Located in northern Michigan on the southern shores of Lake Superior, Marquette is a busy port city that has become very popular with tourists seeking outdoor adventure sports, particularly mountain-biking and skiing. Marquette has also developed into a good base from which to explore the surrounding Great Lakes region given its abundant hotels and restaurants. Also, part of the city is made up of a number of Lake Superior islands, which can easily be reached by boat.
Most of Marquette’s abundant tourism attractions are situated in and around Lake Superior. The area of the lake close to the city, the Marquette Underwater Preserve, contains a number of shipwrecks as well as the remains of a crashed fighter jet which can be explored by scuba divers. More accessible are the hills in and around Marquette, considered some of the best mountain-biking areas in America.
Marquette Mountain, just over 400 meters high, is home to an ever-popular 50-year old ski resort that receives a huge amount of snow every year courtesy of its proximity to Lake Superior, meaning good skiing conditions are practically guaranteed every winter. If all that outdoor activity gets a bit much, the city offers a host of interesting cultural attractions such as the DeVos Art Museum and Marquette Maritime Museum.
Highlights
Marquette Mountain: great skiing in winter and even better mountain-biking in summer make this Marquette landmark a great venue for outdoor sports.
Marquette Underwater Preserve: a scuba-diving paradise with dozens of ship wrecks to explore on Lake Superior close to the city.
DeVos Art Museum: part of Northern Michigan University, this exhibition features solo shows from local artists, sculpture and a permanent collection of everything from Native American art to Japanese prints.
Marquette Harbor Lighthouse: tours are available around the lighthouse which offers great views of Lake Superior and a glimpse of a Marquette icon.