Manistique and Escanaba are the two main towns along the southern border of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Escanaba and neighboring Gladstone are home to around 20,000 residents, while Manistique has around 6,000.
There are several parks and beaches surrounding Escanaba including Ludington Park, with its Sand Point Lighthouse, a restored brick lighthouse from the 1800's. Other activities in the area include snowmobiling in Manistique, as the town is situated on the main trails that connect with thousands of miles of extended trail through the Upper Peninsula.
Sandwiched in between the towns are the Stonington and Garden Peninsulas jutting out into Lake Michigan and forming small bays around their perimeters. Stonington Peninsula has the Peninsula Point Lighthouse Park, a distinctive spot for bird watching. The Garden Peninsula features an orchard and the rather unique, Fayette State Park. The park is the site of a ghost town, and visitors can tour the abandoned limestone buildings, houses, hotels and other sites that once made up the town of Fayette.
Hiawatha National Forest is also located between Manistique and Escanaba and features the Bay de Noc/Grand Island Trail and the Big Island Canoeing Area. The forest is a perfect setting for mainstream outdoor activities like backpacking, hiking and camping, but also offers variations like dog sledding and ice fishing.
Manistique and Escanaba are located along the southern border of Michigan's Upper Peninsula bordered by Lake Michigan.
