TRIP SEVEN: Time Traveler! You’ll enter another time zone and lose an hour on Eastern Standard time by traveling outside the iron ore mining country of the Gogebic Range and into copper mining with a real mine tour….Adventure Mine (906) 883-3371... Shop for antiques and gifts in the town of Ontonagon...Catch lunch there too...then tour the Ontonagon Museum & Lighthouse... then off to HWY 45 to Bond Falls Flowage which is a great place to swim, fish and relax if you find the time…then catch a few fireflies and let them fly inside the car for the ride home (kids love this one!)…then head back to Ironwood for a casual evening with Little Caeser’s Pizza and a restful night’s sleep

TRIP EIGHT: A Scenic drive! Start your afternoon with a delightful lunch at Elk & Hound for a great view of the golf course by picking a table in the bar or enjoy the historic look and feel of the Lake Superior Store fireplace room. Pack the camera, hiking shoes and water toys...It’s off to the Porkies...just past Wakefield take County Road 519 to Presque Isle Park, hike around Presque Isle Park in Porkies with two spectacular waterfalls, Manebezho and Manido Falls... view Lake of the Clouds...view Summit Peak, if you take your binoculars with you to the top of the look out tower there, you can see big ships in the horizon… take in as many miles of the Porkies hiking trails as you can or enjoy the casual drive through the park…it’s huge...a huge sand beach too… drive back through Silver City and see real black bears fed during the day at the Rainbow...take the other route home, drive back to Bergland then Ironwood on M-28 and drive past Tula, don’t stop though, there’s nothing left of the former lumber town. Today it is sometimes remembered when people jokingly refer to "Tula Tech" as the well-known school of lumbering or hard knocks.

TRIP NINE: Tour Hurley and beyond! Don’t miss our neighbors in Iron County Wisconsin… make your first stop at Little Finland Gift Shop and Museum…then hike into the hidden Peterson (Interstate) Falls...make your way onto famous Silver Street to the Hurley Iron County Museum to purchase a handmade rag rug, you could literally spend an entire day browsing the museums three floors, be sure to see the clock strike on the hour...then lunch at the historic Iron Nugget in Hurley, ask Gary at the Nugget about the historic walking tours of Hurley, plan a few nights at the Inn B & B…spend the afternoon at Gile Flowage fishing...or tour the mining history in the Montreal Historic District...drive out to the last standing head frame of Plummer Mine...check out the bikini’s at Weber Lake and see Whitecap Mountain...maybe plan for a pizza at the Bell Chalet. Iron County is know for it’s ATV trails, so rent one at Ave’s Motor Center or at Cloverland Motors for a real thrill.

TRIP TEN: Hit the Islands! Warning, this can be a long day! Head down US 2 and surprise your family with a treat and stop at Kimball Falls just a few miles past the Michigan Wisconsin line...stop for a little horseback riding in Saxon at Berube’s Riding Stables or The Ranch in Gurney….make your way to the Bad River Casino at Odanah Indian Reservation...stop in the Ashland Museum... we suggest a lunch or dinner at the Deep Water Grille in downtown Ashland or the elegant and impressive Hotel Chequamegon…for the afternoon tour the new 10 million dollar Great Lakes Visitor Center just outside of Ashland beyond the turn off to Washburn, they have a wonderful array of things to see and do, including a short multi media show and gift shop… Not too tired? Big Rock Park in Washburn is a local favorite for fishing, hiking, scenery & photography...there are a nice selection of unique artisan shops in Washburn & Bayfield...take a Lighthouse boat tour past the beautiful Apostle Islands National Park…or visit Madeline Island by Ferry, travel by foot or they’ll ship your car...the Forest Service Visitor Center in Bayfield that shows off a beautiful Fresnel Lens...and a stop isn’t complete without a meal in Bayfield from the Rittenhouse, Maggie’s Wild Rice Restaurant...venture further if you’d like to the old fishing town of Cornucopia ...look to the sky on your way home, maybe you’ll see a shooting star or northern lights.

TRIP ELEVEN: Wisconsin Waterfalls! Nearly every trip includes waterfalls and this one is no exception….Copper Falls State Park near Mellen is a must see, but before that...hike into the improved walkways at Potato River Falls…ever heard of St. Peters Dome? Maybe it’s time to check it out...plan a picnic lunch or enjoy a burger at Copper Falls concession...take a dip at Loon Lake...then stop in a Spa Bar in Mellen to bowl or wander back to Ironwood and take in a night of bowling at the Larry’s Lucky Strikes bar & grill they serve great burgers, hot dogs and appetizers till closing.

TRIP TWELVE: It’s off to Northern Wisconsin! In Mercer stop and shop and see the Giant 2000 pound Loon for a photo opportunity...do a little shopping in the small Northern Wisconsin towns ...have a caramel roll at Michael’s Bakery...from there just across the highway is Townline Road which takes you to several cranberry shops open all summer and in the fall there are cranberry tours at Alder Lake Cranberry Corp….Greer’s Pier can rent a boat to you for the day…stop in Minocqua’s boardwalk shops and antique mall...on the way back to Ironwood stop at Little Bohemia, home to John Dillinger’s famous shoot out with the FBI…try your luck at Lake of the Torches Resort Casino, it’s a beautiful spot…they serve wonderful meals there too and often feature top name entertainment!

TRIP THIRTEEN: Fish On! Pack your suntan lotion and fishing rods -- it’s off to Lake Gogebic...but first, get all your gear and fishing advice at Black Bear Sports, you’ll enjoy some of the fish mounts and stories that to with them…if you have any leftover minnows after fishing, release them in an inexpensive inflatable swimming pool, add an inch or so of water and a small minnow net and let the kids catch them…it’s hours of fun! Hike to scenic Alligator Eye for an eagle’s eye view of the lake, it’s quite spectacular...how about camping at the Lake Gogebic State Park or the Gogebic County Park at Lake Gogebic, they are both very nice…see the Elk at the Root Cellar...or guarantee yourself a trout with no fishing poles required at Watersmeet Trout Hatchery...win a few at Lac Vieux Desert Casino in Watersmeet...pack your clubs for their new golf course too... Picnic or swim at Clark Lake at Sylvania Wilderness Area... Ottawa Visitor Center in Watersmeet has wonderful short videos to watch, a gift shop and naturalist programs every Thursday evening in the summer...See the new Sylvania Wilderness entrance station off mile marker 50…then head back to the LVD casino for a grand buffet…or make your way to Bond Falls Flowage to see one of the most beautiful waterfalls…Getting dark out? Find out where to park to see the Paulding Mystery Light…let everyone get comfy and let them sleep as you drive back to Ironwood.

TRIP FOURTEEN: Antique Shopping for a day or two! Have a fun day shopping for hidden treasures in one of the many antique stores throughout the area. Immediately start in downtown Ironwood which has Dan’s Antique Mall, the largest square footage of any antique shop around with a great selection, make your way to Ironwood Antiques (former Albert’s building) downtown, then make your way to Doreen’s Antiques on Lake Street, (just a block south of the Holiday Gas Station) and be sure to ask to see the antique furniture upstairs. If you need a quick treat walk across the street to Ticklebelly’s Sweet Shop then stop in for more great stuff at Depot Antiques & Gift shop where you will find more than imagined. After the Ironwood shops make your way to Hurley and visit travel down Highway 51 to Kitzman’s Woodland Farm Antiques, its just a few miles down the highway and well worth the trip. They have fine German sleighs, sleds and exceptional Black Forest Furniture, you’ll find something that strikes your fancy, the owner gets crates of antiques from the old country! Then head east to see a living antique, the Old Victoria Restoration Site in Rockland, Michigan. This is where the famous solid copper "Ontonagon Boulder" was discovered and is now resting at the Smithsonian Institute. If time permits, make a stop at Northern Lights Antiques and Artisans in Bruce Crossing, MI. Continue on the next day with a morning trip to Black River Harbor, to Net Loft Antiques to see one more antique shop "not at the end of the world, but you can see it from there!" Or spend the afternoon in Minocqua at the Gas Light Square; above it is a huge antique mall where individual booths are set up with loads of antiques and crafts.