East Coaster Blown Away By The U.P./Lake Superior

An East Coast traveler’s first visit to Michigan’s U.P. and Lake Superior stuns him, and social media responds with must-see spots.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula

I recall my first trip to the Upper Peninsula to visit my best friend Curt when he moved there when we were both in our 20s. It was my first time crossing the Mackinac Bridge, and I was in awe of its size and beauty. I purposely crossed in the daylight so I wouldn't miss a thing.

Heading west on U.S. 2 was a breathtaking experience, having the beautiful landscape of the U.P. on my right and a view of water from Lake Michigan on my left. I see why people enjoy living on major coastlines.

Not far into my trip, I felt so lucky to spot a moose and her calf feeding in a wetland. This was back before smartphones with cameras, so I pulled over and watched for a few minutes, drove away with a memory that has lasted for over 30 years.

It was several trips to the U.P. before I traveled the northern coastline, where Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located alongside Lake Superior. It felt as if I were in another country, even though I had lived in Michigan for years before discovering one of its most beautiful regions.

Read More: Must-Eat Foods That Define Michigan Flavor

I can only imagine how powerful this site must be for someone from another part of the United States visiting for the first time.

East Coaster In Awe Of Lake Superior’s Wild Beauty

A coworker sent me a link to Jay Kin's Journal on TikTok that showed his reaction to visiting the Upper Peninsula and seeing Lake Superior for the first time. Jay Kin, originally from the East Coast, says his visit to the Upper Peninsula was inspired by others sharing their experiences in the U.P..

See the 36-second video below with Jay Kin's genuine reaction to the beauty of Lake Superior.

Sometimes it takes someone who is not from where you live to remind you of how beautiful Michigan is. Kin's post sparked a few suggestions for other great places in the U.P. to visit, and I posted a few ideas below.

Marquette is a spectacular area to visit in the U.P.

I love that locals are sharing more great places to visit. I may even hit a few of these on my next visit.

Among the top suggestions were the legendary cinnamon rolls, which I’ve confirmed are as good as remembered.

Those are standards, but if you're visiting for the first time, this is a great list of food starters.

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There are several suggestions on places to visit in the Upper Peninsula on the TikTok thread. There’s still so much for me to see in Michigan that I don’t see any point in visiting anywhere else until I’ve explored everything the Great Lakes State has to offer.

👇BELOW: Shape of the Upper Peninsula👇