Grand Marais Michigan: Nature In Abundance

 Look no further for a great travel destination than Grand Marais, Michigan: Nature in Abundance!

Sunset over Lake Superior in Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

Beautiful sand dune landscape from Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

Marquette, MI – Grand Marais is a little nook on the southern shores of Lake Superior; a little corner harbored from the fast paced city life that most of us live. Grand Marais is infinite in nature and beauty and the beaches stretch endlessly on both sides of the village. Whether you live in Marquette or you are just visiting the U.P., Grand Marais is a drive well worth the visit. It is the perfect weekend beach town, long lazy days with adventure at hand and the entire town within walking distance and just 100 miles from Marquette. 

Climbing sand dunes in Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

Grand Marais has a way of catering to all age groups and walks of life. It is family friendly, it is becoming a motorcycle mecca and it is perfect for backpackers and hikers. Grand Marais has long been known for being the eastern gateway to The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Sand dunes, water falls, inland lakes, the log slide, blueberry picking and the beautiful beaches bring people back year after year.

Grand Marais has also recently been chosen to be an official trail town of the North Country Trail (NCT). The NCT covers 4,600 miles, making it the longest hiking trail in the nation. It was chosen as one of the eight trail towns in Michigan because of “the friendly residents, ample services and support from the Chamber of Commerce and volunteers”. It is a magical town that replenishes you and makes you feel at home.

Blueberry picking in Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

The Grand Marais Outfitter’s provide bike, kayak, four wheeler and paddle board rentals (906-494-3333). There are several beach homes and cabins to rent (www.lakesuperiorvacationrentals.net), a lovely bed and breakfast (906-494-2990), motels to stay in and campgrounds to enjoy. You can find tennis and basketball courts, a baseball field, a large playground on the harbor and just a short drive to the school forest you can find one of the U.P.’s finest disc golf courses, Superior Pines Disc Golf (check it out on facebook).

Fireworks at the beach in Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

The community is full of great artists and good cooks. Grab a map of the local gift shops while you are there and see for yourself what beautiful creations come from the talented locals during the long winters. You can find everything from rock and mineral art, mermaid paintings, local jewelry, photography and pottery, just to name a few. Stop in for some food at The West Bay Diner, a part of the community for over 30 years, they offer homemade bread, pizza, monster cookies, berry pies along with the biggest most delicious vegetarian or meat filled omelets, sandwiches and fajitas.

Sand dunes in Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

It is also the only stop for espresso drinks and ice cream cones. The Lake Superior Brewing Company, or better known as The Dunes Saloon, is where you will find tasty micro-brewed beer and the best local whitefish; they have live music most summer weekends and recently expanded to offer outdoor seating for their beer garden.

Check out www.grandmaraismichigan.com to see the calendar of events for the upcoming summer activities. You will find contact information for beach house rentals, motels and a list of shops and restaurants. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Grand Marais Pilot and Pictured Rocks Review.

Grassy dunes from Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

Flowers in the forest from Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

Beach view from Grand Marais, Michigan. (photo by Sara Scaife)

by Candace Prill

Being raised in a small Michigan town has taught me many things; being one with nature, eating whole foods and living in a sustainable way are just a few. My family and I currently reside in Marquette, where we can grow a garden downtown, bike anywhere in the city and enjoy endless nature just outside of the city limits. In the past several years I have been lucky to be a part of researching, writing and teaching about whole living. You can find my monthly nutrition column “Healthier Living” in the Great Lakes Pilot that I have been writing for the past two years. You can also find my published geological research in “Agates: Inside Out” by Karen Brzys. My passion is to live and, teach to live, in a sustainable way, both nutritionally and environmentally. I look forward to sharing my articles on sustainable living here at Marquette Magazine.

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