Mackinac Island is accessible by plane or boat, except in the winter when the water freezes over connecting Mackinac with the mainland. There are no motorized vehicles on the island other than emergency or snowmobiles in the winter. Horses are the main mode of transportation.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is in the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan along Lake Superior. The area is known for it’s stunning colorful cliffs, hiking trails, boating and waterfalls.
Gurney is in northern Wisconsin near Lake Superior. Michael’s father, Jim, grew up here. Jim was born 25 miles away in Bessemer, Michigan where his dad worked in explosives for a copper mine. When the mines started to shut down, Jim’s dad moved his family to Gurney to farm. This was a fortuitous choice since they were self sufficient during the Great Depression.
Grand Portage is at the northern part of Minnesota almost to the Canadian Border along Lake Superior. It was once a fur trading hub for the British Empire. We had a very scenic but curvy drive from Voyageurs National Park.
