Locals Love This Under-the-Radar Michigan Town (Here’s Why)

The Upper Peninsula is no secret, and is perhaps the most beloved half of Michigan, if you ask a local. But it's still remote. And I still see even the most intrepid adventurers get funneled into the same five spots. So when I took my own long-haul road trip north, I set my compass a little left of center. Or way left, a whopping 4.5 hours northwest of the Mackinac Bridge. This landed us smack dab in the middle of Houghton, a hidden gem town in Michigan on the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Best Things To Do in This Quiet Upper Peninsula Town

When my family and I road trip, we're caught somewhere between aimless wanderers and bucketlisters. There's always a method to the madness, but usually it's soft itineraries that we hope to stray from. I picked the Keweenaw Peninsula for two reasons: First, I knew it was off-grid and was possibly the remotest place in the Midwest; and second, I heard there was an under-the-radar national park site up there. 

Visit the Keweenaw National Historical Park

Our great national parks system is far more than the 63 designated national parks for which it's best known. In actuality, there are 433 individual units that fall under several different designations. A few of those include national historical parks, national monuments, and even national lakeshores. These are the under-the-radar national parks I'm always seeking out. 

The Keweenaw National Historical Park is one of these, and it's a fascinating, historical jigsaw of indigenous copper lands, immigrant heritage, homesteading, mining history, and now, a land of cultural and environmental preservation. I came to see the inspiring proof of a land rewilded and recovered from decades of extraction and boom towns. New-growth forests, pristine beaches, and historic lighthouses were the draw. I never imagined that the sister cities of Houghton and Hancock, and their mine tours, would impact me so much more. 

Take the Quincy Mine Tours in Nearby Hancock

Hancock and Houghton are the epitome of quiet towns in Michigan, sleepy and scenic, perched on either side of a Lake Superior canal. But they feel like one, and it became a normal part of our travelers' commute to cross between them several times a day. It's the hub of the Keweenaw Peninsula's hotels, eateries, and Wi-Fi, but also for access to the mine tours at Quincy Mine. We went on two guided mine tours, both within the Keweenaw Historical National Park. One was to the world's oldest smelting site, and the other was an underground mine tour with a tram ride and a 360-foot descent into the shafts. 

These experiences were among the few times in our travels when we were more interested in the people's stories than in the surrounding wilderness. It taught us American History in a touching way that a book never could, and was a poignant reminder of how deeply intertwined people are with the land. It was also an enlightening reminder of our rich immigrant culture that dates back hundreds of years. 

Where To Stay and Eat in Hougton

Visiting the Keweenaw National Historical Park is the primary attraction in Houghton and Hancock. The rest of the allure lies in trying to live like a local for the weekend, between road trips up and down the greater Keweenaw Peninsula. It seems to us that local life was summed up by eating pasties, looking at the water, and sitting in saunas. In no particular order.

We felt very local indeed, staying in the beautiful, modern, waterfront cabins at Keweenaw Waters Resorts. This stay doesn't feel like a cabin at all, or even a hotel; it feels more like checking into your townhouse for the weekend. We had our own sauna right in the kitchen, huge living quarters, and a marvelous wood deck overlooking the Keweenaw Waterway. All for a surprisingly affordable waterfront cabin stay, and just minutes from Houghton, our favorite hidden town in Michigan.

Most Keweenaw Peninsula locals will gladly let you believe that the one and only thing to eat around here is pasties. Lucky for us, the most locally loved pasty shop was just 2 miles from the resort. If you've never had one, a pasty is a hand pie, very much like a handheld pot pie. Only better. Way, way better. And apparently, Roy's is the place to be introduced to one, because we ate there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the entirety of our stay. 

If our road trip to Houghton inspires you plan an adventure of your own, try building one with Only In Your State's AI-powered itinerary planner!