If you ever happen to find yourself in Upper Peninsula’s Marquette, you may be wondering what kinds of things there are to do in the seemingly busy college town. Well, first thing’s first, you will definitely want to find your way downtown, towards Washington Street and Third Street. These are the main two streets with the most attractions that you wouldn’t want to miss.

One thing to keep in mind while visiting is: Prepare to walk. It’s easiest to park in one place and walk the streets rather than relocate your vehicle at each destination. Luckily, most everything you will want to see is all within walking distance.

What to Expect in Downtown Marquette

As you approach Marquette and head towards the downtown area, you will find Washington Street as well as Third Street, which are intersecting streets. These are the main two roads with the most attractions, places to eat, and shops.

Among these streets, you will find countless bars and restaurants, including some that overlook Lake Superior from some amazing outdoor balconies. Along with that, there are tons of shopping opportunities as well. Washington and Third Street are lined with small shops, most of them being locally owned businesses. There is even a local pottery shop where you can design and paint pottery pieces, as well as multiple other art museums along the streets as well.

Other than shops, restaurants, and bars, there is also a local Farmer’s Market that takes place right in the heart of Downtown Marquette every Saturday during the summer. There is a building dedicated to this called The Marquette Commons. Here, they set up tents and have local vendors set up their merchandise so that visitors can browse local businesses, small shops, and galleries that are located here throughout Marquette County.

Marquette’s Main Attractions

If you are in the town of Marquette, there are a few things that you will probably notice right away. First, and the most obvious, is Lake Superior. The largest of the Great Lakes can be seen from most places in the Marquette area. One of the most popular attractions here is Presque Isle, where you can walk along the shores of Lake Superior and experience the wildlife that resides here as well.

Venturing away from downtown just a little, along the shores of Lake Superior, there are tons of hiking opportunities as well. The most common hiking place in Marquette is called Sugarloaf Mountain. It is a little bit more of a drive than most of the attractions found Downtown, however, it’s worth the travel. Sugarloaf Mountain is a beginner’s hiking trail that brings you to the top of a beautiful mountain that overlooks Lake Superior. At the top of this mountain, you will find multiple wooden decks with tons of space where visitors sit and enjoy the scenery, enjoy a meal, or stay and hang out for a while. This is one of the few attractions that is also open during the wintertime and is just as beautiful.

History of Marquette, Michigan

Like most towns in the Upper Peninsula, Marquette started off as a huge iron ore mining town. It was a large part of the Michigan mining and logging industry as well. Today, museums can be found in Marquette with tons of details regarding the history of mining iron ore in the UP. In fact, iron ore is still shipped out of Marquette, Michigan today.

things to do in downtown marquette lake superior

Another thing that Marquette is widely known for is Northern Michigan University. With almost 7,000 students attending, Northern Michigan University is another reason for people to visit Marquette. Another attraction here would the world’s largest wooden dome, known as The Superior Dome. It was given the name of the world’s largest wooden dome in 1991 and still holds that status as of now. This is where all of Northern Michigan University’s football games are played, various University activities are held, and other regular community events as well.

Whether you are passing through, crossing off Marquette from your travel bucket list, or simply just visiting family or friends at Northern Michigan University, there is always something fun to do downtown or along the shores of Lake Superior. Don’t forget to check out all the local shops found along Washington and Third Streets, and take a break to stop at one of the many local restaurants along the way. Last but not least, enjoy the beauty and history of Downtown Marquette, Michigan.