of downtown. Take a good look and you can see the original limestone building, now part of the mill complex. With over 350 workers (down from 460 not too long ago), the plant uses U.P. hardwoods to make special papers such as the brown patch on the back of Levi's jeans, the little label on Chiquita bananas, and the labels on Elmer's glue bottles. A big sawmill now owned by Oregon's Timber Products operates on M-28 six miles east of Munising. Fifty workers saw 70,000 board feet of maple a day. The best of the lumber is used by furniture- and cabinetmakers, while pallet makers buy the lower grades. Next to the sawmill, Oregon Timber's planer mill has some two dozen workers, and its veneer mill has over 100 workers who use precisions machines to peel off strips 1/36 of an inch thick from top-grade maple, beech, and birch. <p align="right"><a href="pictured_rocks_munising_au_train.html" target="_top">Back to Pictured Rocks/Munising/Au Train</a></p> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="37%" valign="top"> <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 border=0> <tr> <td height="4" width="37%">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=1 alt="-"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center" bgcolor="#C7302D" width="37%">  <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" color="#FFFFFF"> <b> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> <font size="-1"> MUNISING<br> RESTAURANTS,<br> LODGINGS<br> & CAMPGROUNDS </font> <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=6 alt="-"><br> <font size="-2">These are our choices, not ads.</font><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> </b> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign=top bgcolor="#FFE09B" width="37%">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>MUNISING<br>RESTAURANTS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> Munising suffers from a cyclical demand for restaurant fare --- too few customers to sustain many restaurants year-round, and too many people wanting food at certain limited times, making for slow service. Buffets at Sydney's and Dogpatch are one answer. Another is sandwiches at Subway on M-28 downtown, and currently next door at Falling Rock Café. Note: the premiere destination restaurant in the area --- one of the best in the Upper Peninsula --- is the Brownstone Inn in Au Train. <br><br>See also: <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/shingleton.html" target="_top">Shingleton</a>, <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/au_train.html" target="_top">Au Train</a>, Lakes area.<br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> <a name="e487"><b>FALLING ROCK CAFE AND BOOKSTORE</b></a><br> (906) 387-3008 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> Sandwiches ($6.50) are made fresh to order with bread, bagels, and meats and cheeses from Marquette's <b>New York Deli</b>, where Don Curto successfully pursued his vision of bringing a real New York Deli, with genuine boiled bagels, sourdough rye bread, and acceptable corned beef, to the Upper Peninsula. New York Deli also supplies the soups ($3.50 a bowl). Hot dogs and bratwurst round out the menu. The old-fashioned soda fountain here is the social hub. It serves Jilbert's ice cream cones and <b>espresso, cappuccino, lattés</b>, and other coffee drinks, plus regular coffee for a dollar a cup. For more about Falling Rock, see the downtown point of interest. Customers can play <b>board games</b>, bring their laptops to use the <b>free high-speed wireless Internet</b>, and relax and read on several sofas. Year-round <b>concerts</b> (donation requested) are Saturday nights at 7. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>104 East Munising/M-28 downtown, just east of Elm. (906) 387-3008. Open daily year-round. Summer hours (from about Mem. Day thru Labor Day: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., except Sun from 9 a.m.. Fall through spring hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-10. tWheelchair accessible. </i> <p> <a name="e490"><b>DOGPATCH</b></a><br> (906) 387-9948 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> Dogpatch has been a year-round visitor favorite for decades, especially with snowmobilers. Some locals say the food is usually consistent, but it's possible to have a disappointing meal. Still, this is a place with a full menu and a pleasant atmosphere where you can get a drink with your meal. The 26-item soup and salad bar is another plus. There's fresh fish and homemade fruit cobblers. There's not much for vegetarians except the salad bar. (The <b>Dogpatch/L'il Abner theme</b> goes back to the hillbilly comic strip, scripted and drawn by Al Capp from 1934 to 1977. Capp himself was Jewish. For old strips and satisfying background on L'il Abner, Sadie Hawkins, and their creator, visit <a target="_top" href="http://www.lil-abner.com">www.lil-abner.com</a>.) <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>On Superior at M-28 in downtown Munising. Generally open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in season. Closes in April. Call for off-season hours. Handicap accessible. Family friendly. Full bar.</i> <p> <a name="e491"><b>SYDNEY'S and the SHARK BAR</b></a><br> (906) 387-4067 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> Local people and repeat visitors appreciate Sydney's for its consistent food, excellent fresh whitefish and lake trout, <u>good service</u>— and because it's always open, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 365 days a year. Another plus: no smoking in the dining room, only the bar. There's a <b>full menu</b>, with steaks for dinner and prime rib Saturday night, and a lunch menu with sandwiches and homemade soups available all the time. Among various burgers is a menu item hardly ever seen in the U.P.: the heart-smart <b>cherryburger</b> ($6.25 with choice of potato) made with Plevalean, about 30% cherry hamburger, the invention of butcher Ray Pleva in Cedar, Michigan, a neighbor to Leelanau County's cherry orchards. <br> Owner Peggy Cromell insisted on pinboned fish when she opened, and eventually the local fishery bought their own pinbone machine to get her big fish business, so now Sydney's --- and every other restaurant in town --- can get really fresh fish, locally caught. <b>Fresh lake trout or whitefish</b> on a lunch plate with fries, a cup of soup, and slaw is $8 in 2005; a larger portion at dinner with potato and an all-you-care-to-eat salad bar is $12, <b>fresh perch</b> is $14. (The soup and salad bar alone is $7.) Vacationers in a hurry like the <b>breakfast and dinner buffets in summer.</b> Breakfast is $7 with coffee, dinner is $14 to $16, depending on that day's entrees. (For children 6 to 12 it's half off, 5 and under free.) <b>BBQ pork ribs</b> on Thursday, the <b>Friday seafood spectacular</b> (all three local fish plus crab legs and other seafood), and <b>Saturday's prime rib</b> increase the cost. Every day's buffet brings a chicken, fish, and beef entrée, plus vegetarian lasagna. <b>Children</b> can get a small portion of most <b>any menu item</b> --- a big plus for parents who don't want their kids to survive on fried chicken strips and French fries. Year-round there's a local kaffee klatsch at and after breakfast. The $7 "Bonser special" is big --- three eggs, two strips of bacon, 2 sausage links, hash browns, and juice. Peggy has never been to Australia --- she's born and bred in Munising --- but she has always liked kangaroos and wanted to have fun with something different when she opened Sydney's in 1993. Her latest fun thing: a 20-egg omelet challenge, free to anyone who can eat the whole thing. To oblige her local regulars and guests at the Day's Inn next door, Sydney's never closes. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>On M-28 just south of Day's Inn in <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_central_munising.html" target="_top">central Munising</a>. (906) 387-4067. Opens at 6 a.m. always. Dining room closes at 10 or 11 p.m. in summer, at 9 p.m. otherwise. Limited menu available at bar almost until closing. Kitchen open until 9:30 p.m. or so in off season, to 1 a.m. in summer. Very family-friendly. Wheelchair-accessible. Full bar.</i> <p> <a name="e488"><b>COUNTRY CONNECTION</b></a><br> (906) 387-4839 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> People who ordinarily wouldn't set foot in an old-fashioned bar such as the<b> </b>Country Connection<b> </b>rave about the pasties ($4.50 with slaw or gravy) and 1/3 pound burgers ($2.75). The home-cooked food here is eclipsing the alcohol, anyway. "We're progressing it into a restaurant," says Phyllis Brock. Country Connection still is a bar, and it's one big space, so expect some smoke. She owns the downtown spot, originally a roller rink, with her husband, Chum. Breakfast is served any time if it's not too busy. Lunch brings soup, specials ($5 to $6), fried chicken baskets ($6 for 3 pieces). For dinner there's whitefish, fried or broiled ($9) and ribeye steaks ($10.50). Dinners come with soup, salad, and potato. Friday fish fry ($8-$9.75) brings out the salad bar, too. There's an outdoor <b>patio</b>. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>208 East Superior between Maple and Birch, 2 blocks west of the strip. Kitchen open Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-closing, Sun noon-closing. Handicap accessible. Family friendly except for smoke. Full bar.</i> <p> <a name="e489"><b>GOLDEN HEART RESTAURANT</b></a><br> (906) 387-5445 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> Golden Heart is mostly Chinese with 17 Thai dishes. The locally popular dishes here like sesame chicken are often breaded and deep-fried, then served in sweet and sour sauce. But there are healthier choices, still a bit heavy on the oil, like cashew dishes with snow peas or Chinese vegetable dishes. For kids who are picky eaters, there are egg rolls and chicken rice soup. Lunch dishes are $6 to $7, dinner dishes from $9 to $14. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>Downtown at 202 East Superior at Maple, across from Main Street Pizza and a block south of Subway. Open daily year-round. Mon-Sat 11-9. From spring thru fall, open Sundays from noon to 8. In winter, open Sun 4-8. Handicap accessible: tight quarters but only one step. Family friendly. No alcohol. </i> <p> <a name="e492"><b>CHERRYWOOD LODGE</b></a><br> (906) 387-5400 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> Up the hill in Wetmore, three miles east of Munising on M-28, the Cherrywood is part of the Best Western motel complex. It has a pleasant, history-minded atmosphere, ample natural light, and a varied menu in its dining room with fireplace and in its lounge. Same food, prices and owner as Dogpatch downtown. Smoking in lounge only. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>On M-28 three miles east of town in Wetmore. It's open seasonally, usually from summer through color season, and again in snowmobile season. Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on winter weekdays, later on weekends. In summer it's closed for lunch, open 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 5 to 9 for dinner. Call to confirm hour. Handicap accessible. Full bar. </i> <p> </font> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#CDCCAD" valign="top"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>MUNISING<br>LODGINGS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> The sprawling commercial strip of busy M-28 is at the east edge of the compact little town of Munising. Motels on the strip are within easy walking distance of the waterfront park and downtown, but in an environment dominated by vehicles and truck noise. High season rates typically apply in Munising from July through fall color season (usually early October) and in snowmobile season (mid-December through February and into March). Motels are arranged from north (in-town and closer to <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a>) to south. Two large new motels open in 2005: an AmericInn next to Pamida on M-28, three miles south of Munising, and a Holiday Inn Express several miles west of town on M-28. <br><br>See also: <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/au_train.html" target="_top">Au Train</a>, Inland Lakes area, <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/marquette.html" target="_top">Marquette</a> (for Seacoast at Sand River, halfway between Marquette and Munising.)<br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> <a name="e1417"><b>COMFORT INN</b></a><br> (906) 387-5292; comfortinnmunising.com <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> This 61-room motel, owned by the same people as Days Inn in town, has an attractive pool room with hot tub set up so adults ! can socialize. The continental breakfast includes waffles, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh fruit. There's in-room coffee and wi-fi internet. Mini-fridges and microwaves to rent. McQuiston Park, used by many local families, joggers, and walkers, is just 1 ½ blocks away. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>M-28 in Wetmore, south on M-94, up the hill from Alger Falls. Some rooms wheelchair-accessible. Children18 and free with parents. Pets: $10 in designated rooms.</i> <p> <a name="e493"><b>DAYS INN</b></a><br> (906) 387-2493 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> This large (66-room, 2-story) motel, on the town side of busy M-28, has a kidney-shaped <b>indoor pool</b> of 30 feet or so, plus whirlpool and sauna, in a pleasant, sunny pool room. Large rooms with contemporary decor have many bed combinations. Rates for two people in a standard room in high season (summer and snowmobile season) $70 (one bed) and $99 (two beds). In off seasons a double room is $65. Next to Sydney's restaurant. Being within walking distance to town and Bayshore Park is a big advantage. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>Across from Glen's supermarket. M-28 on the strip, 4 blocks southeast of downtown. Rear faces Cedar St. Handicap accessible: several rooms. Families: 18 & under free. Dogs: pets in smoking rooms, 2 non-smoking rooms. Call ahead.</i> <p> <a name="e1411"><b>HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LAKEVIEW</b></a><br> (906) 387-4800; hiexpressmunising.com <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> On a bluff overlooking Grand Island and Munising Bay, this luxurious, smoke-free newer hotel was built to take maximum advantage of its fine view and the bay's often lovely light effects. Towards sunset, the low sun glints on the westernmost sandstone cliffs of the Pictured Rocks. The bay view is shared by the lobby's common area/breakfast room, by the attractive pool room, and by nearly half of the hotel rooms, including 4 of the 6 suites. Some outdoor tables and chairs are in the back. (For walkers and joggers, it's less than ¼ mile along M-28 to the residential West Shore Drive.) It's a mile to the Bay Furnace beach at Bay Furnace and the Kewadin Casino at Christmas. <br>All rooms have in-room coffee, microwaves, and mini-fridges. Wi-fi internet throughout, and a guest computer. Varied room configurations. Some king rooms have a pullout sofa. Summer non-weekend, non-holiday rates for 2 queens on the hill side are $149 for up to 4 people, or $169 on the lake side. Other seasons cost less. Points of pride for the staff are the custom sauna, the regional-flavored gift shop, and the outstanding free breakfast bar with Holiday Inn cinnamon rolls, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy and biscuits, and more. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>E-8890 M-28 by West Shore Dr. 2 miles west of Munising, 2.4 miles east of Christmas. Children: rates by room, not person. Pets: $25/day in designated first-floor rooms. 2 ADA accessible rooms, 4 with grab bars.</i> <p> <a name="e494"><b>TERRACE MOTEL</b></a><br> (906) 387-2735; www.exploringthenorth.com/terrace/terr <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> This older motel is in a quiet residential neighborhood 2 blocks from M-28 and 9 blocks to downtown. Some of its 18 rooms open onto each other for family use. Wireless internet thoughout. The game room has a kitchen, pool table, air hockey, and darts, all free. There's also a sauna. Snowmobilers can use a heated garage for repairs; the trail starts here at the parking lot. Current winter and summer room rates: $50 and $55. Off-season: $40 and $45. 10 rooms are no smoking and no pets. <i> March, 2008 </i> <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>420 Prospect. From M-28, turn south (up hill) onto Brook at the Citgo station, then right on Prospect. Handicap access: call. Children: rates by the room. Small and medium-size dogs OK in smoking rooms. $3 extra.</i> <p> <a name="e495"><b>SUNSET MOTEL</b></a><br> (906) 387-4574; sunsetmotelonthebay.com <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> This 2-story motel enjoys a beautiful setting. There's a gorgeous view across Munising Bay, with nice light<br>effects at dusk. The motel has a dock, seawall, small beach, and playground. Of 17 rooms, 5 stay open all year. 6 have kitchens ($4-$9 extra). All have phones, mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers. Rooms have extended cable TV and wi-fi internet. Over half are knotty pine. Some have air-conditioning, but being right on the water, less often needed. Current non-holiday rates from mid-June to Labor Day: 2 people with one king $76. 2 queens $80. Two 3-bedroom rental houses are open year-round. Call for rates. The winter clientele here is more skiers at Valley Spur than<br>snowmobilers. Lower winter rates. Book early for summer — some dates fill in March. No smoking. <i> March, 2008</i> <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>1315 Bay just north off East Munising Ave. about 1 1/2 miles east of town. Open year-round. Handicap access: call. Children: 12 free. $4/extra person. One dog per room in 4 rooms. $10 one-time extra charge.</i> <p> <a name="e496"><b>BEST WESTERN MUNISING</b></a><br> (906) 387-4864 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> The area's only full-service motel, 80 units, sits back from M-28 three miles out of town up the hill in Wetmore. The restaurant is open in summer and again in snowmobile season. When it's closed, a free continental plus breakfast is provided. The large lawn has a <b>playground</b>, <b>outdoor pool</b>, and <b>picnic area</b> with BBQ. In the rear is a large, very pleasant <b>indoor pool</b> with big windows, now connected with each lodging building. <b>High-speed Internet </b>is now available in common areas and some rooms. Rates for a standard double: $79 to $89 (midweek and non-holiday weekend) in summer, $99 and up in snowmobile season. Deluxe room with microwave, refrigerator, freezer, lounger: $89 to $99 for summer, excluding holidays. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>Three miles east of town on M-28. Three units ADA accessible. Families: rates by the room up to 5-person limit. Dogs welcome. </i> <p> </font> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#B6DBA4" valign="top"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>MUNISING<br>CAMPGROUNDS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> See also: <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/au_train.html" target="_top">Au Train</a>, <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/christmas.html" target="_top">Christmas</a>, Inland Lakes area in this chapter. For campgrounds in and near the east end of Pictured Rocks, look under <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/grand_marais.html" target="_top">Grand Marais</a> in the "<a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/tahquamenon___seney__grand_marais___whitefish_point.html" target="_top">Tahquamenon & Seney, Grand Marais & Whitefish Point</a>" chapter. <br><br> Most camping in the <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_pictured_rocks_national_lakeshore.html" target="_top">Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore</a> is closer to the Grand Marais end and therefore found under Grand Marais in the "Tahquamenon & Seney, Grand Marais & Whitefish Point" chapter. Handouts on those rustic campgrounds can be had at the Visitor Center. Not far to the south of the National Lakeshore are several attractive rustic campgrounds of the <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/munising_lake_superior.html" target="_top">Lake Superior</a> State Forest, usually with excellent privacy between sites. For them also see Grand Marais camping. Good bets for finding a campsite when other campgrounds are full: Island Lake and Widewaters, two inland campgrounds south of Munising in the Hiawatha National Forest. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> <a name="e498"><b>WANDERING WHEELS CAMPGROUND</b></a><br> (906) 387-3315 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> This 89-site private campground scores high for a wooded setting and pleasant atmosphere. It has many kinds of sites, from various hookup combinations to none at all and sites for tents. Hot showers. Laundry. Grocery store. Group sites for tents. Lots of extras include heated pool, rec hall, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, badminton, and (for a fee) minigolf. Reservations recommended. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>On M-28, 3 1/2 miles east of Munising. Open May thru mid-Oct. Handicap accessible: call. </i> <p> <a name="e497"><b>LITTLE BEAVER LAKE CAMPGROUND/ PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE</b></a><br> (906) 387-3700; <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> not reservable<br>8 rustic campsites on the shore of Little Beaver Lake are closer together than the other two National Lakeshore campgrounds. Because this campground is so small and so well located, it is the most likely to be full. Have some backup campgrounds in mind. On the beautiful <b>White Pine Trail</b>, with interpretive signs, around the lake. Good location for day hikes. The road down to the campground is so steep, big RVs can't make it back up. <i>About 20 miles east of Munising on H-58, then 3 miles north on Little Beaver Lake Rd. $10/night. Open from May 10 thru Oct. 31. </i>Handicap accessible: <i>1 site.</i> <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>About 20 miles east of Munising on H-58, then 3 miles north on Little Beaver Lake Rd. $10/night. Open from May 10 thru Oct. 31. Handicap accessible: 1 site.</i> <p> <a name="e499"><b>BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING ALONG PICTURED ROCKS' NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL</b></a><br> <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> Permits required from the Visitor Center; (906) 387-3700<br>13 dispersed primitive campsites, to be used by hikers and kayakers, are along this popular trail. Most are at stream mouths or near lakes. Mosquito River, Chapel Beach, and Beaver Creek campsites are below the bluff, near beaches. Several designated <b>backcountry campsites</b> are along the way. If you<b> get a permit</b>, you can line up a campsite. They are <b>available by reservation</b> by mail or fax only from the Munising Visitor Center at (906) 387-3700. Reservations must be made at least two weeks before your trip. Group campsites are in greatest demand and get reserved first. For 2006 reservations may be handled through the national reservation system for national parks and forests. Cost: $15/permit (up to 14 nights) for groups up to 6; $30 for groups from 7 to 20. All that's provided is a fire ring and bear poles from which food must be hung. Leave-no-trace camping practices should be observed, and backpacking stoves instead of fires are encouraged. <p> </font> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 align="center">  <br> <center> <font size="+1" color="#454545" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica">Copyright © 1997-2007 Midwestern Guides</font> </center> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>