Cold with Snow on the Upper Peninsula

Tuesday, May 19, 2015--Upper Peninsula of Michigan

We headed across the Mackinac Bridge after breakfast this morning.  Not long afterward, snow started falling.  Of and on all day there was snow with strong, cold wind. 

We drove along the southern coast as far as Manistique.  Then we headed northward passing by Curtis and taking Michigan Highway 123, a scenic route through the woods to the coast of Lake Superior.  Then we arrived in Sault Ste. Marie in the late afternoon--still with snow and cold wind.  (Before Alaska joined the union, Sault Ste. Marie was often named as the coldest city in the U.S., especially in the winter.)

We forced ourselves to get out and drive around the city.  We stopped to see the Soo Locks where the large ships pass through changing levels as they go from Lake Huron into Lake Superior.  We drove around the downtown area, and we explored the campus of Lake Superior State University which is housed on the grounds of an old fort.  But Sault Ste. Marie has little worth seeing.  It is a rather poor city that is depressing to see.

We crossed the International Bridge to visit the other Sault Ste. Marie--the one in Ontario in Canada.  It is a much nicer city--bigger, wealthier, more progressive, etc.  We spent maybe 1 1/2 hours over there exploring.  Then we headed back.

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan may be a nice place to explore during warm weather, but the cold weather today did not aid in enjoying the lake side beaches and the small tourist towns that are built around the lakes (both the Great Lakes and the many small lakes).