• Date Circle Tour Completed
• Favorite Spot and/or Experience
• Member

September 2004
Jim Lanning, Copper Harbor, Michigan

Summer 2004
We took one full week to do it - note to others: one week is not nearly enough time to catch everything! I didn’t have a favorite spot, rather a favorite coast - I love the north coast of Ontario! The untouched wilderness, with the beautiful rocky peaks, was great to see. My girlfriend (now wife) loved Bayfield, Wisconsin, though I know there were other spots she loved as well. We also agree that Rabbit Blanket Lake Campground we stayed at on the east side of the lake was great, too.
Lee Parsons, Minneapolis, Minnesota

October 3, 2004
The best high spot to view Lake Superior is a lookout point 10 miles east of Nipigon.
Chuck Rogers, Mounds View, Minnesota

October 3, 2004. This trip can be done in a week, but up to 10 days would give you more time to enjoy the areas.
We drove clockwise around the lake, visiting Canada first. I would definitely recommend the clockwise tour. Canada is a bit remote, so that is a good way to start and ease your way back into the more populated areas through the U.P. of Michigan. We visited several of the waterfalls and lighthouses and enjoyed them all. Pebble Beach in Marathon, Ontario, was a pleasant surprise and definitely a place everyone should check out. Whitefish Point Shipwreck Museum was incredible along with driving and hiking in the Porkies. A couple of wonderful restaurants that serve whitefish are the Lockview Restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and The Shores Restaurant and Lounge in Marquette, Michigan.
Holly Bloom, Bloomington, Minnesota

October 3-9, 2004
We liked the entire trip. We stopped at many small towns along the way. We like the suspension bridge near Thunder Bay. Also the stores in Sault Ste. Marie and Duluth. I also attended Gales of November this year - Thanks to Lake Superior Magazine for being a sponsor.
Kent Ramsey, South Bend, Indiana

June 2003
Ontario at Old Woman Bay … very pretty! The whole tour was beautiful.
Barbara Weeks, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

2003
The Tour of the Lake Freighter Valley Camp and Museum.
Arnold & Joan Nimps, Kasota, Minnesota

• Date Circle Tour Completed
• Favorite Spot and/or Experience
• Member

Winter 2000
Loved all the waterfalls - beautiful!
Heather Lancaster, Brooklyn, Michigan

1999
We had a wonderful time! We spent 3 days along the north shore of Minnesota, a night in Rossport, Batchawana Bay, Big Bay and Copper Harbor. One of our favorite places to eat was the Salzburger Hof in Batchawana Bay. GREAT GERMAN MEAL!
Debby Stephani, Lodi, Wisconsin

2004
Mr. & Mrs. Winton Zagrabelny, Glenrock, Wyoming

1999 - 1 week around
Sault Ste. Marie to Wawa, Kakabeka Falls, Old Fort William. Anniversary is October 16th - a great trip for celebrating!
George Koehler, Inkster, Michigan

Many times through the years
Campground at Agawa Bay.
Sue Welch, San Dimas, California

Left September 13, 2004, & took 9 to 10 days
We made the circle tour in our RV heading northeast out of Duluth on 13 September 2004.  One of the best lake overlooks was found early the first day at Tettegouche State Park. Camped the first night on Lake Marie Louis on the Sleeping Giant. Nice. Day two we toured Rossport and talked to some fishermen, then we camped at Rainbow Falls - the best campsite in the park, right on the lake! Of all the very nice campsites this was unsurpassed - and the blueberries were so abundant that Peg could not stop harvesting buckets of them! They were big highland berries and as tasty as they get. Day three was rainy and windy. We stopped and shopped at a mall in Marathon. What a neat little town. When the rain became very heavy, we camped at White Lake. Day four was, possibly, the most scenic with the road cutting through the rugged cliffs, then the lake coming into view far below. The lake was a little angry, but that’s when she’s the prettiest - with the tall waves smashing against the rocks and palisades sending white spray and foam far into the air. We camped in Pancake Bay. Day five was beautiful weather. We spent most of the day walking along the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, watching the locks work and watching the many fishermen catching salmon from the shore of the river. The water is quite clear and you could see the salmon by the dozens. In the afternoon we cleared customs, headed for Paradise and then to camp at Tahquamenon Falls State Park. Day six we headed for Munising. Very nice place! I could live there. We thought about one of those great boat tours of the Pictured Rocks, but would have had to wait a long time. Next time. We camped in Van Riper State Park. Day seven, off to Copper Harbor to camp at Ft. Wilkins State Park. The town was neat as well as Eagle Harbor. Day eight off to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and some nice scenery around Lake of the Clouds. Camped in the Eastern campground. Day nine we planned to visit Black River Harbor, Copper Peak and camp north of Bayfield, but it was raining again and we had visited these places a number of times in the past so we decided to “high-tail it” for home.
Wayne & Peggy Pearson, Duluth, Minnesota

September 3-12, 2004
Hard to beat the Keewenaw, would love to go back to Marathon. Loved Duluth and the North Shore and Isle Royale was neat.
Judy & Richard Christensen, East Port, Michigan

September 9, 2004
The beautifuful scenery, rocks, trees and mountains between Nipigon to Marathon, and Wawa to Batchawana Bay. We saw a black bear at Grand Portage, Minnesota, and a Timber Wolf in the U.P. of Michigan. Food at the Angry Trout in Grand Marais, Minnesota. We had a wonderful trip and plan to do it many more times. Disappointments in Rossport, Ontario, at the Forget-Me-Not Shop and train whistles at night shook our cabin.
Paul & Mary Schwister, Hayward, Wisconsin

Started September 15th and took 4-5 days
On September 15th we left from Cloquet, Minnesota, for our circle tour. The weather was rain with gale force winds, with temps in the 40s. Some of us were on motorcycles, (Goldwings) all the way to Thunder Bay fighting the rain and winds that were ferocious off the lake, but still enjoyed the ride! The second day out we stayed in Wawa and there found a super place for dinner. It is overlooking the old Michipicoton River on Highway 17. They specialize in European, Caribbean (owners are from Trinidad), Canadian and Chinese food. Each entree had a recommended wine listed with it. Each of us tried something different and we thought the food was exceptional. The people who work there are so pleasant. The name of the restaurant is Kinniwabi International Cuisine and we recommend it to anyone passing through. The third day out the weather started getting nice. We went through the Sault, got through customs and stopped for coffee where Terry told us about an encounter with a huge moose that ran out in front of him. This was our 6th Circle Tour but the first for the Andersons and Zarans and we have enjoyed each and every one of them. Thanks to our edition of the Lake Superior Travel Guide, we took in sites we would not have otherwise. The map was very helpful too.
Terry & Lil Twomey, Vern & Betty Anderson, Fran & Marie Zaran, Cloquet, Minnesota

September 23-29, 2004 Took trip with 17 senior members of U of M OLLI (Ocean Life Long Learning Institute) led by Paul Weiben (Geology Trip)
Exploring evidence of the mid continental rift. Ouimet Canyon, Aguasabon River Gorge, and the shipwreck museum, motel stop in Mackinaw City.
Nell Robie, St. Louis Park, Minnesota

July 21, 2004
Apostle Islands.
Todd Brunier, Minnepolis, Minnesota
Johanna Martensson, Angelholm, Sweden

• Date Circle Tour Completed
• Favorite Spot and/or Experience
• Member

Completed on October 5, 2004
We enjoyed Kakabeka Falls and the beautiful scenic drive from Nipigon to Sault Ste. Marie. There were so many wonderful spots we visited and we thank you for getting so much information available out there for everyone’s use.
Eric & Marilyn Erickson, Mosinee, Wisconsin

October 10, 2004
White River, the train station, where Winnie-the-Pooh began his famous life was a real surprise find.
Valerie Mutchler, Bay City, Michigan

October 2000
Duluth’s Canal Park - Oreboats & Marine Museum, Split Rock Lighthouse (the best lighthouse anywhere), Tofte town park, Naniboujou Lodge (unbelievable dining room décor and food), Rossport Inn, Whitefish Point, Fort Wilkins State Park and Historic Complex (great food and wonderful Northern Lights), Northern Great Lakes Visitors Center (lots of interesting stuff and an incredible floor), Bayfield Apostle Islands (beautiful place with lovely lighthouses).
Lloyd & Patte Ketterling, Rochester, Minnesota

Began September 24 and returned October 3, 2004.
Our adventure began on September 24, leaving our home one hour east of Ottawa, Ontario, on September 24 (wearing shorts and sandals) and returning October 3 (wearing our woolies). We started the circle in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and ended in the “SOO” USA.  We never dreamed that Lake Superior was so dramatically beautiful - every bit as spectacular as scenery in Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Our favorite spot - and this is really difficult to come up with just one - was the Terry Fox Monument just east of Thunder Bay: A magnificent vista commemorating a heart-warming and heart-wrenching story of courage. We’d recommend at least 9 days from “Soo” to “Soo” to allow exploring time.
Theo & Di Jaggassar, Maxville, Ontario

Summer of 1998
We did the Circle Tour in the summer of 1998 with our two dogs. The wonderful sights, the many antique shops and all the casinos were more than we expected. Since the tour, we have returned to various areas to explore further. We really like the Thunder Bay area and the North Shore for a weekend getaway.
Paul & Jeanne Switala, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Monday, October 4 to Friday, October 8, 2004
Sault Ste. Marie locks, museum and ships.  Fall colors, scenery.
Carol Lucas, Ames, Iowa

September 19, 2004
Our favorite spot was at Copper Harbor. We took the lighthouse boat cruise to Copper Harbor Lighthouse and ate at the Harbor Haus for lunch. A very memorable day! Second was the Whitefish Point Lighthouse and Museums.  Third was the drive between Nipigon and Marathon.
Charles & Carol Doe, Edina, Minnesota

July 1981
Pancake Bay! Very interesting spot to camp.
Bob Melchior & Brian Melchior, Plymouth, Minnesota

August/September 1998
We completed our first (and only so far) Lake Superior Circle Tour in August/September 1998. We traveled clockwise around the lake. We camped at Brimley, F.J. McLain, Copper Falls, Temperance River, Sleeping Giant, Neys and Pancake Bay.  We took nine days to complete that portion of the trip. We have made many trips to the U.P. and it is beautiful, but we were enthralled with the west and north shore of Lake Superior - all the islands, Split Rock Lighthouse and Sleeping Giant just to name a few places. We have talked about taking our second Circle Tour and hopefully it will be soon.
Jim & Judy Nedeau, Muskegon, Michigan

September 18-24, 2004
Lake Shore Resort and Salzburger Hof at Batchawana Bay, Ontario, Canada, and the Rossport Inn for breakfast.
Leroy & Jill Johnson, Ironwood, Michigan
Roy & Judith Jacobson, Eagle River, Wisconsin

August 2000
Our family did the Circle Tour and we absolutely loved it. We started at Sault Ste. Marie and worked our way counterclockwise. During that trip we found the Porcupine Mountains - a fantastic, laid-back area. This past spring, 2004, we purchased the place in which we’ve stayed since that trip in 2000, and moved up! Our cabins are right on Lake Superior one mile from the Porcupine Mountains.
The Verecha Family, Ontonagon, Michiga