Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

One of the "Pictured Rocks" outcroppings along Lake Superior.


Several waterfalls tumble over the sandstone bluffs in the area.


Signs for "Pasties" were everywhere in northern Michigan.


A meat Pasty (rhymes with "nasty"). It had a flaky crust and meat and vegetable filling. Pretty tasty (rhymes with hasty.)

The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore stretches for miles along the shore of Lake Superior beginning in Munising and heading east. Wide, sandy beaches, ample pullouts and picnic areas and lush, pine and maple forests make this a great playground. Bird watching is made easy with wooden walkways and trails around ponds. At one of the lakes, we found a two-story platform to observe wildlife from above. Black, white and red American redstarts are one of the most common birds here. I also spotted sandhill cranes, rose-breasted grosbeaks, an indigo bunting, lots of red-winged blackbirds and a bear scurrying across the highway when we finally headed toward Wisconsin.

For those wanting to get out on the water, you can buy a ticket for a tour of the Pictured Rocks. Though at over $60 each for a few hour boat ride, it's a bit pricey. Especially if you are from the Grand Canyon State. In our opinion, the rock formations rated a 2 out of 10. The shoreline was the real draw, so we opted for a drive to some of the overlooks.