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You probably don’t hear “Michigan” and think “waterfalls,” but Michigan has some gorgeous waterfalls! They are all in the Upper Peninsula (UP) and located in beautiful state parks. Make a weekend of it and explore all of them!
Upper Tahquamenon Falls
The Upper Tahquamenon Falls in Luce County Michigan are the second largest falls east of the Mississippi. (Niagara Falls is the largest.) At 200 feet wide and 50 feet tall, the falls are quite a sight! The tanins from cedar and hemlocks swamps have turned the water an amber brown, which has given Tahquamenon Falls the nickname “Rootbeer Falls.”
Munising Falls
Munising Falls, in Munising, up in the Upper Peninsula, are 50 feet tall! Once you hike to the top there are two viewing platforms with terrific views of the falls.
Bridal Veil Falls
One look at Bridal Veil Falls in Pictured Rock National Lakeshore and you will see where its name comes from. Cascading down the face of Pictured Rock, the falls are best viewed from the water.
Rock River Falls
Rock River Falls in Hiawatha State Park, is one of the most secluded falls in all of Michigan. The location is not easy to find, but worth it once you get there!
Miners Fall
Miners Fall is 50 feet high at the end of a short half-mile trail. If you’re up for it, there are stairs leading to an overlook with a spectacular view of the falls.
Hard to believe this natural beauty can be found in the Midwest! We spent some time years ago in the upper peninsula, in Munising, and had no idea so many falls were as close as they were! We were planning another trip up that way last summer, but our disastrous trip to Nashville was such a bust I canceled our hotel while we were on our way home from Nashville, lol! I think I may need to plan another trip for this summer because these falls are gorgeous!
Travel Tips & Tricks
- Do you need a passport? It’s kind of important! US residents can check out this article on obtaining (or renewing) a passport.
- The best travel advice I have ever received is “take half as much clothing, twice as much money.” Ain’t that the truth?! I am a chronic over-packer and adhering to this has been a challenge. I was able to pull it off on our last vacation, which was great because then I had room for all of the stuff I bought with the “twice as much money” part of this equation. <heh heh>
- The second best travel advice I have ever received is that if you are traveling with a group or another couple, build in downtime for yourself or you and your spouse. Too much “together” can take its toll. Nothing says that because you are vacationing together you have to do everything together. If you’re a foodie and your friends are not, go out to dinner with your partner. If you want to read and they want to rent wave runners, stay behind and read. This is your vacation, so make it one you have the best time possible during.
- Airlines have cracked down on luggage sizes and weights, and the fee for an overweight bag can be astronomical. If your luggage is older, consider upgrading to a set that is guaranteed to be the correct size for carryons and is also lightweight. I bought this Travelhouse 3-piece luggage set for my daughter’s recent vacation. The largest piece weighs just 9 pounds, it has spinner wheels and a TSA approved lock. It also comes in several colors, which is my third tip: If you’re purchasing new luggage, consider luggage that is a color or pattern – in other words, not black! It will be so much easier to spot your bag on the luggage carousel. This is especially handy when traveling with kids whose luggage you also need to find. No one wants to hang out at the airport checking every black bag that passes by! Is that it…no…is that it…no…I think that’s it…nope. A new luggage set can solve a lot of headaches, for a pretty reasonable price!
- Take comfy shoes, even if you think you won’t do a lot of walking. You never know what adventures will pop up and buying shoes you already have at home is an expense that is easy to avoid.
- Save on hotel stays by choosing hotel groups, such as Intercontinental Hotels, that regularly offer deals and discounts.
You can read all about our recent travel adventures here:
Toronto Time: A Weekend in the City
Daytona Beach: Three Weeks in the Florida Sun
Nashville: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
And also some of our “travel dreaming” posts here:
Our Comprehensive Guide to Fiji: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know Before You Go To Fiji
Five Amazing Waterfalls You Won’t Believe Are In Michigan
I Dream of Iceland: 10 Things to See and Do on Your Dream Vacation
Still need more inspiration? Our Wanderlust board on Pinterest has over 1,000 inspirational pins!
Allison
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