St. Louis was the jumping off point for adventure 150 years ago. St. Ignace, Michigan is the embodiment of that today, and just as all trails led from St. Louis, all trails to Michigan's vast and pristine Upper Peninsula begin here. Traveling west you can ride all the way to Wisconsin, North to the rocky shores of Lake Superior, and East to Lake Huron and Drummond Island, but you can’t ride any of that from St Ignace without first crossing one of the worlds most spectacular spans, the five mile long Mackinaw Bridge. The Mighty Mac, as it has come to be known, gracefully sails over the beautiful, blue waters of the Straits of Mackinaw far below. Crossing the bridge is always exciting, but reaching St. Ignace at it’s northern end never fails to provide a sense of adventure. St. Ignace has always been a town for explorers, and that’s still true today.
ALL TRAILS BEGIN HERE
St. Ignace has long been the base camp for exploration, first with the Native Americans who lived here, then French missionaries and explorers, fur traders, and British and French Forts. Your two choices for travel at that time was by foot or canoe, but without a doubt the best tool for reaching new territory today is an ATV or Side x Side.
St. Ignace is definitely an off-road friendly town, and you can begin your riding adventure right in the city limits. Immediately next to the Little Bear East Arena is where the trail begins! Plenty of nearby hotels and places to stay make it easy to play, and you can ride your machine straight from many of them to the trail-head. Building on that ORV friendly attitude, there is even a fall festival called Trek the Mighty Mac, where riders can cross the Mackinaw Bridge on their ATV, Side x Side, or dirt bike. Besides the ORV trail riding opportunities though, there is much to do for the entire family.
ACTIVITIES FOR ALL
You won’t find cookie-cutter shops here, but you’ll probably find a cookie shaped like a moose, bear, or beaver, along with the works of local artisans, specialty gift stores, and much, much more. Add in a welcoming, walk-able downtown and friendly shopkeepers who provide exceptional customer service and you’ll soon find reasons to return again and again. Parking is free in most areas, either on-street or easily accessible nearby, and there is something for the entire family.
EXCELLENT LOCAL RESTAURANTS & PUBS.
The short list of St. Ignace area activities and attractions include:
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EXCELLENT LOCAL RESTAURANTS & PUBS. The region’s authentic, locally-owned restaurants are famous for their unique and hearty fare, from flavorful lunch to skillfully crafted cuisine. One must-try is the local Whitefish, or Whitefish dip. Bring some home with you!
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FAMILY FRIENDLY. The kids will love exploring attractions, and the souvenir shops, especially Indian Village. They’ll never forget it, or let you!
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INTERESTING SIGHTS. There are many interesting local places to explore such as the towering Castle Rock, ferrys to Mackinaw Island for day trips, and the Museum of Ojibwa Culture, a National Historic Landmark. Nearby are the quirky Mystery Spot, and a local Deer Ranch.
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EXTRAS FOR ADULTS. The nearby Kewadin Casino offers gaming and entertainment for parents, and local shops will be of interest. Don’t miss the custom crafted jewelry of The Gold Mine on main street!
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PLENTY OF PLACES TO STAY. Campsite or cabin, you can find a place to stay here, and many hotels have a pool for the kids, or beach access.
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FISHING, KAYAKING, and BACKPACKING. We promise you’ll never be far from a beautiful lake here. Explore one!
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FANTASTIC RIDING. Mesmerizing scenery and immediate trail access make it easy. Leave you trailer in town and hit the trails from your room, cabin, or camp site. It doesn’t get any better than this!
ADVENTURE MADE EASY
The history, beauty, activities, and access to thousands of miles of trails make St. Ignace a place that will never be forgotten. From back trail exploration to backpacking and browsing the shops on main street, the extraordinary experience that is St. Ignace is only limited by what you can imagine. It’s home to world-class family-friendly attractions, one of the best inter-connected ORV trail systems in the world, and is still wide open for exploration.
For additional information, please visit the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau. They’ll help you kick off your adventure.
St. Ignace Visitors Bureau
6 Spring St., Suite 100
St. Ignace, MI. 49781
Phone: 906-643-6950 or toll free: 888-338-6660
info@stignace.com
www.stignace.com
Check out our preview of the Trek the Mighty Mac event here:
http://atvillustrated.com/content/back-on-track
Search Tags: Best place to ride and stay for SXS and ATV in Michigan? Best rated riding destination in USA for UTV, ATV & SXS.
