Magical Marquette (The Biggest City in the Land of Milk and Honey) on the shores of Lake Superior!

 

I still have an adventurous spirit, although as I get older it's not as easy to move at a fast pace but last week I did it. I pulled an all nighter on a ten hour bus drive from Traverse City to Marquette. I managed to survive a near fire on the bus when we made a ten minute bathroom/shopping stop at a gas station and the bus driver realized one of the tires was ready to set fire. A half hour later the fire department was gone and another passenger and I were on the our way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on another bus with a new driver. It was still dark outside when I arrived in Marquette. I got off the bus walked into the bus station and a helpful employee at the service desk informed me of a free city bus into downtown Marquette. Thirty minutes later the darkness turned into light and a friendly bus driver dropped me off on West Washington Street in downtown Marquette. 

Marquette is a stunning city. It's a hilly city built on the shores of gorgeous Lake Superior, the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes. Marquette is quite diverse too. It's an outdoor paradise in spring, summer, fall and winter. Marquette is home to Northern Michigan University so there's lots of college students. A walkable city, it's pretty easy to navigate around Marquette, although a vehicle comes in handy. I spent the whole day bicycling and walking around Marquette and by the end of the day I had bicycled sixteen miles and walked twenty miles. I got to know the city quite well and met some really awesome people. The best part is my energy level was beyond belief. I don't now how I managed to go without sleep and explore the city with such enthusiasm but Marquette is a magical place and one can't help feeling a connection to it.

So here's a fantastic way to spend time in Marquette whether it's a day, week, month, or a year and beyond............

West Washington Street and Third Avenue are a good choice for dining and shopping in the downtown area. My favorite place for breakfast or lunch is 231 West Patisserie. A bit expensive but worth the splurge for amazing desserts, pastries, and sandwiches. They also serve lots of coffee and tea beverages that are made by expert baristas. The atmosphere at 231 West Patisserie is absolutely perfect. You can sit down at a table and take your time savoring your drinks and food. There's even outdoor seating on a balcony that overlooks the city. The staff is awesome. If you wish to purchase items to take away there are plenty of things to buy such as chocolate covered almonds, granola, gourmet chocolate bars, packaged coffee beans, shirts, handbags and more. 

                                              231 West Patisserie is absolutely wonderful!

Not to be missed is Donckers. Marquette resident Fred Donkers was once a general assistant at Stattford's Greenhouse on Third Street but a hunting accident caused him to lose this right arm in 1895. No longer able to work as a general assistant Fred opened up an open air stand in1896 where he sold hot buttered popcorn, candy, fresh fruit, and tobacco, It became a popular stop so Fred opened a permanent home for his store on Washington in 1906 and then in 1914 Fred moved his business a few yards away to a larger building and to this day Donckers is located in the same building where it first opened over a hundred years ago. Upon entering Donckers you feel like you've entered another era, it really does have an atmosphere of a by-gone era. If you love hand-crafted chocolate you'll find plenty of it at Donckers. There's an amazing selection of mouth-watering chocolates and candies. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner are served at Donckers and the menu is quite diverse. Customers rave about the fresh squeezed orange juice and sandwiches. Donckers is located 137 West Washington right next door to the nostalgic Delft Theatre.

                                             The interior of Donckers in existence since 1914,
            

The staff at Marquette County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 201 South Front Street are great at answering questions about the area and you can feel free to stop by Monday thru Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can navigate around the city by bus, bicycle, or vehicle. Walking is a good option but some attractions are a quite a distance away such as Sugarloaf Mountain. Located about six miles north of downtown on CR 550, Sugarloaf Mountain is popular with bikers and hikers. The views from the summit are spectacular. There are panoramic views of Lake Superior and the surrounding forest. The elevation of Sugarloaf Mountain is 1070 feet above sea level.

                                                     Bicycling along Lake Superior is spectacular!

The crown jewel of Marquette is the mighty majestic Lake Superior. Rent a bicycle at Quick Stop Bike Shop at 1100 North Third Street. It's the oldest bicycle shop in the area and very popular with the locals. I rented a bicycle here and the staff couldn't have been nicer. They allowed me to store my personal belongings in their shop which was much appreciated. The one day rental for a standard bicycle is around $40.00 for the day. The Marquette City Multi-Use Path is a twelve mile paved trail that follows the shoreline of Lake Superior. You'll find some beautiful beaches along the paved trail that runs from One Dock to Presque Isle Park. One attraction that tops the list besides the beaches is the Marquette Maritime Museum at 300 Lakeshore Blvd. Exhibits include maritime heritage, canoes, ship wrecks, Coast Guard boats, and more. Visitors can also take a guided tour to the red colored Marquette Harbor Lighthouse. 

                               Swimming in Lake Superior near the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse

Marquette has a quite a  few Finish people, the population of Finish people residing in Marquette is about twenty two percent. The beautiful Nestledown Bed and Breakfast at 975 North LakeShore Blvd reflects the Finnish/Scadinavian heritage of the innkeepers. It's open year round and is right across the road from Lake Superior. Over on West Washington Street, is a shop called Scandinavian Gifts and on US 41 is a gift shop called Touch of Finland.

Marquette really is an incredible city and the population is growing for good reason. The largest city in the Upper Peninsula is right on par with East Coast cities like Burlington, Vermont and Portland, Maine. I was born and raised in Michigan and I didn't even realize how amazing Marquette was until 2021 when I visited Marquette with my boyfriend. My recent one day visit to Marquette was filled with so many fun-filled activities. It was extremely hot on that early August day but I'd rather have the heat than a downpour of rain. The upper peninsula of Michigan is really a unique part of the country and Marquette, the largest city in what locals call the U.P. is a place enjoyed by locals and tourists. I hope you enjoy a visit to magical Marquette.

A Few Recommendations:

Marquette Food Coop is a full service natural foods market. They carry lots of products.

Jilbert Dairy is known for good ice cream with lots of flavors to choose from.

Third Street Bagel is a popular bagel shop known for their tasty bagel sandwiches. They have some delicious and refreshing smoothies on the menu too.

Thills & Sons Fish House is a retail store that sells fresh and smoked fish. The locally caught whitefish is highly recommended. 

Togos is a super popular sub shop. They've been around since 1964.

For out of this world Thai Cuisine look no further than Rice Paddy. the curry with buttercup squash is delicious. Authentic food at reasonable prices.

Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette. This university is worth a visit. There's an Olympic Training Center on campus.

Check out the Marquette Regional History Museum at 145 Spring Street. Programs and events are listed on their website.

Lodging:

Fairfield Inn & Suites at 808 South Lakeshore Blvd has a sandy beach across the road. The bicycle path runs right past the hotel. There's an indoor pool/spa and a complimentary breakfast is included. Close to downtown attractions.

Landmark Inn has old school charm, it's a historic hotel with views of Lake Superior. Prices are higher than other properties in Marquette.

Nestledown Bed and Breakfast is homey. It's just steps away from Lake Superior. A comfortable and relaxing place to stay. Enjoy breakfast in the morning and relax in the sauna.

Ramada by Wyndham at 412 West Washington Street was recently remodeled, This hotel is cozy and comfortable and has an on site restaurant and lounge, an indoor swimming pool and sauna. Located downtown.

                                                         A Stop at Thill & Sons Fish House