Press Release: Paradise, MI: Wolves, Moose, Incredible Vacations

Press Release


Paradise Area Tourism Council
P.O. Box 64, Paradise, Michigan 49768 USA
Telephone: (906) 492-3927 (Voicemail only)
E-Mail:

Things to do in Paradise,
Michigan:
Rev.031406

Paradise, Michigan is one of the best kept vacation secrets in America.
Located in the heart of Lake Superior State Forest (1,020,000 acres) on
the shore of Hiawatha's Lake Gitchigumie, near the historic Tahquamenon
and Hemingway's Two-Hearted Rivers, Paradise is an ideal destination
for anyone seeking outdoor adventures. With many of America's
wilderness areas being crowded by millions of people in search of the
quiet serenity that only nature can offer, Paradise more than lives up
to its name by offering one of the largest wilderness regions in the
United States.

Summer visitors can enjoy birdwatching, kayaking and canoeing, camping
and backpacking,
fishing our many lakes and rivers, ORVing, or just driving quietly
along hundreds of miles of
public trails. You can SCUBA dive a graveyard of sunken ships claimed
by the legendary gales of Lake Superior, or launch your boat from the
public access at Whitefish Point Harbor. Historic Whitefish Point
offers a view of one of the last working lighthouses, as well as a
Shipwreck Museum, gift shop, and birdwatching center. Or visit the
waterfalls of the Tahquamenon River; the Upper Falls is the largest
waterfall east of the Mississippi, and its honey-colored tannin-hued
waters make it unlike any other.

Winter turns Paradise, Michigan into a true winter wonderland. With an
annual 20+ feet of
snowfall, Paradise gets more powder than Anchorage, Alaska, and
midwinter temps sometimes dip below minus-30 Farenheit. Snowmobile
rentals and fuel are available, and a groomed trail provides access to
local businesses. If snowmobiling isn't your thing, consider the
hundreds of miles of groomed and ungroomed trails that are open to
snowshoeing and cross-country skiers.

Paradise has been called the Blueberry Capitol of the World, and
rightfully so; from July
through November, blueberry lovers can pick their fill from public
forest, without permit or fee
(who says nothing is free anymore?). And the Annual Blueberry Festival,
held the third weekend of August, is a celebration not to be missed by
visitors or residents.

Wildlife is abundant in the Paradise area of Lake Superior State
Forest. Moose are especially prevalent near the mouth of the
Tahquamenon River, but the region is also home to black bears, otters,
cougars, gray wolves, whitetails, sandhill cranes, bald eagles, and
other wild species to delight the most avid naturalist. Bring a camera
to record what are sure to be great memories.

For a guaranteed view of wildlife, world renowned Oswald's Bear Ranch,
30 miles west of
Paradise, offers a unique close-up view of black bears of different
ages. Admission is $10 per car, and visitors can enjoy the unguided
walk-through tour for as long as they'd like.

If you've a hankering to see full-blooded timber wolves, Paradise can
fulfill that desire as
well. Just 5 miles north of town on Whitefish Point Road you'll find
Timberwolf Wilderness
Adventures guide service, where professional guides Cheanne Chellis and
author Len McDougall conduct by-appointment-only seminars free of
charge. There you'll meet Chakota, Kenai, and Nahanni, learn about wolf
behavior from two of America's most knowledgeable canine experts, and
maybe get a wolf kiss from Chakota, leader of the pack. Call for an
appointment at (906) 492-3905; drop-ins must frequently be turned away.


Timberwolf Wilderness Adventures also provides guided tours and
wilderness skills classes.
Summer visitors can kayak a leisurely 18 miles downstream on the
Tahquamenon River, or take a more adventurous 3-day tour of the wild
Betsy River. Winter visitors can learn to actually drive a dogsled in
TWA's Dogsledding Workshops, or take a day-long snowshoe tour of
winter-hushed forest. Afficionados of wilderness survival can book a
course with globally
recognized expert Len McDougall in any season. All equipment and meals
are provided. Cost is $100 per day per person for day tours and
workshops, $150 per day per person for multi-day excursions.

Paradise offers a number of clean, comfortable motels and lodging
resorts, from the modern
Best Western and historic Curley's to the cozy Vagabond hotel and
romantic Whitefish Bay
Cabins. You'll find plenty of parking space for boat, snowmobile, and
ORV trailers, or the
largest RVs and tour buses.

If you'd prefer to camp, Michigan's Department of Natural Resources
operates two fully
attended modern campgrounds on the Tahquamenon River, complete with
heated bathrooms,
showers, and waste dump facilities. Two unattended rustic campgrounds
on beautiful Andrus
Lake and the wild Betsy River Flooding provide the serenity many
visitors are seeking, as well as some of the best pike fishing you'll
find anywhere.

If you're looking for a fine meal, there are a number of good choices.
Camp 33 at Tahquamenon's Upper Falls, 14 miles west on M-123, is a
premiere year-round dining establishment, complete with a micro-brewery
offering unique local beers (a Parks sticker is required between 8 a.m.
and 5 p.m.). In town, Little Falls restaurant, adjoining the Red
Flannel Saloon is another great choice. And don't overlook Brown's Fish
House on M-123 at the edge of town, where you'll find the freshest
whitefish you've ever tasted. If you awaken with a big appetite, stop
in to the Berry Patch Bakery and ask for Shirley's belt-loosening
Lumberjack Breakfast.

If you're planning a vacation that involves getting close to nature,
Paradise is the very definition of wilderness. Being neighborly is a
way of life for Paradisians, so if you've been disillusioned by
trampled parks and tourist destinations where visitors are made to feel
like dollar signs, don't you think it's time to experience Paradise?

So how much sal****er fishing is there in Paradise? Notice the
newsgroup title? Apparently not. Any place that gets any snow at all
is no paradise.