I'm headed out on a motorcycle trip with a dozen pals (I'm at Dark Horse - I run the maintenance department) and will be hitting a few stops. First, Wednesday evening Aug 6th will be Tahquahmenon Falls Brewery. I'm looking for a place to camp that allows BEER, of course. Most state parks don't allow it, in my experience. State forest campgrounds do. If anyone knows of a nice little hole of a campground, some state land or a private back field to crash on for the night in the brewery's area, please let me know. If you hook us up I will be glad to drag some DH brew your way as a thank you. We are taking a few days to head to Marquette, Eagle River to patronize Fitzgeralds, Copper Harbor, Iron Mountain, back down M2 and back home, hitting some of the breweries I haven't made it to yet. Thanks. Johnny Dirthill
Hit Petersons fish market I believe it's called near copper harbor. Best smoked fish ever and they sell out by like early afternoon. .
If you haven't already, be sure to make H-58 fom Grand Marais to Munising part of your trip. It is probably the best bike ride in the U.P.
Also you can pretty much drink at any State Park/Campground/Recreation Area in the UP. Here is the list of parks you can't possess alcohol in.
I drank plenty at the porkies a few weeks back. But not being able to drink at the campground derailed a trip to lower Michigan. I can't fathom NOT having a beer by the fire after a day of hiking and swimming. Also, Econo Foods in Houghton had some nice and unexpected treats when I was there in June.
Need to hit up @MarcatGSB for recommendations. In addition to being the purveyor of fine beer and spirits at the Fitz, he's a biker and camping kinda guy too. I know that you can camp on the beach near the Fitz. Looks like my man MarCat has been MIA on here. I believe that he frequents another place on the interwebs.
He is active on twitter..his handle is @marcatgsb The wife and I are doing the same...except riding to GR, up to TC, then up to eagle river in september
When you're up by Tahquamenon, hit up North Star Bakery. It's right on highway 123. Fantastic sourdough, and they love beer people. Also Brown's Fish House is a fantastic stop up there as well. You'll have your hands full in the Keweenaw with The Fitz and the breweries up there, as well as in Marquette with the three breweries in town. There's not much to speak of in Iron Mountain, unfortunately, but it's right on the WI border so you can pick up some New Glarus. If you come through Escanaba on the way back hit me up and we can grab a beer.
Petersons is about 45 miles south of Copper Harbor. It's in Hancock on Rt 41 just north of town. Agree the fresh and smoked fish is excellent. http://www.exploringthenorth.com/petersons/fish.html
Im not going to do a new thread, so I hope you dont mind @Dirthill if I use your thread to ask questions... I talked with the wife, and I may just go to TC and spend a day there (I can stay at GT resort for CHEAP), then head to Tahquahmenon Falls and stay there for a day or so..Nice to see a brewery there...Is there a place there recommended to stay? Im riding a motorcycle that I cannot carry much on, so no tents lol... Ill then ride to the Munising for the picture rocks and stay a day there.. Then maybe stop in Marquette before heading to eagle river...Now this is all up in the air as far as time goes as I only have a week vacation Would any of you Yoopers or people who frequent the U.P. recommend something different? thanks
IMO the beers at Tahquamenon are very mediocre, but the scenery definitely makes up for it. We just stayed at a little hotel near there (I think it was the Paradise Inn). Nothing fancy by any stretch but it was fine. There is a brewery in Munising, too - Shooters Firehouse Lounge. I guess they have a different brewer from when I had their beer so I can't speak to how it is. Otherwise it sounds like you have a solid plan.
When we leave Marquette, we are looking at having a little time to make a couple stops, besides the end destination. Maybe hit the bakery for some snackage between Newberry and Marquette. Not sure how much time we will have when in Marquette but I do like Black Rocks and Ore Dock. I'm stopping at Keweenaw for sure.
I'm not sensitive about that thread stuff. Ask away, deliver info, whatever you got. It's about a trip north so f*&k it! I don't know of anyplace near Taquah Falls, I'm looking for a place to stay as well, just somewhere in the dirt, no hotel! Yeah, limited time off, bummer!
I have been to the Taq Falls brewery before, but it was in '08. Yeah, the beers were a little weaker in punch than what I prefer but, all in all, it was cool. And yes, the location by FAR makes up for any shortcomings elsewhere. I saw Shooters, but we won't have time to stay, just pass through and head to Marquette. Thanks for all the info!
While on the Keweenaw, I'd also recommend you hit up the Jampot for some amazing baked goods or a jar or ten of thimbleberry jam from the monks. Its just up the road about three miles from the Fitz. You can take some neat pictures of the monastery the monks built too. It is amazing looking.
