In this week's installment of U.P. Mondays, I will be discussing the community of Munising, Michigan located in Alger County. Munising has a population of roughly 2,500 people and is situated along the southern shore of Lake Superior. In fact, Munising Bay in which the city is located along, is actually the southern most point of the entire Lake Superior basin, which is actually a pretty cool fact. In my own personal view, Munising is probably one of the most picturesque communities in the Upper Peninsula and it has so many opportunities to capture the beauty it presents. Within short driving distances, there is a lot to see here and it's a location worth spending a few days at.
Munising is the largest community in Alger County and is the seat of the county. It's also home to the county's largest employers, which are Neenah Paper and the Alger County Correctional Facility. Munising is also home to a school facility built in 1980 situated along the lake shore, something that is certainly rare to find (it would be easy to day dream while looking out at the lake). And not surprisingly, it's also very big on the tourism industry. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is just a short drive up the road from Munising, which is a national gem all its own. Boasting a variety of waterfalls and walking trails, Pictured Rocks is a naturist's dream. And with the expected completion of a paved Alger County H-58 from Munising to Grand Marais, the Lakeshore will be even more vehicle-friendly by the end of this fall.
Snowmobiling is also huge in and around the city of Munising. With the close proximity to Lake Superior and with persistent Northwest winds in the winter, lake effect snow is aplenty. And with miles and miles of groomed trails throughout Alger County, it's easy to spend a few days to a week exploring the rugged wintry terrain that Alger County has to offer. There are several hotels located right within the Munising city limits, so a snowmobiler can stay right there in the city limits and ride out to the trails. They can also enjoy the small town life of Munising and explore the variety of shops, bars, and restaurants. The Dogpatch restaurant located along Superior Street and M-28 has become famous not only in the snowmobiling world, but in general, too.
And what's a city along a lake without enjoying the pleasure of being on a boat? The city has a large marina and boat launch for a variety of sized boats. The glass bottom boat tours run out of the harbor and provide views of sunken ships located throughout Munising Bay. I haven't taken the tour myself, but from what I understand the bottom of the boat is glass so that you're able to view the shipwrecks with ease. In addition, the Pictured Rocks Boat Tour takes a cruise along the rock formations of Pictured Rocks. It's a three hour tour and it is definitely worth while. These are just a few of the bigger attractions - there really is so much more!
So if you're looking for a location in the Upper Peninsula with a lot to do year-round, be sure to consider Munising. It truly offers a lot and you'll be sure to be impressed with the small town, friendly atmosphere that the locals provide. For additional information on the community, be sure the check out the websites provided below.
Munising Visitors Bureau Inc.Pictured Rocks Cruises Inc.Shipwreck Tours: Munising Mi Glass Bottom Boat ToursAlger County Chamber of Commerce
It was about a month ago when Kid Rock made a visit to the Upper Peninsula to film a majority of the video for his latest single "Born Free." The filming took place within Alger County, specifically along the Lake Superior shore and at Pictured Rocks. As you watch the video, you'll see views of Miner's Castle, Miner's Beach, Murray's Bar on Grand Island, the Sand Bar with the flag at Sand Point, and the shots of Kid Rock riding a motorcycle are along H-58 between Munising and Grand Marais. Also the shots in the field are from near Chatham. I grew up within Alger County so to see something like this is pretty awesome. I know that Kid Rock loves the state of Michigan (he grew up near Detroit), so it's especially nice to see him showcase the U.P. I know when news broke last month about Kid Rock's short arrival to Alger County to film the video of "Born Free," it was a big deal. And as you can see, we all know why. 
