10 Things Josh & Jase Should Do When They Come Back to Michigan This Summer
Like many of you, we closely followed along in January as British TikTok stars Josh & Jase paid a visit to Michigan and seemed to fall in love with our state in the process. During a surprise appearance last week at an event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Pure Michigan tourism campaign, Jase announced that the duo would be returning to the Great Lakes State this summer. We couldn’t help but wonder what kinds of places they will visit, but we started coming up with our own list of can’t-miss Michigan experiences we think they should add to their itinerary. For the purpose of this list, we’re leaving off some of the places they already visited (Mackinac Island, Grand Rapids) while there are a few other places we think they need to see when they aren’t covered in snow. Here’s Travel the Mitten’s 10 Things Josh & Jase Should Do When They Come Back to Michigan:
Kayak Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – We’re pretty sure Josh & Jase have already mentioned a desire to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and we think they should experience it from a kayak tour. This typically tops my list of what experiences in Michigan I would recommend to anyone, as the views of the towering sandstone cliffs and rock formations from Lake Superior is hard to beat. If a kayak trip isn’t in the cards they can still take a boat trip with Pictured Rocks cruises or explore the trails that lead to waterfalls, dunes, and more.
Tackle the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore – The boys went sledding here in the winter, and we suggest they go back and see if they can handle the sandy climb to the top of this almost 300 foot tall sand dune. It’s quite a workout, and from the top you can choose to keep hiking to Lake Michigan!
Check out a Great Lakes glass bottom shipwreck tour – Our Great Lakes waters are the final resting place for hundreds of ships, as weather and navigational hazards were more than early wooden ships could handle. The waters of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan have preserved what remains of these vessels, and you can view them from glass bottom boats in Cheboygan, Alpena, or Munising.
Climb to the top of a lighthouse – Michigan is home to more lighthouses than any other state and there are plenty that are open to the public for tower climbs. A few of our top choices would be Big Sable Point Lighthouse (pictured), Little Sable Point Light, New Presque Isle Lighthouse, Point Iroquois Lighthouse, Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse, and the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse.
Experience an Upper Peninsula waterfall – While Tahquamenon Falls seems like the obvious choice and is always fun to visit, we’d love to see the guys head off the beaten path a little bit and maybe check out some of the less-visited waterfalls of the Marquette, Baraga, or Keweenaw area. If they want to make get the most bang for the buck, a trip to the five waterfalls of the Black River Scenic Byway would do the trick and if they really want to make a splash maybe someone from the Michigan DNR can help them get to Houghton-Douglass Falls and maybe give us an update on the construction project that seems to never end?
Explore the Keweenaw Peninsula’s mining history – They can tour former copper mines in Delaware, Quincy, and other locations and learn about the Irish, Cornish, Finnish, Swedish, German, and Danish immigrants who came here to work in the mines. There are plenty of historic sites along the Copper Country Scenic Byway including museums, the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, the historic Calumet Theatre, Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, the Eagle Harbor Lighthouse, and more.
Go off grid at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park – A quick trip here offers views of Lake of the Clouds, Summit Peak, or the large waterfalls on the park’s western end. For a real Porcupine Mountains experience, there are nearly 90 miles of trails to explore!
Don’t forget about the “Sunrise Side” – There’s a lot to love on Michigan’s Lake Huron shoreline, from Tawas Point State Park all the way up to Alpena. Historic lighthouses, sandy beaches, beautiful state parks, historic small towns, quirky roadside attractions, and plenty of scenic views await!
Catch the sunset at a Lake Michigan beach – Michigan summer sunsets are a beautiful thing, and we recommend catching one in Grand Haven, South Haven, Holland, Ludington, or at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. A sunset cruise out of Manistee or Petoskey could even be an option!
Hunt for Petoskey stones or Agates – What better souvenir can someone take home than one of Michigan’s state stones that they found themselves? Petoskey stones are plentiful at Fisherman’s Island State Park in Charlevoix, and if the guys are going to be up by Lake Superior maybe they can find an elusive agate while in Marquette or Copper Harbor?