Jaymie Depew, communications and special project assistant, Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau

Since recently moving back to Munising, friends living in other areas have asked about my rural hometown and what makes it special. “I’ve only driven through it, what’s there to do?” or “I’ve been on a boat tour, but that’s it,” are the most common phrases I’ve heard.

While many folks have canceled or postponed trips this year due to COVID-19 concerns, more people are exploring nearby areas or what’s in their own backyards. With its centralized location, the Munising area is a short drive from many places in the U.P. Here are some ideas of what to do when adventuring in my stomping grounds this summer:

Stop by the Fuzzy Boyak Welcome Center

Along with being the Alger Co. Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership and Munising Downtown Development Authority, our office – located at 129 E. Munising Ave., Munising, is also a welcome center containing maps, guides, and business and area information.

Visit the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Sandwiched between Munising and Grand Marais is the gorgeous Pictured Rocks park along Lake Superior shoreline. If you haven’t yet, I’d suggest booking a tour of the rocks by boat or kayak as the multicolored cliffs and sandstone formations are best viewed by water. However, if you’re not a fan of the water, there are plenty of hiking options too.

Enjoy Over 20 Waterfalls

Waterfalls are found trickling off the Pictured Rocks cliffs, inland after hiking varying distances, and even running alongside M-28. Since many of the waterfalls are easy to get to – to name a few: Munising Falls, Wagner Falls and Miners Falls, you can visit a majority of them in one day.

Hike Gorgeous Trails

Popular hiking areas include the North Country Trail, which stretches the entirety of the Pictured Rocks park along the shoreline, Chapel and Beaver basins, Miners Castle area, Valley Spur, Bruno’s Run, Munising Mountain Bike Park, Grand Island National Recreation Area, and more. The Chapel Basin area consists of a 10-mile loop where you’ll discover the best parts of the park by land – including Chapel Rock, a famous landmark found on various postcards and in magazines, two waterfalls, lovely beaches, and deep forest. Miners Castle is a must stop as it’s only a short distance to both overlooks and is absolutely beautiful. It’s also adjacent to Miners Beach, where you can see the Pictured Rocks cliffs immediately to the east, and Miners Falls.

As Always, Support Local Businesses

This kind of goes without saying but it’s important to remember to support local businesses – always, but especially now. One of my favorite things about visiting any place is trying a new restaurant, checking out breweries, gift shops, stores, and so on. A list of those can be found on our website at www.algercountychamber.com.

Editor’s note: Jaymie Depew is the communications and special project assistant for the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau.