Exploring Michigan's Upper Peninsula - Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

In May 2011, a friend's daughter graduated in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. While making the five hour drive, my mind wandered to what explorations of this beautiful area of the State I may experience. Sault Ste. Marie is known for its beautiful coastline, Soo Locks, amazing community of artists and writers, and hidden treasures. Taking a trip here reminds me in many ways of my time in Santa Barbara, California, so for me summertime visits here are almost like coming home.

The beaches beckon you to visit, and inspire such a peacefulness and comfort while you do that it is very hard to leave them.

The art community abounds and several of the shops across the street from the Soo Locks feature local art work and the opportunity to watch local artists as they paint the beauty and elegance of the Upper Peninsula. The strand near the Locks is filled with breathtaking shops featuring everything one could dream of to commemorate their visit and the knowledge of the local residents regarding the history of the community is unparalleled. Simply asking anyone what they would recommend you see on your visit can result in the journey of a lifetime. I am fortunate to have a wonderful inside source for visiting the area, as a lifelong friend and her family are residents.

On this visit, the agenda included a trip to one of the best kept secrets in the area and a surprise view of an Indian Burial Ground just before our arrival. Tribe members sites are marked with an array of accoutrement and offerings as well as spirit houses. This particular Cemetery, just before the Dancing Crane, is closed to the public, for obvious reasons, but the view from outside the fence allows for an amazing view of the contents.

Tucked away on Lakeshore Drive, sits the Dancing Crane Coffeehouse, owned and operated by Jim and Cathy Leblanc. Looking at the outside of the log cabin structure, one may underestimate what lies within....a word of advice....don't be that one. The coffee is exceptional, the smoothies are absolutely amazing, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. It is one of the few times in recent memory that I have seen my daughter enthralled without any technological gadget involved. Who knew that sitting in a coffeehouse, playing card games could be so much fun?

After leaving the Dancing Crane, we continued our journey to Mission Hill Cemetery, which offered exceptional views overlooking the lake as well as the opportunity to take a trip through shipwreck history. The entire area is rich with Native American history and, as macabre as it may sound to include a trip to a cemetery in a vacation trip, to not would rob one of the beauty and reverence with which the local tribe hold members who have passed.

We ended our adventures for the day at the lake shore where the sunset was breathtaking, I could not have asked for a more perfect day.