Touring the Visual Brilliance of Michigan's Upper Peninsula

When the rigors of summer draw to a close, the relaxing ease of autumn quickly takes its place. Once the family trips and sunny stints by the sea have run their course, some may believe their yearly fun is all but over. What, then, can fill the void, left vacant by the depressing shift of summer's change?

Each year, tourists by the thousands flock to Michigan 's Upper Peninsula , hoping to catch the spectrum of amazing color, brought forth by the changing of the seasons, from summer into fall. Over 19 million acres of forest shimmer with the brilliance of golden, auburn and crimson hues. Coupled with the glistening reflection of the Great Lakes , the Upper Peninsula color tour remains a national tourist draw.

Between the late fall months, from September through November, the U.P. skyline is shrouded with a cloak of autumn's finest, most spectacular works of color. From Escanaba to Marquette , Newberry to Sault Ste. Marie, the Upper Peninsula color tour provides an easily traveled, scenic getaway, providing the wrath of Mother Nature is held at arms length. Though still brilliant, the high winds and heavy rain of early winter wreak havoc upon the autumn view.

Two of the most popular venues to view the autumn colors are the hilly curves of the M-123/M-28 corridor and at the peak of Marquette 's Sugarloaf Mountain . The M-123/M-28 corridor, encompassing the towns of St. Ignace, Newberry and Munising, provides a multitude of natural areas, roadside turnouts and on-road views, strategically sound in their color tour viewing accessibilities. Sugarloaf Mountain , one of Marquette 's truly magnificent attractions, is a massive, granite peak, overlooking the face of Lake Superior . If timed to perfection, as to follow up your color viewing, the advent of the nighttime sky from its granite peak is remarkable.

No color tour would be complete, however, without a stop at one of the Upper Peninsula 's most frequented tourist attractions. A few hour stop at the Tahquamenon Falls or the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a walk through Oswald's Bear Ranch, an informational visit to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum or a lunch stop at one of the area's many small, family-operated diners, can help turn a color tour into a spectacular day, or weekend, vacation.

If you're looking for more information on the Michigan Upper Peninsula color tour, or general information on the U.P. and its tourist attractions, lodging and cuisine, please check with the official State of Michigan tourism site, www.michigan.org .

-SOURCES-

State of Michigan Tourist Information Michigan.org

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, http://www.nps.gov/piro/index.htm

Tahquamenon Falls State Park , http://www.superiorsights.com/information/tahquamenonfalls

Oswald's Bear Ranch, http://www.superiorsights.com/oswaldsbearranch

Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum , http://www.shipwreckmuseum.com