We all know the views -
The Grand Canyon
Route 66
Monument Valley
Whether in the movie Cars or magazine advertisements, this is how we sell Americana roads trips.
But do you want to know a secret?
One that the "too nice" Upper Midwesterners won't tell ya?
Your real "cool" summer road trip is much further north, and much farther from conventionality.
And since I'm currently on a 3-year, world record road trip to all 412 U.S. National Parks, I've put together a highlights package just for you:
As anyone who's spent a summer in Michigan, Wisconsin or Minnesota will tell you: it's heaven.
Highs in the 70s (F), lows in the 50s, and lake breezes from every direction, THIS is the Shangri-La of legend. A place that makes the great outdoors feel like spending August in front of Mother Nature's air conditioning.
"Dog friendly; Wow friendly." — Photo Credit: TBCMikah.com
Start your journey in the northwestern tip of Michigan's "Mitten" by rolling down a dune straight from an African desert, then wash off the sand in Lake Michigan before heading to Pyramid Point to watch the sun set over the mythical Manitou Islands. On your drive east from the park, pick your own cherries for only $1.99 a pound in this, the world's "Cherry Capital."
Then cross the Mackinac Bridge to the Upper Peninsula and let a local "Yooper" captain your sunset cruise on Pictured Rocks Cruises' "Spray Falls" tour; watching these blue, green, orange, yellow and red rocks change colors before your eyes as the sun sets on Lake Superior. Stargaze with your sweetie before settling into your tent for a perfectly temperate night's sleep.
"10 PM sunsets leave long days to play!" — Photo Credit: TBCMikah.com
"Sunset glows through the rocks" — Photo Credit: TBCMikah.com
Before you skip west into Central Time, take to the skies with Isle Royale Seaplanes on a short 35 minute flight to the U.S. National Park with the longest average stay: 4 days. After hiking across the island from Windigo to Rock Harbor, spend your fifth day on the Ranger III vessel--the National Park Service's largest piece of equipment--with a leisurely 5 hour boat across the lake to Houghton, Michigan, where your car was giddily awaiting your return.
"Fly into the real wilderness" — Photo Credit: TBCMikah.com
Apostle Islands National Lak, Wisconsin, United States
By this point, you'll likely have worked up an appetite, so finish off those cherries you've been munching on since Sleeping Bear Dunes and get ready for something cheesy. Wine and cheese yourself on a sailboat as your traverse around the dots of land in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. This "Sconnie" secret with magnificent "sea caves" is the summer getaway of choice for southern Wisconsin residents, and will spare you the heavy crowds at The Dells as well.
"Northwest side of Devils Island - where the most caved out rocks are." — Photo Credit: TBCMikah.com
"Sunset toward Voyageurs National Park" — Photo Credit: TBCMikah.com
Round out your Great American Road Trip by teasing the border of Canada as you criss-cross in your canoe at Voyageurs National Park. Less crowded than the Boundary Waters, you are as far north as you can get in the continental U.S., meaning sunny days until 10pm, and will have tons of "oh for cute" conversations with the local "Gophers" (Minnesotans) who escape hot Minneapolis/St. Paul for their northern lake houses.
So next time you want a "cool" American Road Trip, save the clichés for the tourists and spend your summer in the temperate waters Midwestern travelers want to keep as their secret escape.