3/1/2023 0 Comments Tunnel of trees michiganSouth of the Legs Inn is Scenic Highway 119, Michigan’s designated “Tunnel of Trees” road, 20 miles of what is probably the prettiest road in the state. The interior is decorated with antiques, curios and artifacts. The Legs Inn was not named for the waitresses, but for the inverted cast iron legs from dozens of wood stoves which adorn the roof of the Inn. The Inn boasts fantastic Polish-American cuisine, and is a great place to “whet your whistle” outside on the patio overlooking Lake Michigan. At exit 336 we leave I-75 behind and head for historic Cross Village, located at the west end of County Road 66 and home of the Legs Inn. We head back south across the Mighty Mac and pay another $2.50 to cross it again (how is it fair that a motorcycle pays the same as a car?). Ignace is “Castle Rock” where you can stretch your legs by climbing hundreds of steps for a spectacular view of the surrounding woods and water…the best bargain of the whole trip, admission is only 50 cents! It has a Native American casino/hotel resort, and a variety of shops and restaurants. Five men died during construction of the “Mighty Mac.”Īt the north end of the bridge is the quaint waterfront town of St. Michigan’s Mackinac Bridge is five miles long and took five years to build. In the outside lanes the view is better and so is the “pucker factor.” Don’t forget to steal a glance at the water below through the steel grates. Keep your feet on the pegs, and don’t ride on the grates with knobby tires. If you ride the inside lane, it’s a steel grate! Keep a steady pace, don’t fight the wiggles in your bike and try to relax. The “Mighty Mac” is five miles long its towers rise over 500 feet high, and it’s an exhilarating ride across the Straits of Mackinac. An hour north of Gaylord finds you at the Mackinac Bridge, one of the nation’s tallest and longest suspension bridges with a road deck that rests 200 feet above the water. Keep a sharp eye out for elk, bear and frequent deer. Gaylord is one of the busiest towns on our ride, and it’s home to about 3,000 people and several bike shops.Īt this point, we catch Interstate 75, one of the few interstate highways designated as “scenic” with its vistas of colorful trees and sweeping valleys. If for some reason we didn’t have breakfast at the Depot, we can eat in Gaylord, where the choices include anything from fast food to a more refined sit-down meal at the Sugar Bowl. 2.įifteen colorful miles farther finds us in the Alpine village of Gaylord, with a downtown area that would look right at home in the Swiss Alps. It’s decorated in railroad memorabilia, and located on the site of-what else-an old railroad depot.Īdvertisement Sharp-eyed naturalists may see a moose in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on U.S. There’s barely a crossroad in Jo’burg, with the Old Depot as the focal point of this little village. Halfway to Gaylord we often stop at Johannesburg, home of the Old Depot Restaurant, known locally for its great breakfasts, burgers and homemade pies. Then it’s 34 miles of smooth pavement and sweeping curves through hills and farms to Gaylord. It’s not uncommon to see herds of the majestic beasts grazing in hay fields. This town of about 500 residents is well-known in Michigan as the Elk Capital. Going west for six miles puts us in Atlanta (much more quaint than the one in Georgia). We head north from Fairview on M33 through 20 miles of rolling hills and colorful hardwood forests to M32. When the morning sun hits the 100-foot-tall pines in our yard, we hit the winding road. Picking a fall day, with temps above 55 degrees, we put the Tour-Pak on the Harley Road King to carry our snacks, cameras and long johns. We stop at ethnic restaurants, brew pubs and historical sites. Our favorite Michigan ride is even more fun during Indian summer because of the gorgeous fall colors.
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