A spot on the Circle Tour
When I was in high school, I heard a story about a guy that biked the Lake Superior Circle Route. This scenic ride traverses parts of three US states and one Canadian province while looping around Lake Superior. Most of the region is remote and forested, with a few large port cities to break it up. After biking over 1300 miles, this man came back home and collapsed on the couch. So tired was he from this bike ride, that he stayed in this collapsed state for the rest of his life. No more bike rides or runs, just long periods of rest on a chair or sofa. He only walked when absolutely needed. I’d say he earned it.
Some of the port cities are large, like Duluth and Thunder Bay, but others are quite small and cozy. Marquette, MI is in the latter category. It’s a town of 20,000 people with a youthful flair. Northern Michigan University is located on the north side and there are plentiful trails for people who want to get outside. The Superior Dome is open to the public for those frigid winter evenings when a walk indoors sounds preferable.
Presque Isle Park is the crown jewel of the city. We visited in the winter and enjoyed gazing off into the distance over the lake. The Great Lakes really are like little oceans; looking out there is nothing but water as the horizon dips out of sight. Just south of the park is the first of two iconic Marquette landmarks. It’s the Upper Harbor Ore Dock, a must see for history buffs and technology nerds.
The Ore Docks
The Ore Docks are large concrete and steel structures jutting out into the lake. Their purpose is to deliver iron ore from land to ships waiting in the water. Trains bring the ore from the mines to the ore docks. The ships then position themselves below the dock, and the ore is dumped into them from above. Then, this ore is transported to major cities around the Great Lakes.
The Upper Harbor Ore Dock is still active, and worth a visit to see it in action. The Lower Harbor Ore Dock is inactive but sits right in the heart of downtown. It makes a perfect destination for anyone looking to walk around town. These structures are dinosaurs, rarely seen around the country and probably no longer built. They look akin to Roman ruins, such as the aqueducts.
The bay was frozen when Rita and I visited. We had a great time sliding snowballs across the ice, seeing how far they could fly. From Founder’s Landing Boardwalk we got a few close to the Ore Dock. North of the Ore Dock is Ellwood A Matson Park, which has a loop good for skiing. Of course, Marquette has a vibrant downtown, so there are plenty of good restaurants and quirky shops to explore.
On our last day in town, we stopped at the aptly named Ore Dock Brewing Company. It was just my kind of bar. They sold local beer, gave away free popcorn, and carried plenty of board games. We played Battle of the Sexes. Live musicians also stop by often, and they even host tournaments for the classic Midwest card game, Euchre. In Marquette, the Ore Dock is like the Jack of Hearts. Nothing trumps it.
