This Is The Most Hospitable Town In Michigan

The nature-based communities of the Upper Peninsula exude extra gratitude and warmth to all who are willing to make the effort to get there, and Munising is a prime example. This hub of the U.P. hosts adventurous events each season and daily tours of the surrounding scenery. It also encourages visitors to hunker down in town thanks to plenty of well-patronized watering holes and inventive eateries. Munising won't knock your socks off aesthetically from the get go. Rather, it will gradually win you over as you sink into your waterfront hotel and launch into the endless peripheral wilderness. This is why Munising is the most hospitable town in Michigan.

Getting Settled

Getting to Munising is a bit of a slog. You're looking at about a six-hour drive north from Detroit or Chicago, or seven over from Minneapolis. So you'll get more bang for your buck if you can hole up in Munising for at least a few days.

There are several motels on Munising's south end, and a couple of higher-end hotels on the road out to the Grand Island Ferry on M-28. The bluff-top Holiday Inn Express, in particular, enjoys exceptional views of Lake Superior's South Bay and Murray Bay, as well as Grand Island itself. We'll visit it shortly.

When I came up for the Grand Island Marathon, all of Munising's accommodations had sold out, but I was able to find an affordable alternative in the quirky neighboring town of Christmas. Additional motels and B&Bs can also be found on the east side of Munising/South Bay, near the Alger County Heritage Center and Munising Falls Visitor Center. The best option will depend on your budget, but also what your top priority is, i.e. in-town meanders and waterbound tours in the center, a Grand Island excursion to the west, or hiking the nature trails of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to the east.

Exploring the Hospitable Town

Munising Avenue along M-28 can look a little generic at first. But stick with it, and the town's unique and friendly personality emerges. Falling Rock Cafe & Bookstore, recognizable by its building-sized mural out front, not only delivers on its two-fold promise, but hosts live music events and features rotating local artists. Those events include communal folk circles. Opposite the intersection, the thick red-brick facade of the Pictured Rocks Interpretive Center is likely to beckon an informative peruse and souvenir hunt.

From this commercial focal point, a number of sought-after street food vendors can be seen. Slightly east is the VanLandschoot Fish and Chips truck, and a block apart to the west are dual taco joints. Just don't wait until you're famished to swing by, as long lines are not uncommon. It's a good opportunity to meet locals, at least.

Michigan towns dependably produce craft breweries that are great for hanging out at. Munising is no exception. This place has three, all on the same block. Birch Street's ByGeorge Brewing Co. sports a rooftop patio and a near-perfect review, while Maple Street hosts two versions of East Channel Brewing Co. The original location is a homely pub with wood-fired pizza, while the newer installment offers a large outdoor space fit for larger events and everyday games.

Whichever establishments you're drawn to around town, you will undoubtedly encounter a few life-sized Bigfoot statues, so to speak. Hinting at the lore of the U.P.'s wilderness, these Bigfoots make for fun photo-ops, whether you call them Bigfeet or Bigfootses.

Diving Into Nature

The town of Munising alone is highly hospitable, but the surrounding land and waterscapes are every bit as welcoming. Thanks to scenic cruises, kayak tours, island ferries, and well-marked, well-connected nature trails, Munising fosters outdoor recreation for all seasons, abilities, and preferences.

If you had to pick one unforgettable experience in nature, it would have to be the Pictured Rocks Kayaking tour. There's no better way to get right up close to the mineral-stained sandstone cliffs and sea arches that stretch for miles to Munising's east. Whether you opt for the Miners Castle, Spray Falls, or the Ultimate Kayak iterations, you'll be transported by a seasoned captain and led in small groups by personable guides.

Another gratifying way to cover some of this 42-mile shoreline is by hiking to the waterfalls and lookouts that litter the lands above. The quintessential circuit is Chapel Loop. Starting 19 miles east of town, this 10.5-mile round-trip hike connects Chapel Falls and Beach with Mosquito Falls and Beach, while providing high-angle views of some of the most recognizable landmarks along the national lakeshore.

Bringing the action back to Munising, Grand Island is an ever-present possibility for those seeking an accessible, but minimally-developed wilderness experience. Separated from Munising's mainland by just a five-minute ferry ride, day-trippers can enjoy the perimeter trails leading out from Williams Landing, while backcountry campers can have their pick of several sites spread all across this national recreation area.

Community Events

Munising's casual visitors will feel at home during any of the fair-weather months, but for the more adventurous types, there is no bad time to visit. There are too many community events to reasonably list, but here are a few key ones to aim for. The Munising Farmers' & Artisans' Market runs every Monday evening, mid-June through mid-October, at Binsfeld Bayshore Park. The following night, mid-June through August, Munising's Concert in the Park takes over the same location.

Athletes in the area have their pick of June's Pictured Rocks Road Race, July's Grand Island Marathon, Labor Day's Mountain Goat Mash Mountain Bike Race, and February's Michigan Ice Fest, the oldest organized ice-climbing festival in the country.

As for big annual bashes, June's Pictured Rocks Days and September's Munising Bay Cruisers Classic Car Show are bona fide crowd pleasers. If you're open to driving out to Pictured Rocks' eastern terminus town, August's Grand Marais Music & Crafts Festival is another.

Hospitable Neighbors

Grand Marais

Speaking of Grand Marais, this humble community makes for another hospitable U.P. stopover, just 60 miles east of Munising. Not only does Grand Marais open up more of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, namely, the Grand Sable Dunes, but it provides a timeless base to hole up for an evening or more. A small cluster of hotels around sheltered West Bay complement classic cabin rentals. Before heading off for the day's adventures, drop by The Dream Bean for some Michigan-famous pasties alongside your caffeine fix. Then, in the evening, pull up a stool at The Dunes Saloon if you can find a free one. It's home to the Lake Superior Brewing Co.

Marquette

Forty miles west of Munising, road-trippers will find the biggest city on the Upper Peninsula, which isn't saying much. It's also one of its most hospitable. Marquette is a cool college town eager to entertain any day of the week. But like Munising and Grand Marais before it, it is the infusion of nature that seals the deal. Put on your best plaid shirt and drop by Blackrocks Brewery for some live music and convivial chit-chat, float down Washington Street for an array of shops and restaurants within a historic setting, or embrace the gentle coves and easy-going trails at Presque Isle Park.

Wild & Hospitable

Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a perpetual paradox. It is isolated, yet inviting, minimally-populated, yet communal at every turn, and dominated by wilderness, yet safe and accessible. There are many hospitable towns to choose from in these upper reaches of the state, but look no further than Munising for unmatched hospitality. You may experience this hospitality in the form of a jovial tour guide, in the throes of an annual festival, while in the queue for a tasty taco or craft beer, or in the quiet embrace of nature. How it manifests is up to you, but that it will manifest is a Munising certainty.