For a week in late July and early August, I traveled by car through the U.S. upper Midwest, visiting Michigan (Upper Peninsula), Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. The highlight of the trip was a ride to Isle Royale National Park aboard the Isle Royale Queen IV. Isle Royale National Park takes up its namesake island, which is the largest island in Lake Superior and has the distinction of being the least visited national park in the lower 48 U.S. states. While there, I camped overnight at Rock Harbor (one of the main "towns" on the island - really just a lodge, restaurant, harbor, park ranger station, souvenir shop, and customs station). I also did about 13 miles of hiking, using trails alongside and near Rock Harbor. The weather and scenery were quite beautiful. Edible berries lined the trails, and the vegetation and harbor views were quite pretty. The boat ride was quite bumpy, though, especially on the return. The risk of running into moose on the hike was ever-present, but none were sighted, and I was relieved not to have to deal with one since they can be dangerous.
Other sights visited on the trip were Copper Harbor, MI; Ironwood, MI, Split Rock Lighthouse and Two Harbors, MN, Duluth MN, Madison WI, Timms Hill County Park (where the highest point in Wisconsin is located), Des Moines IA, Ames IA, Ottumwa IA, and Hannibal MO. Also I saw the Mall of America outside Minneapolis, MN.
The boat which goes from Copper Harbor MI to Isle Royale. It is about a 3.5-hour trip each way, across Lake Superior. It's a beautiful ride but it can get bumpy.
Myself standing near the highest point in Wisconsin, in Timms Hill County Park.
Myself hiking along the Rock Harbor trail at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan.
This roadside marker in Keeweenaw County, Michigan shows just how much snow the area gets per year!
Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota, along the shores of Lake Superior.
Typical coastal scenery along the Rock Harbor trail at Isle Royale National Park.
Lighthouse at Two Harbors, Minnesota. You can spend the night in this lighthouse if you want.
Minnesota state capital building in St. Paul.
Campsite at Rock Harbor, Isle Royale National Park
Myself hiking in Isle Royale National Park. The trails I took weren't too difficult. I worried about running into moose, though. They roam freely on the island.
The front of the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. This is, I believe, the country's largest indoor mall, with something like 500 stores.
Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.
Iowa's state capital building, Des Moines, IA. This is one of the more striking state capital buildings I have seen.
Cannonball House, located at the Battle of Athens Historic Site in Athens, MO. This site was the northernmost Civil War battlefield site west of the Mississippi River.
Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal, MO.
Other sights visited on the trip were Copper Harbor, MI; Ironwood, MI, Split Rock Lighthouse and Two Harbors, MN, Duluth MN, Madison WI, Timms Hill County Park (where the highest point in Wisconsin is located), Des Moines IA, Ames IA, Ottumwa IA, and Hannibal MO. Also I saw the Mall of America outside Minneapolis, MN.
Myself standing near the highest point in Wisconsin, in Timms Hill County Park.
Myself hiking along the Rock Harbor trail at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan.
This roadside marker in Keeweenaw County, Michigan shows just how much snow the area gets per year!
Split Rock Lighthouse in Minnesota, along the shores of Lake Superior.
Typical coastal scenery along the Rock Harbor trail at Isle Royale National Park.
Lighthouse at Two Harbors, Minnesota. You can spend the night in this lighthouse if you want.
Minnesota state capital building in St. Paul.
Campsite at Rock Harbor, Isle Royale National Park
Myself hiking in Isle Royale National Park. The trails I took weren't too difficult. I worried about running into moose, though. They roam freely on the island.
Reiman Gardens, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.
Iowa's state capital building, Des Moines, IA. This is one of the more striking state capital buildings I have seen.
Cannonball House, located at the Battle of Athens Historic Site in Athens, MO. This site was the northernmost Civil War battlefield site west of the Mississippi River.
Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal, MO.
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