The Upper Peninsula can feel a little like the Wild West of the Midwest: scenic, rugged, remote, a place that takes determination to live in year-round and inspires awe in visitors. The 300-mile-long peninsula, whose triangular shape is framed by Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron, is one of those regions that rewards long stays and excursions outdoors — both the warm-weather kind (hunting, hiking) and winter sports. From the Porcupine Mountains, near the Wisconsin border, to Sault Ste. Marie just over the water from Canada, the UP promises rocky coastlines, lush waterfalls, and old-growth forests. The 300,000 Yoopers who live here year-round extend a good-natured Midwestern welcome to those traveling through.

Major airlines operate several flights a day from major Midwestern cities to Sawyer International Airport (MQT), located just outside Marquette. You can also fly into Traverse City, in the lower peninsula, or Green Bay, Wisconsin, both two to three hours away. Given the long distances between towns, not to mention the plethora of outdoor activities, driving is the best way to explore the region. Half a dozen car rental companies operate out of Sawyer Airport. But if you aren’t bringing a car, Greyhound and Indian Trails both operate bus routes that traverse the peninsula and connect it to major cities.

Located to the north of Wisconsin, with boundaries defined by two Great Lakes, the Upper Peninsula is no tropical destination. After a glorious, crisp fall, the snow begins falling in October and doesn't stop for six months. Don’t stint on packing winter wear, good boots, and possibly snowshoes in case you have car trouble. Spring rushes through the region in April and May, then yields to a glorious few months from June through August, where the temperatures hang in the 70s Fahrenheit and occasionally slip higher. Bring shorts and swimwear for the daytime, and light long-sleeve shirts and pants for the evening — black flies and mosquitos can be a nuisance.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park

This 50,000-acre state park in the east of the UP is densely covered in trees and home to one of the largest waterfalls in the United States, with a spectacular 50-foot drop. A four-mile hike through maples and beeches brings you to a second set of cascades; the park makes off-road track chairs available for wheelchair users to explore both falls.

Sault Ste. Marie

When the Soo Locks connecting Lakes Superior and Huron opened in 1855, wealth and industry came to the Upper Midwest. It’s still hypnotic to watch the massive ships traveling between the Atlantic and Minnesota rise and descend. The town itself is a pleasure to meander around, too, with a lively dining and arts scene.

Marquette

Marquette, the largest city on the peninsula, combines the charm of a college town with unparalleled access to Lake Superior and the surrounding wildlife. Miles of mountain bike trails wind around the outskirts of the city. The Marquette Maritime Museum and the Marquette Harbor Lighthouse, open during the summer months, display the fascinating history of sea travel on the world’s biggest freshwater lake.

Keweenaw Peninsula

Old mining towns dot this remote peninsula-on-a-peninsula in the western third of the region; the Cornish pasties miners introduced to Michigan are the most obvious remnant of the once-thriving industry. The town of Copper Harbor is a good base for your explorations, whether they include staying on the shore to see the Northern Lights or hiking the trails of Fort Wilkins Historic State Park.