Tahquamenon Falls State Park
This 50,000-acre state park in the east of the UP is densely covered in trees and home to one of the largest waterfalls in the United States, with a spectacular 50-foot drop. A four-mile hike through maples and beeches brings you to a second set of cascades; the park makes off-road track chairs available for wheelchair users to explore both falls.
Sault Ste. Marie
When the Soo Locks connecting Lakes Superior and Huron opened in 1855, wealth and industry came to the Upper Midwest. It’s still hypnotic to watch the massive ships traveling between the Atlantic and Minnesota rise and descend. The town itself is a pleasure to meander around, too, with a lively dining and arts scene.
Marquette
Marquette, the largest city on the peninsula, combines the charm of a college town with unparalleled access to Lake Superior and the surrounding wildlife. Miles of mountain bike trails wind around the outskirts of the city. The Marquette Maritime Museum and the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse, open during the summer months, display the fascinating history of sea travel on the world’s biggest freshwater lake.