Lake Superior Michigan, like many of the Great Lakes, is just across the border from Canada. In this case, the massive stretch of blue water separates the Upper Peninsula from the southern shores of Ontario. On the American side of the lake, you'll find a four-season playground, historic shoreline communities, and a seemingly endless list of things to do on Michigan Lake Superior vacations. No matter what time of year you plan a visit, you can expect to see some beautiful scenery. In all four seasons, you'll find charming Lake Superior cabins close to wherever you want to visit.

One of the unique things about Lake Superior Michigan comes when winter is drawing near. Nowhere else in the world receives the amount of lake-effect snow that the Upper Peninsula receives. As the world's largest body of fresh water, there's plenty of water the winds can pick up. During the course of the season, the communities down wind of the lake can receive up to 200 inches of snow. When you plan Michigan Lake Superior vacations in the winter, it's smart to expect some snow. Between Thanksgiving and Saint Patrick's Day, the ski resorts roll into full gear while cross-country ski trails can be found deep in the forest. And when the snow keeps falling, snowmobiles are some of the best and funnest ways to get around.

Every spring, the snow eventually melts, opening up a new world of possibilities for Lake Superior vacations. As the weather warms up and the last ice breaks up from the lake, people to flock to its shores to enjoy the wildflowers and watch birds on the move. Anglers especially look forward to the spring when boats come out of storage and take the waters of the big lake once again. The deep waters are some of the best places to enjoy Great Lakes fishing, especially for salmon and whitefish. During the fall, anglers as well as others enjoy the quiet atmosphere and the changing leaves.

Michigan Map

In the summer, the vast sandy shores and the surrounding North Woods wilderness set the stage for adventure. Even though it gets warm enough to spend lots of time outside, you won't have to worry about blistering hot temperatures. Lake Superior keeps the heat quite mild. Between Memorial Day and the start of the school year, you'll have many choices of things to enjoy. The hard part is deciding where to start. Some will want to step aboard a fishing charter or one of the Great Lakes cruises first thing, while others won't be able to resist the call of the kayak or canoe.

You'll also have the chance to go diving in one of the underwater preserves or take a glass-bottom boat tour for the same views without getting wet. Many Great Lakes shipwrecks happened in this waters, usually in the late fall when the wind whips up, and there are many stories to be told. A visit to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on Whitefish Point is a must if you're interested the sad-yet-fascinating tale of the Edmund Fitzgerald and many others. This interesting museum is right next to the oldest working Michigan lighthouse along the shores of the mighty lake.

It would be a shame to plan Michigan Lake Superior vacations without seeing one of the world's engineering marvels—the Soo Locks. People have been flocking to Sault Sainte Marie since 1855 to see the locks that make travel between Lake Superior and Lake Huron—21 feet lower—possible. Between May and October, an on-site visitor center and boat cruises allow you to experience this one-of-a-kind marvel up close.