Grand Marais, MI

Travel Guide

All the colors are what gives the Lakeshore its name.

The village of Grand Marais, on the south shore of Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, is one of the oldest inhabited places on the Great Lakes. Native Americans camped along its beautiful natural harbor, naming it Kitchi-bitobig, or "Great Pond." The French voyageurs traded furs along these shores, and in the early 1860s, a trading post was established. The lumber boom soon followed, and by the mid-1890s, Grand Marais was a bustling town of 2,000 inhabitants. The good times did not last, and by 1911, the sawmills closed, the railroad pulled out, and almost overnight the population dwindled to a mere 200 or so. But Grand Marais refused to die, and those hardy individuals who stayed somehow found a way to make a living, many in the commercial and sport fishing industries. The opening of a state road into town brought vacationers to enjoy the many recreational delights of the area. Today Grand Marais is a popular tourist destination that still retains its small-town friendliness and historic atmosphere.

Grand Marais is in Michigan's Upper Peninsula(UP). Winter is long and cold in the UP with substantial amounts of snow. February each year Grand Mara is is a checkpoint for the UP200 dog sled race. Teams of 12 dogs compete, what an incredible sight. #OnTheRoad

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Grand Marais Hotel Deals

Fletchys Pictured Rocks Resort

22020 E Coast Guard Pt Grand Marais MI

Book a stay at this beach hotel in Grand Marais. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a private beach. Popular attractions Light Keepers House Museum and Pickle ...

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Popular places to visit

Sable Falls

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Sable Falls during your travels in Grand Marais. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Log Slide Overlook Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Log Slide Scenic Overlook

5/5(4 reviews)

Learn about the local history of Grand Marais when you take a trip to Log Slide Scenic Overlook. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Beaver Lake

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Beaver Lake during your travels in Grand Marais. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Buck Lake

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Buck Lake during your travels in Grand Marais. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Light Keepers House Museum

5/5(1 review)

You can spend an afternoon studying the exhibits at Light Keepers House Museum during your trip to Grand Marais. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Pickle Barrel House Museum

You can spend an afternoon exploring the galleries in Pickle Barrel House Museum in Grand Marais. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Reviews of Grand Marais

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Top Destination

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